New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-05-12
WHOLE NO. 1896.

cornnuncse rore fully 10 YOU the practical operstion
OF this system but when il shall have commenced the
duties Involving upon H. Ii viii be my duty 20 call your
attention thereto with view to such seton on your
part may requisite for the protection OF the Civ
The Poles Sysfea also demands your careful invest
CATION with view 70 ascertain II csnnot be so I'm
proved 20 be eficent and servicesbe. 10 has
been In operation sufficient tme to enable TO form
ust estimate Of It's worth, and regret the necessity
which eompels thus officially TO state that so far as
my own observations extend Il has failed TO meet the
lust expectations OF thc community.
The enormous snnusl cutsy necessary tor ts support
has not produced corresponding BENEFITS either in the
prevention Of crime or Ike arrest Of offenders and t.s
The opinion OF candid and observing minds that the
GOOD order and quiet OF the City have no, been more
CONSPICUOUS than under the former system.
on the l5th March ls47 the Chief Of Police reported
10 the Board Of Aldermen that although the nominal
force OF the Police under his control comprised 200 men
there were but go ~ for ordinary duty and that during
tie three months ending January 81 lei1 the sctus ioss
of services OF Policemen from sickness and suspensions
amounted TO 672 days being an average OF o. men eacn
day and az there - men on day stations VINO 90
not perform duty during the night the number sctusy
available for night service only be sol men. but one
half of HON duty at time, and yet this system
which affords 80 little protection 10 citizens and their
property more especially at night ssupported and con
tnued AZ an annual expense Of si790o0 This enormous
expense Is for salaries only and not include the lighting
OF the staonhouses which requires an average cost Of
S2i0. nor the hltingup and repairing oil the stshon
houses which In Instances at least has been done
At great expense -,
Such large expenditure 10 this Department without
being productive of those beneficial results for which
the community had right 10 look forms In my opinion
a good reason for discontnung or essentially modify
ing system which makes nonproducers OF w men
who might by mechanical or other pursuits support
themselves end families snd thus contribute their quota
10 the general prosperity Of the community 10 hisyew
| recommend for your consideration the propriety
OF memoriazing the Legislature 10 abolish the
present Police system, II 4 can De seeompl s bed
present force during the unexpired term OF their sp
pontment beg 10 suggest Tor your consideration, as
substitute for the present inefficient system the es,ao
lishuent of night watch, 10 consist Of LOO men, who
would be enabled in addition to performing their duties
AZ watchmen 20 pursue their ordinary syocs,ions du'
ring the day The City should be divided into not less
thar nine watch districts with Captain and Assistant
CAPTAIN In each and for the ordinary police duties re-
qured 10 be performed during the day sufficient num-
Der of Marshas might be- appointed 10 attend the
Courts and to Street Inspectors Health War
dens sc. and these might be so connected with the
NIGHT Watch that both would cooperate tremendously
and efficiently.
Under this or similar system, the fun complement,
of men would be always on duty without any additional
expense and In the OF few or many being absent
their plsces would be supplied by substitutes who
would only be paid for the time they were actually on
duty From a careful estimate on this subject am
prepared to assert that allowing TO the Night Wstch ne
ann of Al % per night the expense OF maintaining
such an establishment would be less annually by upward
of sC0 COO while additional security at night would be
insured from the increased number OF men on duty,
and all the duties OF NOuu uc tHStcneJ
performed as NOW.
The enormous and increasing expenditures under the
head of Claiming Streets, call loudly Tor thorough
change and reform in this Department OF the City Gov
eminent The net expense for this object last year was
sll7l97 30 and while there is ground TO doubt the
fact of the expenditure there IL equally none Tor sup
posing that IL for cleaning streets tor source
OF just and general complaint that the streets were
never more neglected and that very little or no effort
has been made render them comfortable to our Gu
zens The amount appropriated under this head Tor the
current year 10 Sl35000 and OF this there has already
been expended up 10 May le7 the sum OF SoI 9o le,
which has been paid outdurng four months when
iris well known that little nothing can be done toward
the claiming OF streets at that season OF the year IL
similar rate OF expenditure should be continued tnrougn
the year this Department alone VIII require nearly
600 but trust that your wisdom and prudence Will Lead
TO the prompt adoption of some system whereby TINS ex
trayaeant and wasteful expenditure Will be checked
while At the same time the condition of the streets shall
be such as will insure cleanliness health and comfort
and this too at greatly reduced rate OF expenditure
After careful elaboration feel AZ liberty to sugges
for your consideration the adoption OF system oil con
tracts 10 be given TO responsible men, and am well as
sured that by this large amount would annually
be saved the City Treasury while the streets would
be kept in much better and more cleany stale Inc
City might be divided into not less than eight districts
and provision should be made 10 have the great thorough
fares swept before o'clock In the mornings and the
manure and rubbish removed Immediately rom the
civ The subject is one of such importance feel
that cannot too strongly impress upon your stten.
