New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-01
RYDER BLOCKED 42D-ST.
Street VIII BE Restored by Monday
Without Curb Cocks.

The TrIbune's fight for an abatement of the
intolerable obstruction nuisance IL, Forty-sec-
ond-st. yesterday killed a good thing Tam
many contract but 1t accomplished a saving OF
two weeks time IN completing the ditch work
between Madison and Sixth aves In Forty-sec-
ond-st There will be Tammany tears over the
killing of the snap
John T. Oakley Commissioner Of Water Sup
ply Gas and Electricity yesterday. after con-
sulting Michael J. Degnon. Street Cleaning Com
missioner Woodbury. and John b. Mcdonald
carceled a big plumbing contract In which ex-
Councilman Patrick ]. Ryder. Tammany leader
OF the lid District. is interested. BY doing
this he enabled the Degnon Contracting Com
pany TO hurry Its work in Forty-second-st
Michael J. Degnon and Commissioners Oakley
and Woodbury. last night united in the predc-
tion that Forty -second-st. would be restored 10
its normal condition next Monday morning
This would not have been possible If IT had not
been for the cancellation OF the plumbing con-
tract given by Commissioner OakIey's depart
ment To O'Brien & Ryder, OF No 154 Spring-st
This particular contract has old fashioned
look. II looks as if it belonged to the family Of
"Commercalsm in Politics" II. looks some
thing like the contract given by Park Commits
sioner Pallas to Harry c. Hart Tammany
leader OF the XXXth. In lieu OF a Tammany
commissIonership. No one outside OF the Water
Department knew anything about IT until a
Tribune reporter. In following up the Forty
second-st nuisance ran across the O'Brien &
Ryder contract. which was doing more 10 tie
up subway work and make business n night
mare to the merchants OF Forty-second- than
any other thing
August Belmont bright and early yesterday
Informed John B. Mcdonald that something
yVau 10 he
way work less troublesome in Forty-second-st
between Madison and Sixth aves Mr. Belmont
is one Of the big links in the chain Mr. Nc
Donald is another, and perhaps the biggest link
Mr.. Mcdonald told Michael ]. Degnen of the
Degnon Contracting Company, that something
would have to be done at once. Then Mr. Bel
mont according to Commissioner Woodbury's
statement to a Tribune reporter. asked him
to do what he could to raise the embargo in
Forty-second-st. At O'Clock there a con-
ference in Commissioner Oakley's office. attend
ed by Messrs. Oakley and Woodbury. and Charles
II. Bull engineer Of the Water Department
A Tribune reporter had just told Commissioner
Oakley that his department was to blame for
obstructing the subway work i'm the street be-
cause department contractors were putting in
curb water cocks all along the block Com
missioner Woodbury. verified this by saying to
Commissioner Oakley
Commissioner. I am told by Mr.. Degnon the
subway contractor. that he can close up the
work there by Monday morning of next week If
he does not have to put in twenty-five curb
cocks ordered in by your department This is
a new device. and putting them in involves a
large amount of work Mr.. Degnon says that
ii will take fourteen DAYS extra to put in these
curb cocks"
COUNTERMANDS THE ORDER.
IF that's the case then we won't put them
in," said Commissioner Oakley. Chief En-
gineer Hill of this department ordered the new
curb cocks in. l believe with him that they
would prove a good thing as they would make
it possible to shut off the water from the side
walk and obviate the necessity of digging
trench across the walk whenever anything is
the matter with the main connection. But IL
they are going to delay the subway work to that
extent I will issue an order at once to use the
old connections"
Mr.. Bull, the engineer. was summoned ana
said that II was true that putting In the new
curb cocks would delay the work great deal.
Mr.. Bull was requested by Commissioners Oakley
to cancel the order given 10 O'Brien & Ryder
for the new devices
.I will furnish the ashes to fill in the excava-
tIon along Forty -second-st.." said Major Wood
hur,, "After talking with Mr.. Degncn, l viii
say that the street will be put back in good
shane nv Monday morning of next week.
Michael + Deenon was directing the work in
secords. when found by a Tribune re-
porter
"yyhen ! told you a week ago that would
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