New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-04
NEW RULES FORMULATED.
THE TEARING UP OF NEW ASPHALT
PAYMENTS TO BE STOPPED
Mr.. LEWIS. OF THE CITY WORKS DEPARTMENT.
TRYING TO REMEDY AN EvIL-THE DE-


P..RTMENr HELPLESS AT TINES.
This tearing up OF newly laid asphalt pave
ments for the purpose of reaching subway pipes
and wires is Of the knottest problems which
the City Works Department has to face. The
Legislature. the 3oard Of Aldermen and the De-
partment itself have all exerted themselves to
reduce the amour. OF disturbance OF newly
made pavement &c the minimum that is com
patitle with the rights of subway corporations
and private individuals seeking new connections
with mains OF sewers
~ =. Lewis. superintendent Of the Local I'm
provement Bureau OF the City Works Depart
ment, is devotng much OF his time at present
in considering this question. AS a result he
has drafted a new set Of rules relative to open
ing pavements. which, Of course. will not be
made public until they have been submitted
to Commissioner Willis. These new rules and
schedules he hopes will go into effect October
l. One OF the almost fatal defects OF tearing
up new pavement and relaying 1t is that when
the settling process is finished the repaired
part of the pavement sinks and makes a hollow
In order to obviate this much as possible, Mr.
Lewis will have his new rules provide that. In
addition to refilling the hole and hammering
down the earth. eight inches Of Portland cement
concrete must be laid beneath the upper paving
This. he believes, will make so strong a covering
that even If the earth beneath does settle, the
concrete will sustain the pavement
This concreting will increase the cost OF re-
pairing to considerable extent. Mr.. Lewis
thinks II Will be Of benefit to the city TO have
all this repaving of torn-up places done by
contractor, instead Of by a large number Of
contractors at varying prices as at present. AL
ready well-known contractor has made
proposition as to what price he would be will
ing 10 take this contract for. Mr.. Lewis said
that 1t was uncertain yet whether the work
would be made a matter of competition.
whether the Commissioner would select a
tractor whom he knew to be in a position TO
look after H.
AT present the city in granting a permit to
open pavement. charges 81 for a water or gas
permit. in case no more than four yards Of pave
ment is torn up. The charge is so for an OPEN
ing for sewer connections. In either the
city retains dollar and pays the rest Of the
money to the contractor who does the work.
Contractors who lay pavement for the city
agree to keep such pavement in repair for five
years II opening by permit is made within
that time II has been the practice OF giving
to the guaranteeing contractor the Job OF re-
laying the pavement OYER opening.
The city of Philadelphia charges Sl3 for
permit for an opening In an asphalt pavement,
and increases this amount to SIS between De-
cember ! and March l Of each year. The city
Of New-York charges 81 a yard for asphalt.
but never estimates on less than four yards.
that the amount for each permit is at least Sl6
A charge OF IS for the first yard Is made II the
pavement be granite. and 81 for each additional
yard Mr. Lewis thinks that these will be in
the neighborhood of the charges that Brooklyn
will have to make under the new specifications
h. L. hali that
liable contractor can be found who will take the
work for a smaller price.
The Legislature of 1896 increased the power Of
the City Works Commissioner in the matter of
making rules regarding this kind Of work b.
passing the law that is known as Chapter SO.
This makes it unlawful for any corporation or
person 10 open any pavement without permit
from the Commissioner Of City Works, and en-
powers the Commissioner TO make reasonable
rules governing the issue Of permits and the
charging for the cost Of inspection Of any sort
of repairing made necessary by such permit 1t
IS of interest to note in this connection that
Commissioner Willis is enforcing to the letter
this law. making corporations pay the cost Of
inspection. and bills for 5000 preparing for
presentation to the various railroad companies
Of the city for inspection Of work made neces-
sary by permits TO such companies.
| The Board Of Aldermen on October u, 1s9o.
strengthened the position Of the City Works
Commissioner by passing an ordinance which
prohibits the granting Of permits for tearing up
asphalt pavement within five years OF its laying,
or stone pavement within three years. except
in cases of extreme necessity. 1t likewise COM
rels the Department Of City Works TO give al!
subway companies Interested fifteen days notice
of any paving or repairing. that such cor
porations may have opportunity then TO do
env repairing to their pipes wires that may
| be needed
| Notwithstanding this ordinance" said Su-
| perintendent Lewis Yesterday, there are many
cases In which this Department IS absolutely
| powerless TO prevent the tearing up OF pave
| ment When a man builds d new house he has
| a right which cannot be abridged to get a con-
! necton with gas and water mains, and with the
| sever am convincei that II In case OF that
! Lird wa refused to grant permit. a mandamus
| vynuld stand 10 compei US 10 do so. This APP
| Mics likewise TO bad leak that may be sprung
| in a gas or water main.
rinnire M some Of the pavement along Seventh
! ave The company was IN position % conn.
Ms TO grant permits under provision OF rs
hor,er We have greatly suppressed these
! eyjls Formerly 1t was the custom OF corpora
tions 10 first tear up the pavement ana th~:l
i-i,dl. 10, this Department know about IL Com
| ,1ieciorer White compelled the comIanie hrst
/ 70 get a permit from me and even then they
/ were not permitted t. proceed with the WORK
/ ,,r,fl tho consent Of the contractor who had
! guaranteed the pavement was secured. am
| cot on abolishing abuses in the tearing up or
, navements and have given the matter CONSIDER
! ahle attention But il cannot be prevented alto
| gether ~, ,, l., roffr
The tearing W Of asphalt pavement N JeiIer-
or'ove near Bedford-ave.. to which The Trib-
,.na called attention the other day. was done
under a permit from Superintendent Lewis.
/ humber applied for the permit Tor the purpose
! - cnrnecting the water-ppes ~ new house at
/ ~ j1f Jererson-aVe.. owned by \. X. Baird,
/ ,,.ith the v.ater-pipes of the street
/ last year there were granted -" PERMITS LOT
inrs In asDhalt pavement throughout tn.
/ 90 for sewers. - for gas ana III 10Y
.i.. -. There were last year sixteen miles OF
! Ndl'i This wear there are 2D3