New-York tribune., 1918-03-09
$780, 900 Granted
To Repave Streets
Estimate Board to Provide
Money for Repair Work
by Bond Issue

Determined that New York shall
cease to resemble an active sector of
the Western front, the BOARD of Esti-
mate yesterday allotted S3.50O.0OO for
repaving the streets of the five bor-
oughs, which is the largest single ap-
preparation for this purpose in several
years. This sum will be raised by the
issue of ffteen-year bonds.
The appor.ionment was divided as
follows: Manhattan, 50, 100000; Brook
lyn. 100000; The Bronx, $4OO,00O;
Queens. 100000. and Richmond. $780,
000 1t is understood that thorough
fares that have suffered by the build
ing of new subways will receive first
attention.
A vigorous campaign by Frank L.
bowling. Borough President, Won the
large Manhattan allotment. For a
month Mr. Bowling and Charles L.
Craig, Comptroller. made daily inspec-
tlons of the streets of the borough.
Portions of seventytive Manhattan
streets will be repaved with the money
appropriated yesterday, Mr.. Bowling
stated.
Twenty y-seven of the streets and
avenues leading to ferries end steam
ship piers will be repaved with granite
/ blocks Of the most modern type, and
forty-eight will be restored with sheet
/ asphalt" he said. ''ln nearly every
case the pavement will be laid on con-
crete foundation No wood block or
asphalt block will be used in the work
to be undertaken this year.
Mr.. Dowling said that seven of the
streets under which the new subways
run, including many parts of Lexing-
ton Avenue, Seventh Avenue. Broad
way, Varick. Canal. Church and Will
lam streets, will receive special at
tention. 1t is estimated that the largest
expenditure will be on Lexington Ave
nue. and Varick Street About $780,
600 will be spent on the former and
S150000 on the latter, while S125. 900
will so toward repaving Seventh Ave-
nue..
Bids for more than 100000 cubic
yards Of granite block and 100000
square yards of sheet asphalt will be
advertised on Monday. 1t is expected
that most OF the work will be under
way by May 1.
Leonard NJ. Wallstein, formerly Com
missioner of Accounts, now counsel for
the city government committee of the
Citizens Union, said that the repaving
Appropriation was a perverson of the
section OF the charter under which the
board purported to act, and would add
as points to the 1919 tax rate.
"The issue Of special revenue bonds
Tor this purpose marks. a perversion Of
the charter under which the board pur-
ported to act" said Mr.. Wallstein.
This could have been avoided if the
board had followed the usual practice
OF defraying this cost by the issuance
of tax notes redeemable over a period
of not less than five years. The burden
would be thus spread over the tax
leVleS OF several wears"
while the pay-as-you-go law pro-
hibits the issuance of corporate stock
to pay this cost, it does not prevent
the issuance of tax notes." continued
Mr.. Wallstein.
Mr.. Wallstein said that the boards
action in adding to the 1919 tax rate
seems to indicate that the policy of
the present board is TO "pile up i'm
mediate tax burdens on the public in
order that all the cty's borrowing
capacity that is possible may be pre-
served for tolicics of the administra-
ton yet to be announced, including per-
haps municipal ownership enterprises"
"The board purported to act under
subdivision of section 1873 of the
charter" continued Mr.. Wallstein;
Subdivision contains no limitations
upon the amount of special revenue
bonds which the board may authorize
1t was intended, and has hitherto been
used, to meet charges created by the
greatest emergency"