New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-23

the Mayor on August % WIN mat
amount i'm pro. pect contracts were pre-
pared covering the sections most in need
Of attention, including both the Firth
avenue and Madison avenue sections.
contracts were awarded on August
~ and registered within the earliest
time the formalities of the law and the
Finance Department would permlt-on
September IS" said Mr.. McAneny. THE
work on Fifth avenue between Goth and
SOth streets was commenced on Septem-
Der ~, and that on Madiso. avenue a
few days before"
Some of the property owners on Firth
avenue constantly sought delays in the
matter of removing their sidewalk en-
croachments, Mr.. McAneny explained,
and. as a consequence, it was not pos
sble to order the contractors to begin
work on the section between 42d and
Goth streets until week ago.
Delayed by Constant Rain.
Two days after the tearing up of the
old surface was commenced the rain
came. and il has been raining ever since,
but the work on Fifth avenue and Mad
son avenue will undoubtedly he finished
before the end of Novembet,' he con-
tihued. Amy interruption Of traffic on
Fifth avenue is complicating, but if the
new pavement is to he laid the old one
must come up. To object to torn-up con-
ditions under such circumstances is a
little absurd. An examination of the
streets made yesterday by Mr.. Froth-
ingham, Commissioner of Public Works,
shows that there is no unnecessary ac-
emulation of debris and no surface dis
turbance of any sort that is not abso-
lutely necessary TO a job OF this sort"
How about Madison avenue?" ne was
asked. The residents say il is all torn
up"
"On Madison avenue the work has
been delayed more than ordinarily for
the reason that tho Empire Subway
Company had applied for permission to
lay a new set of conduits throughout the
length Of the area to he paved, replied
Mr.. MCAneny, "and these had to he laid
under a trunk gas main, and for a large
part Of the distance through unex-
pcotedly encountered solid rock one
side of the avenue, from 5Oth to 59th
street, is, however, completely as
phalted."
The Borough President said that with
the 100000 appropriation his Bureau of
Highways had been hurrying the work
On St Nicholas avenue 42d, 9th and
- streets, as well as the two sections
on Madison and Fifth avenues.
The money for all these, except ODD
street, is to come from that appropria-
ton he explained and it would not
have been possible therefore, TO have
started any one OF these earlier in the
year.
In pursuance of my plan to put down
modern pavement IN place of the rotten
sort that | inherited, forty-one miles
have been laid during the present year.
as against eighteen miles in the last
year Of the preceding administration.
Because | have doubled the work the
amount Of incidental earring up' has
also been doubled. With so much work
going on at one time the city here and
there has looked ragged If there are
those who urge that for this reason the
work Of reraving should stop | shall be
glad 10 hear their arguments. but
should hardly expect to find them con-
vincing'
Must Wait for Water Department
Mr.. McAneny was asked about the
condition of Nassau street.
Nassau street has been necessarily
torn up by the Water Department for
the laying of high pressure pipes" he
said, and until the Water Commission
ers work there is done ] have no power
to remedy the conditions by replacing
the pavement There are sections of
other streets torn up for the same pur-
pose to which the same answer applies
and until the Water Department il
through / cannot touch them"
As among some Of the streets in which
new pavement is urgently needed Mr.
McAneny mentioned Broadway. from
59th To 92d street, Eighth avenue from
18Th To 18th street. and. In another
class. Broadway. from I2d street to
Vesey street, parts of Lexington avenua
1ith street and East j0th street nm,
these latter he will not include in his
immediate requirement. plans. because
the contemplated subway operations
would interfere with the stability Of new
Second avenue, between Odd and Hous- |
ton streets, will he made a testing
s,ound for some twelve varieties Of new
pavement. so that the reports made nv
MS examiners may have practical test /
In New York in time to make use of the
experience In the general plan OF repay |
ing all the rotten streets OF the borough.