The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-23
CLEANING STREETS


1887. s47,7O6 SO .$i66,944 Os
ISIS. ............. 47,247 o. 80. lac, $50 81
iesV'' 3sui ~ i49,93O %
Is4l, 1904 "a ,l63 05
iot2,.. 44,6oS 90 l3l 1857 IS
The amount of receipts and expenditures will be the
amount for the year lsi2 when the of W. Gage
late superintendent of streets settled and in accord
snce with the accounts by him. and
file in the Comptrollers Office
The salaries of Street Inspectors included in the
items OF expendturethe office was in existence before
streets were swept by the public and the paid
has always been charged to salaries.
From this we perceive that the average total ex-
pendltures per for cleaning the streets for the
last six years, have been!$148 29l "a. The average
receipts for manure for the same time have been
$43,7l6 AZ. This gives the average expenses for
street sweeping, over and above receipts, 80, 575
AZ.
Such were the expenses under The cid system 1t
was then proposed to do it by contract And when
the proposals came in, it was discovered that re-
sponsble contractors, with undoubted security were
ready TO undertake the job at $24, 935-( Bartlett
Smlth's)-say SS25, 900. But this sum being 80 near
prime cost, the proposal was rejected. IT would be
proper for the contractors derive fair profit from
the job, and the Cooperation could have no objec-
ton 10 giving IT, But there were no such grounds
for rejecting the proposals of the Messrs Cummings,
4
temen well known to the New York public, men of
great practical experience, and fully competent to
make their own bargains they asked no favors,
and offered undoubted security. Moreover, they
are wings, and in case of change next year in the
city administration, they could have nothing to ex
pect from the democrats These gentlemen propose
to do the job for 45 OO0 and at that price calculate
they should clear $4,000 per annum, or the round
Of five
decere publicly that their proposal was made q" in
good faith. and until their credit is impeached up
on evidence see no reason for rejecting their pro-
posal.
We shall therefore assume that $45, 600 is fair
price. Deduct this from $l04,575 AZ, the average
heretofore paid, and we have $59,575 Al, say in
round numbers 100000. To this add the Ss2O, 900
nett profit which the Messrs. Cummings claim that
they can make per annum, and which is proved by
The proposal of Mr. Bartlett Smith at 1926, 600, and we
shall then have the goodly sum Of $50, 900, which
has been annually paid for cleaning streets over and
above the actual and necessary expenses. $4,000
for six years amount to $4SOOOO, nearly half a
million of dollars paid out of the city treasury, and
for which our citizens have been taxed. What an
astounding development is this What has become
of this money? What has been Done with 1t! Who
has got 1t!
BY these developments both political parties are
placed in a most singular and remarkable predica-
ment. 1t seems to us that no parallel can be found
to these facts, unless II be in romance like Gil
Bias or in the history OF some famous robbers or
renowned banditti. The two parties say are like
two robbers who live in two dark and mysterious
caves. They are not very friendly to each other,
but, being unable to make any profit out of each
other, these baRdtt agree to take their stand ami
cably by the road side for the plumber of unwary
travellers. The tive never together plumber the
same traveller; IT is one al time; and while the
one is committing the robbery the other is on the
look out against exposure. Thus matters go on for
many years. and the robbers both get rich although
the smarest will always get the most spoils At length
one OF the robbers from cause or other either
through the prayers OF some monk or for fear OF de-
lection, or because he is conscience stricken, pro-
poses to take less plumber from these innocent,
protected travellers. The other robbers objects The
first persists. They call each other great
drels, and quarrel fiercey At last the second rob-
Der foreseeng mischief, goes even farther than the
rst-he is for becoming honest altogether, and rob-
bng the people more at all. In the midst of this
violent quarrel the travellers collect together catch
both robbers and hold them up in triumph and
great is the public rejoicing. So here we have the
two robbers caves, Tammany Hall on one side of
the road and Masonic Hall on the other, and the
unwesry public travelling along between them In
the midst OF their plundering, and quarreng for
spoils, DO parties have been caught and held up to
the public gaze. 1t is not TO be wondered at, there
fore, that they should both feel ashamed and look
very ridiculously.
In the single department of street sweeping (and
what is done in the other departments is Yet I'M
known TO the public,) the plumber has amounted to
$4,000 per annum. And under the present
contract just now made py the committee, at $64,-
$50, il is pretty evident that the lucky contractors
will clear 900, nett profit. annually, $500 600
in five years, which the contract has to run. $500.
600 spoils Even the "Courer and Enquirer"
cannot stand th,s--it is too big a moWthfu and
sticks in its throat The "Amercan," being
pledged to swallow all prescriptions, is trying to get
1t down, but makes shocking wry faces. We hope
the wings will go on in their discoveries and deve-
Opponents. There are plenty more which could I'M
doubtedly be made, and which would knock the
Exploring Expedition" all into cooked hat, and
perhaps almost rival those of the Mechnburgh Gold
Mining Company.
CHATHAM THEATRE.-Mr. Lennox had very full
and fashionable house for his benefit, on Saturday
evening. Mr.. ]. p. Brown made very successful
debut on the occasion, in the character of Rob
Roy. capital bill is presented for this evening,
which will doubtless draw an OVERLOOKING house,
independent Of the reduced prices Of admission.
| which may be consideration with some All who
wish to indulge in a cheap, chaste and refined style
of amusement, crafty their propensities to the
fullest extent by spending an evening at the Chat
| ham Theatre where every effort is made to render
the entertainments in the highest degree gratifying
! and amusing