New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-02
THE STREET DEPARTMENT.
ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS SMITH

e summary Of the general state OF the busiuezs Of the
Department for the yer 1859 This together with my
Previous quarterly reports aud the accompanying re-
Pore Of Superintendent of Bareaus TO which you
resJectfuliy referred, will give full and complete
knowledge Of Tie transactions Of the Department. Tor
the iast twelve months.
During the wear acquisitions have been drawn upon
tie Controller the amount OF jUJlJ -, Of which
1873 u were for objects and purposes provided
for by tax and SzSl ,OJo 81 trust account.
The Civ Treasury vii be reimbursed for tie latter by
assessment upon tue property benefited
The acquisitions Tor the quarter ending TINS DAY
amount IN tie ac.re,ate 20 Sblj6Ul. 1t has
Heretofore been stated mat the whole system OF ac-
cOunts, vouchers, payments aud business Transactions
Of this Department based upon that OF the bureau
Of construction under tue Treasury Department OF Ine
United Slater. have nov - Say that during Tue
year and half this system has been adopted nothing
has occurred 10 lessen my confidence III ~ merits.
Not only il the sy~terY ~ ltself correct and wei
adapted 10 the ar' Important business OF Ibis
Department, but II nss teen carried out IN most cases
by thc officers der with Lcl, Intelligence ana H.
dustry TIE Department is at present IN as good con-
diton as it well be- while lbOrng under the legal
difficulties heretofore noted but not yet corrected
nothing lees than their removal can insure US
working with perfect satisfaction, WINE u ID "a,
miited that no system of papers and accounts VIII
prevent fraud The system adopted VIII preserve
IA different Offices such complete record all busl-
ness tlat there will be difficulty IN fully understand
ing all the details Of every transaction. The immense
labor required complete the investigations necessary
10 pnlsvei The back accounts of tins department con-
neSeG TIn nteIsered With tie legitimate business
mated that time. The principal d1cutes OF tins
character Ierain to the Bureau Of street Improve
uents ana 10 the Bureau Of Collection of Assessments,
and daring the last quarer vouchers nave peoii re-
ceiyed from tins Bureau 70 the amount Oi s9JyUb o.,
and duuDg the year 10 the amount OF s!'2yV0 - oil
which $24G,b5l 81 were On trust account aud S-oo-t
80 on tax account.
shall take an early occasion to request your honor
able bodies TO recommend TO the Legislature OF the
State the passage OF an acS winch VIII enable inns De-
pament ~ settle and olose up certain outstanding &C
counts upon old, informal, and Illegal contracts for
COLLECTION oy ASSESSMENTS.
The accounts and business of the Bureau OF COllec
ton and Assessments were found IN very dscredta-
bic condition the LIST OF May 1875, and 1t has re-
CURED great labor, patient investigation, and the good
judgment OF men mo are expert ID bookkeeping 10
prepare an ineligible exhibit of the actual state of
many OF the assessment rolls found In TIE Office. The
business of tue Bureau is in satisfactory condition
The great mass Of confused and dis0rdered assessment
UNITS, Inherited from Joseph X. Taylor and h.s
Deputies, have, without an exception, been formally
closed and returned, according to law TO the Bureau
Of ArresTs Since the Both OF september, there has
been collected IN this Bureau, aud paid 10 the City
Chamberlain S2Og,9i6. Returned 20 the Bureau Of
Arrehrr, 1860 60. Since Jan. ], there has been
collected ana paid to the CITY Chamberlain, 81, 6y0,-
$50 1j Returned to the Bureau of Arrears $50 :;
% 49, Balance Jan. /, 1860, S0oS,3JJ -. And
there now rtman IN the Collectors nand Tor collection
ass. ssinenis amounting TO - dollars.
BUREAU wHARVEs.
