The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-09-14
BUILDING DELAY Z
ROUSES CITIZENS
TO INDIGNATION
Platforms at Broad and Market
Streets Are Declared to
Be Dangerous.

Announcement of the probability
that the Whitney, Steen Company,
which is erecting a skyscraper at Mar
ket and Broad streets for the Fire
mems Insurance Company. may not be
able to complete the work on contract
time, has aroused the Indignation OF
citizens who have to pass the corner
regularly and are annoyed and en-
dangered by the bridges covering the
sidewalk
Protest against the distractions in
the two main streets in the city began
to come in some time ago when 1t was
felt that they had been up long enough
1t was pointed out that the dummy
engine which was put up for hoisting
occupied a quarter of the width of the
street and Is a constant menace to
vehicles of every description; that the
steps leading down from the two
bridges almost reach the trolley tracks.
Only the constant watchfulness of the
policemen at the corner, which is au-
thoritatively said to be the second most
populous in the United States, has pre-
vented many accidents.
When asked about the building de-
partments attitude toward conditions
at the congested corner. Superintend-
ent William u. O'Rourke, of the build
ing department, said today:
THE building department is not con-
cerned about the length of time the
contractors take to complete the build
ing or whether it Is to be completed on
contract time. We would not be con-
cerned unless 1t became apparent that
the company was absolutely dilatory.
Our province Is to see that building
is safe. Concerning the sidewalk OBJ
structions, other departments have
Jurisdiction over that. As soon as the
foundation of the building Is COM
pleted the bridges can be raised to the
second story and the sidewalks re-
stored to the public.
Superintendent Dunn, who represents
the Whitney Steen Company in the
construction of the building, said to-
day that the Instructions over the
sidewalks would be removed this week
I'VE were delayed about a month, -
he admitted because after the work
of putting in the foundation was be-
gun we found that the sections of the
iron caissons were too light and thai
they buckled when they were driver
into the ground. 1t was necessary tc
replace them with heavier ones. After
this delay we have been running or
contract time and no more trouble Is
anticipated"
The permit for the erection of the
building. No. 0345S, signed by Mr.
O'Rourke and granted May rs, 1909, is
tackled up In an inconspicuous place
inside the shanty. About two weeks
after the permit was granted work on
the building was begun. The founda-
tion, thirty-fiye feet below the street
surface, was quickly excavated. Since
then the work has not gone on rapid
ly, 1t appears.
Foreman James Jones, in charge of
the night shift, declared last night
that the work is progressing favorably
"The prevailing opinion is that 1t
should be further advanced he was
! told.
He remained silent. Later he said
unfavorable conditions had been en-
countered in excavating.
The foundation walls have been laid
but the iron and steel work is not
progressing rapidly, and the building
is not yet up to the street level.