The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-10

How the Street Department. 10 Managed.
y&E WAY CONTRACTS ARR MADR AND ExEcuTED-
WHAT THE SURVEYORS AND INSPECTORS Do, AND
wRAT THEY DON'T DO, srC., ETC.
JAMES GoKDos BxysErr, Ro,
EDITOR AND PUBIIsnKR THE NHw Yosx HDelp:-
sR-hay J. approaching fully a. do the vsat influence
your Journal s unbiased Judgment nd IL in 'epesdens
course, claim small OF it's valuable columns 70 40
what the Committee on Frauds has failed 70 do ana
which neither the interest the policy Oh any CON-
patee enAnalng from the Common Council 70 90 nane-
ly, 70 show how and why vast amounts money are
yearly extended pv the city government without cores
pcnding benefits 70 the city
The Street Department present engrosses e largest
share Of public attention, will with your psrmso"p' eS
plain the working OF that department, by giving orei
outline of the duties Of the Street Commission survey
ors inspectors assessors &C. showing at The same nms
where faults exist the present stem, and, in my oPin-
son The best manner of correcting them-pointins out
where the greatest leaks occur and the most efectpl
manner ofs.oppng them
STREET COMMISSIONER.
will be only necessary state briefly that this Off II
has supreme control Of all matters apperanng TO his de-
payment will state here for the Information Of those
who inquire minutely into the subject that
shey will his duties fully forth ordinance OF
Common Council Of ls4e, entitled sn ordinance
organizing the Street Department., and furthermore in
ordinance the Common Council Of 1857 with tho
Ate
When an ordinance Is passed by the Common Council
Authorizing the regulating and grading Of street
nue. copy Of such ordinance signed BY the Clerk Of the
Common Council the Commissioner, which
he entered full the ordinance book and
The copy received from the Clerk Of the Common Council
. duly fled away. The Street Commissioner then ap-
points Of the city surveyors 70 take charge Of
work The surveyor appointed first examines the
ordinance inform himself exactly Of the nature OF
work required TO be done. He then makes the prei
mnsry survey the street TO be graded from
thai survey be calculates the quantity Of work be DONE
specification therefor. This specification
he submits to Street Commissioner bis approval
the Street Commissioner approves OF it, he he Commits
oner) carain number Of these specifications 10
be published ten copies Of which filed away FOR fu
re reference, and the balance distributed amongst the
contractors surveyors, &c.
At the day appointed for the opening Of estimates for
the work so speced which is always ten days from .he
Of publication Of the specifications the estimates
publicly opened by the contract clerk in the presence OF
she Street Commissioner or his deputy and the Comp
oer. Tue prices and names OF the estnsters there
and hen noted down by the contract clerk and are after
wards entered in full in the estimate book book which
fept by the Street Commission for that purpose. The
contract then awarded supposed 70 be- to the lowest
bidder The person to whom the contract has been
awarded signs his contract and calls the surveyor
srms him thai he the contract and the
veyor give him the necessary stakes, &c which the
surveyor and continues 10 visit the work from time
70 time giving the necessary stakes directions &c. TIL
the work is completed He then measures the work
completed, calculates the quantities, makes out the
assessment list and maps attached thereto writes out
~ the bottom Of the assessment list the quantities Of
wosk done, and haods the lst to the Street Commits
noDer who attaches 20 u the requis'ion authorizing
the assccso, - spprri,n tho TO the par
ses naTooo o- a-.es.meut list, and a the same
tuc eyh' pr,es as entered in the contract
beck. wtor .- o-ssssocs make up the list, adver
tse Is for t,I.,, ',r ouo,c Inspection objections &C.,
Of The C1nn.r tpu The object ms if any inspec
sor's sfnh Ipron ard ordinance attached. it is
Their 90 the con nttee Assessments who
su-r n aT. ftipp In
passed by o5e I'ard tnrouEh the same perform
snoe the olbef Bead, signed BY The Mayor, and be-
sousee ier on tie property
tie duty Of surveyors 70 survey carefully the work
entrusted 70 their charge make plans and prones Of the
rad work and place the ale the Street Depart
ent FOR the penen Of property owners and Contractors
thai both parties may clearly not only the amount
Of work 70 be done but m nature whether rock or earth
Or both, and In what proportions they exist 10 also
the DUTY 70 give the contractor the stakes and
directions he may need from time to time in the prosecu
Ton Of the work and when the work is finished
10 make out the assessment list fof tue same,
giving detail the OF the parties benefited, the
description Of their property aud the dimensions Of their
o,s make out maps showing the property benefited,
and attach the 10 the assessment list and also write
their OWL signature the quantity Of work done and
ms nature.