The Superintendens OF WhaTyes reports in full upon
NE business Of his bureau. lie mas rendered his reS-
nation ~ hch have accepted to tahe effect this day.
previous to taking his seat AZ Senator ntho Legislature
Of tins State. Tie affairs OF thus bureau are IN good
condition. Mr. Kelly has discharged the duties OF his
Office 10 nov entire satisfaction anu the city, by his
seuaton loses the services of thoroughly competent
and Efficient officer. No new Appropriation was asked
for the bureau Tor the present year. the uneApended
balance remaining hand on the Isl OF January lass,
amounting TO Slb7 $40 o., being IN the opinion % the
SUPERINTENDENT sufficient for all necessary purposes
Vouchers to the amount OF S|.OSO 80 have been re-
ceved from this bureau during the last quarter ana Tor
si4S,7O7 IL during the year; leaving balance 81
Sl9U45 90, against which no vouchers nave been cort
ied; existing contracts will, however, when COM
pleted require for their payment the whole Of this
amount
BUREAU OF REPAIRS AsD SUPPLIES.
The business Of this bureau has been very well con-
Quoted and the book accounts, &c, Of the office ca
hlb clear and explicit view oi Its tr.isactiou Inc
gene r appropriation for this bureau, Including the
eXlebCed balance OF 1888 SlOi 600 ~. Vouchers
70 tie amount Of Sl5l 75 s. drawn against this appro
priaon have been received during The last quarter,
aud ior $l3j,34i o. for the year. leaving balance on
hand If SoS,3to -.
pEPuTY SUPERINTENDENT or REPAIRS AND sUrPLIrS.
The Deputy Superintendent OF Repairs and Supplies
is CHARGED with Ihe furnishing Of supplies TO the yar-
ous departments, courts, police STALLION houses aAi oer
public Offices OF the city.
The duties of this office onerous, vexatious and
difficult 10 systematize. Much has been done, how
ever toward regulating tins important orhcA oi Inc
pubic business. ,,o,-- n
In thus Bureau vouchers to the amount Of 49, 57 80
in all have been drawn on during the last quarter Va
rjous appropriations, many Of them not aPTertanhg
exclusively 10 this Department. ana GA! eij u during
the year. .,..
BUREAU or LAMPS AND Gas.
Ire Superintendent Of Lamps and Gas has managed
H.. business Of this Bureau IN very satisfactory mi
ner. =, -. A.
The different gas companies are now Pald al ihe
rates agreed upon by contracts which expired several
wears since Tie hole subject has been repeatedly
brought TO the attention Of your honorable OoIe @iu
ia again referred 10 in the very full repor. Of the Sd
pern,endeut l. fully concur In all the recommends.
tlous Contained therein Vouchers TO the amount OF
$l36G2l SO have been received from this Bureau df-
ing the hast quarter and sIlS N3 IL for the year,
leaving a balance unexpended OF S'|,1O' -.
BUREAU OF LANDS AND PLACES.
The Superintendent Of Lands aad Places has Kept
the public parks IN good condition at n moderate e&-
pense has done much toward the plttOn of Temp
kins square ard has managed the business Of his bd
credliaby. There IS regular clerk allowed IN
tbis bureau. There have been received from he Sd
lerBtendent vouchers amounting to $S,6g4 y during
The las. quarter and 20 so 600 10 during the year
iea' ~ balance unexpended OF S>,66i W..
BUREAU Oh TIE CHIEF EsGlSEER or THE FIRE DE-
PAkTNEST.
. his bureau IL under the Street Commissioner 50 Ter
Only as expenditures for repairs and construction Of
pis ~ paFaIus are concerned. There has been
ttincuy on account Of the appropriation being ex
l"us'toi but The excess Of expenditures incurred has
81 ava cut 0i Inc appropriao for cont ngences OF
street. department. TOTAL oxpcn li,urcs Tor the year.
S''.i'9 oS Of which 5l0l - were dcf.aycd from
'on''hseAees OF Street Department.