New-York tribune., 1903-03-26
ABOUT A HOLE IN THE GROUND.

1t is too bad about ex-Judge Abbott and his
worthy neisbbors in Joralemon-st- We sym
pathize with their distress over the invasion
of their refined circle by, Mr.. McDCHald's rude
italian Iaborers We regret exceedingly if the
sound Of the Sicilian dialect drives them sooner
than is their custom to rural retreats. But.
after all, they are supposed to want tunnel,
and who, even under a reform administration.
can make a tunnel without digging q hole?
Ex-JudRe Abbott grows sarcastic about the
tremendous powers Of the Rapid Transit Com
missioners. Bold, bad tyrants, they dare to dig
In front Of his house, when they ought, OF
course, to have dug in front Of somebody else's
house and got by his without putting him to
any inconvenience!
What do the people along the line Of the
Brooklyn tunnel want? A rapid transit COM
mission which shall not have power to build a
road? For years they have been demanding a
tunnel and complaining because the Rapid
Transit Commission was tearing up the streets
of Manhattan and was slow about disturbing
the pavement Of Brooklyn. Now when the
Brooklyn work is under way they are angry
because their streets have to be dug up, and
are crying out about the arbitrary power Of the
commission. They cannot eat their cake and
have it, too They cannot secure tunnel with
tons. In comparison with Manhattan people
they are extremely fortunate mortals. They
are in arms at the prospect of two shafts from
which the tunnel work is to be carried on. These
will interfere with the comfort Of residents.
In Manhattan not merely shafts have been
dug here and there. but whole streets have been
torn up from end to end. access to stores being
practically cut of, to the great injury OF busi-
ness. The Brooklyn shafts will be open. ii is
said, for nine months. The Manhattan streets
have been torn up for three years. Yet no mer-
| chant has received compensation for the dam
| ages caused to his business, but has considered
! the loss as his contribution to public welfare,
| while, as we understand it. the Brooklyn con-
tractor has promised to pay over 5000 to these
| Joralemou-st. gentlemen for disturbing their
| home comfort. not because he is legally obliged
| to- but because he wishes to proceed with good
feeling Yet they seem to have q notion that
| they are worse abused than the people in Park
ave. whose houses tumbled into the tunnel.
| They want rapid transit as much as anybody,
| only they want somebody else to put up with
the noise and dirt. They doubtless think that
the shafts should not have been sunk il their
high toned block, but in less aristocratic block
| down nearer the river, among the tenement
houses. Then they wouldn't have to pack up
| and go to their summer homes SO soon or ba
| obliged to live elsewhere in Brooklyn IN the
! fall. Yet IL they only rise out OF a narrow
| selfshness for moment they will realize how
much worse 1t would be to sink those shafts
under the windows Of the tenement houses
| whose inhabitants cannot go to the country for
six months and then live elsewhere for three
more in the fall till the holes are covered over
II there is q block along the line Of the tunnel
| where the people are we'll on and do in the
summer shut up their houses, that would seem
to be, Of all others. the block to dig in, rather
than the one teemlng with tenement house
children who cannot get away from the evil
| The Jornlemon-st. people should be thankful
for their blessings, thankful that they have only
nine months Of open street in prospect, thank.
| fuI that they can so much better than others
| suffer the unavoidable Inconvenience OF tunnel
| building. thankful TO have chance to show G
] little civic virtue and contribute. e only by