The New York herald., 1862-02-11
Mr.. HackIsy Before the street Cleaning
COmmittoo.

attend ana when the hour for holding the meeting
rived he the prepared to answer any qses.
tons the COMMITTEES might ht 70 ask on the sshsssof
street cleaning saa
Alderman FRoxnr chairman Of the committee, told
Mr.. Hackey the had sent for him on the mat
ter Of cleaning the Ho supposed he WAS avars
that the public less interested in II. The
subject had been up before the Common Council several
times and the committee wished to know what differences
there between him, the Street Inspector and tho
Comptroller One clause Of the charter No. TO- saysK
parties shall perform any duty required by these
specifications for the period OF forty eight hours after
they shall be notified thereof by notice in writing left a
their place Of business by the City Inspector then the
City Inspector shall notify the Comptroller who shall
communicate thesame the suretes thereof the
sureties fail having the work performed within forty
eight thereafter then the City nspec tor shall pro-
cecd and have the performed the exp Of the
| sursties.'
Mr.. HAcIEy said he very glad to meet the com
mittee, and should be perfectly frank and open with
them. The statement made in the communication from
the City Inspector did him great injustice and contained
Sr Sr'A; refuse to bc taken ou. Of the city every
| day of the year. This is averaged among tho
wards and Is 10 ms sr o. 70 ase @ no Sa, s
tom to attend TO each ward according to this average
The foremen are required to attend at his Office every
night and the amount carr led away. All
tices which have been sent to the office have been
promptly attended to by pc employed for special
not only his duty but II also his interest TO
attend to IT, II the garbage and ashes were allowed to
accumulate to double the amount the Of removing
| il was very much increased.
Alderman HAIL asked whether, in such case, II it
cost double TO it away ard double to pat il board
| avessel, did it also take double the time to sweep
4 it up?
Alderman WALSH asked whether il was discretionary
with himself whether he paid his men by the day or by
| the load.
Mr. HAcK1xY said i. was except in the case Of the
| night men, who preferred being paid by the day.
Alderman fnonEsa asked Wnssnsr , nc csr,s In
Gays ''the streets shall be kept conveniently passabe
Tor vehicles during the winter and the cross walks and
all gutters nersectng tho sano shall be kept clear Of
| snow and ice9'
Mr. HAoslEy said he obliged to comply with those
terms and also in OF blockade by snow 10 make
| passage and make the streets passablc.
| Alderman FRoMKNT said he did not know what con.
strucon he put the word passabe but aad noticed
! able condition. te&
Mr. HAcKLsY said he had put on his whole force 10
keep the street passablc and take OF tho snow.
! Alderman FRoMExr said Mr. Hackley might have given
orders that effect but it seemed to him that they had
Mr. MaoxrY said il had been done as well as it could
under the circumstance but IN some places was IN
constant traffic He had been doing all that he could
and had had an immense force on every day
Alderman FRoNENr asked whether he did not think the
contract required him keep the crossings coan for Il
seemed to him that he had any Of them clean
except the opposite Mr. Stewards dry goods storef
ard whether the contract did not also require him to
keep the and eveed tho streets that the
Mr. HAcKLEY said he had been doing all that he could
for the purpose but this his first experience in New
York. and he believed the streets in much better
condition than at the Same time last year.
Alderman HALL asked whether the contractor ought not
l 10 remove all tho hills Of snow in the streetsy
Mr. HAcKIxY answered this by showing that il il were
done street block the level would be detroyed
and cause break in the next one He had given dirsc-
tions TO make ything in future quite Lowell
Alderman FRoxENr said that in spite Of what had bean
shown the committee had an idea that but very few a
the crossings had been cleaned. rfs =
Mr. HAcKIKY replied that general thrg, the
irgs had all been cleaned few here and there might
have been left undone People often give utterancs 70
the expression. "The streets in horrible oond-
tion without thinking thing at all about the mattef
and every must know that the work has been done
three or four times well as It last winter.
Alderman HALL said he knew the sidewalks had net been
kept very clean nearly broke his head going homo
on Sunday night, when he fell down at the corner Of
Alderman FRoxsn asked how wide the crossings were
Mr.. HAcKrEY said generally tho full width Of the
Alderman TRonxxr asked Mr. HackIsy TO give the COM
mttee his idea Of fkeeping thoroughfars passablep
Mr.. HAcKIEy said II heavy fall Of snow took place,
he should be obliged TO snow p0w and II that would
not do he should remove the snow altogether He did
his duty keep the streets in tho lower part
rendered impossible All that he could do to keep
the cutters free and the open 70 allow the water
stated that during the month Of December ho had sx-
pended $40 25 and in January $2l 500 81 and that
he had had larger number Of men engaged than during
Alderman TnonrSr sad-Then the clause which 10 sup.
posed to favor you in tho winter months is, in your
| opinion, Of no advantage
Mr. HAcEr said no. he would rathor clean thscty
in the summer than IN tas WIN Winter % q,
during the last have done oil that the contract
| calls upon you TO dos
Mr. HAcxIsY said he believed he had many done
| more than he was called upon TO do
Alderman FaoxENr asked him whether he aware
that tho public seemed to be Of different opinon2
Mr. HAKIKY said he belved that eight out OF every ten
very highly gratnsd with the present condition Of
Alderman FRoxsxr asked how he accounted for the pub
lie press crying out against it, when IL s supposed TO
| speak the sentiments Of the people2
Mr. HAcKLKY said it ought do, but like everything
human it was likely TO err.
Alderman FRoxESr said they had but one object in
view that was inquire how the street cleaning
contract was obtained but only TO inquire why IL s not
carried out2
Mr. HAcKIxY said it was very unpleasant for him to
hear such remarks made, last year 1t cost him more
the ashes and the garbage than he received
from the city, and in every large city the people must
expect TO suffer little Inconvenience when there 10 .
heavy fall Of snow.
him the quantity Of ashes and rubbish he to cart
away2
usual and natural accumulations from houses. II wall
fell down he not obliged to remove the rubbish.
Alderman FRoMENr said that he had been told that
some Of Mr.. Hackeys refused to than
barrel Of ashes aday, although five or six might be
Mr HAcxrxY said he was obliged to remove them ALL q
Alderman FRoMRST asked what time the men COM
menced to take away the ashesY
Mr. HAcKiEY said they guided by circumstances
but as rule generally commenced about eight
O'Clock. Many persons were IN tho habit Of not
putting out their ashes until the cartmon had
passed, and these consequently obliged to
remain until the next day Mr. Haclley then said
that the railroad companies were compelled by thei
charters keep their tracks clean but he did not bee
leve they had any right TO throw their rubbish on tn
| part Of the street he obliged TO clean
Alderman FRoNEST said that was ms. .terh must set
tie with Comptroller. What the public require TO
have the streets kept clean for II they not every
connected with the department will be held respon
I sibe.
| Mr. Hackleys examination had now lasted about
hour and In conclusion ho said that he had always
deavored perform his duty faithfully; that he took
much pride in his work. but could not expect 10 satisfy
| everybody
The committee then adjourned, subject to call
| from the Chair.
Arrivals and Departures.
| DEPARTURES.
/ auqhf Of Wnabi M