Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-09-01


regular semi-weekly session of the Board of
City improvements, held yesterday morning,
the Clerk was instructed to advertise for
proposals to pave the following streets: The
sidewalks on Harriet-street, from Front to
the canal; Andrews-alley, from Vine to Race;
Wood-alley, from Seventh to George Plum,
from Water to river; Haven-alley, from
Ninth to Richmond; Front, from Mill east to
present pavement the unpaved sidewalks on
Vine, from Court to Clark.
The Commissioner Of the Northern District
was authorized to repair Harrison-avenue
from Brighton-street to Western-avenue.
The engineer presented an estimate of the
cost of bowldering Water-street from Smith
to Vine. The Clerk was ordered to transmit
to Council an ordinance making an assess
ment to pay for the work.
The use of the Orphan Asylum Lot was
granted the Queen City Town-ball Club for
practice on Mondays and Thursdays. The
Commissioner of the District was authorized
to repair the wall around the lot.
A communication from S. j. Browne,
relative to culverting Brown-street, was
referred to the Commissioner of the North
ern District and the Engineer.
The second estimate of work done on the
City Buildings was presented, and the amount
allowed the contractor.
A communication was received from G.
W. Runyan, proposing to make certain alter
ations in the first stor of the City Buildings,
for the sum of 300. The alterations were
authorized.
The project of heating the City Buildings
was talked OF, but no definite action taken in
regard to the matter. There seemed, how
ever decided aversion to steam. 1t was
proposed that the Board take time some day
to examine the different modes of heating
large buildings.
The subject of awarding the contracts for
cleaning the streets, for three years, was
called up.
Engineer Gilbert suggested that action be
further delayed. He said that among the
bidders was Mr.. Longley, the proprietor of a
street-sweeping machine, and he thought
the Boar ought to witness the operations Of
the machine, and put it to thorough test
before awarding the contracts.
Mr. Kiersted said that he was at first dis
posed to get clear of the business as soon as
possible, but the more he thought of it the
more he was satisfied the Board should pro-
ceed with great caution. Formerly the
Board consoled themselves that if they COM
mitted an error they could correct it in one
year, but now the contracts must be awarded
for three years. Besides, Coancil heretofore
had the power to interfere with their award,
and often did 30, in a manner that relieved
the Commissioners of the responsibility.
Now, the whole responsibility rests with the
Board of Improvements.
For the benefit of the members, he had
made careful survey of his (Eastern( Dis
trict, and made an estimate of the actual
cost of keeping it clean. He found that it
would require n force of fifteen scrapers and
fifteen carts. Estimating FIVE working days
in the week, as an average, and the payment
of the scrapers at 81 per day, and carts at
81 rs per day, the sum total will be $t0, 7l5
per year. That, in his opinion, is the very
least that the work can be done for, and he
presented the estimate for the benefit of
members.
He would further remark, that the present
contractor employed only six scrapers aud
six carts, or less than one half the force re-
qnired He was determined so far as his vote
was concerned, to award the contracts only
to such meA as he was confident would full
fl them.
This opinion of Mr.. Kiersted was pener-
ally coincided in by the members Of the
Board. The subject was laid over for the
present, there being an understanding that
the Board would hereafter set am hour for
witnessing the operations of Nr. Longley's
sweeping machine.