New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-18
s,ow WORK on IMPROVEMENTS

pho Elr-s, innrovcment hns already caused
n hugo expenditure Of public funds. ana great
deal more money must be used before " Is III II
proper condition for traffic All the region ad-
,,,ninc El,n-st Is In confusion and that part OF
Manhattan Island is sadly Scared ana dlshg-
rrod Tedious and Irritating delays have &C.
currcd since II was decided that this important
and costly undertaking should b" taken up
Now there nre many big water-p'pes IN the 'hor-
ouchfare and 10 the apprehension OF every per-
son familiar with the slow work when con
tractors arc IN the habit of doing when they arr
employed by the city II IS painfully clear ihat
Elm-st Will not AFFORD n spectacle OF Whlch 'l-
zens can be proud for many month 70 como.
In ono Of the blocks between Centre ana Elh
SITS. tho walls nf the new prison are rising win
extreme dcberation. Tho contractors who hav"
that cdlfcc ia charge seem 10 j." IN no hurry
What contractor who gets contract from 'h'
municipal authorities ever is I'm hurry Ana
how many contractors nre there who, when
they are recciyin, payments from The municipal
treasury, put all their energy. MI their care
their skill anil ihoIoughncss into Tho task when
they have in band:
close by the Tombs ls tho Criminal Court
Building Even 30 a careless observer u Is oh
vious that the city and county received IN many
things m inadequate and unsatisfactory return
for tho large sums which were expended upon
that edlfce That big broad structure i 10y no
means attractive 10 the eye. and has no pre-
tensions TO architectural comcliness. The orig
NAL design appears 10 have been lacking In
majesty, in stateliness and In dignity. while the
present look Of the building Indicates that II has
hecn neglected since II was turned over 10 the
officials whose duty II is 10 keep the property or
the city and OF the county In n secmly and be
coming condition.
New-Yorkers are not without ample cause FOR
dissatisfaction with the manner In which many
nub,ic contracts are carried out. II may be n
hard thing to say. but the saying has much
truth in II, that our contractors need great
dcol OF tho sharpest watching. Many OF them
| convince all critics that they have made up
| their minds that they can take their own time
about any public contract and can DO as they
ike with it. Many OF them are loose and SLOW
cnly In their handling Of municipal Improve
mcnts. These contractors arc held TO strict ac-
count when they are putting up buildings or do
| rg other WORT; for private companies. corpora
lions or individuals. They IRE honest and ear
nest when their affairs have nothing 10 do with
the funds Of the taxpayers. But when they are
getting money raised by taxation or by the
| issue Of city or county bonds many Of them dis
| play a woful disregard of their bligations TO
| the community. and seek 10 Impose upon the
citizens In ways Of which they ought 10 he
heartily ashamed Our people have n fine les
son before them In watching the manner In
| which the Metropolitan company Is pushing
through It's improvements In Sixth-aye. While
| tho traffic in Sixth-avc. Is interrupted on ac
| count OF the change In the motive power the
| Metropolitan Is. Of course. losing much money
| which II would otherwise receive from passen
gers Therefore this corporation Is exhibiting II
marvellous fertility Of resources. n striking
| swiftness Of operations. a conspicuous force
| push and dash. In hnsicning the changes In
Sixth-avc. Why IN II that contractors are not
compelled to labor for the city in just the fash
| ion in which the contracts in SXtlIave. are
hurried along? Will this city ever have u GOV
eminent so efficient In all It's departments that
every contractor will be So thoroughly under
control that. no matter how much he may de-
sire 10 neglect, to delay or slight his toll lie WIFI
he forced TO do his full duty rs promptly and
MS vigorously as the contractors are now doing
| their duty in Siyth-avc.: