The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-31
Month.
The Dirty Streets OF the Mctropolis-Vv1lD ~
to Blamcl

to BIamep
The condition Of the streets question that just at
the greatest attention the part OF
citizens from the fact that appeals to their under
standings in than II tis necessarily
muddy question, but there few facts connected
with it that may serve to ahow to whom are indebted
for the mud we now in
On tho sth of April, 1854 the Mayor signed bill in
structng the Commissioner Of Streets and Lamps to nd
vertse for proposals for cleaning the streets Tho
cfcaons required that the contractor should thorough
ly clean and sweep his district NJ least twice week
once between Monday morning and Wednesday night,
and once again between Thursday morning and Satur
day night in each week. and that the great thorough
fares-Broadway, the Bowery, &c.should be swept ae
least three times weeksuch work to be completed be-
fore eight O'Clock in the morning In the event Of tho
contractors failing to perform their duty the Superin
tendent Of Streets authorized to have such work
performed and charge the to the account Of the
contractor; and should that prove insufficient to reim
bursc the city for the expense incurred, ths Comp
troer directed to proceed against the suretes Of
the contractor to recover such deficiency.
Contracts taken under these conditions last july
and from the very start the failed to per-
form their duty. Their contracts garngly vioat-
ed in gross and in detail and informed by the
Commissioner of Streets and Lamps, Mr.. George G. Ga
zier that they don't pretend to comply with their obl
cations, and make secret of thor dorecteu Of dnty
There il thing however In which these gentemeu
betray most audable industry that IT, in their prompt
appearance at the Comproer's Office pay day which
occurs twice month. With astonishing perseverance,,
they have been known to wade through their own tb
brave the perils of that 'mddle passage" Broadway
with its multitudinous omnbuses and leg breaking
horse-destroying, slippery mud and slime, and make
their way to the Auditors desk in the Comptrollers Of
ace, where they receive their weIIearned pay.
There ia question that very naturally arises here:-
What right has Comptroller Flagg to pay those -mene
The ordinn:e organizing the departments OF the city
government expressly provides that moneys shall be
paid by the Comptroller unless upon requisiton from
the heads of departments under whose auspices the
work is performed Now, since those contreots have
been entered into, the Commissioner of Streets and
lamps has not save in instance sgnedany Of the
bills paid by the Comptroller and consequently every
cent paid by him without that signature is illegally
takep out Of the city treasury.
Comptroller Flasg has become somewhat notorious for
his refusal to pay officials who had performed
when their salaries became DUE II the question Il not
too hard to answer win he be good enough enlghtsu
the public with his for illegally paying those
contractors who have not the shadow Of eaim ON the
city for serviceop performed.
There ia another dreadfully muddy. question that
wants settling badly The law authorizes the Commits
oner Of Streets and Lamps In the event Of the contrac
tor not performing his duty, to have the work done and
charged to his-that Is the account IAst
September the Commissioner at the urgent request oe
many citizens proceeded, in accordance with law, To-
have the Tenth ward cleaned but the bills being pre-
sented to the Comptroller he declined paying the on
what ground is not stated The Commissioner, and
ing himself thus checked in his endeavors purify the
city, declined paying any further attention to the mat
ter and between the Comptroller, tho Commissioner
and the contractors the city is bewitched out oe
one hundred thousand dollars for work which every
one knows 10 not performed.
In the meanwhile the city remains in shameful
condition. II looks like Of tho towns In. Egypt
after the Nile has subsided, leaving It's debris on
the streets. Everything is Aud-mud In the streets
and the sidewalks in the halls and in the parlors
Every article Of clothing within foot Of the ground 10
saturated with this most unpleasant product Of dirt aud
moisture. The fsmale portion of the comuunty, Of
coarse, suffer most Their appearance would fully jus
tIy Mlton's faraeus lines, for they are indeed.
Women. 20 the waists, aud fair,
But ling foul in many dirty fold.
No portion or the city 10 exempt. To describe ons
street would ss TO describe all them. Garbage dsaa
CATS dead horses and dead dogs ashes decayed vegea
bles and az manner OF anclean things meet the eye ct
every turn The carcass OF dead horse remained
disturbed three days Centre street, opposite the
ket and directly front of police STATEN house. In
tie nexhporhood OF the docks and markets II pArti
culars sby, and the stvncA that arisss from thsn,
even In this cold Weather, is ovsrpowsrins.
How long our citizens win stand ths state Of things
know not; but eren their patience win day have
end. We should not be at all surprised II they should
one day rise in their might and sweep Comptroller,
contractors mud and ALL into receptacle
for unclcaH things.