The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-08

Common Council and they OF relieved
tho responsibility of such expenditures
In relation to all city expenditures (including like
wise, the appropriations which come within the jurs
diction of the Common CouncD the recent amend
ments to the charter have made some essential and
thing very wise provisions to which | desire to call
your special attention The seventh section provides
that mo money shall be drawn from the city treasury
except he shall have been previously appropra
ted to the purpose for which it is drawn and all APP
preparations shall be based upon specific and detailed
statements in writing of the several heads of the
partments. through the Comptroller.
By the 10Th section it is fur5hcr provided that no
expense shall be incurred by any of the departments
or officers thereof whether the object of expenditure
shall have been ordered by the Common Council not
unless an appropriation shall have been previously
made concerning such expense.n
These are rewarded as the chief safeguards of the
city against extravagant and impr6vident expendi-
lures both as to the legislative and executive branches
OF its government. And trust you will not only
else the utmost vigilance in guarding against their in
frngement or evasion but that you will also lend your
aid in causing them at all times in all cases. and by
all persons whose duty it is to observe them to be
strictly and scrupuously complied with.
By recent act Of the Legislature entitled "An act
TO create the Croton Aqueduct Department" in the
city of New York the first section Of the act for the APP
pointment Of Water Commissioners by the Governor
ane Senate for the city of New York passed May ID
1884 is repealed and all the Icmaining powers and
ties OF the COMMISSIONERS are transferred to the Croon
Aqueduot Department as constituted by the act first
above mentioned
We arc thus reminded that period of fifteen years
has elapsed since the passage of the act authorizing
the first appointment Of commissioners for the
tructon Of the Croton Aqueduct and that this great
other age is with the exception of the railing the
high bridge completed
In view of this it would proper to remark that
this stupendous achievement, identified it Is with
the health, comfort convenience and it may be added
the pride and glory of the city, will in all coming time
demand from its constituted authorities the most vi
gilant attention. The line of work traversing bold
and irregular country in part along precpitous side
hill grounds through hills and sometimes
elevated from ten to eighty feet above the natural
face passing streams which flow ut times with torrent
power down their rugged channels must require
watchu and experienced supervision to maintain in
proper condition the general line of the work. and the
important structures in hydraulic architecture which
OF any material failure by which the supply of water
the city would be cut off, for short time will
impress every one with the calamtous nature of such
an event Thus far the work has proved competent to
furnish an uninterrupted supply from its first intro.
ducon in July 1872 and there ma reason to doubt
mat the same ygilant and competent will
perpetuate for ages to this rich blessing to the
ty. 1t 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
receiptso OF the department from water rents for the
year ending May LIST, wereS255 053 90, against $22l
635 10 for the year s47 showing increase over the
same rate of increase through the past years
from which the anticipation may safely be INDUCED
that the predictions concerning this great work will
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 on the water
from 20 cents in 1912 to IL 100 in lS49 and there is
no reason to doubt that this tax will be still further
duced.
The Street Commissioners Department. which in
wolves such vast interests demands attention your
hands, with view OF eecting such changes in the al
mnstration 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 of nconsiderabc
magnitude. | am informed that at period within
the past two years has the first clerk. upon whom the
calculations mainly mposcd) been able to keep up
with the 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-
manet board of assessors to be hereafter organized and
whose compensation therefore, shall be included in the
expenses Of the assessments all Of which being on
trust account the expenses should be borne by the
persons property for whose benefit the duty is per-
formed.
The copying Of the assessment lists after confrma
ton entrusted to the second clerk should also be
imposed on the Board of Assessors BY this arrange
ment, am confident that this work would be as well
if not better DONE than at present 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
(he details of which require great experience and
careful examination of the proceedings in order
to ensure full notice and entire fairness to of
property, as well as security to purchasers at such
this Board.
The act in relation to the Croton Aqueduct Depart
ment VIII relieve the street Commissioner from an oner
Gus duty now imposed upon him. in the construction
repairing, and cleaning of sewers these being by the
4h section of the act transferred to the Croto Aque
duct Department The remaining duties Of the Street
Commissioner in relation to wharvcs and piers, lands
and places street regulating and paving the redcmp
ton Of property sold for with various other
matters will however still continue to render this de-
partment one OF leading Importance in the admnistra
tion of the city government.
have been favoraby impressed with the superiority
of the recent pavement in Broadway in the vicinity Of
the Park over that Of the cobbe stone pavement in
ordinary use. 1t presents much cleaner smoother,
and more durable surface and promises greater exemp
ton from constant arrangement and consequently less
frequent interruption to the public travel The annual
expense Tor repairs as well as that for cleaning the
face must be very considerably decreased. 1t is be-
eved that 1t will also essentially diminish the of
vehicles produce less fatigue horses and add much
to the comfort of passengers 1t must also from
greater the fire engines and other apparatus whose
cost constitutes no nconsdcrabe item in the annual
expenditures Of the Fire Department. The time con-
sumed in reaching the fire will of course be lcssenSd
and the water sooner and more ciectualy applied for
lit extingushment. There are other obvious adyan-
tages in this mode Of pavement to which it Is not ne
ccssary at present to advert
deem the subject of sufficient interest to the public
to submit to your Judgment whether along the throng
ed thoroughfres of the city, this other similar
mode of pavement, might not, if the public treasury
will permit, be adyantageously 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 has
been possible gas lamps instead of oil lamps through
out the lamp distct 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 of the de-
partment, therefore, is in my judgment in accordance
with the wishes of the citizens generally and long
the expense j. confined to the amount appropriated
the change should be continued and gas substituted
for oil wherever it can be effected The number OF
gas lamps required to light all the streets below 42d
street, now lighted with oil, would involve only the
additional expense of the gas posts and fixtures TO;
them. The whole number Of oil lamps at present in
Is 6720 and Of gas lamps 1919, besides about four
hundred which will be ready for use about tie rs o.
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 lamplighters, whose duties confined to
lighting the oil lamps 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 pne
decessor, need not repeat 1t here but would refer
you that report for the Information to
able YOU to Judge of its condition Several amend
ments the act organizing the department were pass
ed the last session of tho Legislature, which, how
ever do not 20 into operation until June next and
therefore unable at present to state how far they