The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-08
The independent Organization for the
Cleansing az Bsosdy.ay--rhe Genin Opera

The independent Organization for the
Cleansing az Bgosdy.ay--rhe Genin Opera
tio4s.
Broadway Is justly considered the pride Of all New
Yorler and it is undoubtedly the most magnificent, the
niost lrillant and tie wealthiest the
try Any who desires to exhibition of the art
and industry OF all nations has ons TO take afternoon
Promenade from Union PLACE TO the Eatiery and his
wishes win he graeed. II has however been common
complaint both among citizens and strangers, taat
Broadway was clean It either muddy or so
dusty that not only walking unpleasant but the
goods OF the merchants to say nothing OF the ladies'
dresses were seriously damaged Three weeks ago the
public meeting called in the HERALD was holden in the
Park the result Of this outburst of INDIGNATION on
the part Of the citizens meeting of the Board of
Health The Board appro lrated seventyave thousand
dollars TO pay the expense of cleansing the CITY, and
about hundred and City thousand loads of dirt were
removed from streets This all very WELL so far
as It vent but it did not go far enough 1t only one
cleaning, sweeping, and removing of the dirt
For the future left to tie tender merces of the
reform Common Council the members of which are
fully as lazy their predecessors
The broadway merchants having been delighted with
the sight of the Russ pavement, and having little faith
in the reform Councilmen have formed private indie
pendent organization having for its object the cleaning
of Broadway Mr. John n Genin who has two stores on
Broadway, the leader of this movement, and was
chosen superintendent of Broadway. A considerable
sum-about two thousand dollars-was placed in his
hands to commence the work and it has commenced
Broadway swept for the first time by the men under
Mr. Genn's orders last Monday morning commencing at
midnight. Some of the lateral streets from which dust
frequently blows into Broadway, were Also swept and
the condition Of the street itself has been highly i'm
proved. Yesterday morning hundred and fifty loads
OF dirt were removed and at six O'Clock the street from,
the Battery to Union square, clean as newly
scrubbed kitchen floor. This work accomplished by
two gangs of twenty-six each. The. first rang
sweeps from the Bowling Green Canal street. the So
cond, from Canal street to Union square, They use
nothing except the ordinary house broom and their
movements are directed by Mr. Genn, assisted
by three foremen. The laborers receive one dollar
per night, and the foremen three dollars. At the
present rates, the expense of cleaning Broadway
will be four hundred and fifty dollars per week:
and, there eight hundred houses AUDITING on the
three miles Of street which is to be swept the weekly
assessment will not be fifty cents for house.
1t is believed that this be very much reduced
arrangement may be effected by which the dirt and oa
of the street can be made to pay for ITSELF It would
form an excellent compost for unproductive lands.
These few of the results of little enterprise on
the part Of the Broadway shop-keepers. Enough has
been CLEANED from them to show that New York may|
be easily kept clean ut less price than that which wei
have been paying to keep dirty. Under the old system
contractors received the amount specified and them
neglected the work. The bondsmen never were called
upon, and the streets cleaned. Under the
charter the results followed Bids for the con
tracts made at ridicuously low price, and the
honest contractor shut out The money was taken
and work done.
We trust that entering upon Grain stree
reform. The experiment with Broadway, if successful
where she belongs in the sanitary ranks The people
willing to pay if the work is done, and pay literally
the city government refuses to do it, each ward will
cleaned at private cost the money raised by private sub
scrpon and the work superintendent by private agents
We do not think that anything is to be expected from
the Councmen. They at the best a weak quarrel
some, chattering, vaciating set of fellows and the
have such knack at dividing the responsibility that
has anything to do The salaries however, are neve
without claimants This being the state Of the case t
merchants should encourage the enterprise set foe
by Genin and others. Broadway, clean, would be
miracle which would attract thousands of pedestrians
addition to the many that walk therein Everybo
will be benefited pecunarly and otherwise. The e.
pense is not great when consider that there is mo-
business done Broadway than all the other stree
in the city together. Broadway cleaned under this q
rangement will present such contrast the rest Of Il
city that the inhabitants Of other districts will haste
follow the good example set them. Then, New Yo
will be great, wealthy populous enterprsng-and clea
sufficient amount has been subscribed to cles
Broadway, once in twenty four hours during the ne
four weeks Then another subscription will be opene