New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-24
THE WORK AT THE TOMB.
CONFLICTING STORIES ABOUT THE SUPPLY
OF TIMBER FOR STANDS.

| CONFLICTING STORIES ABOUT THE SUPPLY
OF TIMBER FOR STANDS
There were many conflicting stories heard along
Riverside Drive yesterday regarding the supply of
the grades Of wood usually used In the building of
grandstands Many SPECTATORS who are erecting
stands on the Drive said that they had no difficulty
In getting timber, others that the only delay they
had met was in the hauling of the lumber. and
some declared vehemently that there was really
scarcity of hemlock spruce and yellow pine In this
city. Several lumber dealers whose yards are near
One-hundred- n nd twenty eighth-st and the river
said that there was not a particle of truth in the
story that timber ordinarily used for grandstand
purposes was hard to obtain In this city.
! A representative Of the firm of Wilson. Adams *
Co was seen at the tomb yesterday afternoon, and
when asked II there was scarcity OF timber said:
| There is absolutely foundation for such
story. the firm which | represent has been sup
! plying about 10000 square feet of timber day to
the builders of stands along the Drive and has not
heard about anybody being unable to get wood In
this city. The truth is that there Is an abundance
OF timber in the city, but there has been some de-
lay In filling demands as most OF them were OF the
rush order. and there were not enough carts to be
had moments notice
Such batch of rush orders has been received
that hundreds of extra trucks have had to be hired
Even moving have been used to get the timber
on the grounds. The men the extra wagons are
not experienced In hauling wood and are inclined 10
be exceedingly Indifferent in attending 10 their bust
ness. Experienced handle about twice as
many loads day the extra tardy helpers In
view of these things. it is wonder that some of
the builders of stands complaining about being
unable TO get the necessary timber quickly. If the
orders for lumber had not been put off until the
last minute, and not OF the rush kind. there
would be complaints heard among the specula-
! tors In stands.
The spring orders from builders Of houses are
a1< h. ncfJa in ri 10
orders had to be attended TO first, and no one is
going to neglect them until future day just to fill
orders for material for stands. as the demand for
stand timber is of short duration There has been
very little hemlock used in the building Of stands,
most Of the orders being for spruce and yellow
! pine"
John T. Brady, the contractor not at the
stand when a Tribune reporter visited it yesterday.
His son was seen, and when asked If all the wood
| for the work about the monument had been re-
| ceived he said Every inch Of timber for the con-
structcn of the stands and the other work to be
| done here Is the ground. The last load
timber of the thousands of feet ordered reached
! here this morning and now work is advancing more
rapidly. The framework Of nearly all Of the stands
still unfinished Is nearly completed, the foundation
! of the dning-room IN which 800 persons are to
| sit at time laid this morning, the toilet
rooms to be erected at each end OF the trumphai
arch being built. and everything Is advancing
without hitch Of any kind"
| When told that SC me lumber dealers and builders
of stands had declared that all grades of lumber
| could be had. and that too without much delay.
he said: THE statement made by Mr. Brady that
the work of building the stands and other struct-
| ures had been considerably delayed is absolutely
correct. We ought to know whether not 1t is a
difficult matter to obtain just the kind OF wood
needed in such work as this is, as we nave
handled thousands Of feet of lumber. Any one who
! says that he get wood quickly for the erec-
| Of nds has pVidc O knowledge
existing circumstances the situation few days
ago. am positive that you would be unable to
! &c. wood for stands within two or three days If
you ordered IL pow."
a young man who has charge of the big stand
at the northeast of One -hundred-and- nine
teenthst. and tho Drive, that is TO seat 1000 per-
sons, said yesterday that the builder of the stand
had plenty OF trouble in finding the timber wanted.
"The builder unable to obtain the grade of
timber he desired" he added land had to use thou
sands of feet Of yellow pine. This kind OF wood Is
expensive than the usual kinds OF timber
used for such constructions .lH
Claremont and the Drive were exceedingly lively
places yesterday. 1t estimated that there were
over a thousand carpenters and about the same
number of laborers busiy at work erecting stands
near the tomb and along the Drive from early
! until late. AT the tomb about four hundred men
were Fastening along the work there. 1t Is prob
able that the men on the JOB Will be asked 10 WORK
! tomorrow. This point will be decided TINS morn
!
some hours before the ceremonies are held. and in
order that there shall be failure on his part 10
tanned permission from CHIEF Conlin 10 carry on
his work at the tomb on Sunday.
day afternoon George Fox a. Who is supervising nI
the entire construction, said: The framework OF
arch Will surely be done by Sunday. Il is twenty
dle feet from the level of the drive to the adch
feet apart. 1 have from 300 to 400 men working on
the grounds at present, ana VIII probably uouple
everything in readiness by the 9TH the gangs OF
each dnv Tomorrow the decorating of the stands
already completed will be begun. me de9oratl IONS
w mach@ WarE has been begun on the approaches
to the arch. under which will be the t9gt,roomsi
/ Several building inspectors examined the STANDS
at the tomb yesterday. and compiimented MI
Fox the good WG h of h Sd the
Drive has been closed from One-hundred -and-twen-
Tb old repository in Which rested
| wears the body Of General Grant Will probably be
bn removed the old iagpole which stands few
feet TO the south Early yesterday morning the
to join the Norm Aahu She 3dIronned Snchor in
| Inc North River about two hundred feet from the
! pier al one hundred and twenty -seyenth.st
steel cnse that contained the body of General Grant
! were removed from the repository YESTERDAY ana
placed In the inches on the main floor or the tomb
'rhey will be preserved as relies.
Considerable work was done YESTERDAY in I'M
are 6ne.hundred- and-tweny -hfth-st.. between the
! boulevard and Claremont-ave. Claremont-aVe,
/ ndred "a nd twenty sixth-st between the
boulevard and the Drive and Riyersi .o.
There at present no great demand FOR seats near
the tomb and along the Drive at prices ranging
| from So 10 So The spectators. however, are ex-
Meeting TO do a big business to-day and tomorrow.
| There were many sightseers at the tomb. VINO
| watched the work ntenty.
| LEGISLATURES EXPENSES ON APRIL q.
Albany. April 23-The Assembly to-day passed SEN
ator Brushs concurrent resolution appropriatng
for the eXpense of tho ieEisa lure In attending