New-York tribune., 1902-08-05
COSTLY WORK OF RAZlNG
CITY WILL HAVE A BIG BILL FOR TEAR
ING DOWN BURNED ARMoRY WALLS

The prospects are that the city will have an
enormous bill to pay for the tearing down and
removal Of what remained of the list Regiment
Armory, at Thirty-fourth-st and Park-ave.,
after it was DESTROYED by first last February.
Canavan Brothers. who doing the work,
have had average OF four hundred men en-
ployed at the ruins ever since July H. accord
ing to statement made by Mr.. Canavan last
night. The laborers receive 50 a day. the car
penters S3 - and the shorers 81 20, Mr.. Cana
could give an approximate idea of what
the work had cost up to date 4 Tribune
porter who viewed the ruins yesterday afternoon
could see no one work watchman who was
stationed at the Thirty -fourth-st. entrance said
that the worknen had been withdrawn last
Wednesday. Mr.. Canavan declared last night,
however. that his men were at work on the ruins
yesterday, and that they had not been with
drawn at any time. He said that at times four
hundred and fifty men were engaged in tearing
down and removing the walls and debris All
that appears to have been accomplished, how
ever. is the removal OF the west wall, which was
cracked in places and pronounced dangerous by
inspectors of the Buildings Department The
watchmsn getd-that il would rfobab3 take
three months to clear away all the debris. The
wall that was removed of large granite
blocks These blocks according 10 Thomas o.
McGfl. chief inspector Of the Buildings Depart
rnent were considered to be the property OF
Canavan Brothers, and were used by them in
the building of a church
The Board OF Estimate has appropriated $l3-
$50 for this work as follows. On March >. S2.JoD
for the removal Of the ruins and the preparation
of the site for new building: July !, $500 for
boarding UP entrances, watchmen and supeTln-
tendents' time June 6, $4,000 TO provide means
for the construction Of a new building. 1t Is
likely that all Of this money will be eaten up
before the work is fairly started. Chief In
spector McGill said yesterday afternoon that
the department had received a bill from Cana
van Brothers for the work up TO and including
last Wednesday. Mr- McGill would not divulge
the amount of the bill Il was suggested that
the bill was public record, but Mr.. McCrlll
thought otherwise He said ii was being
checked up by the building inspectors who were
detailed on the work. and that several items OF
expense might be thrown out Until II had been
properly verified and accepted MI MCGilL dld
not consider it to be part Of the records OF the
department. Mr.. MCGin added that the WORK
was personally inspected daily by Perez NJ.
Stewart, Superintendent of Buildings.
Mr.. Stewart knew at the start SAID Mr., NC
Gin that no matter how conscientious and eco
nomical a Job was done. there would be some
criticism when the bill was rendered 1t was
safe TO assume that there would be some mol
Ter Therefore Mr. Stewart personally super
yised the work On occasion the contractor
toI6 him that he had one hundred and sixty
four men at work one of the walls MI Stew
art thought the number was less and the men
were ordered 10 line up so as to be counted.
There III men, anu MI. lana liili4iS
diately started an investigation TO find where
the additional seven men came from. 1t is al
legged that they slipped in over the walls and
through the openings to obtain time checks
when the days work was done. Watchtnen were
then stationed about the ruins to prevent repe-
ton of this abuse. -
The Canavan Brothers have a well equipped
emergency corps and all the paraphernaha
necessary for this class Of work. They hire
whatever help they need to do jobs OF this kind
and send their bills to this department NO.
there is no contract price, CanaVan brotheIs
are paid according to the number of men they
employ r, ,..
SUPERINTENDENT and James Flaming. Harry Nc
Gee P. H Raub and Thomas sanderson. in
srectors were assigned to the work in ADDITION
70 Nr Stewart himself. Mr.. McGill said that
C,anavan Brothers used their own money to pay
their workbench and would probably have to wait
civ months before being reimbursed by the city.