The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-22
HOUSES SLIPPING into HOLE.
y. II. X. TERMINAL UNDERMfNES
3fST STREET ROW.
Hurry work 10 Prop Up Ten ements Orders
TO People 10 Get Oni-Deep Wggins,
springs and TGlaw 10 Blame Woman
Wouldn't Climb Fence for Crowd.


The buildings on West Thirty first street
opposite the excavation for the Pennsyl-
yania terminal are going through about
the same experience as the residences on
Park avenue which had TO be propped up
when the subway was built.
Three three story brick tenements at
22o, 22s and 2sO were condemned yesterday
as unsafe and the tenants were ordered
out. The police OF the West Thirty seventh
street station were asked 10 make some
Of the tenants move.
The buildings yawned and gaped all
day until late yesterday afternoon they
looked like the defenoes OF Port Arthur.
They were shored up and the street was
closed Half dozen other buildings
were in nearly as bad shape and the tenants
may be ordered out at any time.
The depth Of the excavation is about
fifty feet along the Thirty-hrst street side
from Ninth to Seventh avenue. A big re-
tanning wall will be built from avenue to
avenue later on, backing up 10 within
few feet Of the foundations on the south
side Of Thirty-hrst street. Al present the
entire street, except a narrow sidewalk
on the south side, has been dug away
Even the sidewalk has been undermined,
SO that the foundations OF the tenements
have no support except such timber az
has been put 10 place.
As the excavations neared the required
depth Of fifty feet many of the tenements
between Eighth and Seventh avenues
settled. They were shored up and the
tenants Of two of them were ordered 10
leave a few weeks ago. Shortly after.
stream Of water was found under the build
ing on the southeast corner Of Eighth ave.
nue. and Thirty-frst street. and it became
unsafe. All the tenants left willingly except
one old woman, who had TO be carried out
A few days ago the excavation had pro-
ceeded so far that the houses between
Eighth and Ninth avenues began to crack.
A spring was found yesterday under 22o,
and the water which filed the excavation
as result of the warm weather tended
further 10 unsettle the foundations.
The Bureau Of Buildings has been watch
ing the tenements for several days, and
the owners have been warned TO look out
for their property. Inspector George l..
Amouroux was put in charge yesterday,
and last night he ordered the tenants out
Of 22G. 22s and 23O. Many OF them said
that they had no place to go, and the
Inspector decided to call in the police.
Four policemen Of the West Thirty seventh
street station were sent to help him. The
contractors offered to remove furniture
for tenants. Some OF the tenants accepted
the offer, but others were afraid 10 do 50,
for fear n might prove a quit claim for
any damages.
Besides the tenements at 226, 22s and
R,ta air ~ no hlprk xup
shored up. They hadn't settled 80 badly.
however, and the tenants were only or
dered to remain In the reer Of their apart
ments as much of the time as possible.
Nos 22e and 22s settled go rapidly that the
contractors had to work With hot haste
to keep them standing. This was about
O'Clock in tho afternoon and the tenants
still were in the buildings. Neither the
contractors nor the building authorities
would express any opinion as TO whether
the buildings would settle further.
As soon az the work had been finished
the narrow sidewalk was closed by building
fences at each end, one near Eighth avenue
and the other near Ninth avenue. As a
result the tenants on the block. both those
ordered to leave and those not ordered
20 leave, could get out OF the block only
by climbing fences.
The men didn't object, but some OF the
women did. One woman came out and
stood on the steps looking at the fence near
the house, with rueful countenance, Work.
men with red flags stood along the sidewalk
warning people away and one Of them
offered to help her climb over the fence
Il won't" she declared, you'll have 10
knock down the fence"
Several hundred men stopped their work
to look at the woman. She couldn't be
moved, and at last a foreman had TO order
a grinning workman to knock out a few
boards and the woman walked through
George Gregor1us, who owns two OF the
houses, used to keep a store on Eighth
avenue on the site of the excavation. He
was one Of tho last 10 give UP his plnce.