IssPECToRs
his the duty az the inspector 10 be constantly the
work carry out the instructions Of the surveyor 10
toct all material and workmanship, and that the
terms % the specification are fulfilled.
ihave Just stated the theoretical duties Of the various
sscers named, and the maaner in which business t'
usually done. ! will now endesvor 10 show you,
clsely as the msiier IN hand viii permit, whore the
sravest faults exist IN the present system and where and
bow the greatest leaks occur and the manner Of remedy
In the fri place the Common Council ps.s ordinances
for rllAtng and grading streets. &c, without sufieut
knowledro consideration In order 70 illustrate what
have said Will aupposs case where tso streets within
One street has great .urplui e. The amour, Of eIcsvs
tson the street far exceeds the amount Of filing On
The other street sres, deficiency exs-t The amount
Of filing 70 De done on this street much greater than
the amount OF eIcayaiion therefore filling must be got
somewhere 70 supply this deficiency. One would nAtu-
authorizing the grading Of both these streets a.
one and the time, that the Surplus Of the
would supply the deficiency OF the other, whereby the
work might be done FOR half the price would other
vine coat Oh no, At all. They pas an ordinance arst
70 rosu.Alsbe stree, which has the great surplus The
contractor, knowing that there Is no place TO deposit this
surplus tho vicinity OF their work and that they will
be Obliged % send in soops either 70 the Bsory or
jersey all bid high-on excavation ray As so cents
yard. vhen this street al finished, not yard OF
surplus being left solons Of the City Hall pass
dnanoe directing the street where the deficiency exists TO
be graded Specifications forthwith issued for this
work calling for many hundred thousand yards Of
earth nllpg but exists In the nelhborhood what
nsture had left there carefully carried of year
two ago. Consequently hipg commands high
e- .,yoo 20 Or pernap ~ .en n naa
The excavation the would have been done a, most
for deen cents yard, and the bling the other at
twenty cents per yard and, strange az may appear the
contractor would have made more money and suppose
the property would be better satisfied DO not
nnk Ibis altogether an imaginary case unfortunately,
ef frequent As long the once
q stree, Commissioner hiiei by persons who have
other claim 70 Il than their political faith who pro-
vide places for their ends regardless OF any consicra
ton other than that Of politics who know full well that
pey must make Tor themselves than friends
amongst The various cques by whom they surround
ed "a the number o applicants for place s always much
greaer than The number on places 70 bestov and who
know, therefore that matter hos faithfully they may
discharge The duties 81 their 0oe they cannot either
reelected OF re appointed and na 'r private charac
ters will be assued with the greatest vruence, whether
they be honeet dishonest by persons who have been
esapponted n Their hopes Of either using them tools
obtaining place. from them long will the aamnis
trston Of Affairs be iutt az sno better and possibly
worse
To remedy this the greatest, evil will be neceesry
70 appoint street Comm thoroughly educated
<ng,peer-cne who not only understands perfectly ha
profession but who tai pride and pleasure In H.
Vie must be placed entirely above political iahuence
must hold Office for twenty thirty years 10 be removed
oniy for cause He must receive such salary will