New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-05
A PLEA FOR FORTY-SECOND-ST.
MERCHANTS WHOSE TRADE HAS SUI
FERED SUGGEST REMEDIES FOR DIRT
AND DISTRACTIONS.

THE old Forty Street Exploring Expedition
Company will shortly organize personally con-
Quoted tours TO view the remarkable aggregation
Of relics of early New ork-the ruins of the old
Croton Reservoir and old Bryant Park-the won
derful excavations within and without the old
Hotel Bristol, together with the granite monument
erected the sidewalk TO Rapid Transit: the
ruined driveway with the deep canyon. where the
projected subway may in time be built-a1l care
fully retained in the original condition ALLOWING for
wear and tear and natural disintegration) by the
Society for the Preservation of Ancient Land
marks of the ,ity of New York
strangers and the younger generations of New
Workers should not fail to view this quaint and
interesting section of the great metropolis before
the great changes. which must surely take place.
are developed for action"
Thus the merchants who do business along
Forty-second-st.. between Fifth and Sixth ayes,
vent their feelings turning humor a relief.
And it must he admitted that their particular sec
ton of the town has made especial sacrifices of
convenience and Ghe dealers say) OF trade to
the good Of the future" Between the changing
Of power to the underground trolley in Forty
second-st, the tearing down OF the reservoir, the
excavation for the subway and the construction
of the library, FOrty-second-st. has been in a
bad way for time. 1t hard that the
district should have much of the burden to
bear. and every effort should be made reduce
the inconvenience to a minimum. That, however,
according to tradesmen along the street whose
opinions borne out by the facts, is not being
done
''Forty-second- j. the only crosstovn thor
oughfare between FOrtieth and Fifty-sXth SITS. -
sand of the dealers affected the other day.
yet since the subway work began only the north
side has been available for foot passengers be-
tween Fifth and Sixth on the south side OF
the wagonway the subway excavation reaches TO
the tracks. and the north side subway ma
ter,als are delivered and often stored for con-
siderable periods the street is pretty efetcualy
barred for carriages. This not only prevents our
customers from coming to us, but has forced US
TO rent storehouse of the neighborhoOd, as
we cannot deliver or load our own goods at our
door.
But matters have been made worse. that
the old Hotel Bristol is being demolished. pile
of stones. used a support for subway machinery.
takes up space at the northwest corner OF Forty
second-st. and Fifth-ave. partly blocking the
street. and around this get piled old building
material and the like while the sidewalk passage
over four feet wide person coming TO that
corner, either in a carriage on foot, has little
enough temptation to keep down Forty second
toward SiXth-ave.. a fact that we can amply
attest by the diminished volume OF our business.
" a suggestion FOR remedy, the interested
cannot be built the Forty-second-st side
walk the length Of the Hotel Bristol and all refuse
dumped :nto carts over the top. that the side
walk may Toe free and ample; or, still better. why
the work cannot be done on the Ftfth-ave side
Of the hotel. where there is sidewalk on each
side of the street, and traffic Is at low summer
chh
Al any rate they feel that Forty-second-st. is
having more than its share OF burdens 10 bear,
and is likely 20 have for some time. unless meas
uIes are taken make the street and sidewalk
passable.