| ZION the necessity Of early action thereon and
cannot doubt that such system as wise aud careful e
gialaton would mature would II faithfully carried out
ba the means of saving annually at least $4,000 10 the
Cty Treasury while would be entirely acceptable 10
| the whole community. -,
The Department of Lamps and Gas elsms and WILL
doubt not receive early attention Al your hands, win
| A view 10 the reduction of the large amount pow ex
pended in lie support The expenses for lighting the
streets markets station houses &c. for the year lsio
amounted 10 sl62 $50 81 There about 1900 lamps
supplied with gas. and 1900 with OIL the former South
of Grand ST. costing about Sll per lamp, and those
North OF that street SIS, while those lighted with OIL
cost about S each "A the gas affords the most hight
and as Il is believed thatthe City could be lighted with
more economically than with oil, recommend the
gradual dscontnusnce of the oil lamps and the Lighting
of all the streets IL can be effected win gas
This subject however will doubtless receive your early
Consideration and 10 your wisdom commit II, In the
assurance that you will adopt such measures a. VIII con
duce to economy expenditure and the convenience Of
''' CRoTON AQUEDUCT.
This noble work the enduring onument Of the enter
urse of our City Of which all so Justly proud, and
whose value is each day more and more orcioy Illus
trsed and properly appreciated fulns all the expecta
tons which were formed OF II at us concepuon snd Is
| rapidly approaching completion.
The work AZ the High Bridge Is nearly finished and i
Ia TO be hoped that the duties OF the Water Commission
appointed by the State will then cease and the expense
thereby incurred be saved 10 the City. The amount
maid for salaries 10 the officers connected with the Com
mission amounted last year TO the sum Of sl2yJl 10
take great pleasure In referring TO the administration
of the affairs OF the CrOton Aqueduct DePsrtusnl UNI
der the supervision and direction Of It's present able and
competent head Its manifold and responsible duties
have received prompt attention. and its affairs ara In
most prosperous condition. The revenue IL constantly
increasing aud we may reasonably indulge In the ex
pectaton that the day is not far dissnt when the re-
cepts will be adequate 30 discharge the interest on the
debt incurred for the construction OF this noble WORK
and thereby relieve the citizens from the burden oil
| taxation now imposed for that purpose.
The receipts OF the Department for the year ending
April 30 s47 have been sl9455l 81 being an increase
over the preceding year OF SCOOPS e. and the expendi
lures for all purposes including the purchase and laying
down Of over four miles OF wster-ppe were sJi3g3 "a
being decrease from the preceding yesr OF " OoDb-
There are now laid down 10 the City 40 miles OF water
| pipe with the structures appertainng thereto Inc
number Of permits Issued 10 vstsrtakers Is over l0OJO
and the Department is In al rs aspects In prosPeron,
| and Aourishing condition.
During the past year another and responsioe duty
has been imposed on the Croton Aqueduct Department
viz the care Of Sewers and Cglverts, and the connec
tons opening into them The receipts for connections
from private dwellings into the public sewers rem me
lst May 1916 to the 30th April, l-47 haze been $50
and the expenses for the construction Of ne" euyers
and repairing end cleaning sewers Tor the same Period
was s5O77 60. There now 81 miles OF public ana
private sewers in the City and during the current year
| a large addition 10 them will be made
The importance Of proper drainage 10 every city IL 30
upverssly conceded and ia necessity 90 inperously
demanded in our own Metropolis that your seton vii
BE- bat secondary In granting the applications for new
sewers which will be made 10 you. number OF tboss
now 10 use are totally un,uted 20 the purposes for which
they were constructed 10 point OF size and the per