New-York tribune., 1903-04-09
". B. PRISONS SLOW.
Still Permits the BIOckdding of
Park Roc.
ENGINEER HAS POWER TO REMEDY.

ENGIN INEER HAS POWER TO REMED4 Z.
Only a cursory examination of the operations
of the Degnon- Mclean Contracting Company
along Park Row, between Ann and Centre sts,
IS necessary to convince Chief Engineer Par
sons, of the Rapid Transit Commission that
this contracting firm is occupying a large
amount Of roadway and sidewalk space unnec-
essarily. and that it Is not hurrying forward
its work An amazing quantity of short beams
paving stone. planking and rubbish has been
dumped and fenced in by the contractors along
this busy thoroughfare between the points
named. Immediately north of Ann-st. is the
anchorage of the hoisting plant. the engine for
which is at the northern end OF the block. Just
south of Beekman-st. Near the anchorage is
an area of street and sidewalk fully 40 by Is
feet. covered with chunks of beam that doubt
less used from time to time the subter
ranean work. These tin1bers have been there
for weeks. The space is simply store yard.
and the contractors. by using this space doubt
less save the rent of yard room at less conven-
lent point for themselves. Just north of the
beams is a pile OF tongue and groove panking
covering a twenty-foot stretch, every foot of
which is needed for pedestrians and vehicle
traffic. Then come alternating boarded spaces
and piles Of paving stones. the latter being the
blocks removed from the street, and all occupy
ing space that is needed by the public 1t is
fenced in, however and Chief Engineer Par
sons who was instructed by the Rapid Transit
Commission to stop all such abuses. allows 1t
to go on apparently without effective protest
North of Beekman st. in front OF the Potter
and Times buildings, may be found a success
sion of holes and piles of paving blocks and
short beams Fully half of these holes could
be covered without hindering the work below
and all of the refuse could be carted away.
leaving an unobstruCted street surface II ChleI
Engineer Parsons simply gave the order Ihere
is no power hoisting on this block. the work
being done from below. About the only pur-
nose that the openings from the surface serve.
apparently is to furnish better ventilation ana
light for the workmen below. The ventilation
is not needed and electricity would be good
enough fuminant if Chief Engineer Parsons
were jealous in giving the public foot room
along Park Row.
North Of Spruce-st and continuing up TO
Frankfort-st is another succession of holes
carefully fenced in. There is no power holstihs
here and about one-tnird Of the inclosed area
is used for storage of short beams, brick anu
paving stones. The fenced in space im1nedi-
ately north of spruce-st is from twenty @ ,ai1 10
thirty feet wide. reaching toward city han
Park and this is a locality where the hves ana
limbs Of people are endangered every DAY ioi
lack of space. -, ,or.
Last night no work was being done along
Park Row The hoisting engine at Beekman-st-
and Park Row was silent and no worknen weae ere
to be seen anywhere By the exercise OF IN
genuity and a little authority this work uiluer S
Park Row could be advanced night ana uds
and in rainy weather we'll In the streets or
Brooklyn yesterday paving contractors were set
ting curb and ripping up cobbestone paNeiIlehHtS ~
in tho rain and the men did seem to mind II,
either This was noticeable particularly alohs
HaIsev-st. from NOstrand-ave to Tompklns-
ave The work along Park Row is less eAposeu
and there is a CRYING need for il to be rushed 10
completion SO that the obtrustiVe ana usly
fences NAV come down. The authority for abat-
i1r+ tbocn Park Row nuisanCes soon as pos
si6Ia rests entirely with Chief Engineer Parsons
The Rapid Transit Commission has invested MN
With mower to compel the doing of the work ana
II II is not done promptly he can have OUTSIDERS
do II and charge the contractors with the eX-