The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-23


mately conversant with the diplomatic secrets
Of Pa merston, and familiarity acquainted with
Louis Napoleon. Wikoff, with a general rowing
European commission, upon the English or Rus
sian 81 stem, would be al invaluable aid-de-camp
to Marcy. On some quiet evening, after sup
per, we do trust that our Premier, in his study,
will take these suggestions into serious consuer'
alton. The various intrigues going on at
present among the great monarchies OF Europe,
especially in reference to the growing power
and manifest destiny" of this mighty republic,
call for the appointment Of some such man as
Wikoff to ferret them out. Wikof is the man!
The Street Cieaning-Doty OF Mayor, Comp
tsoIler, anu Police.
One hundred and five thousand dollars, (or
thereabouts) are to be laid out by the city
during the ensuing year in street cleaning.
The same service cost rather more than three
times that sum last year and. we need hardly
add was not performed at all. The fact
was accounted for to the press aud the
public 10y the notorious incapacity Of our
late city government, and the want OF law
providing adequate checks against frauds
Now, thanks to the Legislature, we are pro
vided with charter under which this, like all
other municipal works. is awarded to the
low, st bidder. Under this new system the
contracts or tenders were opened publicly a
few days ago, and the work was assigned, ior
the sum above mentioned, to three individuals
Mr.. Peter Shaw contracts to clean two dis
tricts, comprising the First, Second. Third
Fourth Fifth. Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, Fourteenth
and Fifteenth wards, for the sum OF S55,0OO
Mr.. Cassidy agrees to clean the Third district
comprising the Seventh, Tenth, Eleventh, Thlr-
teenth, and Seventeenth wards. for $l9,99O
Four observation-disclosures. Jewel, Lynch. Dali
ley and Wing-are each Of them ready to clean
the Fourth district, comprising the Sixteenth
Eighteenth, Nineteenth. Twentieth, Twenty
first, and Twenty second wards, for $50 900;
one out of the four will be chosen in preference
to his competitors at an early day.
It now remains to be seen what benefit the
public will derive from this important change
1t strikes us, and we doubt not it will strike
our readers in similar way. that without any
inquiry into the character or the means OF
the fortunate contractors. the arrangement
that has been made does not hold out any
very brilliant prospects Of tangible reform
The area allotted to each contractor seems to
us far too extensive; no man, however great
his energy and vigilance. can possibly give his
personal supervision to seven or eight populous
wards at the same time. By what process Mr..
Peter Shaw proposes to discharge his duties
over ten densely populated wards, cut and
crossed by hundreds of streets in every direc-
ton. we are entirely at a loss to imagine. To
US such an undertaking appears so stupendous
as to be almost chimerical. Personal superin-
tendence is out of the question: the whole day
would not suffice for bare glance at each tho.
roughfare included in the chart. Nor can Mr.
Peter Shaw fulfil his contract conscentiously
by employing one OF two deputies. The task
would defy Tue pvwrre VI holt dozen; the only
method by which he can hope to acquire mo-
raj claim against the city treasury is by sub
letting the work to contractors under him. Past
experience has taught US what fruits this sys-
tenn of contracts and sub-contracts is sure to
bring forth. The work will possibly be badly
done or not done at all. Mr.. Peter Shaw will
turn upon his sub.contractor, who will ma
some ingenious excuse for his neglect; ana
while the two spond their time and their money
in litigation filth will accumulate in the Streets
Some faint attempt may be made by the city
government to fasten on Mr.. Shaw the response
blity Of his agents acts; but we know too we'll
how such prudish contests invariably end. to
look for any practical benefit from their occur
renee.
To us il seems that the division Of the cx-
tent of ground to be cleaned into an indefinite
number of districts, and allotting each to a
separate individual, would have been far more
likely way to attain the design Of the law and
promote the public comfort. Had each leading
street been granted to one man he might have
satisfied himself that The work was properly
done. and would have had no excuse to offer if
summoned to answer for neglect. IT. the clean
ing Of Broadway. for instance, from Union
square to the Battery was entrusted to one in
diydual he might without Inconvenience over
look the whole distance every morning, and
give to the work that personal attention which
is the only safe guarantee for q thorough dis
charge Of the work The public and the police
would know at once on whom to lay the blame
f the street were not cleaned. A similar mode
might have been advantageously applied to the
Bowery, to Chatham, Canal Grand, Fourteenth
and the other leading streets Of the city. Two
or three minor streets might have been grouped
together. But except. perhaps in some Of the
thinly populated sections in no case. to our
mind should one man have been entrusted with
the supervision of SO large an area as whole
ward. Time may possibly disappoint our unfa-
vorable anticipations; and no one will rejoice
more sincerely than ourselves if the present
contractors fulfil their task conscientiously.
But even should such turn out to be the case,
We shall still adhere to our opinion, and shall
regard the honest and yigilant contractors as