New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-07
TIE CITY INSPECTORS DEPARTMENT.

bowever that mach greater number OF persons arc
now under psy that Department than at any former
.e,oS under any previous administration They rank
A follows: Superintendent Of sanitary inspection and
,treet cssniDg %; health wardens with nearly that
nunber Of assistants, OIL street inspectors, several
slaughter house inspectors number of meat and pro-
vision inspectors, not less than dozen night odump
neg dock Inspectors, with superintendent; large
number Of distributors of public ordinances, and not
less than two in some cases three persons employed
each dumping ground inspectors of msnure stree,
sweepers and carmen for the removal of manure and
coal-ashes, and, what has net been known at any
former time in street cleaning, gutter gangs formed in
al the WaIds: This last is the result of plan sug-
geEted by the Superintendent of sanitary inspection
end street cleaning. Many Of these positions are un-
known 10 the law; and if the work which they pu'-
port do s really performed the fact is as obscure 70
citizens as The authority under which it is assumed to
be DONE From the monthly psy-rOlls filed in the Con-
troeis Office, however, it appears that the great ma
ory Of these supernmeraries appointed as they are a.
the instance of the Aldermen, who after all have the
ray in city inspection give little or no service Tor the
liberal selsries which they receive Ever since very
short tpe after his appointment, the present City To-
pector has been unable personally to attend to the
duties Of his Office Indeed, apart from bis constant
confinement at home, it is not known that he has
ever claimed by himself has II been claimed by bis
friends for him. that he has any knowledge Of sanitary
necessities or of sanitary matsrs generally that he
cODprshends the great importance of the Department
az the head of which he has been placed So far as ap
peare he Is merely the agent Of the Aldermen to farm
out the places under him to their adherentshat he is
but lay figure, doing the bidding of those who
keep him in office. But were he ever so much his own
massr It would be impossible for the business of the
Department, requiring it does such active saper-
yi.on to be properly attended TO by confirmed in
valid
The SuperiptenSent of sanaty inspection and street
cleaning isseco1d in command OF this department. and
receives salary Of not less than s. 500. He has re-
tanned his position for seven eight years through va
rious ADMINISTRATIONS 1t is generally conceded that hiss
the How Not to Do II of the Department under whose
kindly care Rew-York, while spending vast Gums for
"sreet cleaning" has become the most uncean city in
the Union.
There are twenty-five Health Wardens, and prOba-
bly, as many essistants. The former are paid 80
per day, and the latter g. or 81 so per day both APP
pointed at the dictation Of the Aldermen without
gard to their competency for the duties They sell
dom to be found at the City Inspectors Office where
complaints are left for their attention; they
the alert for nuisanees which is theie duty TO have
sbaed And it il alleged that nuisances, when pointed
out 20 them are seldom removed until the question Of
perqustts has been duly decided. They are not re-
quhed as heretofore to report, daily in writing at the
Office the localities they have visited, and the mai
ssnces abate1 The consequence Is that piles of animal
and vegetable matter are allowed to remain on the
streets and in the alleys for days and weeks TO the det
rmert of the public health. Sewers are DISTRACTED,
and are permitted to send forth from their ubtesnean
passages the most noxious and deadly gases The dead
animal contractors pier is not unfrequenty in most
disgusting condition. There animal matter remainsr't-
ling and fermenting, and no Health Officer orders its
removal beyond the city lms. In brief, the perform
anee of duty which is well paid for seems to be Incl
dental rather than matter of course.
The Street Inspectors also receive their appointment
ct the instsnce Of the Aldermen. The salary is $lS
Y1r week Each Inspector is almost sure to place in
the service one or more carts of his The Super
nteDdept of Sanitary Inspe ,on marks the carts with
his spprova at the rate Of five or six shilings each.
Few of the carts marked have the capacity required
by the ordinance. Frauds also sd 10 be practesd
in the delivery of tickets to ealtmen for more loads
than they have removed. In this way the City Treas
N ury Is penetrated.
" Even the Street Sweeper is called upon to consult
u The Alderman before be can WELD the broom 10 the
ssrvte of Tire city. His wages set down at 81 80
per day. but he seldom receives his fortnghty stipend
without being reminded that be Is a constituent OF
party, and that as such he labors under obligations.
In the Bureau of Records and Statistics there Is a
Superintendent alta salary of 81 200 year; also aclsrk
al salary of 81 coo year. and several other clerks,
whose duty is to make true record of all births, mar
risges and deahs which in the city, and also to
grant pei mts for all ineImsnts out of the city. Ii is
the duty Of The Superintendent to that all such
records are faithfully kept and to compile statistical
tsbes, and to make oat all weekly, monthly, and an
Dual reports emanatrg from the Department. He
should be practically efficient and well qualified to per.
form these duties but it is undeniabe fact that the
preten: incumbent los well his predecessor seldom
If performed any of these arduous duties remain
ing rarely more than half an hour day at the desk
In fact single clerk at salary Of 5000 year, has
mainly discharged the duties of the ofice-has pre-
pared for the press all weekly, monthly and annual
ports and statistics IT is asserted tina; the Superin
teDdeDt, who was appointed afer the confirmation
of tie City Inspector is seldom seen in the Office and
hiss never yet performed hours service though in
receipt of handsome salary
Ofthe Market Bureau, let the case Of James living,
sufpended at his request months after his official
integrity had been impesched by the market people,
bear witness.
Such s the modus OperaAdi Of the Department
CHARGED with those mort sacred interests, the life aud
health of the inhabitants Of this crowded metropolis
Lis 70 be hoped that brighter future is before us.