New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-23
HOW 1T is WITHOUT A "PULL."
TALE OF DEFECTIVE SIDEWALK AND
THE EFFORTS TO GET 1T REPAIRED.

THE EFFORTS TO GET 1T REPAIRED
This Is tale that IL told primarily to illustrate
the incalculs bio Disadvantages OF not being the
proud possessor OF tina. most potent OF all things
in this imperial city. namely. viz. and TO wit.
pull with Tammsny Hall. 5econdary. Il is told
10 make so clear certain Of the beauties Of tho
present system OF borough government that tho
wayfaring man. though Tammany ofice-holder,
may not fall 10 discern them with the nude and
assisted eye.
Ismar S Ellison. who is the editor and proprie-
tor OF The United States Tobacco Journal lives
at No. As East Eighty-seyenth-st In travelling 20
and from his home ne had occasion away back in
prehistoric times 70 notice that the sidewalk In
front o. the property a. Nos IS. IS and 90 East
ghty-seventh-st. was in such condition as TO
constitute trap tor the guileless pedestrian The
flags misplaced and missing. and after a rain
fall the sidewalk thai particular point resem-
bled the Red Sea IN color and A mortar-box In con-
sistency In a moment OF temporary alteration
Mr. Ellison reported the matter TO Alderman
Homer Folks. lie has had no Joy since that fatal
hour away back in the later days Of last October,
and the sidewalk Is still snare TO the feet OF the
passersby
Alderman Folks is not a Tammany Official He
had had experience IN welghty matters Of the side
walk sort before. Consequently this occasion
he decided take expert advice. He therefore ap-
piled TO a real estate operator 20 the most es-
fective manner OF going about the business OF
he obtained:
Your remedy in case OF the bad sidewalk is 10
go to the Department OF Highways. have them
send the owner OF the lots in front OF which the
sidewalk is out OF order notice repair the
same; wait two weeks. and II II is not done. send a
complaint 10 the Board OF Local improvements.
and when II up have the Board recon-
mend that the city do the work II will then go 20
the Board OF Public Improvements and after they
get through monkeyng with It they will send Il 10
one OF the branches OF the Municipal Assembly.
presumably the Council. where Il will probably be
referred to the Committee Streets and High
ways, where It will probably rest for from one 10
six months be reported. ordered 10 a second read
ing and placed on general orders. In the OF
time II the term OF the Council has not then
PRED they will possibly forget themselves and
pass Il. II then the Board OF Aldermen.
where Il will probably be referred TO Alderman
Brldges-I should say. the Committee Streets
and Highways-who will report IT, after which II
can be passed as a general order. Il will then go
10 the Mayor who II Mr.. Croker has not been
beforehand by the owner OF the said lots will prob
ably sign Il. About thirty days thereafter the
tract could be advertised and let and about thirty
days more should see the Job finished. No charge
Keep the change
MR. FOLKS STARTS IN
When Mr.. Folks had revived himself with the
aid OF restoratives he drew long breath and went
to work. 1t may be said. in passing that Mr..
Folks is person OF indomitabe energy. On No
vember he wrote a brief note TO James p K.et-
ing Commissioner OF Highways calling attention
70 the defect in the sidewalk IN front OF Nos. IS 81
and 60 East Eighty-seventh-st.. and asking that
such action be taken az might be deemed proper
After getting a great deal or silence for his an
swer he wrote once more on November Il. calling
attention to the fact that November ne had
addressed note 70 Commissioner James P Keet-
Iaeo~ fN~u En-
Of Nos. etc. After the expiration OF eight dreary
days It being many weary miles from the Alder
mans home IN East E1ghty-seventh-st TO the Com
missioners office in Nassau-st, he received letter
from John D. Dreamer secretary OF the Department
OF Highways informing him that Commissions
Heating had referred 10 the engineer Of the De-
partment his letters regarding tbs defective side
walk At Nos. IS IS and 60 East sixty-seventh-st
Said Mr. Dreamer:
THE Commissioner desires 20 inform you
that when your first complaint received the
owners OF the property fronting on the defective
sidewalk were served with a notice 70 make the
| necessary repairs. denomination Is about TO
be made 10 ascertain II the notice has been com
piled with II Il be found that the notice has been
dlsregarded Il survey will be made upon which
10 base an estimate OF the cost Of the work In
order that the matter may be submitted 20 the
President OF the Borough OF Manhattan for pres
entation 70 the Local Board OF the district for
action pursuant 20 Section 800 OF the city charter
Il was with difficulty that Alderman Folks and
MT Ellison were able to contain their glee at this
glad Intelligence. But they did. When they had
accomplished this herculean feat the Alderman
took his pen IN hand write that he had no par
tcular fault find with any old sidewalk IN East
Sixty-seventh-st The sidewalk upon whose man
ners ne frowned in front OF Nos. o. % and
50 East Eighty-seventh-st. Would the Hon. Jonn
D Dreamer be good enough TO let MIN Kno" no"
] abO ObltgeF
Meanwhile November Joined all the other months
.bat have been and Nj Ellison and others grew
70 on December the Hon John D. Dreamer took
tvpewriter in hand to say that the notice had been
served on the right persons. and that any otner
impression that might be entertained by the Aioe5
man was due q typographical error. Mr. cream
The sidewalk in front OF No 60 East Eighty-sev-
! taken in respect thereto. The time limit Of inc
e Complied H' with this Department viii submit the
matter to the President OF the Borough OF Nanhst-
tan for 40 te session ss OF the Char
/ Ter may add that in the present stormy weather
| ID would be hardly possible TO put the defective
That was the last Alderman Folks heard OF the
mater toa ' Mo sonfnaed to defect and MI
Ellison sat up nights marvelling az the De 1Ies
Of borough government as administered oy lam
on december q Alderman Folks more rolled
his and MOT TTG;f fs pointed out
the incontrovertlble and melancholy iact that ne
defective sidewalk In front OF Nos. etc. etc, etc.
still detected and prayed for expedition But the
Fon Dreamer was enjoying the delights. OF -, me
aDv SitentIcn 10 the maunderings OF an Alderman
who had no pull with Croker?
AN APPEAL TO cooGAN
Alderman Folks oppressed with deep despair
| during more than three weeks while the ie'te'
| that he longed for never came. But some person
has said that hope springs eternal in the human
Eo1txa bavt