The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-06

improvement.
No provision exists for the repairing Of piers which
are owned solely by individuals, In which the Cor
poraton have but partial interest The rights and
powers the Common Council this respect should be
more clearly defined the statutes being entirely silent
on the subject OF repairs to wharves and piers. This
would rave much trouble, delay and vexatious litigation.
STREETS AND AVENUES.
The opening and extending OF streets and avenues Is
under the control CT the department having charge of
the whavts and piers and very large amount Of work
has been accomplished during the year The extension
OF the Second avenue will probably be completed and
the read ready for travel in about one year
The Eighth avenue is nearly completed to the width Of
90 eet as far as 10th street Broadway will very
FORTY be regulated and opened for travel Its junction
with the Tenth avenue, at Seventy first street. and
the sixth avenue Is now completed to Fiftyseventh
etrtot.
The plan ef rounding the OF the street,
ing Broadway, below the Palk, has ted at the
intersections of JOHN ard Fulton streets and has proved
to be 70 eecidedly advantageous ! would recommend
that il be ntinued with all the sire ntersecng that
great horr ugffAre below tie Park for
iig Ia asy senrihe degree upon the sidewalks, much
ater space Is soided Tor vehicles to turn in ar
OF the cross streets
L&Mrs AND GAS.
The oft:@'.rs OF The bureau q l9r,rs and gas have
been copGeoiti, curing the past year with view to
Afford the g-apt 81 public sccpuinc datiou and very
large amount of wors IRA h,e completed
The ddit rsl rurter ot gas lamps erected and light
hrndred AID ts,nt, * Ql26], wbi,f, added to the
DnH Ter q cst yssr, makes the total humber of gas
lamps lighted six thoussna blk hundred and ninety
sX (GGG) Tfe:e quite number now set that ara
not lrht,c IL corstqu'Ice q the winter weather pre-
venting the avs frs IN ayipg the service pioe,
The - ole Of oil Ii IN IS low yttd 6o2 mskiup
the total ~ Der of fns oil IL ps twelve
two Lundr,d and ninety eight The superiority Of gas
Gil yAsh,r considered in respect to economy
lily, has becn generally acknowledged not to
Quire further demonstration; and desire to COM
mend thr policy Of the head Of this bureau in substu.
ting gas for Gil thr agbout the city ptact-
cebie would again earnestly urge upon the Common
Council he necessity Tor making provision TO hit the
Nhalves and piers with gas.
From the dGrkntts which pervades all those locai-
ties accideLts Eliminating fatally have been Of fire.
quent occurrence while it smost to invite de-
precautions upon the shipping as well rs upon the
various goods which of necessity sometimes left
upon tie whafves at Eigft. The late efficient head
of this de1 atment wa, most urgent in his Efforts to
have this part OF the city lighted with gas, ard ii any
argumt mis- needed to enforce its necessity would
refer your honorable body to the suggestions this
lead embodied In bis la7t annual report / believe
that mains now laid along the line Of South and
West streets and there exits therefore, why
ta portion Of the city should not be at once lighted with
gas especially as the existing contract with the New
York Gas Company requires that they shoLd light all
streets with gas as isst as mains are laid therein This
subject has been mmenard notice by the chief
Of police whose position affords peculiar facilities for
knowing and ciang the necessity f,r Lighting the
wharvts and piers.
STREET rivING.
This subject has attracted great attention during
the past few yeat7 and many experiments have been
made Win view oi occurring smooth permanent
and economcsl sut.tute tor the cobble pave.
reht eid tn ,rEbout the city (excep that portion
which has been laid with the Russ Ptrne pavement.)
