The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-24

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nuIrance was becoming decidedly dangerous,
o contract vas made with Mr.. W. r. Reynolds,
by the terms Of which he pledged himself to
remove oil the dead horses from the streets of
the city Immediately after he had been notified
of their cation. and the city on its part
agreed to pay him certain sum for 80 doing.
The bodies were placed in steamtug and coa-
vpyed to An island in the East River, where
their bones hide and so forth were prepared for
sale and the useless parts of the body were
effectively dispaeed Of. The system was found
TO be an exceAlsht one--no dead horses were to
be seen in the streets, or found floating in the
rivers. But it was ton good to last; and, when
1t was found that The city owed to Mr.. Reynolds
the sum of sixty thousand dollars, Mr.. Comp
trol'er Flagg refused to pay the hill. On
the 22d instant the City Inspector received the
following letter.
New YoRs, July p, 1854
THos K. DOWNING, City Inspector
slkI hereby notify you that in consequence Of tho
cys continued refusal to make any for theast
animals &c, from the city, am compelled to suspend
under the contract Ny means, wen those Of
to mor,yaee cur cpery to pay such iseouas 70 obai
the FUNDS to proceed in the execution OF the
work, that is Impossible for me TO proceed further
without compliance on TIE city's part. therefore
SUSPEND work from ths date, and shall hold he
ration resp nsbls for al damages that may sustain by
W L. REYNOLDS, % Warren street.
B.l am willing TO proceed in the execution Of my
contract forthwith providing the city complies With tue
Terms OF the cootIac-vz By paying what is dae.
W. RI.
Hence the dead horses in the streets the
dis gust of the people thereat-the maledctions
showered upon the whole city government and
the dismay Of the City Inspector, who knew not
what to do in the matter If he organized q
force to carry off the horses it seemed probable
hat Mr.. Flagg would deem his conduct illegal,
and refuse to pay. So he considered, while the
horses decomposed, and the people held their
handkercbiefs to their noses. Finally, however,
on Saturday, the Inspector succeeded in remov- ]
ing about thirty dead horses, at cost Of from
six dollars to twenty-iv dollars each. The
bodies are, probably, floating about in the Il
rivers, to-day, rotting and spreading pestilencc
with the influx Of every tide.
Now, Mr.. Comptroller Flagg is the person
who ought to be blamed for all this, as the facts
above stated clearly show. He is . very excel |
lent man to take the charge of the city funds.
We do not know another man in whose hands
the corporation money would be safer But
Mr.. Flagg should remember that in o great |
city like this there is something more than
the mere saving Of money to be learned
by its financial head-and that is the |
judicious expenditure Of the public funds. Mr.
Fiagg has evidently fallen into the common
error, that our taxpayers growl at the city
government merely because great deal OF
hcrt hes, rnb - xct ttn ESok
The people of this city do not care how much
they pay so they receive the value Of the mo-
ney expended. and they would be willing to
pay another million per year for good, hon.
eft, faithful efficient and liberal city govern
ment. Mr.. Flagg's ideas appear to have been
narrowed down to the petty policy of the Al
bany Regency. of which interesting concern he .
was distinguished member. The Board of
Aldermen or Counclmen do not dare to make
an appropriation for the simplest and most me-
cessary purpose, until they haze resolved Mr.
Flaggs approval and his consent to pay the
bills. Hc reluctantly consented" 20 p iltry
appropriation Of five hundred dollars for the
cholera hospital, and it seems that he would al
low adevouring pestilcncc to sweep Off half OF
our population, before be would consent to
an appropriation to pay for the proper proven
tive sanitary measures.
Another phase in this natter IS tais Mr.
Fiagg informed Mr.. Reynolds that be would pay
tie bills if he (Reynolds) would surrender his
contract and place it in the hands Of the Comp,
troller. Now, how is this to be justified? II
it was unlawful to pay the money it shout not
be paid ut all, whatever bee ame Of the contract.
And What did Mr.. Flags desire to do with that
document? What right had he to demand it
Thee questions arc pertinent TO the Issue, and
rust be answered at some time
Even our economical readers must see that
Mr.. Flsgg has not saved any money by refasiog
t. pay this city deot The work now is only
pai done. Ut five times the price formerly paid,
ard persona residing near he river must suffer
from the tfiuvia of dead horses, cats and dogs,
because MIR. Flaeg sees ft that it shall be 80.
We have thus put The pl4a facts before the
public and we have not desired TO detract one
ioia hon Mr.. Flags we'll earned fame as an
honest ard faithful public officer. We believe
thar he acts according TO his own ideas Of right.
aided by couosrl, who advise him to let the
cholera have full swing rather than pay ore
cent TO stop il; and then with clear con-
ciehcfs no doubt the advisers Of she Comp
troller be,ske themselves to the watering places,
wondering, when they read the bills of NOR
tally, that p-"ple will be 90 imprudent.'
We hope that Mr.. FIagg and oil concerned
will take these things into their serious consi-
de,"tion. and that he will endeavor to keep up
" ia tue spirit Of the uge. Let us have no more
desa horses in tho streets.
AlE. NANCY AT WoRK--THE RUSSIANS AND
tn iluDsoN's BAY CosrANY.-Our Prime Min
ttsr as Washington is beginning to do some
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