Harlem

WORK ON THE COMPLICATED SYSTEM of switches and the several stations that has been in progress on the Manhattan Elevated Railroad at One Hundred and Twenty-ninth street and Third avenue for the past twelve months will not be finished by July 1, as General Manager Fransloli two weeks ago promised. When the operations are finally completed every alternate train will run from the City Hall to One Hundred and Seventy-seventh street, the present terminus of the elevated road in the borough of the Bronx.

THE HARLEM PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY'S committee of the Women's National War Relief Association is raising money to help fit out the hospital ship Relief, which is expected to sail shortly for Cuba. Well on to $500 has already been turned over to the treasurer of the general committee.

THE MANAGERS OF THE WASHINGTON HEIGHTS FREE LIBRARY are contemplating the erection of a handsome building to keep pace with the increased demand for books that has been made within the past few months. The plans have not yet been drawn, but there is every probability that they will be shortly. About $40,000 is needed, one-fourth of which has been pledged already. Unless something unforeseen happens, ground will be broken in the early fall.

MISS MARY McELROY, general secretary of the Harlem Young Women's Christian Associations, now being held in London. She has written home that the conference is creating a more fraternal feeling among the different associations represented and the benefits of the gathering will be shown in the increased usefulness of the organization as a whole.

THE MARTIN J. KANE (Tammany Hall) ASSCOCIATION of the Thirty-third Assembly district had its annual excursion yesterday and it was remarkable because of the many accidents that occurred. To the number of about eight thousand the party left the pier at East One Hundred and Ninth Street at noon on four double decked barges with two steamers towing. A call was made at the East Seventy-third street pier, where three hundreds more were taken on board. A stiff southwest breeze was blowing when the flotilla started for hell Gate, and when off the upper end of Blackwell's island one of the tow ropes parted. Then the barges began to drift and in a few minutes one of them ran bump against the island. Four big fenders were smashed and a panic ensued. About two dozen of the excursionists jumped ashore, one of them being a woman, who first threw her baby onto the grass and then her baby carriage. After a time another tow rope was made fast, and while this was being accomplished eight of the people who had jumped ashore were brought back to the barges. On the way down the Sound a row boat was run down, but the solitary rower managed to climb on to the overturned craft and was afterward taken on board another boat. While lying at the pier at Idlewild Grove a man named Adam Cushen attempted to jump from one barge to another. He fell into the water instead. Frank Russell jumped in after him and when Cushen was brought out it was discovered that his face was terribly cut and bruised, he having hit the side of the barge when falling. A young woman named Ennis, who had witnessed the mishap to Cushen, was immediately seized with convulsions and for the next two hours her life was despaired of. A boy took a bad fit on the homeward trip, but he was all right when the party got home.

Bronx

THERE ARE SO MANY members of the Seventy-first Regiment (at present in Cuba) residents of the borough of Bronx, that an organization has been formed in that section known as the Seventy-first Regiment Aid Society. The work of the society consists in supplying the Bronx borough members of the regiment with what even necessaries they may need in camp life as well as caring for the families of any members left at home who may be in want. A lot of canned food and clothing has already been sent to the boys, and another consignment will shortly be forwarded.

WORK ON THE WILLIS AVENUE BRIDGE over the Harlem River has been resumed and Commissioner of Bridges Shea states that it will be pushed to a speedy completion. This is the third bridge to be constructed over the Harlem within four years, the other two being at Third avenue and Seventh avenue. When Willis avenue Bridge is completed there will be nine bridges for pedestrians connecting Manhattan and Bronx boroughs, seven of them being for vehicles and pedestrians.

DURING THE SUMMER vacation ten new school houses in Harlem and the Bronx borough will be completed and ready for occupancy when the fall term opens. Five are on the south side of the Harlem River and live on the north side. They are all in thickly populated districts and will very greatly relieve the crowded conditions in the old schools.