The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-04

many cases no great detriment will arise from I ais.
but in others, such supplies to public Offices. ,e
printing &C., or for fire apparatus, matters esse ''i
in the transaction OF ordinary pubic business, or .
volving the safety OF property, imperative neses ~
Js rApeno'.ucs eson ~''oa a.,srt an -o
priations OF this character found to be insuhc -,
they could be increased by the Legislature when the nte
rest and safety of the city should demand It, won also
recommend that the annual appropriations should rs lar
possible specify the various items Of expond ture
and especially would recommend that distinct app pn
be for expenditures under the several do rt
ments so that each department may be held Responsible
for its estimates Of the amounts required and for OK
pcbdures the account Of each appropriation IL mas
heretofore beeu customary for the several departm s "
draw upon common appropriation This, IN my JUG
responsibility.
An important change the system Of paying the dihs
parties connected with the various departments OF
the city for their services work done under their d.
rccon has been effected within the past few months
The Chamberlain of the city now makes all the payments
under rolls furnished by the different departments,
instead OF leaving these payments to be made by the seve
departments heretoforethus combining each de-
pament bureau thereof tho specific duties which
appertain TO them under the charter.
The system bias since its introduction worked WELL and
has secured every party the payment due to him on the
several pay rolls without delay or deduction.
The Governors OF the
AIslsiousK DEPARTMENT
call for increase OF their annual appropriation FOR this
year The expenses Of this department have no doubt,
necessarily increased in consequence Of the larger number
Of inmates in the various institutions under ito ana
the increased applications for relief roT chose who still,
with the small winter Stipend are eaao'eu 70 preserve
their homes. Dut IL Is evident IN
expenses of this department when compared with those
of five or six years since, are greater tnan Tue
increase in our popna.on would warrant. TN. Inc
EXPENDITURES; they have only to make the annual
appropriation and the Comptroller pays the same from
time TO time may be required by the Board Of Cover
nos true that the charter requires the annual esti
mates this department. as well az of the Board OF Edu
cation TO be submitted COMMISSION composed Of the
Mayor Comptroller, and the two Presidents of tho Boards
of the Common Council But ii they object after
such submission TO the amount required ony there
atfAnp far laoct hnan
repassed BY sufficient majority to make them valid in
accordance with the charter.
The expenses Of the Amshouse Department in 1850
about 100000; there was together, raised last
year the OF S7C5O0 for its support, while the est
submitted for 1853 requires for all expenses the
sum OF $500 200 During the past year a new hospital
building Bsckwcls Island has been in Of con-
sucton which, when completed will cost, estimated,
about sl50Oo0 This building will afford accommodation
for large number of patients, and its arrangements,
is said, will excel any ether hospital building in the
country.
A new wing TO the Lunatc Asylum is contemplated to
be commenced this year. in order 10 afford the required
accommodation for the unfortunate beings who are placed
within its charge There are now six hundred and sixty
sX in the asylum every ward and room Is full,
and the accommodations being calculated for only four
hundred and fifty PERSONS even the halls Of the building
are occupied for temporary wards. The general arrange
o the institution are however, such, that satisfac
tory Improvement is continually exhibited in the condition
Of its patients.
The nurseries on Randalls Island now contain over
fourteen hundred children from the of two to fourteen
years. This institution is most worthy one, and well
merits the bestowed upon by the GoOernors Of the
department..
The other institutions under the charge of the Cover.
nors such the Bellevue Hospital the Amshouse proper
The Workhouse and the Pentenary, conducted in q
manner which meets with my general approval There
are in all the different institutions under the charge
OF the Amsbouse Department about 1000 PERSONS sup
ported the expense Of the city, while the population of
families relieved by coal is 80 1857 adults and 50274 chill
dren and that of those assisted in small monthly
9o33 adults and Il, 2o2 children; these denomnacd
the out door poor.
