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

employed in that ward but one hydyant 10 be open
at Q time and this only 90 far "a TO enable him
conveniently 10 I'll his watering pot, and to be care
fully closed when lef Fire hydrants must not be used
of public sewers. By order. N. DEAN. President.
The violation Of the above rules viii be followed
by revocation Of this license.
Now, if there be one sane man In New York
who believes that the clouds Of dust which OBJ
scured the sky in Broadway last week, would
have suffered the slightest perceptible diminu-
ton from a sprinkling with watering pot filed
at each hydrant and emptied, drop by drop, in
advance of the sweepers, we abandon the dis
cussion. As well might he say that conla-
grafton could be extinguished with syringe.
Mr.. Arcularius had no water could get none,
and could not, therefore, sprinkle the streets or
lay the dust, So much for that proposition.
We might rest here. were it not, as we said
above, that our purpose is not to defend Arcu-
larius, but to bring to view the real objects
against which our reforming energies ought to
be directed. Let us suppose that there was no
lack of water-that the Croton Aqueduct De-
partment threw open its hydrants, and freely
laid its resources at the disposition of the Com
missioner of Streets and Lamps. The latter
would then be able to lay the dust. But
scarcely had the swcepers and sprinklers passed
over the ground than fresh clouds would make
their appearance. A builder who, on the
strength of a permit to occupy one-third Of the
street for his building materials, was deli
berately appropriating about three-fourths.
would leave the refuse Of his sand, earth, dust,
&C., on the ground. where the first gust of wind
would blow it to the other end Of the city. The
Commissioner Of Streets objects, but is laughed
at and is powerless. 1t is not his depart
ment. When a sewer is mended, or laid,
the street is repaved by the Department Of
Repairs and Supplies, and instead of lone inch
OF fine sand, and no MORE" as specified by law,
about three inches are laid over the pavement.
After a few omnibuses and carts have passed
over it, it becomes beautiful dust to be waited
through the air rs Eolus pleases. The Com
missioner of Streets objects; but is referred to
the law, which requires him to leave this de-
post twenty days on the ground. 1t is not his
department. Again, dirt and rubbish of every
kind, especially ashes, are thrown by house.
holders into the street, in direct violation of the
city ordinance. The police, who ought to check
the practice. have never made single arrest,
and if they have, the offender is Immediately
discharged by the Alderman of the ward. The
Commissioner of Streets objects, but the police
civilly request him to mind his own business.
1t is not his department.
These and other cognate causes. which are be-
yond the interference of the Commissioner are
more than sufficient to account for the presence
of dust in warm weather, Notwithstanding the
most careful sweeping and sprinkling. If the
brooms and watering pots were to 60 hourly
over the ground they would still find work to
keep them busy. If we would check the plague
of the dust we must attack it in the cradle.
We must prevent its creation as we'll as arrest
its progress. Until we can do this, all the IA
cilities in the world will not enable our Com
missioner to keep it down. Finally, we owe it
to Mr. Arcularius to state that the inquiries we
have made into the management of his Office en-
tirely exculpate him from any imputation of
idleness or neglect Of duty. We shall probably
best convey that impression to our readers by
SIMPLY ACheiOuihS Vic luCt. budt uuTlIR Cue
week ending I'd April inst, the enormous num-
Der of 32.49l carts of manure, dirt and ashes,
were removed from the streets of New York
under his direction. being an average of more
than 6,400 per day. So much for his assal-
ants.
His case isby no means rare one. We have
here in New York a host of people who, being
blessed with visual, olfsctory, and auricular
organs, can perceive the gross defects of our
civic government and municipal organization,
but who. not being overburthened with the
reasoning faculty, or troubled with an active
spirit of inquiry, seldom chance to light upon
the real source of the evils they notice. They
prefer abusing individuals to criticising laws.
1t is sufficient for them that there is sort of
plausibility in their accusations, and that the
official position of the men they attack render
them a conspicuous target for their shafts. We
have ever pursued different course. We have
not INDUCED in personal abuse of our civic Of
ficers because the laws under which they
served were defective. OF the practices charged
against them individually we have spoken
in the language they deserved no journal with
more severity. And as soon as these charges
shall be substantiated and proved against any
one in particular, we shall not be backward in
holding up the culprit to public contempt and
execration. But, in the meanwhile, we hold
that we shall best fulfil our duty by searching
for the causes of the evils which we all know
to exist
The deplorable condition of the streets for
instance, is clearly traceable to the defective
organization of the civic departments. Instead
of six independent bureaux, we ought to have
one general commissioner, assigned to super
intend. as well the paving, sewering and grant
ing licenses to deposit building materials, &c,
as the cleaning and lighting Of the streets
Under no system but one of Capitalization such
as this can effective and vigorous manage
ment be secured. Under no other can the pub