New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-20
FIFTH.AVE. PEOPLE COMPLAIN.
THEY OBJECT TO THE CONDITION OF THE
LOWER END OF THE STREET-wHAT
GENERAL COILS SAYS.

The jewellers along Fifth-ave., for a few blocks
below Twenteth-st.. would like to know. They do
not feel sure that their knowing would make a
great deal OF difference but still, just as matter
OF curiosity they would like to know II man
were on the rack, undergoing melted lead or
boiling oil or anything similarly cheerful and lin
Rerng II might not make his position any the easier
10 know Just tho OF his misfortune. but 1t is
probable that nine men out of every ten would
wish to know why they were tortured In TINS, that
or the other way.
The people along Fifth-ave. are undergoing some
thing which is certainly lingering. though they
some time since ceased regard II as cheerful.
and they want to know why. II appears that there
Is an intention to lay some new water mains In
FYfth-ave. This is assumed from the fact that
large iron pipes were scattered along the street
some weeks ago.
In due season the digging OF a trench along the
avenue began and It went on till 1t reached Tween
tieth-st. This trench was perhaps some seven or
eight feet deep and wide enough for the workmen
10 work In comfortably. 1t exposed the old water
pipes at the bottom. and left the gaspipes hanging
free half way down. The loose earth that was
taken out OF the trench was piled up along the
side OF H. Everybody knows how. when city
street is opened. the cutting and the earth that
is taken out Of 1t reek with stale much worse
In smell than the gas that comes from an Ordinary
leak in a pipe in the house.
The dwellers along Fifth-ave. did not complain.
because they recognized that the purpose was A
beneficial public work. and they fondly thought
that II would be for only few days. The SER
wants who tried to clean the front windows Of
the houses became faint and sick and had to give
II I'D but they thought that the windows could
be cleaned n day or two later Just well. and II
was no great matter To be sure. the people
who had to sleep in front rooms woke up with
headaches which did not get well all day and
were worse the next morning, but even mead
ache can be borne for little while, for the sake
OF future good
But the jewellers began to grow genuinely discon-
tented when they found that the digging OF the
trench and the png OF the earth along Its sides
were apparently to be the end OF the whole work
II was two whole weeks ago that the trench was
completed as far as Twentieth-st. Since then there
has been little or no movement toward laying the
pipes and there have been few workmen In sight to
make Dek en 81 e sens up its scEens
and sitting fumes of gas and spreading them
nue. every minute of the day and night and there
are the people with their headaches, their loss OF
i its' wondering What i is ali fSr ,-. 49,.
They have all seen slow work before, but 1t would
cheer them any work or any sign or any
Intention of work. They want TO know why IT was
necessary to complete this yaw Nl fountain al s %
in T. They want 10 know too o. how howl many more
weeks are e 60 serious The along
both sides of the avenue are simply pervaded with
sSmethins is ST. not done Many the people
not forced to stay in unpleasant places: But Fifth
ave at this point is far more than half business
street now and there are hundreds Of people en-
ployed along these blocks who cannot afford TO
give up their places but have TO choose between
doing 80 and spending the whole day. and some
OF them the night well, in the midst of horrible
and dangerous smells. And even rich people do
not always like to have their own houses and
places OF business pervadcd by such things
When the Board of Health discovers defective
plumbing in the house Of private citizen, where
makes him mend the defect rightly and Justly;
hut when the city. OF the government OF which
the Board OF Health Is n part, has a Job OF plumb
ing to do Il is permitted to do " In manner
which appears TO be altogether unnecessary, and
which endangers the health and possibly the lives
OF hundreds OF its citizens
General Collis Commissioner OF Public Works.
said Yesterdays II have received but COM
plaipt regarding the work since II began, and that
came from General Daniel l.. Sckles. but soon
as explained him the conditions under which
Withdrew his adverse criticisms and said that he
thought we were advancing admirably" The Gen
eral added that for the first time In the citys his
tory the Board OF Health every morning deodor-
lied the trench in order TO exterminae the gases.
The work he said had been carried forward as
rapidly was possible. $500
II shall allow the street 10 settle until August L.
continued the General. when the paving with as
nhait will proceed. | have compelled the corpora
lions to put in extra gas pipes and mains. 20 that
II IS not likely that II will be necessary 10 tear up
The avenue again for twenty years. When every
thing is done the street will be In such splendid
themselves to DC disturbed over shSht ana uah-
vfann