New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-05
CLEAR FORTY SECOND ST.
TRIBUNE'S FIGHT Won.
This Paper Warmly Thanked for
Success of Vigorous Crusade.


IS interested in having Forty-second-st. re-
- - from q state of chaos. resembling junk
s s.o. alley. TO a decent thoroughfare was won
N. u iobt at Z O'Clock. when the ranmers and
.-. Ia- IN the employ Of the Degnon Contracting
p--..nsnv raInIl7ed down the last row of paving
.1.,s in front of the West Presbyterian Church.
"a left the street from Fifth-ave. TO Broadway
,ritb az unbroken surface
T-,e the paving hastily put down, and
.-ton the city gets ready to relay it in sub
,..n+iaI manner the temporary surface will have
. ba taken up. That did not detract, however,
s,on the Joy felt by the merchants and pedes-
.-,ors as they saw the street last night as it
--os years ago before the sappers and miners,
- 1reczers and exploders, and pipe men and
nd men. and cement layers and plumbers be-
can their strange doings with the self-respect-
ing street.
,s-ing over debris the merchants said nothing
- night as they surveyed the restoration.
rrov we're in a forgiving mood, and while gray
so,rs did not turn black once more, still there
r.s Youthful look to the men and women as
,,sr +rrdged along the way and glanced ap-
nrovinglv at the restored street.
For fear that the contractors will feel like
taking a holiday, 1t may as well be UNDERSTOOD
nv them that they are not yet discharged from
tbs work There were numerous broken wheel
bsrrous and tool boxes along the street last
night. This was particularly true of the north
ass- corner Of Fifth-ave and Forty-secono St,
where there IS an entrance to the subway. A
baegarv old wheelbarrow without any wheel
has been lying in various positions on the walk
at that point for TWO weeks at least The Deg
non Contracting Company disowns IT. They
,,,clad up q tool box yesterday within handshak-
nd III .
leaving the old semi-vehicle stranded and alone
Dereict and discouraged, the wreck took up the
walk last night and yielded never an inch. Men
fell over il and women's gowns scraped the dust
from its grimy sides. but it did not STIR II any
one breaks his bones on it the city will have to
nay the damage bill. There are score OF large
strong policenen who pass and repass this OBJ
struction day by day. Their station is at a
corner TWO blocks away. They rap this old
wreck with their night sticks and sceld POM
pously at the italian fruit cars in the street. but
they never are seized with the idea that they
could get this wreck out Of the way.
The Tribune began its attack on those re-
sponsibIe for turning Forty-second-s- into a
scrap heap less than two weeks ago. AS a re-
suit Of the agitation the street last night was
in such tidy condition that traffic was unoo-
structed except in front Of the Lincoln Bank.
where the city still has work to do in connecting
a wl+er main.
Michael J. Degnon. Street Cleaning Commits
sioner Woodbury. and Water Commissioner Oak
ley on Tuesday told Tribune reporter that
they would straighten things UP by Saturday
night by MeEGss I1leEEizsg At the latest Life
IS fran web. and the shortcomings OF political
human nature are proverbial. 1t is to the credit
Of the men mentioned that they kept faith with
The Tribune and the public.
The Degnon company still has noble WORE
TO DO in lower Elrn-st. in clearing it from junk
There are several blocks where the subway work
is done and where the paving should be pushed
TO rapid completion. The people are aroused
over the inconvenience they have suffered. and
from this time forward they Will insist upon a
decent regard for their rights along the sub
way.
Some Of the merchants have had their cellars
flooded along Forty-second-st. because Of acci-
dents in the subway work. They will bring
suits wherever they have cause of action. II
will be years before the city has heard the last
OF the Forty-second-st. nightmare. but the sub
sequent chapters viii be quieter, mere echoes
OF the siege that was not raised until last night.
The following letter was received last night:
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: On Saturday May 2S, conditions in this
nelshDoThood were Al lnelT MoISt' iltote ia
larly on the block between Fifth and sixth aVes'
The roadway was unfit for traffic, q deep trench
was open from avenue to avenue, the north side
walk heaped high with earth and paving
stones, and above these was piled garbage, de-
caying under the hot sun.
The situation seemed dangerous. We COM
municated to the Board Of Health, were referred
% the Street Cleaning Commissioner whom we
were unable to reach. and a letter to the
Mayors Office brought no better result.
Finding that something had TO be done, ana al
once, We teieDlgUrd The UeWSDa perS, ana Inc
Tribune Of the 30th described the situation in
Plain English. Tonight the roadway has been
repaved and opened for traffic from Fourth-a ave
% Broadway. the sidewalks have been cleared
and the street is ready for business.
II seems proper that should make due ac-
acknowledgement to The Tribune, on behalf OF
ihose who use the street to travel on or TO WORK
IN. for The signal service rendered by the series
ol articles which have without question helped
10 Drlng about this great change. Faithfully,
June T. l9a4. JOSEPH p NTZHUGH, 81 co.