The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-18

sidential aspirants begin to quarrel over him,
both looking to the North.
Fernando Woods OmeiaI Programme
Practical Munioipsl Reforms.
Fernando Wood. In accepting the Mozart
Hall nomination for Mayor, lays down his off,
cial programme, which provides for about all
the reforms which the municipal government
requires. That Mr.. Wood intends to perform
all he promises-H he can-there Is, we sup
pose, no doubt; but, unfortunately, the ability
Of any chief magistrate to perform his functions
properly is more than doubtful, hampered and
hcdgcd in as that official Is by Albany legisla-
ton. However, Mr.. Wood starts with the an
nouncement that he Is In favor Of, and if elected
will submit, . practical plan for the relief Of
the taxpayers, (which will materially enhance
the public revenues, and decrease the public
expenditures" This is very well to begin
with, and such a reform is probably within the
capacity of an upright chief magistrate The
revenues of the city have hitherto been grossly
neglected and wickedy pilfered to such an ex-
tent that they have been Of comparatively little
benefit in reducing taxation. We can suggest
to our future Mayor-whoever he may be-
. plan by which we think the revenues can
be increased by several millions, and the
taxes thus reduced in like proportion. First,
the sale at auction to the highest bidder Of
the franchises Of all the city railroads for a
term of not more than five years second, the
sale, in the same manner, of the ferry leases !;
next. the sale by auction of the stands, stalls
and privileges Of all the public markets. and
lastly, the judicious disposition of the street
manure. All these things ought to be-but
they are not-a rich revenue for the city.
There are now in operation six railroads in
New York namely, the Second Third, Fourth,
Sixth, Eighth and Ninth Avenue Railroads;
and there are in contemplation no less than
four more-the Broadway Railroad, and
road on each of the avenues A, B and G.
Judging from the earnings of the roads now
running, which the Comptroller's reports show
to be enormous, we should say that the annual
profits of these ten roads would not fall short
of million and a half of dollars Of this sum
one third at least might fairly be paid to the
city for the franchises, and this sum could be
realized easily if they were offered to competi-
ton at auction. The city railroads now pay
ten per cent dividends, and the stock of some
of them ranges from thirty to fifty per cent
above par. In like manner the ferries on the
East and North rivers might be made to yield
a third of their vast profits. We showed the
other day that the earnings of the Union Ferry
Company alone, running boats to Brooklyn,
amounted to over million and quarter
year; and it is not an over calculation to put
down all the other ferries at half as much
more These ferries are all an onerous burthen
on the parties using them, from the large rate
of fare demanded aud the miserable accommo-
datons offered to passengers, and the compa-
MES should be made not only to pay proper
tionately for their privileges, but to reduce the
fare to an equitable standard.
Then We come to the markets. Washington
Market alone commands a trade of some
twenty five millions a year; and if the stands
and stalls were put up for sale at auction, there
is no doubt but the competition among tho
butchers, hucksters and country produce deal
ers would be immense. The revenue from all
the markets, if properly managed, ought to be
at least $25O,O0O year. The privileges of one
market alone, in Philadelphia, the other day
brought the city premium of nearly 500, 000
but there the stalls were sold at auction
to the highest bidders, and not fraudulently
disposed of by the market officials, as the
custom is here. In the case of West Washing
ton Market we have the indisputable fact,
that before it was leased by the State to Taylor
Brennan last year, it only brought into the
city treasury the paltry sum Of three or four
thousand dollars year; but the lessees realized
out of it something like sixty -four thousand
The street manure would be an important
item Of revenue if it could be preserved I'M
mixed with ashes. There is no better soil for
the farmers all round the city, and they would
pay good price for it if it was not spoiled by
the mixture of ashes thrown from tenement and
other houses, as complained of by the City
Inspector. The street soil should be worth
hundred thousand year to the city.
These are practical modes Of increasing the
public revenue and decreasing the expenditure
which we submit to the consideration Of candi-
dates for the Mayoralty. Add to these the re-
duction which might be effected in the pickings
and stealngs Of corrupt officials in all the de-
partments, which we will put down, as the mi
nimum, at two millions q year. Let us see
what all these reforms make in the aggregate
City railroad franchises. ................ $500 900
Ferry eases.....: $4,000
Market rents and fees ................... $4,000
Street soil 100000
Seaings In public departments. 1000, 900
Total. So 200 900
Here is over three millions saved to the city in
q few items; and reduction to that extent in
the taxation Of next year, which promises to
be nearly fifteen millions, may save the camels
back from breaking If Fernando Wood en-
cages to carry out these practical reforms, he
may get more votes than he calcnlnica on