New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-02-04
BRIDGE APPROACH DUMP.
Merchants Complain Bitterly Of
Conditions Near williamsburg Span

From the Bowery Realty and Business Mems
Association The Tribune received yesterday
photograph OF the Manhattan approach to the
Williamsburg Bridge, with this explanatory note
beneath:
No. these are not the ruins of Pompeii. Ii is
scene In 1905 OF the much talked of approach TO
the Williamsburg Bridge. Property condemned
then it has been used public dump-a dis
graceful and unhealthy condition of affairs
The photograph represents what appears to be
Brooklyn dumping ground. with bridge tower In
the far distance. and pawnbroker's sign planted
IN the largest dump.
Inquiries made by a Tribune reporter among
the property holders and storekeepers in this long
suffering district elected vertahle chorus Of
protests and complaints. According TO the state
of divers merchants the site of the approach
is habitually made dumping ground for snow
loads, ashes and garbage the spasmodic filling
in of i've blocks is the result of nearly twelve
months work. Business has fallen off at least SO
per result of present conditions. they say.
Charges of wanton hardness. and even petty
graft freely made.
Il estimate that my business has fallen off at
least 80 per cent this winter said Mr.. Sharfarman,
who a hat store at No. 80 Dclancey-st "They
started work here about May began filling in spas
medically in November, stopped before Christmas.
and here is February come around, and the blocks
are only filed in far Orchard and Allen SITS,
and those only partly. What is the reason? 1t is
a common sight to carts dump their loads
here after dark. to save taking them down TO the
dock.
81 hear that for dumping dirt. etc. here charge
is made of 80 cents for single and ca cents for
double load As the contractor is paid by the city
for filling in I don't what excuse he has for
charging other people for doing his work. The
whole thing is a shame. that's what it is. But
what remedy have we? They don't pay any atten
ton to US
The whole street looks II it had been bonn
barded" said .. Stern of No g. real estate agent,
notary and the proprietor Of New Atlantic Hall.
we to be charged high rents because of the
improvements and this is all get from them.
Ali work was left off a month ago. and business
cannot help feeling the effect OF the bad conditions
here"
John F. Ahearn, President of the Borough of
Manhattan, who has charge of the work on the
bridge approach was absent from his office yeSter-
day. His secretary, however. quoted as
saying:
That picture is old, and does not show how the
approach Whatever imperfectons there
the snow has covered up, il looks pretty we'll
The approach never used dumping ground
A lot Of buildings torn down, and. OF course,
things won't look very fine till the approach is
cleared and graded. Later on trees Will be planted
all along the approach, and IT VIII be a sort of
park-if get the appropriation we want
Meanwhile, the snow covers a lot of imperfections
From the reporters Investigations, however, the
accumulated snow revealed quite many imper
fections as II concealed. Furthermore as the sub
way signboards limited at revelations in cracked
tiles when the signs should be removed. so the
charitable mantle of grimy snow portended a sur
prising spectacle when the thaw should set in.