The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-06-11
GOSSIP OF GOTHAM.


New York, June 7.--Buildins super.n-
teadent Constable, In his report for 1885,
saws that there were sl44 new buildings
erected last year. with an estimated COS; OF
Is79.7Si.s 45.
General Coils plan for great plaza and
parade ground at the southern end Of Gem
trail Park meets with various criticism,
Some favor the plan Enthusiastically. Others
denounce 1t bitterly as spelia;ion of the
park. Others like the idea. but suggest that
the park be LETT as Il is. and the plaza
created out OF the private property between
Eish'h and Ninth avenues, from Fifty
ninth TO sixty seventh streets, which would,
Of course. cost a great deal more money.
Mayor Strong has appointed eN-Msyor
Hewitt. W. r. Stewart, De Witt j. selig
man, ex-Judge NJ. S. Isaaes. James j. Hig-
ginson, the Rev. John h. Devins and Dr..
Joseph D. Bryant an advisory committee on
the location OF small parks. The city is
/ authorized to eNpend million dollars every
year In establishing small parks IN crowded
! districts. aud there has been so much
DISPUTE as TO the location OF the parks the
| mayor has appointed this committee to act
/ in the matter.
/ The Chamber OF Commerce building fund
amounts TO $47S5o0. subscribed by eighty
two persons, and the committee has issued
a circular letter addressed TO the Hoo
other members asking them to contribute.
Subscribers Will receive certificates OF in
! debtedness for their subscriptions. which
Will be changeable into non cumulative in
como bonds, bearing such rate Of interest,
/ but not exceeding per cent per annum. as
may be conveniently paid from each years
surplus income, reserVing to the Chamber
the right of redemption, upon thirty days
notice, at it's own option
Timothy L. Woodruff, the refund and
jovial lieutenant governor of this State,
long ago demonstrated that man might
| dress in the extreme of fashion, even to
the point of dudishness. ana sin be slick
politician, Now he has given fresh indioa
ton Of his versatility. After delivering
Memorial bay address to the Potsdam
Grand Army post. he Won applause by
playing baseball with the veterans, scoring
Two runs. knocking out three hits, avoid
Ing errors in the field, pitching in one in
ming and striking out two men With such
varied attainmeuts. the lieutenant governor
may well aspire TO the presidency.
Some Of the vagaries of he mail service
in this great city and It's neighborhood are
wonderful, Brooklyn has not yet sunk its
identity as city and become mere Dor
oush in the enlarged municipality; but
letter addressed there from Park Row re-
Gently was returned TO the sender after
thirty-one days. covered with hero
Elyphics. stamps aud notes, which indicated
that IL had been TO Brooklyn, Ohio, and
Cleveland. Ohio, wandering around IN
search OF the street and number, but never
near the place across the East river for
which II was intended. or course the post
office people explain that 1t should have
borne the initials N. y" and old Brook
ynitts will deny the story with Indignant
wrath. but the envelope is In evidence.
Few public officials have more Of
hrusaueness and less OF consideration for
the feelings of othcrs than Superintendent
Constable of the building department of
this city; yet as sometimes happens. he is
peculiarly sensitive to ordinary criticism
from others TO say nothing OF an approach
on their part to his own standard of be-
| hayior. The result is that he Is almost con-
stantly guarreling with some one. His lat
est grievance is that any one should even
dream OF holding his department responsl.
bic for the collapse Of a new building The
ether day, in which three men lost their
yves. OF course. IL Is preposterous that a
department should be blamed for allowing
a catastrophe such as ii is supposed TO de-
vote all its energies to preventing.
The plans for the proposed dock improve
mtnts were submitted to the sinking fund
commission The other day. They provide
| for the construction OF five new piers TCO in