The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-09-09
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
Interesting Proceedings Of lhs Common Council.
debates In the Common Council.
J n { D G. 3 A r E
re-, Sc, Sc.

SPECIAL
REMOVAL OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS
The Board OF Aldermen met on Tuesday evening,
ssnve O'clock pursuant to Adjournment, but did not
organize till quarter of an hour after the appointed
time, when the President took his seat.
Among the resolutions presented WIGS one direct
ing tho appointment OF thrco inspectors OF buildings
whose duty il should be to report such housss IS
may be considered unsafe, or in any vay dangerous
to life, and empowering the Mayor and two Alder
men 10 have them removed
Alderman WARD moved that it be referred to tho
Cor mittee on Law.
Alderman sruBTLvANr said /. WINS hard to deter
mine who had power in this matter Tho City In
spcctor was supposed to possess the power; yet,
when applied TO, 1t was found TO DO otherwise. The
Mayor says BIO has no power, add the Corporation
Attorney tells US the sumo story Now, ID this state
OF things, 1t appears to INC, continued Adorm1n s.,
that somo clear understanding should DO hal ON the
subject, for the benefit Of the public. | have asked
tie proper authorities there was any law III rela
6on TO the matter under consideration, but could
got no satisfactory information about it. hope che
Issolution will DO sent to the Committee ON Or
dAancea that we may obtain some clear and do
10 particulars upon the subject
Alderman WARD-lf what the gentleman has ssid
70 really the case why IS the Commissioner OF Re-
pairs and Supplies directed to take down q chimney
I've hundred feet high. by the passage Of . rosolu-
ton? We had better pass tho ordinance irss, be-
cause II We do not, We virtually say one thing
which is directly eontrsdicted by our acts. We re
quire an ordinance before can act upon Snis mat
havo the poTer TO order all dangerous buildings t
be taAeD down, whenever the safety Of lie may 70
quiIe IT, The fact IL, most Of tAo Aldermen do not
bnow the power they possess; she public hive d.
Ways regarded them with fear add apprehension,
while they were perfectly unconscious OF thar "a
tbority. and wall along The streets entirely iguo
Ia0t Of their boins saen objects Of terror 10 their
follow citizens. | feel satisfied toe Aldermen have
the power, and know that If aoythipg ever occnr-
BED IN my ward which should require mo TO exercise
It. would do s,with promptnes5 Al determination.
ALI hat 10 necessary DOW is 30 ascertain correctly il
ne have the requisite authority. For my part,
haze no doubt OF 1t.
Alderman BoYcp-Y went to The Mayor in reia-
tieA 10 this NATTER and he sad 40 bad no po ger.
Now. this satisfies mo that have no power either.
l hope. under these circumstances, this reso.u-
think IL viii obyia.e the difficulty with which we
have to contend
Alderman SruRrEvAyT-The resolution OF tho
gentleman from the Fifth is made for the purpose OF
removing dangerous buildings and nuisInces but
We are told by Alderman Ward we cannot do so by
. resolution-shat VIC must have IN ordinance. We
desre TO know something certain about this and to
- ApdeTstandDgly Po- this purpose, it is nsces-
6aTy that the course have recommended should be
taken. The gentlemen has said that aldermen are
generally regarded as objects Of feay by the people;
and if he refers to himself he is certainly liberty
to think So But TO be Serious the question before the
beoYdIs one OF very important character. For tie
hast three or four years the Common Council have
been FRI quenty callad upon to take some action upon
this matter. recollec5 in one instance the Mayor
undertook to remove = building in tho Sixteenth
ward, for which he afterwards became involved in
htgstiOn 1t ia true the Corporation successful;
but The Mayor was exceedingly careful ever after,
bsw 10 interered in such matters If the a1option
81 this resolution is net important, then don't
NOW what i5
The discussion concluded here, and the resolution
was referred to the Committee on Ordinanc
REMOVAL or STREET DISTRACTIONS
Alderman BARR presented resolution directing
tkn nunl \xr &c
Instructions in Murray street, in the form of build
ing materials, which extend over two.thrds Of the
thoIous hfare.
Alderman SruRrEvANr said the building ma.eri-
ais in Murray street were great nuisance TO those
who had to pass through it. The owners Of the lots,
he continued, kuildipg from Broadway as far as
Church street, and have blocked up two thirds Of
the carriage way, although they are only entitled
to one third of It.. Although the mode Of proceed
ing directed in tho resolution is little too fast,
yet think the owners should be made to suffer for
thus blocking up the street.
Alderman BARR.-There is no room for carriage
to get through that portion of the street, and the
Inconvenience to those going that way in vehicles
must be very great.
Alderman BRIsLEy-Those owners of property
think because they can get permit to have one
third Of the street for their building materials that
they may take two thirds. Now, shall the public
be incommoded in this way for the benefit of a few
individuals
Alderman WARD opposed the resolution because
no thought it was impossible to carry it into effect
In the brief time stated
Alderman BARR-The Superintendent Of Streets
can do it in that time he is smarter than you think
he 10.
Alderman WARD-Tkere is no living man can do
it in that time it is utterly impossible
Alderman BRIsLEY-The fact is that the builders
are perfectly Indifferent with regard to the conve
nisnce Of the public. Some two months since
could hardly get through Murray street with my
wagon, and know they bid defiance to every one to
prevent them from acting just as they like. Let the
Superintendent of Streets clear them away, and
leave the thoroughfaro open for the Of the pub
lie. / do not wish to Cypress the mechanic, but
when he takes privileges which do not belong to
him, and which iDjure others, think he should be
made to 60 back to where he belongs. And in say
ing this do not wish to be misunderstood, for am
not one that would put the mechanic below the NOR
chant, or the merchant above the mechanic.
Alderman B0yCE-If these parties have done
wrong, We should not endeavor to remedy it by
acting unjustly to them. We should content our
selves with clearing the street to make it pas
cable and not take up all their materials. They
should no doubt be made to comply. with the ordi-
nance; but think this process would be too hasty
Alderman TIEMANX-Has the amendment of
fered been lost!
The PREsIpEST-What amendment!
Alderman TIEMANN-I made an amendment that
all the materials should be taken up, with tho excep.
tion of what they may have permit for.
Tho amendment was put and adopted, and, after
brief delsy. the resolution was also disposed of
the same way.
DRIVING CATTLE THROUGH THE CITY.
Alderman WARD offered resolution to prohibit
the driving Of cattle through the city, below Four
teerth street. Only last week, said he, five or six
persors were killed by cattle which were driven
through the city at unreasonable hours. The Com
mon Council have had their attention called to this
matter already, but no definite action has been
taken upon il In my ward the cattle are driven
through the streets on the Sabbath, and that just
at a time when the people Of the fifteen churches
have the honor to represent, are coming from
payers.
Alderman CORNELL were these peopl,
killed that you speak Of
Alderman WARD--I obtained my information
from the papers, and must refer you to tho same
source There may be difference OF opinion upon
this ordinance, but believe it is matter of great
public importance, one which concerns the lives Of
our follow citizens, and which should therefore
meet with prompt action. a resolution was pre-
scented, long time ago, to this Board, and it was
referred to committee, who reported upon it, but
have never heard anything of it since. Alderman
Shaw, and another member Of the Board, made q
- IL 49, L 1~l: