The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-26

tify us.
The CosT OF CLEANING THE STREETS AND
THEIR CoNDITIoN-WHAT BROADWAY CAN Be
CLEANED FoR-As the city authorities have
failed in their duty to clean the streets Of New
York properly, number Of merchants and
hotel proprietors, with very commendable
public spirit, have taken the matter into their
own hands, and are cleaning the front Of their
residences and places Of business. Yesterday
groups of laborers we're employed in different
parts of Broadway in tearing down the Alpine
ridges of ice and dirt with which that busy
thoroughfare is now incumbered; and if this
good example is generally followed, we may
hope to see, before the week is over, the main
artery Of our city travel in condition that at
least is not particularly disgraceful to our me-
tropolis.
From the parties interested we learn the fol-
lowing facts with reference to the cost Of clean
ing different portions Of Broadway -
For cleaning block between Chambers and RsAde
Do. DO. Leonard and franklin streets 90 90
Do. front Of st. Nicholas Hotel. ......... 800 90
As there are about 40 blocks between the
Battery and Grace church, at this rate it would
cost about $4,000 to clean Broadway between
those two points, and number Of contractors
have expressed willingness to remove the
dirt and clean the street for thrsefourths of q
cent per square foot.
This sum may appear large, but surely
double the sum would be trifing compared
with the destruction Of property, inconveni-
ence to business, and annoyance to which our
citizens are put by the present condition OF
this great centre Of city trade and travel And
too severely reprobated for not having the IN
slightly ridge which he has raised, to disgrace
our city, removed long ere this.
He cannot complain of not having MEANS
for the Comptroller's report shows that the
people are munifcent in their satlays Of
money, though the use to which it has been
put is enveloped in considerable mystery.
According to the books in the Comptroller's
Office, there was paid out for cleaning the
streets of New York, from January lst to
October 29th, 1856, the sum Of $275, 26z AZ,
and the probable expense for the other two
months was about $6O,00O--in all, nearly
S34O,00O We cannot state the exact amount,
from the fact that the books in the Comp
troller's Office, through some strange remissness
on the part of Mr.. Flagg, are not yet writ
ten up.
The original estimate, in the tax levy, for
cleaning the streets for the year 1855 wa,
$4,000, and this sum was afterwards swelled
by an appropriation of 100000 by the Com
mon Council, to 100000; and again, by fur
Their appropriation, to $277,7s4. But even
this vast sum was insufficient to meet the de.
mands Of the head of the street cleaning de-
partment The estimate put in the tax levy
for the year 1856 for cleaning the streets is
s259,224; but this sum will fall far short, If
Commissioner Ebling continues to call for as
much money and do as little with it as he did
last year.
gems are taxed 100000 year for cleaning
our streets, and yet SO inefficient are the
parties whose business il is to keep our
thoroughfares in proper order, that they are
compelled to put their hands in their pockets
and have done by private enterprise what It
is the function of the city government to see
performed.
For this state Of things there is no justifca-
ton. New York is built on q long, narrow
strip of land, with rapid river flowing on
either side; and with good system of sewer
age, such as we have, and with a competent
person at the head Of the street cleaning de-
psrtnent, this city could be kept az pure aud