New-York tribune., 1910-12-18
BOROUGH GOSSIP
Some Benefits of Big ConStruo-
ton Work Not Always Evident.

The removal by the subway builders of
the old structures at Fulton street and
Hudson avenue has been of considera bic
advantage to the section. In fact. the
building OF the bridges and the approaches
to them. with the subsequent changes and
improvements, has been highly beneficial
to Brooklyn in a way that is not generally
taken into consideration. The building or
the old Brooklyn Bridge cleaned out one Of
the worst neighborhods in the city. There
was time when the police looked upon
course of training in the lower Fulton
street police sta ton much as the profess
sional man looks upon course at Heidel-
berg.
Any policeman who survived the orueai
was a master of his craft. Some of the
most efficient policemen Of the city got
their training in the precinct. The building
of the Brooklyn Bridge reduced the popu-
lation and cleaned out many Of the tough
est citizens. The obstruction Of the new
Manhattan Bridge, with it's wide approach
the Flatbush avenue eXtension-furtner
reduced the population of the section and
did away with many old houses that were
no ornament to the borough. The construc-
ton of the subway is continuing the work
The old buildings at Fulton street and
shopping and theatre district and across
the street from large modern structures
Their removal will result in the erection Of
presenta bic structures at the corner, in all
probability.
Dr. George Everson, formerly an alder
man. is pleased with Mayor Gaynor's at
tempt to suppress the newsstand graft. He
50 id d couple of days ago that while he
was in office he investigated the custom
regarding the stands and found that the
holders-very few of whom were citizens
" ere being taxed as high as $50 a month
py their political sponsors. He found, too,
that many street stands appeared in his
district, but he never got license for any
cne. It is his opinion that the aldermen
should lose the power Of granting street
stand privileges
The triangle at Joralemon and Fulton
streets, two sides Of which formed by
the Borough Hall and the County Court
II ouse. is soon TO reappear from under its
covering of planks and building materials
BrookIynites nave almost forgotten what
this triangle looks like. For several years
now it has been occupied most Of the time
by the subway builders. It's recent use has
been to store supplies while worl1men
heightened the subway station below. The
County Court House has had its troubles
from the same cause, and for years the
lawyers have been compelled to wind
through incosed paths climb over OBJ
stacles to get into the building I.aborers
are now relaying the sidewalk before the
building. and its normal appearance will
soon be restored.
Superintendent Woody of the Bureau of
D., D. II. 1i,,yrc and fN La
gin tomorrow to hang the twenty-five oil
paintings that have been knocking about
the Borough Hall for the last two or three
generations. Members of the Municipal
Art Commission visited Brooklyn on Thurs
day and looked the paintings over. They
expressed the opinion that three or four OF
them were good enough To put in the
metropolitan Museum of Art. They also
approved Mr.. Woody's scheme of placing
the pictures in the rotunda OF the Borough
Hall. They will be hung high enough to
protect them from vandals \ man from
the Brooklyn Museum will attend to the
hanging. The pictures were recently
cleaned and their frames We're repaired at
a cost of S4Do.
The elevator at the Borough Hall is
again In trouble. Those who are occupied
in the building. including the justices of
the Appellate DIVISION ana the Borough
President. are beginning TO feel that the
building is hoodooed Something OF serious
import is always happening to it, The
sign on the elevator states that 1t is not to
run for few days because of the install
lation of new controller.
ARMSTRONG WINTER MEETING.
Following its usual custom. the Brook
lyn Armstrong Association will have a win
ter gathering of its members. This Will
take place on Thursday. February g. at No