New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-11

be used on other ferries. Another objection is,
that the present Common Council cannot bind
their successors if so, why does the Mayor OBJ
ject 10 the length Of time named in the contract
the City derives immediate benefit and the loss,
II any, must fall to the Company.
The last and least excuse for the Veto was,
" that there is no penalty if the Company does
not faithfully perform the contract" With all due
Difference 10 this opinion, think any failure to
perform 20 the tetter of their agreement would
vtiate the contract and we have little 70 Tear
from this source After ali, csa see no weight
in bis objections, or Just ground for veto. The
Press are crying out that, if this Infamous con
tract is passed the tsx payers will be robbed. l
should like to be informed who and what portion
Of opr citizens and taxpayers are 70 be robbed,
If this contract is entered iRtol have shown
that az least 100000 persons will be required %
pay less taxes, and obtain more than double
the amount of light and the question is, shall
they be subjected 10 heavier taxes for almost
worthless oil lamps than they would be re-
quired TO pay for gas, and have the City
properly lighted / trust they will not be kept IN
darkness to crafty only about 1000 gastakers
If the Corporation should commence in the bust
ness of legislsting for private interests, they
would find enough to do. There is no doubt but
there Is extortiOn in our City in most OF the ne.
cessaries of life. l cannot perceive that the loaf
of bread is a pennyweight heavier than when
-four was $40 per barrel But the genius Of our
Government and its institutions is, and sho1d be,
To leave as much as possible TO the people, espe-
cialy so far as private interests IN purchasing
and contracting are concerned, and | rejoice that
your honorable body have taken this view OF the
subject and | should not have dwelt so long on
the method of lighting the public lamps, as the old
Board understood the subject and passed the con-
tract BY almost Rn unanimous vote, but have ex-
tended my report in order that the new members
NAV be fully informed before they are called upon
to act upon this subject. From the first day that
| entered on the duties OF my office, have advo.
Gated lighting the public lamps with gas as 1t Is
the only practicable means at present afforded
my Department to light the City in acreditable
manner. and | conceive it my duty as a public
officer TO light the streets in the best way and at
the least possible expense, and have no Tears
that any responsible editor citizen who will
examine carefully and impartially my reports on
this subject, will differ from me essentially or inn
pugnmy motives. have, in common with many OF
my fellow. citizens, large interestin heprosperity
and welfare ofOur City, and shall do all ia my power
to sustain its honor and secure the safety OF HE
and property by lighting the streets in the most
perfect manner. AS respects the ordinations and
recriminations OF the private gastakers and those
who furnish them l have nothing to say further
than that the Gas Companies have performed their
contracts to the letter with my Department since
have had the honor 10 be at its head. But have
no partaty lOr any OF THESE soulosb COtpOtaIion'i
and would not recommend the City to use them
further than their convenience and interest re-
quired have and shall continue to watch them
with a careful eye, and should be most happy to
have any tax payer in our City look at the state
ment of the accounts between them and the City,
and then if one individual thinks tibet .'' Fan
Iligme Of their contract in lighting the City, will
resign my place most cheeriully into ADLER hands
All of which is respectfully submitted.
HEMAN w CHlLDS,
Commissioner of Streets and Lamps.
.LgLuayUg 1857.