New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-19
the present nuisance will be followed by an
other in that section.
PAVEMENT IN FAD CONDITION.

I'm
The three mains are laid in that part Of the
avenue between Twenty ninth and Thirty
first SITS, bu, the pavement is in bad condition.
The cast main has been laid as far north as
Thirty-hfth-st., and the ditch for the west main
is being dug far north as Thirty second-st.
The,avcrue . blocked by the ditch ard by sec
tons of ~ big pip.
I'm chat part Of the avenue between Thirty
fifth and Fortythird SITS there has been no be-
ginning OF the work yet. and the Fifth-ave.
stages roll over the cobblestoncs. which will
soon be dug up From For;y-third-st 10 Fifty
second-st the three mains have been laid. and
from Forty third-st to Forty-eighth-st. there is
smooth pavement. The cid patched cobblestone
pavement is in use between Forty-eighth and
Fifteth SITS. hut the work Of resetting the curb
stones is in progress. in preparation for smooth
pavement. In front of the Vanderbilt houses
the west trench is Ony partly filled up.
The east main has been laid between Fifty
second ard Fifty-eghth SITS. but there is only
a beginning Of a trench for the west main yet,
and in the block between Ffty-second ard
Fifty-third SITS. a steam drill is at work where
rock has to be blasted out. The west trench has
been opened between Fifty-third and Fifty
fourth SITS only. a beginning OF the trench has
been made between Fiftyseyenth and Fifty
eighth SITS. and the avenue is blocked near the
house Of Cornelius Vanderbilt.
No work has been done yet between Fifty
eighth and SiXticth SITS, and tho nuisance to be
bofnc ny people VINO I've III the large notes
along that section is still postponed for little
time. The Fifth-avo. Plaza is still serene, but
it is soon to know smells from the trenches.
Along the Central Park side of Fifth-ave.,
from Sixteth-st to Eightieth-st. one Of the
large mains has been laid. hut not a section of
pipe for the other large main or for the small
main has been laid yet. and the trenches are
still to be dug along the entire mile. except that
the steam drills are at work at points where
rock must be blasted out Of the east trench
north of Severtcth-st.
E-iri,f Inst 70 rfpb no
mains have been laid and the avenue is covered
with asphalt. EiGhty-sccond-st.. through which
the mains enter Ffth-avenue., is also in good
condition.
CAUSES FOR DELAY.
General Coils. the Commissioner Of Public
Works. declares that all the gaps in the work
will be filled and Fifth-ave. will be in a condition
to be proud OF before November |. but there
have been many unexpected delays in the work
thus far and fresh for delay may he
encountered In reply to inquiry why the
work could not be pushed at night with the aid
OF artificial light, General Coils said on Fri
day:
The chief causes for delay In the work at
present the difficulties in plumbing and tho
rock drilling. No plumbers could bc hired 10
work az night with the glare u electric lights
in their eyes. soldering together the Joints Of IN"
water mains, and the people who live near Fifth
ave. would not long stand the working Of the
steam drills at night. The work H. being pushed
with as much haste is practicable. and VIII
n 80, pleted in few weeks. and then all who
have had to suffer on its account will soon forget
the nuisance in their satisfaction over the splen-
did condition of what will then be one ~ the
finest avenues in the world"
The Installation Of the underground trolley
system Of motive power by the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company IS responsible for the
present upheaval Of Fourth-aye. for almost It's
entire length: two blocks OF Forty Second-st. and
Madson-ave. from Forty second-st. tn the Har-
lem River; Fifty-ninth-st. for almost its entire
length; Amsterdam-ave.. from Seventy-second-
ST. To Ninety-ninth-st and TWenty-third-st.'
from Sixth-ave TO Ninth-ave.
The excavations attendant upon this change
of motive power are not so deep as those conse-
quent upon the work OF laying the water mains
and repairing the sewers in Fifth-ave.. and hence
malarial gases ard unpleasant odors are not 50
marked an accompaniment Of the work. The
chief nuisance is caused Ivy the interruption 10
traffic and travel and in the unpleasant appear
ance Of the streets. which look as II an army
were throwing up intrcnchmonts IN repuise an
assault.
TIE FOURTH-AVE. WORK.
On August H. little more than month
ago the Fourth lave. line was given over to the
contractors Harvey & Ryan and Thomas T..
Crimmins. and traffic was suspended. Work
was at once begun along the line at various
points from One-hundred-a nd thirty-Gfth-s'. to
the Posto!rlce Eui!GinG. The old tracks were
torn up and excavations made for the new road
bed. The work has been vigorously prosecuted.
and the end is now I'm sight. From one hundred
and thirty-fifth-st. to cne-hundred- and-t"cnty-
ffth-st the ironwOrk Is all in place the concret
ing done and the paving Will probably be finished
by next Tuesday. At One -hundred- and-twenty-
hftn-st thc contractors encountered a difficult
engineering problem on account Of the large
water and gas mains that cross Madison-ave al
that point, but the work az this point VIII also
be completed by Tuesday night From one
hundred ard twenty-h:th-3t TO Cne-hundred-
and -sixtcenth-st the irorworR and concreting
L.. oi
finished that section yesterday, working at the
rate of two blocks day. The section from One
Observation-Disclosures. TO One-hundred-and-
tenth-st., too is finished. paved. swept and ready
for use. From One-hundreG -and-tenth-St. 10
Ninety eighth-st. the ironwork Is in place and
the PAYERS are - work. They viii finish by
TUESDAY nirht. IN the section from Ninety
eishth-st. to Ninety-fifth-st. extra excavation
was ncedful OIL account OF tho necessity OF dig
cling trench In which to lower Watcr-pipe
that intcrfcrcd with the work. but that section
will bc completed in few days.
LAYING \ NEW SEWER.
That part Of the avenue running from Ninety
ff,h-st. to Forty-rfth-st. contained an add
,ionsI piece Of work 20 he performed. There
has never been a satisfactory sewer in this
length Of street. 4 tcrra-cotta drain was laid
there years ago and ut different times sections
II brick COVER were placed at various points
from Fnrty-nfth-s to Onc-hurdred -and-thirty-
ATHEIST; The Commissioner II Public Works
found that the sewage was escaping and perco-
latng through tho wall at number Of places.
and he determined 10 have a perfect
laid there al this time. The contract was Jet.
but tho Metropolitan Company wished to have
the Job done 30 that II would BE- permanent and to
avoid tho possibility Of having their tracks torn
10 at some future tim~. Therefore, with the
consent OF the Commissioner they bought the
contract from the contractor who had secured
II and are prosecuting the work themselves.
work begun on the Gay iranic was
stopped on the Fourth ave. line. August II. and
the sewer and the tracks have been laid from
Ninety sccond-st. to Seventy ninthst on this
section cars could be run to-day. From Seventy
ninh-st to Forty ffth-st however. the street IL
torn up TO a great depth and filed with earth
and pipes and debris The avenue at this point
Ie in az bad n condition as any mart ~ Fifth