New-York tribune., 1900-11-09
PIPE GALLERIES DELAYED.
WORK STOPPED BECAUSE OF oBJEC-
TIONS FROM TWO CITY DE-
PARTMENTS

WORK was stopped yesterday the pipe galleries
which were begun about ten days ago on either
siue OF the rapid transit subway at Elm-st- THIS
suspension was decided upon after a consultation
between William Barclay Parsons chief engineer
or the Rapid Transit Commission and John B. NC
Donald the contractor
Alexander E. Orr. president OF the Rapid Transit
commission, said to Tribune reporter last night;
We are merely waiting for the opinions OF sew
erai committees before we go ahead There was
some question to proceeding lth the pipe gai-
leries and rather than proceed before all DOUBTS
were settled we thought we would better stop WORK
ror d short time. i did not know that work hao
already been stopped. We shall not go on until the
way clear"
George s. Rice. assistant engineer OF the COM
mission said that certain details had TO De ar
ranged before work could be resumed. He tnousht
the delay would be OF very short duration
John B. Mcdonald. contractor could not be seen
last night at his home No West Seventy-sec-
ond-st. and William Barclay Parsons when asNeu ~
the cause of the sudden suspension OF opeia1ioH9'
declined to talk upon the subject.
The Board of Rapid Transit Commissioners neiu
meeting yesterday afternoon. and the subject oi
the controversy made public. Horace Looms
chief engineer of the Department of Sewers oo-
1ects to the pipe galleries which Mr. Parsons mas
included in his plans of the Elrn-st- tunnel
G. W. Birdsall, chief engineer Of the Department
OF Water Supply. having received notice from tne
Rapid Transit Commission that the water pipes Oh
Elm-st.. between Bleecker-st and Fourth-aVe.'
The friction is entirely confined to the sewer anu
water departments. which are displeased at the
action Of the tunnel managers. There Is no con-
f1ict between property owners and the city.
Mr.. Looms. of the Department of Sewers. SAID;
BY the plan OF the Rapid. Transit Commission,
the twenty-four-inch sewer pipe Is buried IN tne
floor of the gallery, about seventeen feet below tle
sidewalk. The access to II is through an arnnnoie'
about one foot In diameter, which is entirely MADE
quate for the purpose OF cleaning. 1t appears "A
person wishing to dratn neighboring houses woulu
have to dig to a considerable depth. and would De
compelled to break through the concrete founda-
tons of the pipe galleries in order to reach eacn
sewer According to the proposed plan, other pipes
Will be placed In the gallery. greatly Inconvenience
Ing the operations of the sewer department Botn
Mr.. Birdsall OF the Water Supply Department ano
myself agree that IL would be to the interests OF
both departments that the gallery plan be apan,
doned, and that the sewer and water mains De laio
in the usual manner
The report of the departments OF sewers and
water supply this effect submitted to Par
Shepard Ogden counsel for the Rapid
Transit Commission, and the latter replied that the
gallery system superior to any other plan so
far devised. adding that the construction or the
galleries had begun. The reply explains that the
armholes objected to be made OF the desired
size. 1t points that sewer connections Will De
made at more frequent intervals than hitherto