The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-07

cellaneous Affairs, &c.
The Condition OF the City-The Dust and the
Mud-Who Is to Blame.
Everybody knows that, with the exception Of
New York, Mexico is the worst governed city
in the world. There, anarchy may be said to
be an established institution-here misrule and
inextrcable confusion are understood things.
OF the two, New York is certainly entitled to
pre-eminence. 1t is so universally acknowl-
edged that human ingenuity can produce
nothing more inefficient more helpless, more
cumbersome, or more useless, than the munich
pal institutions Of this city, that it were down.
right impertinence to question the assertion.
In fact, nobody does. But it is curious enough
to listen to the reasons which are assigned and
the remedies which are suggested by the social
philosophers, who have taken us all under their
special protection Some sink minor charges
in the heinous offence of aldermanic corrup-
ton, and ascribe that to the innate perversity
of the democrats. Others explain the whole
matter on theory wing stupidity. All feel
bound to use the strongest language to be had
in the dictionary. Having wrought themselves
up to virtuous pitch of fury at their own re-
cital Of our civic wrongs. their wrath re-
quires victim. and the nearest official
is inundated accordingly. He may be
as innocent as the lamb in the fable-it will
avail him nothing. These reforming wolves
make no inquiries they cannot slake their rage,
and he is swiftly torn limb from limb. Nay,
more he may be at heart as jealous reformer
as themselves-he may have thought and labor
ed more efficiently than they to cure the abuses
they denounce-he may be himself the most
pitiable victim of the folly and blindness of the
very men who attack hint will serve him no
more than if he was an impersonation of idle
ness, conservatism, and bigotry. Many of the
savage onslaughts on the city authorities were
due to this system. A later illustration of the
doctrine is afforded by the recent attacks on
Mr.. Henry Arcularius. We have no desire to
defend him any further than may be necessary
in order to correct what we consider an erro-
neous mode Of agitating for civic reform. Our
assurance will derive additional weight from
the fact that, only few days since, we our
2NiNSS III q oupSAASi RiduCc DIT luc buUJcCl.
upon the conduct of the Commits
sioner in terms by no means complimentary.
Arcularius has been accused of dereliction of
duty, neglect. and idleness, because the streets
are choked with dust. Now if it can be shown
either that he was deprived by law of the means
Of allaying the dust, or that had he had such
means at command, causes over which he had
no control were at work generating dust faster
than he could lay it, we take it that our indig-
nation ought to be aimed at the law and not
at the Commissioner. If, moreover, it shall APP
pear not only that he was not idle, but that he
really performed more work than was ever ex-
pected Of him, he will, in all probability, stand
exonerated from blame in the opinion of sens-
BILE men, and those who assailed him will seem
to have pursued a reckless, improbable course.
No less than six separate departments are
entrusted with the duty ofkeeping the streets in
order. Each has its particular duties assigned to
it by law, and cannot encroach upon the province
assigned to another. Thus the Croton A1ueduct
Department controls the sewering and the hy-
drants. The Street Commissioner controls the
curbing, guttering. grading, laying crosswalks,
&C., and grants permission to tear up pave
ments or occupy the streets for building pur-
poses. Patching and paving belong exclusively
to the Department Of Repairs and Supplies.
The removal Of dead animals and other nui-
sanccs is assigned to the City Inspector. The
with the duty Of cleaning the streets and re-
moving encumbrances. Finally. the Mayor. as
head Of the police is alone authorized to see
that the ordinances are carried into effect No
one Of these various departments has the
slightest control or authority over any other;
and instead Of cooperating for the public
benefit it would really seem as though each
was steadfastly bent on paralyzng and nullify-
ing the other.
The Commissioner Of Streets and Lamps.
being entrusted with the duty of cleaning the
streets, was obviously the proper person to re-
move the plague Of the dust But the law had
not toreseen any such contingency? and the
Commissioner could not procure the first reoui-
site for his task, namely water to sprinkle
The Croton Aqueduct Department or rather
their President, Mr.. Dean, knew his rights too
well to give one drop Of water more than the
law required him. One small wateringpo full
to be used in advance Of the sweepers, was all
that this charitable Samaritan could afford. He
had his reasons, no doubt, and very excellent
ones whatever they were he adhered as firmly
to the terms Of his license as Shylock to his
bond. That our readers may not accuse us Of
exaggeraton we give the remarkable document
entire -
cRoToE AoUEDUCT DEPARTMENT.
Mr. Donohue il hereby licensed for the season OF
or sprinkling streets, 10 advance CT the sveepers