New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-05
FEAR SUBWAY CAVE-[N.
Large Section of Broaduay Sinks-
Dirt fa Tube.

That serious cave-in Of the subway between
loith and 16lst streets. in Broadway is immi-
hent is the opinion of workmen in the tube who
nave examined the walls and the alarming con-
oitions In the street above. Saturday night a
section twenty feet long and twelve feet wide
dropped out of Broadway at 16Oth street and
the water from the streets filtered through into
the subway. One-hundred- and -sixtieth street
is practically closed at Broadway. Sand in con-
siderable quantity was carried through holes
In the subway walls and piled on the tracks SO
that II trains had been running beyond 18th
street traffic would have been seriously crippled
In the last month several loaded wagons have
sunk into the road in Broadway near 16Oth
street Nothing, however, of these cave-ins was
seen in the tube itself until yesterday. A load
OF lumber was scattered over the road a week
ago by the hind wheels disappearing in five-
foot hole which opened up under it,
Complaints have been made as to the condi-
tion Of Broadway above 157th street, but no &C.
tion has been taken. The Interborough denied
that the subway had anything to do with the
pits in the street. Yesterday, however a Trib-
une reporter got into the subway despite the
opposition of the guards, and inspected the walls
near 16sth and 160th streets. Water was pour
ing out over the tracks and sand was piled up
along the walls, Everything indicated that
water had flowed into the tube in considerable
quantities. larger than was then the case. This
was Immediately under the big cave-in at 160th
street.
Many Washington Heights residents are so
fearful OF a disastrous cavern that they de-
clare they will not ride in the subway above
157th street when traffic is open there unless
something is done TO strengthen the walls and to
do away with pitfalls in the street above
The condition Of the streets in Broadway
between 157th and 161st streets has hampered
impossible to bring the teams directly in front
near the curb. directly over the eastern edge Of
the subway.
The Rev. Miles H. Gates of the Church of
said last night:
The condition of the subway in this part OF
the city is something awful. was appointed
chairman of a committee of the Washington
Heights Taxpayers Association. and was re-
quested 10 the authorities Although that
was almost two months ago. not even so much
brick has been touched. 1t is an outrage
this is Of the most travelled places In the
city. Conditions are dangerous in the extreme.
According TO a policeman. 1t is necessary TO
watch Broadway between 157th and 1s1st streets
continually. Although some parts OF the street
appear 10 be in good condition. he said, IT is not
safe 10 permit any kind of vehicle. no matter
how light it may be, to drive along the edge.
Frank Hadley, general manager OF the 1nt'r-
borough Rapid Transit Company, said last night
that he knew nothing of the conditions in the
street, but he knew positively that there was no
danger far the subway was concerned
When told that a Tribune reporter had made
personal inspection of the place, he said that he
could not sec how wagons could break through