New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-10
TO REPiTE Upper EIGHTH AVE-.
AN IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENT TO BE GOT
UNDER WAY THIS FALL

Although the season for laying rev pavements
especially those Of asphalt which be sue
cessfully handled in cold weather is drawing 10 q
close. plans are under way for a number OF con-
tracts for new work in this line and Il is the ex-
pectauon that considerable part OF II Will be
completed before operations cease about the be-
ginning Of December This week bids on not less
nan twrnty-one contracts Will be opened and the
wards will follow promptly as possible
The most important OF these contracts relates to
ne requirement. of Eghth-Iye which has been
contemplated for some time. but has been held
back pending the change OF motive power on the
street railroad operated there. The asphalt will
be- laid on top OF the present pavement. from
Fitty-nnth-st 10 e-hundred-and-hfty -hfth-st
This work has been divided into three sections
with the hope that II done by three different
contractors more rapid progress might he made
1t is not certain. though. that three contractors
will secure il. for al three sections may be given
10 one bidder In ease he is the lowest and gives
the proper guarantees. The first section extends
from Fifty -ninth-st. One-nundred-and- tenth-st
the second from Observation-Disclosures to One
hundred-and-thirt hfta-st and the third from
ore -hundred-and- thirty -ifth-st 70 Oae-hIndred-
and ffty-hfth-st. A. the contractors Will have I'VE
six weeks 10 work in before the coming Of cold
weather. the engineers OF Public Works De-
partment that each Will he able
to DO about thirty blocks. that n there
three contractors it Is possible that between four
and five miles OF the pavement may be completed
on this avenue this year.
Along Central Park it has been decided TO have
the railroad close the curbstone the Park
side This decision made in spite Of the urgent
recommendation Of Consulting Engineer North
that the broad sidewalk next the Park be
rowed and the tracks placed in the middle % the
roadway. with light stone curb. about two inches
high Just outside OF them Il Mr.. North's
idea that II the should run in the middle OF
the roadway people crossing the avenue would
moving in only two directions while with the cars
al the side there will be. first the going up
town and downtown 10 be guarded against. and
then a double stream OF vehicles the entire
blnaton tending to confusion and danger The
carriageway along the Park Is only Is feet In
width while in the upper part OF the ayenue there
a clear space OF ~ feet. As the side~alk along
the Park il 2 feet wide. IL argued that Il
would be- 10 the advantage OF the public generally.
especially since comparatively few people are in
the habit OF using that walk in the afternoon
hours 10 cut down the walk and throw twelve feet
additional into the roadway. However. this plan
has not been adopted. although IL l. altogether
probable that with the improved pavement Eighth
ave will become one Of the most important traffic
thoroughfares In the city partly by reason Of its
easy grades.
Another Improvement in the batch for which bids
are now being sought is OF than ordinary
interest This Is the asphaltins OF Broadway from
Forty -seventh-st to the Circle. As Longaers
Square mas 6ssn few months when the new
cnn,ract ,s carried out there VIII be asphalt
pavement on Broadway from Forty,second;st; nc g
,ha Circle az the Park In connection Win tnU
uork n il expected that next year Sevsntn-svo
viii be paved with asphalt from Greenwicn,sve M
draw much travel from Eishh,ave now t me . ony
s 81 Ssn,raI Park II hoped TO have the sew
sr,bave work done this year, but that was founo
Most OF the other bids TO be opened on Inul s.
asv relate 10 proposed pavements on cross streets
naa a are mainly OF local interest but In addition 70
what has already been ment9nsd srrans Ssssn
Twsntv-fourth and twenty fifth SITS. thus carry.
ing the new pavement on Fifth-ave at It's inter-
lection with broadway one block further NORTH