New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-05

rrop the present system, IL 10 CONCENTRATE Tue soN$
,nwer into the hands of the highest municipal officer
tsovn TO the laws, namey the Mayor.
The Surgical Bureau, established during the past
war has far exceeded in its benefits what was con
smnlated. II has saved much to the treasury in the
time Of the men. The new plan attends to the venta-
,n and cleanliness of the station houses and sleeping
apartments, and furnishes medicines and surgical in
,trrmspts and requires immediate attention to all sick
,ocemen. and constant attendance until recovery.
The saving of time by the detection and exposure of
attempts to defraud the service by simulated
sickness is alone more than sufficient TO pay
, the whole cost of the Bureau. During the last
Eve months of 1854 there were 1919 days lost by sick
p.ss. During the corresponding period in 1855 only
3s46, making saving Of l, i33 days. Mr. Wood
makes comparison of our police with that OF Lon
don and sees no reason why should be behind them,
and in his judgment we may soon be superior. Let
the hands of politicians which curse and parayze our
City Government, be kept off Of the police II they
will let them take all else, but loave this upon the
integrity Of which peace, order, liberty, property
spd life depend The people Of New-York, irrespect-
i've Of party made noble rally last Winter, and sue
cessfuly resisted one Of these dabocal attempts in
the Legislature, to break down and demoraize the
Police If be renewed it is hoped tina. the same spirit
Municipal Government may be spared from the canker
which now threatens the whole social organization.
Street Opening is the next topic to which
Mr.. Wood directs his attention. lie refers to
the frauds perpetrated in this work, and says
that the consolidation Of the whole duty into one
bureau or department would reform the many abuses
now existing, provided that department was admins
tered by an officer to be appointed by the Mayor,
holding the place at his discretion and provided suita'
bic amendments 10 the laws and rules governing the
subject were made by which the rights and interests
Of property-owners were properly protected. The
gradual increase in expensveness of street opening is
,larmingy perceptible. From 1914 to 1897 the
sge amount per mile for fees of counsel commissioners
and Others employed by them, wac about $3.50. From
1887 TO 1874 il e. 800, and in 1885, taking the
Bowery opening from Chatham to Franklin square as
guide it was at the rate Of $40, 900 per mile for
me came services. No amount of complaint has been
able to bring about any amelioration. In 1889 the
Supreme Court was directed to make rules in relation
10 taxing costs, but that rule instead of diminishing,
only Increased the extOrtOns previously practiced.
There still remain great many outrageousy heavy
but useless charges which ought to be stopped. Mr..
Wood suggests the prOprety Of opening all the streets
and avenues not now open, by single commission,
composed Of whose object in accepting the place
would be the good of the city and not their private
emolument. He thinks that the ezpensiveness of
street opening has driven tens Of thousands of people
from the city, and deferred hundreds OF thousands
from coming to it. reform would raise the value OF
property increase the bases of taxation, and materi-
ally add to the number of those who bear the public
burdens. He recommends the adoption of ordi-
nance permitting parties owning from street to street,
to do their work without being assessed for other
aoff ha He nds he Ill
ton of the street assessment bureau, and that their
DUTY be performed by the tax commissioners without
additional compensation, and without expense to the
property owners.
Next we have the Public Markets historically consd
cred from the settlement of the island. He says that
Our market system is obnoxious to great republican
principle that the government should not interfere
with private enterprise. We should no more build
houses for the transaction Of the business of butcher
than for any other trade. Let there be free trade in
oil things; the authorities TO stand off and fair play
Another objection to the present system is its cost
The markets are worth million and half, all dead
10 the treasury. He estimates the loss to the city at
nearly $780, 900 per annum. Further objections are
the peri, of public health by the accumulation of de-
caying vegetable matters and the tendency to monop
oily by bringing purchasers all to few points For
these and other he recommends the
abolition of the whole system, the sale of the
market property and the adoption of the freetrade
principle, so that any individual may open shop
for the sale OF meats and vegetables as he might
for dry goods, boots or shoes But if the public mar
ket system is persisted in, there should be Market
Avenue not less than two hundred feet wide, COM
encing about Fourteenth street and running parallel
with the Hudson and East Rivers toward Harlem
with corresponding ones at convenient distances on
The cross streets Near by should be depos for coun
try produce. The money procured by the sole of the
present market property would more than pay the
whole cost Of such establishments Still his desire is
that the whole business should be left TO private
terprise.
Tax Collection is his next theme, the system for
which requires some modification As this matter is
purely financial, and not easily explained to the gen.
sra reader, we pass it by.
The Croton Water we are justly proud of, and we
ore proud of the magnificent conception and bold
Enterprise which has brought it into our city. We
have about 10000, 900 of gallons of water each day
brought over the High Bridge-4s gallons to each
person Of 1000 inhabitants More than half Of this
quantity is consumed and wasted by ships factories,
public houses and for other business purposes. But
liberal view supposes that twenty gallons day for each
Individual is enough for actual use which would be
but 100000 gallons, leaving II, oOo, OoO which is
wasted This fact be thinks subject for thoughtful
concern. Stringent ordinances have been adopted and
enforced with much energy; but the waste is not
stopped. Without waste the aqueduot is capable Of
supplying 5000, 900 of people, but. with the present
lavish USE it would supply no msre than 300, COO
number we may reach in ten years. This, then,
has ceased TO be trfing question: and the oonse-
cuences already assume threatening Rspect If