and which ,xrertRc abuntsntly demonstrates to be
entirely mad quate resist the constantly increasing
travel great thOi ougtfares This Perne
as laid in Broadway between Franklin and tc streets
has failed to the expectations of the inventor
fY puipt! e. tor which it was laid
The Only pavement which has thus fay been test
ed with any prose Of usetuness is that known the
Russ paw nert aid in BIoadway irom the Battery
Clsmbers street paIpt OF durability l. IS undoubtedly
the beat yet aid q, Bu. the mg!aat s very rene
lal that The r-fr9 ncFa 4.uoth rpnder
he i,arfl cr,Fs e'ngerops tt-.ns-' How fr the
o.n. viii obete iris lion renans to te tested
but II this .aue u plains coatlnoss to oxit against
tf Laaa
iemuns,1a at, against on this sround presents most
serious obIacl TO s further especially in those ptr
The xrerse tbs species Of pay mt is very great,
altLtugh am free 70 admit, that II IL shall continue
durable It has THIS for proved it will be in the end
the most economical 1t repairs than any
other pavement yet tested
do rot however subscribe to the policy giving to
any one species CT pavement such entire monopoly
hnr been granted to this / ipfo med that
paYsn equally d,s. able with surface eveA and
posse MI The nd vsntages Of the Russ pavement is
laid in other cities Of less than So so per square
.erd: while that recently laid main thoToughfire
cots So 50prr yard. know that durn5 the past year
Application have been made TO the Common Council by
PRACTICAL sNots who csn to have had years OF expe
Renee IN u. cities OF Europe. for leave 10 lay down
Iayment which they aege shall be durable and rs
tIseeatle ss ihe Russ FOR about So yard
ard am not aforn that any notce has officially been
taken OF This application cannot discover any reason
Why this permission should be withheld, especially
contract was readily awarded for another species Of
pavement of bitant price which had already been
conc. led by The voice of the entire community.
/ have tsire TO delract from the merits of the
Ruts pavement, but do think it judicious policy
TO exclude every other from competition with it.
The tastern portion Of city is rapidly growing in
luatop but the great thoroughares leading TO that
fecton bave thus far been entirely neglected. while the
escens and tax there have been called upon to
psy large Tropofti Of the expense incurred III test
irg experiments in Broadway. This is not only op-
pfes,ve but M Just. Chatham street, nom the PARK
to its junction with the Bowery is thoroughfare
,carc.ly second in Importance to Broadway. and IL is
frequently obsrueted By the necessity for repairs
TO the pBytmeDts Ii seems to that IL would only
he act justice to afford to the eastern section Of
the city rome OF the benefits Of the Improvements in
20 great an .xpsnfe on the mere aa. are.y
nci, important, western thorouehfare.
CKoIoH ACUEDUCT DEPARTMENT.
The Crtton Aqueduct Department has been fully and
ien.feiely mpcyed during the psst year. About thir
teen n OF street maine ior the distribution OF water
lave been laid sirce the commencement of operations
last spiIg which two and three quarters miles
than was contemplated by the superintendent and yet
has bren effected by OF the original appropriation
Tor that purpose and small surplus remains on hand
Nearly eleven miles Of pubic have been laid,
aEd thee boussnd two hundred and fifty feet OF oui-
vert, have been constructed wth 1853 receiving basins
Tie income derived from the water rents payable to
the sinking fund has reached SisS eco, being in them
$1,000 Of tie amount received last year notwthstand
ing the deduction made in the rates by the ordinance
IN med In March last which estimSted TO be equal
tosn aggregate Of $4,000 per year This exhibits
great In the number at water takers and indi
Gates arrcs augmentation of the revenues to be de-
lived nan III. tsme
The department Is thoroughly organized in ell i.s
bureaus ana s efficiency Ia the dschsrge of its varied
the public For more detailed statement OF its opera
tioDs refer lour bonorahe body the annual report
which viii le laid lefore you
The subject Of assessments for IL ably treated
In Communication from the president Il the Croton
hqueduct DEPARTMENT (Which viii be found as Doc No
tb). that add Iothing 10 tie weight of the arsu
Ds and therein st forth for radical change
In the rrttnt syft, m Of laying and collecting these
hks.mepts The sngle fact therein stated that out OF
asseaments 20 The amount Of Sfs3633 20 for various
works tie contractors only received St33e36 9l-the
taance $50 20 being paid TO survey or Inspectors
astessorf, and ctleeors should convince every Of
the mabiisst injustice done to property owners, aud
warn us rot 10 contnue system unjust and oppres
eve in its operations
In acecrdaIc With fuggestiops submitted By me in
ny nrt annual cen municsttn. an ordinance has been
la sso rroyiJfg for payment 10 contractors by Dsal
mtnts the Nofk pogrtfss instead a compelling them
t. await the collection of ments heretofore By
this mode parties OF snail but good practical
Nttlnep, vii ba put upon par with others possessing
abundant capital ard by whom nearly all the larger
ctnirects have hitherto b,cp MoDopolzed and who were
lus enabled ty the aid oi capital not Only 70 pa, down
ctmpetiton but 10 compel the city pay much larger
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