THE CRoToN AouEpucr DEPARTMENT
still continues 10 be managed tn that judcbus and econo
mica manner which has marked it during the whole Pc
iod since its organization am informed that the aque
duct in good condition. and promises TO continue to sup
ply the city with wholesome water without extensive
gratifying connection with this department to
state that the annual receipts for water rents have the
past year, exceeded any previous one 1857 yielded
heretofore the largest amount, the receipts then being
$697 $40 81 In 1858 however, they have been about
s73OoO0 This does not include the total water rents
for there always every year amount Of arrears
varying from $40 GOO to OO0 which are collected by
the Finance Department.
above the dam, which was commenced in 1857 by
the department. in order to ascertain the probable
river as well as for ascertainng suitable points for so
rage reservoirs for the surplus waters Of the river
full supply of water can always be furnished the city
favorable seasons az well as in periods Of drought has
beer continued during the past year. and completed The
result has been such as 10 well repay the Of the
survey which will no doubt be Of great extending
the work when necessary. Lines amounting in length to
$50 miles by the parties engaged surveying,
and various sites for storage reservoirs examined
and important information obtained which will undoubt
edy be of great value in estimating hereafter the cosnd
capacity Of each Of them.
The length of the ridge line forming the water shed of
the Coou river beyond the point Of the
Of the aqneduc has been asceraned to be hundred
and miles, and within the circuit Of the valley there
found thirty one natural lakes and ponds The az
gegae length of all the principal tributaries of the Croton
hundred and thirty six miles the length Of the prn
cpa stream beng thirty-n miles The total area of
the water shed above the the aqueduct
has been found to be three hundred and ytwo square
miles.
With this vast area, the numerous tributaries of the
Croon and the natural lakes and ponds in the circuit of
the valley found by this survey, 1t evident that an
abundant supply OF water cam by the of the
necessary additional works, be always afforded to the
city when densey populated to the full extent Of the
island.
The department contcmpates this year to commence an
improvement to the High Bridge SO that larger supply
of be brought IT, necessary when the
shall be ready to be filed The cost of this
povement to the bridge, it Is estimated will be S150 00O
The new reservoir was commenced the past year. The
work is proceeding rapidly and its COST it Is supposed,
will not exceed the original estimate $500 000 There
will however be other work. in the construction Of gate
houses and sewers, which will together the additional
sum OF $1,000 The win contain when com
peted, than thousand million gallons, and will
he ample to supply population largely exceeding that
embraced within the limits Of the city Some fears
have been expressed in regard to the in which
its outer embankment is being built and apprehensons
have been felt that its strength will be sufficient
resist the immense Of water that will be eventually
contained within it, But, consultation with the Croton
Aqueduct Board am satisfied hatits
that when completed, the embankment and rubble wall
within it will be able to safely retain all the water that
the reservoir VIII hold II has been proposed by
that very thick stone wall should surround the whole
work. but this my opnIon is only wholly
sary but would while contributing greatly to the Of
the reservoir detac from the great feature Of
which promises to be in the Central Park. All the good
benefit result from such wall would be con-
tractors who might have the building Of the same
This department has laid during the past year 1880
feet Of water ppo Of various Sizes making together with
that previously laid nearly 253 miles in the whole city.
There has also been constructed under its direction
by virtue Of ordinances Of the Common Council 80, 55S
feet of sewers which, with those previously constructed,
make nearly l7G miles of sewerage in the different
and streets of this metropolis Several streets and
public thoroghfares have been repavcd, under the di
rccton of the Croton Board with Belgian pavement the
owners readily consenng 10 bear one half the expense
rather than have the repavcd with cobbe stones
In message transmitted TO the Common Council In the
month Of August last recommended and strongly urged
the Importance Of repavng Chambers street, and all
the streets eouth Of IL, with the Belgian pavement,
measure Of wise economy and essential for the
preservation Of the public health The lower part of
city IL now given up almost wholly TO trade and
merce and is desr able that Arm and durable pave
should be laid There other sections tho city
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