The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-29
THE STREET CLEANING CONTRACT

inspector -
CRY lysPscroR's DKPAKrMKxr,
-on- NKw YoEK, Feb. 2S, 1885, !
10 TnR HoyoRARE TBE BOARD OF ArDKRxxS-
raSs body directing the City inspector 70 report 70 your
honorable body, the 28h INST what arrangements have
been lately made entered into in relation 70 cleaning The
streets Of the city, and what authority exists by ordnance
es charter therefor, and in reply beg leave 70 submit
statement of the facts and directly
cd with your inquiry. The importance OF the subject and
the respect due your resolution must be nv apology
for this rather lengthy statement
Upon the assumption by the undersigned Of the Office OF
City Inspector ~ the month Of June last and IN conae
qatDce Of the difficulties Of my predecessor in regard 70
his title 10 that Office, great ensued par
much dissatisfaction to the public, and Il was my deter
minatson 70 the best Of ability to satisfy the wants Of
our cssns for clean streets Those who had previously
the management Of this rksoe and unthsnkfu work are
aware Of The difficulties encourcred still, during the
summer and fan, and until the hst Of December, per-
both from the public and the press graded me in the
thought that was measurably successful
The appropriation for street cleaning for The year 1850
having been exhausted and appropriation for the year
1860 having been made Of necessity the work Of street
cleaning bad in measure to be suspended and on Jsnn
troller, OF which the following h copy
CcxprRoIIER's O1TIcr, Jan. s. isSo
siSe sspropr;aon iesstse:s ssas for cleaning streets
i sS sss 3,
ne CSunc or not rniess an h. rave
q
LA e sss
U@%sn 0feo
the Appropr ncns made ast have not been c1hAuse
payments will continue Z RSBssf Is M I; laws
me eject Of this Communication to put stop 70
AZ york on the streets and was only upon the appeal
entertained the hope th.. The passage Of tho tax
for street cleaning, would be enabled resume the
work but immediately upon the passage by that body Of
from tSo comD:,oller "A'
DxPARrxsNr or FINANCE
CoHYrRo.LEs' OrrIcE. Jan. q 1850
si s.ve % rsaas:i sss no Of money in y.ar
s s.se. % s. ss ss Ss Ss
rent ROBT. +. HAWS, CompHOilsr.
This communication, your honorable body win per-
Even The walks and cutters, which by ordnance
am directed 70 keep clean, remained untouched.
others full q snow, ice and briny sus snk
deep IN mud and h cutters frozen over the side
walks, permitting no drainage 70 the sewer other out
lett the public health suffering from these evils, the
Increased weekly table Of mortality abundsntly proves
While this sase Of Affairs going on the Mayor and
consulting with them upon tho subject o street clean.
ing. stated to them the embarrassment had labored
under, and my regret that was permitted 60 on
and put the streets In cleany dtion that having
placed ystR on record to give the citizens Of New York
clean streets, was perfectly willing TO CO operate with
object presumpg they ss well as myself were anxious
to have our streets placed cleaniy conoition. His
Honor tho Mayor hcrcupon submitted to me two propos
items or prow sas addressed 70 him. which he bad re-
ceived-one from Messrs Hobrook Higgins Co and one
from T. A. Smhh-for cleaning the Streets and leaving
the SAID proposals with with request eend for the
parties and consult with them matter and as his
Honor Was about TO leave the city, he wsud cali upon his
return and See the undersigned In relation to the subject
The Comptroller Al said meeting stated to the under
signed that he could not consent to further continuance
Of The work Of street cleaning in the manner and form
same that the work. under the charter be done by
contract but nasmuch the proposals of the above par
tract he would consent N rs same ana sSs 1srk va,
psEforme< ~ hem would pay the parry vho pertormsd it.
amended BY them, ws At the rate of S3io 600 par an
NUM- they proposing 70 remove ~ the ashes and garbage
week. The proposal om r. A. smith was at the rate OF
$500 eco per a1num keove all the ashes and garbage,
and 70 sweep re streets from two 70 ak times per week,
fne work should be dore faithfully 10 the sas1facton Of
the Mayor Comptroller and CITY Inspector, he would
On the return o( his Honor the Mayor to the city be
sgnin in company with the Comptroller called upon the
Sss:gned and thsy wsre informed oy him o. The results Of
pcsaIs above alluded to. concluded that nasmuch
as Mr. Smiths proposals were for lees and for the
street cleaning temporary arrangement should entered
into with him BY the undersigned IN .ccordsnce with his
rnept % was made with Mr. smith. - f' A's',
Thus will be seen by your honorable body that
contract has been made with Mr.. Smith but
bal temporary arrangement, already stated from week
TO week, until some plan could be adopted by the Com
Council until the undersigned should be authorized
TO proceed with the work either by contract days Ia
Dor, in such manner that the men employed could be
paid.
This gentle men, s all that has been done in the premi
ses and the authority under which this arrangement has
b the charter Of the city, ordinances and resolutions
Of The Common Council, tho cognizance and charge Of
cleaning the has been placed in the hands Of the
undersigned 90 has also the removal OF nueances detri
mental to the public health could not quiet
DO nothing when the condition OF the streets of city
was disgrace to hs character, endaDgerng the health
and lives OF our citizens by their accommodating fifth
and records Of my Office but also from the public press
Under these circumstances, gentlemen, with the advise
ment % o. the Mayor and Comptroller, and having only
adopt the proposa Of Mr. Smith the only resource left
mo TO perform hs work. 80 necessary to the wants
cessties and healtn or our citizens
In thus employing hr Smith have been actuated by
feeling save desre for the public good and should
sgy 1 or
perform the labor ~ days work. will afford salts.
faction % csrry such ordnance Or resolution into mmsd
Alderman CoxSuL moved that the communication be
accepted and entered on 1le.
Alderman GENET said that the communicaton was
mass Of verbiagc, signifyine nothing u Mr. Haws re
fuses 70 pay The ust dues Of the city, he is liable to I'M
psschmen beose he cannot take upon himself 10 say
you shall not clean the sree> or II you d. viii not nav
for " soSA cSsdscs deserves imprisonment He {Aid
ca esntsalad has thu action os The CDmptrolsr and
Mayor was done for political capital and for The purpose
Of serving pesaonal friends. 4gM1
Alderman CoRSuI. while he concurred with Alderman
Genet In $780, u hs vsews, could not cndofse his renti
ments respecting The Comptroller II Mwss legal q clean
the streets BY days wcfks curing The past ysar y ocr
tanly legal 70 do 10 this year. IL b the duty Of the ty
pspectof 10 clean the streets, either by decoa OF this
Board, or by contract under advertisement fsf e-
Alder man TrcxEy submitted that the Comptroller had
be power Ray for the removal Of the ashes aud gar
bsse he certainly had the power pay for cleaning The
o. they had been cleaned during the past year
Tie Board ought 10 take action on this matter now
fbe streets are not now being cleaned and Mr Smbh Is
pocketiDg como - 900 week while taking bsrs
In in the power Of any citizen 70 put an Inunctou Mr..
smith. and he hoped such acticn would be taken.
Alderman FAsky sasd that te Board were a. wise now
az they before they received the communication
Tor q Did not contain the Information asked for.
Aldcrmsn Tuour ssked h The AIdermAn OF the SIX