The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-09


hill grounds-tunnelling through hills, and sometimes
elevated ten TO eighty feet above the natural sur
face passing streams which flow at times with torrent
mower heir rugged channels. must uire
watchful and experienced supervision to maintain in
proper condition the general line Of the work and the
structures in hydraulic architecture which
constitute this great Improvement The consequence
any material failure by which the supply of TO
the city would be cut of. for short time, will
impress every with the cslamtous nature Of such
event Thus far the work has proved comp cnt to
furnish uninterrupted supply from its first intro
ductiOn in July, 1872 and there is to doubt
that the yigilant and competent will
perpetuate for TO this rich blessing to tho c
ty II Is believed that heavy expenditures will in
future be required for its maintenance but generally
such only as may be necessary for its competent and
faithful supervision.
From statements furnished to me, learn that the
receipts of the department from water rents for the
year ending May 1st S255 O53 90, against S22l-
U35 10 for the lS47 showing increase the
previous year Of S834l7 go The same, or nearly the
rate of increase through tho past five years
from which the anticipation may safely be INDUCED
that the predictions concerning this great work will
be abundany verified and that the rents at very
distant period of time will be sufficient to meet the
nua interest the entire debt This constant annu
al increase of receipts added to economical and pru
dent expenditure, has reduced the tax the water
from 20 cents in 1912 to IL 90l00 in lS49 and there is
doubt that this tax will be stl further re-
duced
The Street Commissioners Department, which in
wolves such vast interests demands attention at your
hands with view of efecting such changes in the ad
minstation of its affairs shall be deemed proper
and necessary By existing ordinances the duty of
missioner, in conjunction with his assistant and the
first clerk and has grown into one OF no inconsderable
the past years has the first clerk upon whom the
calculations mainly imposcd) been able to keep up
with he return OF work to the Office. would, there
fore suggest for the consideration of your honorable
body the proprety of transferring this duty to per-
manent board of assessors to be hereafter organized and
whose compensation therefor shall be included in the
expenses Of the assessments; all of which being
trust account the expenses should be borne by the
persons or property for whose benefit the duty is per-
formed.
The copying of the assessment lists, after conirma-
ton entrusted to the second clerk should also be
imposed the Beard of Assessors. By this arrange
ment, am confident that this work would be as WELL
if not better done than at and the department
would be enabled to dispense with the services Of the
first clerk while the second clerk would devote of
his time to other important duties in the office.
Assessment sales and the preparation for them,
(the details of which require great experience and
careful examination of the proceedings, in order
to insure full notice and entire fairness to Of
property as well as security to purchasers at such
sales might perhaps also be referred with advantage to
this Board
The act in relation to the Croton Aqucduct Depart
ment will relieve the Street Commissioner from
duty imposed upon him, in the construction,
repairing and cleaning Of sewers these being by the
4h section of the act transferred to the Croton Aque
duet Department The remaining duties of the Street
Commissioner in relation to wharves and piers, lands
and places, street regulating and paving the redemp
ton of property sold for with various other
partment of leading Importance in the administra
tion of the city government.
have been avorably impressed with the superiority |
Of the pavement in Broadway in the vicinity Of
the Park that Of the cobble stone pavement in
ordinary use 1t presents a much cleaner. smoother
and more durable surface, and promises greater exemp
tion from constant arrangement and consequently less
frequent interruption to the public travel The annual
expense for repairs well that for cleaning the
face must be very considerably decreased 1t is be-
ieved that it will also essentially diminish the of
vehicles produce less fatigue to horses and add much
to the comfort of passengers 1t must also from
greater the fire engines and other apparatus whose
expenditures of the Fire Department The time con
sumed in reaching the fire will of course be lessened
its extinguishment. There are other obvious advan-
tages in this mode of pavement to which 1t is not ne
cessary at present to advert
deem the subject of sufficient interest to the public
to submit to your judgment, whether along the throng
ed thoroughares of the city, this other similar
mode Of pavement, might not If the public treasury
will permit, be advantageously extended
The Department of Lamps and Gas is one of great
and growing Importance, and from the report made to
me by the present superintendent it would appear
that his aim has been to substitute rapidly as has
been possible gas lamps instead of oil lamps through
out the lamp district. From the numerous petitions
constantly presented to the Common Council for light
ing streets with gas the conclusion is irresistible that
the inhabitants from their experience in both modes |
of lighting streets, have shown decided preference
for gas light that of oil The course of the de-
parment. therefore, is in judgment in accordance
with the wishes of the citizens generally and long
the expense is confined to the amount appropriated
for oil wherever it can be effected The number of
lamps required to light all the streets below AID
street, now lighted with oil, would involve only the
additional expense Of the gas posts and fixtures for
them. The whole number Of oil lamps at present in
is 672o and of lamps, 45l9 besides about four
hundred which will be ready for about the first Of
June. Another reason which seems to me to justify
the speedy substitution of gas for OIL is the reduction
which it would effect in the annual expenses of the
department by dispensing with the services of large
number of lamplightcrs, whose duties are confined to
lighting the oil lamps as the contracts with the gas
companies includes the lighting and cleaning the gas
lamps.
The statistical report of the condition of the Police
Department has been recently presented by my pre-
dccesso that need not repeat it here but would refer
you to that report for the necessary information to
able you to judge Of its condition. Several amend
ments to the act organizing the department pass
cd at the last session of the Legislature which, how
ever. do not go into operation until June next and
am therefore unable at present to state how far they
may be beneficial to the interests or efficiency of the
department
The Fire Department continues to receive, it emil
neny merits, the confidence of the authorities and of
the community at large, Its condition. at present for
efficiency, has been excelled. and happy to
add my tribute of merited praise for the prompncss
zeal and fidelity with which the members discharge
their arduous and self-imposed duties The present |
force consists of about 600 there three first
class engines six secondclas twenty small nine
hook and ladder trucks, eighteen four wheeled
riages twenty-five two wheels and fifty thousand feet
Of hose
The city is divided into three districts the |
lower one containing the greatest amount of valuable
property, covering comparatively small space of |
ground while the limit of the other districts is bounded
only by the extent of the island This imposes upon
the remen in the upper districts unusual oppres-
sive amount of labor and think the interests of
zens residing in the upper part Of the city would be
sing all that part OF the city of 2d street and
the location convenient distances of the necessary
apparatus
/ have received from the Superintendent Of Streets
the following statements of expenditures and receipts
for the year ending 18th May, 1s4s:-
Expended for sweeping. ............ S55.79s SO |
" cartng manure. ......... 1886 81 |
{ arting ashes and garbage loading vessels,
freghting salaries of manure inspectors
clerks and ticket men, laborers wages,
and general contingent expenses ...... SOs43 90 |
Total. Observation-Disclosures. S1S4 99s 80 |
Receipts for the sale Of manure. ....... 1000 90
Net expenditure. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. .Sl55.99S 40
There removed from the several wards during
the above period
205. $50 loads Of street manure.
131 061 rubbish &c.
From this statement it is evident that this branch of
public expenditure has been altogether too large and
hat considerable reduction Is compati bic.
with more thorough performance of the work Among
he modes Of rctrenchment, would paricularize that
tI,n