New-York tribune., 1907-06-23
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH
Failing Picture Nearly Hits Coier-
asphalt Difficulties.

Borough President Coler had narrow escape
from severe injury the other day, and the trouble
which threatened him was all the result OF ms
attempt to be a good Democrat. Not long ago
he had Seth Lows picture removed from the wall
behind his desk and one Of Daniel ID. whitney,
who was Mayor Of Brooklyn in lhSb ana leSi put
IN its place The picture Of Whitney is one Of the
best in the Borough Hall collection. 1t was IN
caeed in a frame feet long and feet wide, and
with molding inches bread. When Coler or
dered the change. he said that he wanted Demo-
crat with him. Ife came nearer to getting MS NlS9
than he had anticipated. The picture was not
securely fastened 10 the wall. A few days after II
had been put Up. Mr.. Coer was busy at his desk
writing up a stirring bulletin for the edihcation of
the Brooklyn public. Whether Influenced by curl
ositv moved bv a spirit Of protest simply
drawn by the force Of gravity, ii will never be
known. but Whitney came down The heaNy
frame whizzed past the Borough Presidents pump
of destrUctiveness, as the phrenoogists call IT, ana
struck the floor with a crash like the sound OF a
falling Coney Island frankfurter stand
Some force IS interfering with ColeYs schemes %
coercing delinquent contractors into keeping their
guaranteed asphalt pavements II repair by tne
use of the recently opened nsnicpal asphalt
plant The bureau Of highways which has charge
OF the plant is unable 10 get from tne civil Service
Commissioners men enough to do the required
work At present, the bureau has succeeded in
getting only gang of twelve men II mas a
gang Of six men, but their number is too small 10
make them Of much service Influences were
brought 10 bear on the Board Of Estimate ana
Apnortionnent il is said before the appropriation
Of SIS 600 the erection Of the plant was granted
The same influences are understood to be acting
largely through ldhOT IeadefS IN preventing tif
borough from getting men 70 do its work II is
also held that the laborers at work under the
bureau of highways will shortly be persuaded TO
leave their Jobs by offers Of higher pay elsewhere
The plan Of the borough administration Is To patch
she guaranteed pavement in response TO complaints
sent IN by citizens, and charge the cost TO the
contra ctors This would come high 20 the con-
tractors that they would be forced in self-defence
live up to their contracts with the city and keep
the pavements patched.
The Borough Hall is having more trouble. The
officials beginning TO worry about the
cracks in the building which developing the
result Of the subway work in Joraemon street.
Many months ago similar cracks appeared In the
masonry OF the Municipal Building across the way
but the engineers believe that there is danger
of its falling. The engineers confident Of
the stability Of the Borough Hall For several
months past cracks have appeared the walls and
ceilings Of the lower floor and have been patched
up. The filing Of the basement corridor is
being ripped up and relaid This is not all. The
old clock, that has been troubling the watchless
people OF the neighborhood Of the Hall for years.
SIS again the rampage, and ic seems likely
that steps viii be taken within the life the pres
ent generation 10 have the incorrigihle timepiece
replaced with one that is more accurate. One or
another Of the four dials always records the wrong
time. Sometimes each dial has its own computa-
ton OF hour