New-York tribune., 1902-05-18
MR.. LOW RIDES IN A SEWER
PRESIDENT SWANSTROM SHOWS HIM
SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS AND
NEEDS OF BROOKLYN.

Mayor Low, Controller Grout and a number
OF the other city officials enjoyed novel eX-
perience yesterday afternoon in South Brook
lyn when they took an automobile ride in
sewer which is one of the largest in the world
They went in 1,400 feet. The sewer was entered
at Second-ave. and Forty y-seventh-st. by an So
foot ladder. The tunnel is new one, u feet in
diameter and has been in course Of construction
for some time. Until yesterday morning it con-
tanned four feet Of water, but this pumped
out TO permit Of the inspection by the city off,
cials
The trip arranged by President Swan
strom of the Borough of Brooklyn. Two parlor
cars were obtained and loaded with the Brook
lyn officials and a number of newspaper re-
porters, left the Borough Hall at 1:30 o'clock.
going direct to Manhattan over the Brooklyn
Bridge. Mayor Low and his party were taken
aboard at the point that is the daily scene Of
much congestion, and the sped rapidly
to the main entrance OF Prospect Park. where
Mr.. Redhed had fourteen automobiles in wait
ing. Here noses counted and it was
found that the party included in addition TO
Mayor Low. President Swaustrom and Mr.. Red
field, Borough Presidents Cantor. Haffen. Crom-
we'll and Cassidy, President Fornes OF the Board
of Aldermen, Aldermen McInnes Wirth and
Wentz; Mr.. Thatcher, Brooklyn Commissioner
of Sewers; Park Commissioner Young. and a
number OF interested in the welfare OF
Flatbush.
The automobiles driven through the park
10 the Willink entrance. where Commissioner
Young explained in detail his plan for the
QUESTION OF property for the Improvement OF
the entrance. Maps were produced and studied
by Mr.. Low. who showed great interest in the
scheme. The party then proceeded up Flatbush-
ave, led by squad OF mounted park police, to
Erasmus Hall High School where they
ceived by Dr. Walter b. Gunnison, principal OF
the school The Mayor was decorated with the
Medal of Erasmus, which pinned TO the
lapel of his coat. and worn by him for the rest
of the day.
The next stop was at the entrance TO a COM
pleted section of the sewer at Fourth-ave. and
SiXty-fcurth-st The sewer has been built at
this point distance of forty feet The party
was lowered into the tunnel by improvised ele-
vator. The sewer is eighty feet beneath the sur
6econd-ave. and SiXty-seventh-st. No elevator
had been constructed here and ladders were
Used. Mr.. Low showed much agility in descend
ing and ascending the ladder. did the other
members Of the party, including President Cas-
sidy, of Queens. who is somewhat corpulent and
puffed a good deal.
The two automobiles had previously been low
cred into the hole by d derrick and the tunnel
was lighted with five hundred candles. The first
automobile took Mayor Low. Controller Grout
Mr.. Redfeld and President Swanstrom The sec
ton of the sewer extends from Second-ave. to
the river front. Mr.. Low said that IL was n
most novel experience, and expressed himself
as delighted with the
After the sewer trip, the party went to the
Marine and Field Club at Bath Beach, where
luncheon was served Then. by way Of Ulmer
Park, the automobiles proceeded to Coney ISL
and, and Commissioner Young showed Mayor
Low and the members of the Board OF Estimate
and Apportionment what the Concourse
Park will look like. The next stop was at Com
missioner Youngs house, in Lincoln Road and
the last at the Wildwood Club in Flatbush,
where a real old fashioned Dutch dinner was
given.
Each guest was provided with an old Dutch
church warden pipe, and a choice brand of to-
bacco. The menu was printed in Dutch, and
there was elaborate souvenir, bound in
leather for each guest Edmund d. Fisher de-
Hvered an original poem dedicated to the Board
Of Estimate and Apportionment. William H.
Garrison presided and introduced the Rev.
DIR. c. L. Wells. pastor of the Flatbush Dutch
Reformed Church, who, in behalf of the resi-
dents Of F'latbush delivered an address of well
come. Mayor Low responded briefly, speaking
principally Of the beauties of Flatbush