The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-07
$3l5 QUO
cnoroy AauEpucT pErARrMENr

cRoro, AQuEpucr DEPARTMENT ..~
1t Ia source OF pleasure to to congratulate my
fellow citizens upon the which mas attended
Interpretations OF this department. under its present
organization. The scale OF rates adopted by your
honorable body, based upon estimates submitted by
the President OF the Croton Aoqueduct Board, has
operated a. benehcly to the interests of the depart
mt its wArmest frie ads could have desired The
receipts Of water rents, from May 1850 to January
1851, viii amount to nearly Si6o,0OO not varyiEg
sentiaily rom tne estimates presented nc the com
m.ncsment Of the year. The eIperirnce AGO ured in
the collection OF this amount may render modi
hcaton and q read juStment in some the
cessary and expedient but this subject will bt
less BE- fully presented to your considerations in tho
forthcoming port from this depart 90 not ssl
called 10 Offer any suggestions on this head, pre-
ferrng to confde the Judgment and periencs OF
those more ntim itely connected and with
the operations Of the department than myself
have been informed that the diton OF the aqus-
duet, and of all the works with It. from the
Croton river to the city is entirely satisfactory and
there be doubt that this stup@ndous work-ths
greatest achievement of the kind In this other
country, 10 modern times will continue to fadl Tor
ages to come, all the purposes Tor which IL
structed. In the Bureau Of Pipes and levers, very
large amount Of work has been compiished during
the past season Of the i,rmer, mains tho
tent Of eight and quarter miles have been laid vAry
ing In size from six 70 thirty six inches and OF
there have been built more than ten miles
more equitable mode Of apportioniug the charges
tor building sewers IL most desirabe anu In judg
ment, radical change in the system OF payments to
contractors would meet with very general favor. A
the law stands the contractor is not entisd to
payment until the account assessed is collected one
ccnssQ fs that in contracts Of any mag uds
compsttion is ceuhned TO few wealthy individuals
who keep up prices by system OF cont mbinstiou.
which those lees wealthy are excluded and ey m-Aus
Of which the tax burthened To tot. is to
be ADDED the unnecessary expense attendant upon
collection Of assessments, recently pointed out IN
port IRON the Croton Aqueduct Department aud
which commend to the earnest consideration Of your
honorable body.
A remedy which suggests itself to my mind as psr
fsctly practicable 10 adopt the system pursued in
reference to canals and railroads, viz. paying the
contractors BY inssalmsnts as the work psosrs.sss
resorsing, say ten OF fifteen per cent to all
nciencies, and TO meet any penalty which may have
been incurred BY OF failure to funl any
stpuiations OF the contract, while the int on
these payments could with great be charged
upon the ssments. Contractors would thu. avoid
the usury nov paid for loans to enable thea 70 meet
their pas ments aud complete their work insteai of
waiting Tor the Glow process o. collecting the ssees,
nsntsi while the system would open the door The
lvss wealthy but industrious workman, who Is
shut out in consequences Of his inability
the necessary pecunisry resources
Experience seems, thus lar To have proved the wis-
dom q th- plan by which thu eon,tru:ton Of se~eu
wss placed under the direction OF the Cfolon Aqus.
entirely To the supervision OF inspectors and sup-rin
tenoents Who having little practical Of the
proper modes of constructing had lev scrupss
In giving oertihoates Tor almost any Kind Of work and
the eity vas In consequence, frequently called
ray large sums for the repairs OF sewers, after
At present tn. sewers are built under he immedi-
ate supervision OF the Chief Engineer OF Board
and while i'm proyemsuts Of essential value have been
introduced the cost OF construction has beea mAter
ally diminished,
another and important change with reference to the
u
would submit II to the consideration OF the depart.
mept which has the poser TO carry II into op ara.
ton The specification OF all contracts nov made
require that the contractors shall pay the sx.
penser Of the inspector Tor all the time be mar
In the contract for the completion Of the -ots I
recomm.u nd the abolition Of this triing praaity and
In lieu thereof tor every day Of delay in the compile
tion of the work sti ti9uatrd BY the contract The
inn ositon ofs penalty OF sucis mag ntu TO slim
ulate TO Increased sssrons the penalty 20 b. rgdly
exRcted except In Of extraordinary and unor-.
be ed hy m
ginter 81 the Board.
1t J. the practice nov for to com plete the
whoe of the under before resysng any
81 the pavement the liue II the street When this
finished, they return and lay dom the culverts aud
the line of th. nmencs mkking their oou
n.etons and not only IL the street for the entire
ngh of the seser kept ia dirty and almost imps~s
able condition for months but the ss~ks Injured ey
breaking holes for the insertion 81 n. connection pipes
t. avoid thi, would sussest that Ia future con
tracts provision be made Tor carrying The connsctoaa
The sever = built under the surb-stoaes Tor sues
houses a. may hsvs required IN M, and road make
the price demanded for the privilege OF making
nectton with any sever hereafter to be bu after u 10
compistsd double that for the same privilege ~hils
net operate inJuriously upon sny prr.on Tor every
rssldent or opnr On the line of street where
sewer Y IN prucefs q eonstruction avail himself
well of the privilege II making hi connecton wBils
the sewer progrrsse. after T. Is hutsbed and the al
dtional price rr connection after sewer is com.
slvss of the privilege At the reduced rate and 9TH
the least Inconvenience 10 thsmseve, aud their neigh
borb
FoLtCE DEPARTMENT.
shal look 70 the policemen guardians OF the
public health Tor IL ia their duty 20 that all or
dnsncss for the Preservation OF the isnatory condition
ef the eity fEidly enforced, aud TO compel obs
dience 20 all laws euasted tor the comfort con
venience, or safety a the citizens
l dssrr 10 have the members OF this departments
In pretsed With . IL the dignity ani RESPONSE.
hilify Of their position agents Of the goverument
to whom v entrusted the execution 81 IN. laws
would have the appointments made, 80 that the po-
Hcemsp a New YORK, Individually ara coll cSiveiy,
may be regarded pies of sobtiety integrity,
I'D, ity aud n e. ligeree To insure this shall be my
aim and | fsiy upon the hearty 90 operation NOT
only ~ your honorable body bat oi every ciieu sho
hashe welfare OF the department aud the interest Il
the city at heart
TO eject this however, the most riga discipline
muft be maintained IN the department This most
,cfupulsus ohs~rvanoe of the wiss regulations
laid down W nv predecessors must bs exscted
and each member Of the force be held
faithful dischsrgs Of every duty assigned hin With.
out discipline, the uine hundred men composing tue
department. would be worse than useless for the pur
a detection prevention oi crime aud city
would become Psin = Il hss been artsort ~ thieves
burglars tnd incendiafies wh~ wUuld practice their
crimes without Far Of molestsion The term Of Once
Of policemen being extended u four years great
Ia 8ue, ent l. hsli for good behaviour ~hile
the policemen rendered more independent aud fur
tber renewed from political or sectional iuhuenoes
Th will taus be made to feel that the greatest security
they have their retention In office will be found
IN their real, hdsty and snsrgi In the discharge 81
their duties A. the regular semi annual report of the
Chiet oi Police has been recently submitted 20 yosr
tororsbs boig .ts not notice its dessil' iufther
tNsr to invite Jour attention 20 ts sosgestonsios po