New-York tribune., 1906-12-17
A SLUMP IN WALL ST.
PAVEMENT DROPS DOWN.
Break IN Main Nay Mean Buildings
Without LIGHT and Steam TO-daY.

With crash which could be heard for blocks
and which followed by the blowing off OF
steam more than seventy-fve feet of asphalt COW
cred street in Wall street between Nassau and
William streets. sank from three eleven feet
yesterday afternoon, and for more than hours
not only made the street impossible, but caused
great worry to contractors it being feared that
tall buildings in course of construction r the vi
cnity might have beer damaged.
Contractors announced late in the evening that
little damage had been done to property and
that the cave-iE due the breaking of
water main, which undermined steam, gas and
water pipes
SO far as can be learned. he most serious phase
of the accident will make itself felt to-day. when
office buildings in Wall street between Nassau
and William streets will be entirely deprived O.:
their steam electricity and gas. Elevators in these
buildings will he compelled to shut down as a
consequence.
For the last six months contractors have been
erecting ten story building for the Trust Com
pany of America at No. 81 to 43 Wall street. The
basement and sub-basement work done by the
Foundation Company, of No. S5 Nassau street, and
the building being built by the George A.
Fuller Company of No. III Broadway
The cave-in shortly after 4:3o o'clock. With
a roar the asphalt sank down. This was followed
by a blast of steam, which shot up from the
ground with a noise that could be heard at South
Ferry. Practically the only persons in that section
of the city at the time watchmen of the vari-
Gus large buildings. and they rushed the street
in alarm. When they the large hole they fed
10 other streets. fearing that the foundations
might be undermined and the collapse of the
buildings. A large crowd gathered at once and
the reserves called out.
Because of the great clouds of steam II was i'm
possible for some time to tell just what had hap
pened. 1t could be seen that directly in front of
the Trust Companys building hole about sew
enty-five feet in length had been made in the
asphalt At the end near William street, the hole
three feet in depth. forty feet in length and
twenty feet wide At the other end of the hole
about eleven feet in depth and twenty feet
wide. Efforts made turn off the steam by
watchmen and janitors. but il was found to be
impossible. and the New York Steam Heating
Company. which owns the broken pipe was told
OF the break. Superintendent Richards quickly
appeared on the scene with a squad of men and
the steam. which had been shooting up for more
than hour, finally shut off
The steam pipe Is inches in diameter a nd
right beside 1t Pinch water main and a
6-inch gas main. These apparently were not IN
jured. Superintendents Of the contracting firms
were notified, and although they only made a
slight examination of the foundations the build
inGs they said that there was no danger Of q
collapse. Among the buildings which will suffer from
containing the offices of J. p Morgan & Co the
Mills Building the United States Trust Comnanv
building. the SUb-Treasury building and the Gal
latin National Bank beiding.
When seen at his home No los East 18th street
Edward S. Jarrett treasurer of the Foundation
Company, said; 1.-The ca vein so far as can Ioar,
was due TO the breaking of Il water main Our
work has been completed for some time In.
doubtedly some heavy iron beams were thrown on
the asphalt. and this broke water main The
water undermined the steam pipe and naturally it
broke. Such things often during the erection
of large building. The foundation of the, Trust
company building is damaged in way. and | do
not believe that any other buildings Injured"