New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-07
INVASION OF COMFY.
Stands an Inch Orer Building Line
1ttackfd bN 1rcmcn.

Politics didn't help bit when the cohorts Of
| Durhn Van Week. Assistant Commissioner of
Public Norks~for Brooklyn. and Superintendent
'harIes cassidy of the Bureau Of membranes
ralded the picturesque frankfurter peanut and
popcorn souvenir programme and soda water
stands in Surf avenue. Cogey Island yesterday
morning. Even canvas signs and BARRIERS poles
were torn away by the raiders who ignored all
protests untl they had the main street Of Coney
disrohed from beginning to end
Like ar army. the foragers Of the Publ,c
Works Department started to carry out the or
der Of Borough President Coler that every stand
and building that extended twenty feet over. the
building line must come down. Armed with axes
and boat hooks, the men began the destruction
OF the far famed stands which have for years
added TO the innocent pleasure of Conveys Wis
itors.
The first stand which did not>m meet with the
approval of the Assistant Commissioner was a
popcorn concession, the property of Alderman
Lewis NJ Potter. The stand is in front of the
Culver Depot, and the alderman. who had been
tipped" stood guard long before the raiders
arrived. When the axemen approached the
stand the alderman protested and at the same
time explained that he was a member of the
Board OF Aldermen. I'VE can't discriminate
Your stand is all right hut the counter pro-
jects two inches over the line" was the reply
Then the command was given and the axes fell
on a pile Of rolled popcorn which projected a
little more than two inches over the line.
The enraged alderman said many things not
complimentary 10 the Borough Presidents Of
flee while the two inches were being cut off the
stand. which was completed only recently
Then the raiders, followed by Mr.. Potter and
almost every Coney Island business man at
tackled lemonade stand which has been doing
I'm Of a
The stand Tapped over the line exactly thirteen
inches few minutes work made Surf avenue
little wider AT that point
After few more signs and stands had been
removed the alderman and his followers asked
about the big electric sign which the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit maintains at the Culver Depot
We have given the railroad company an ex-
tension Of time. If they do not remove the
sign we Will tear it down Thursday" was
the reply.
As the work went on the crowd became so
large that the police reserves had to be called
from the Coney Island station. About this time
the invaders reached StuDenbord's Hotel in West
18th street Adjoining the hotel stands a flaRpole
which was set by James Stubenbord fifteen
years ago. The pole appeared TO be doomed
and Stubenbord stood, sadly waiting for the APP
proach Of the aXaman. Then he suddenly left
the pole and quickly returned with a new
American flag. While the crowd cheered a
nimble youth nailed the ensign TO the pole
When the raiders the flag they refused
70 btrlKe a do" which might fell the pole An
other rousing cheer given for the CoOrs.
and the department men continued down the
avenue, laying everything bare
When the last trimming had been removed
from Surf avenue the Coney Island business
men, headed by Alderman Potter. held a mass
meeting. Resolutions We're adopted and legal
advice will be taken. Although thousands Of
dollars viii be lost by the stand owners the
greatest loss will fall upon the hotel men. who
have been ordered TO remove their tables and
roast beef griddles and frankfurter counters ten
feet back from the walk. The places will prac-
tlcally have to be rebuilt
At the meeting it said that the order of
the Borough President could not stand, the
right to extend their places of business was
given under the old Ora vesend town law The
ordinance was not revoked when C0ney Island
became part OF New York