New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-07

dua1
oped5 S Se1s lass s. asn 5000
ro,s, .$sI5 600
CrOtOn Aqueduct Department.
1t is a source of pleasure to me to congratulate
my fellow citizens upon the success which has at
tended the operations of this Department under
its present organization. The scale OF rates
adopted by your Honorable Body based upon es-
Inmates submitted by the President OF the Croton
Aaueduct Board, has operated as benehcially to
the interests of the Department as It's warmest
friends could have desired. The receipts OF Wa
ter Rents from May, 1850, to January, 1851, will
amount to nearly $3.50, 000-nOt varying essential
ly from the estimates presented at the commence
ment of the year. The experience acquired IN
the collection of this amount may render some
modification and readiustment in some OF the
rates necessary and expedient; but as this sub
ect will, doubtless, be fully presented to your
consideration in the forthcoming Report from this
Department, / do not feel called on to offer any
suggestions on this head, preferring to conhde In
the Judgment and experience of those more int
mately connected and acquainted with the opera
tons Of the Department than myself.
have been informed that the condition OF the
aqueduct, aud of all the works connected with IT,
from the Croton river to the city, is entirely salts
factory and there can be no doubt that this stu
pendous work-tbe greatest achievement OF the
kind in this or any other country lnmodern times
will continue to fulfill for ages to come all the pur
poses for which it was constructed. In the Bureau
of Pipes and Sewers, very large amount OF work
has been accomplished during the past season OF
the former, street mains to the extent OF eight
and quarter miles have been laid, varying IN
size from six to thirty six inches and of sewers,
there have been built more than ten miles.
more equitable mode of apportioning the
charges for building sewers in most desirable; and,
in my judgment, a radical change IN the system Oh
xror
general favor. AS the law now stands, the con
tractor is not entitled to payment until the amount
assessed is collected. One consequence u.s. that
in contracts ofany magnitude competition Is comm
ed to few wealthy individuals who keep up prices
by a system of combination, from which those less
wealthy are excluded, and by means OF which the
tax,payers are burdened To this is to be added
the unnecessary expense attendantupon the col
lection of assessments, recently pointed out IN
report from the Croton Aqueduct Department.
and which commend to the earnest consideration
of your honorable body.
A remedy which suggests itself to my mind as
perfectly practicable, is 70 adopt the 81 stem pur'
sued in reference to Canals and Railroads. VIZ {:
paying the contractors by instruments, as the
work progresses, reserving say ten or fifteen per
cent 10 cover all deficiencies, and to meet any
penalty which may have been incurred by reason
Of failure to fulfill any of the stipulatons OF the
contract, while the interest these payments
cOulu, Win great prOpfeIy Do CudrScO uPOu Iuc
assessments. Contractors would thus avoid the
usury now paid for loans to enable them to meet
their payments and complete their work. instead
Of waiting for the slow process OF collecting the
assessments while the system would open tho
door to the less wealthy but Industrious workman,
who is now shut out in consequence of his ina
bilify to command the necessary pecuniary re-
sources
Experience seems, thus far to have proved the
wisdom Of the plan by which the construction OF
sewers was placed under the direction ofthe Gro
ton Aaueduct Department. Formerly this duty
was intrusted entirely to the supervision OF IN
spectors and superintendents who, having little
practical knowledge of the proper modes OF con-
structing sewers, had few scruples in giving certh
Gates for almost any kind of work and the city
was, in consequence, frequently called on to pay
large sums for the repairs of sewers, soon after
their completion by the contractor
At present, the sewers are built under the i'm
mediate supervision of the Chief Engineer of the
Board and while improvements of essential value
have been introduced, the cost Of construction has
been materially diminished.
Another and important change with reference
20 the building of sewers suggests itself to my
mind and would submit it to the consideration
of the department which has the power TO carry 1t
into operation. The specification of all contracts
now made, require that the contractors shall pay
the expenses of the inspector for all the time he
nav be employed after the expiration OF the
period fixed in the contract for the completion OF
the work. | recommend the abolition oil TINS
trifing penalty, and in lieu thereof for every day
of DELAY in the completion of the work, as stipu-
lated by the contract, the imposition OF penalty
OF sufficient magnitude to stimulate to increase
exertons the penalty to be exacted, except In
cases of extraordinary and unforeseen difficulties,
10 be determined by the Chief Engineer OF the
Board.
1t is the practice now, for contractors to com
i ~. ~
fore relaying any of the pavement on the line OF
the street When this is finished, they return
and lay down the culverts and repave the street.
By this time the inhabitants the line OF the
sewer commence making their connexions and
not only is the street. for the entire length OF the
sewer kept in a dirty and almost impossible con-
diton for months, but the sewer IS injured by
breaking holes for the insertion OF the connection
pipes. c..
To avoid this, / would suggest that in future
contracts provision be made for carrying the CON
nections, as the sewer is built under tue euro,
stones, for such houses as may have required
them and would make the prce demanded Tor
the privilege of making a connection with any
sewer hereafter to be built, after 1t IS com
pleted, double that for the same privilege
while the sewer is in course OF construc-
ton. This would not operate lnlurlousiy upon
any person; for every resident or owner on
the line of street where a sewer 10 IN process OF
construction, can aVau hlmSeH rs "eIl " snS
privilege of making mis- connection While the
sewer progresses, as after it is finished, and the
additional price for a connection after sewer is
completed, would induce all or nearly all TO avail
themselves Of the privilege at the reduced rate
aud with the least Inconvenience to themselves
and their neighbors.
Police Department.
: | shall look TO the Policemen as guardians o.
the public health, for it is their duty TO see thai
all Ordinances for the preservation OF the sanato
~ condition Of the City, rigidly enforced, and
10 compel obedience TO all laws enacted Tor the
comfort convenience or safety Of the citizens
/ desire TO have the members of this Depart
ment impressed with sense of the dignity anC
responsibility of their position, as agents OF th'
Government 70 whom Is entrusted the execution
/ Of the LAWS ! Monld have the appOlntmentl