The New York herald., 1867-02-12
OUR STREETS.

COnmunication from Ex-Judge Whittng.
mssting Of the street cleaning commission was held
in the Mayors Office yesterday, when the following i'm
portant communication was received from exJudge
whiting, Street Cleaning Contractor
| Nrw Yosx. Feb I, 1867.
i TO rHH Ccxnss1oS FOR CLEANING TIE SrREErs:-
GHxrInxx-I have the honor 70 acknowledge the re-
ceipt Of copies Of the resolutions passed by majority
q your Board meeting held on the slsa Of january
Having nothing to conceal do not stop - discuss
your right toeueston me upon the subjects embraced
In three Of these resolutions but win proceed without
hesitation To- reply 70 all Of them.
TO the first resolution, which 10 as fonows;-
That Mr. James Whss the . s9Sr.s1G @ or
request o. commissioners and 4 the names Of
:sspsd isT .ppanimen whether such spponsmsSn:
po Or IL MI has BEEN
bear upon him in relation to the Of his
work. % MIN IN
answer that Immediately upon entering upon the
business OF the contract found the force consist OF
inspectors foremen ash dirt collectors and sweepers
The inspectors and foremen were appointed by my
s o.
and made such changes as the work from time 70 time
required
formed them OF the change OF ownership the contract
and that the work would proceed then organized that
question would be asked their nationality poll
tos religion; that they would be continued on the
work SO long as they performed their duty that II was
failure in anv rcspsct wond hs srcsn, cass ~
discharge that their earnings would be wholly their
own, without question or clam for contribution from
any person or for any purpose.
They directed TO inform the whole force under
them and TO state that no removal would place
them necessary. Some Offices were abolished az
being useless ordered changes OF localities Of some
ns BY m made nc which
cept for causes which ! deemed sufficient
made no appointments upon the request Of any
Of the commissioners have been governed by the
fitness and character Of the applicants and desire
organize the best force could irrespective OF any other
consideration have retained in place such found
with the contract at the time assumed It's duties
against whom no complaints we're made. have
moved employe TO make for another Applica-
tons for subordinate employment have been handed
over TO my clerks with the directions engage uch
only as were competent and worthy. It has not
frequently happened that personal applicaons
been accompanied by letters OF recommendation from
prominent officials, and occasionally commissioner;
but am not aware that have given TO such letters
preference over numerous other letters from private
citizens on like subjects
have no knowledge that have been embarrassed"
by any Of my employees in any appointment have made
nor has any "tended TO "embarrass" In the prose-
euton of my work. nor has any influence, political
otherwise to my knowledge been brought TO bear upon
M IN relation TO the employment of any of my
ploycs which at any time has tended to embarass In
the execution OF my work.
have in several instances positively refused to re-
store persons to place upon the application or high off,
cals connected with the city govern nmcnt who supposed
no instance did my reasons fail TO be most satisfactory
tmay not be improper for me TO that in assuming
the work | we'd from the commencement to be
influenced by political considerations partisan inhu-
enccs; and to adhering this determination may at
tribute in no small degree the hostility which has Of late
been directed against this department
To the second resolution, which is as follows--
Resolved That sal contractor be requested TO inform this
interest in the contract direct Indirect and So whom
answer John L. Brown has interest TO the extent
Of two OF personal friends have interest
extent or three ieths CONTRACT and no other
person to my knowledge has pecunary interest In
II that no cy Official % q any person connected with the
interest whatever in the contract
To the third resolution, which is as follows-
whether the Police to him ali proper and
lawful aid IN saryng ont the provisions OF the contracts
tain him p-'' '''' ''pA' '-A' = '"''
j answer, nat on the 5th day Of December, 1885, l
sent communication TO the President Of the Metropol.
ilan Board of Police Of which the following s copy
sIR-I hope shall the cooperation and aid Of
curing he tie contract FOR Cleaning which
not % but ,ss to G he ss
in order 10 clean and so measure purify OF the
Is e M asa s i - for
onss esr sa Z
yglant but in some instances entirely neglect their
n"Sy Of the ses pareslry IN the worst anS ocaies
The lawless Inhabitants immediltey commence q throw
street almost Immedately most filthy sppearanse n
put out their asles late Saturday night sunday
morning Ny nspes;!ors appeal in vain 70 these IN
nterfercs remedy evils complained Of Ashes and
NJ R S sn cam sHs.s s o s Sa
s % 2, wsn ss attention h Sf
order to your force enforce the ordinances
JAMES Il. WHITING
am not aware what action had upon this commu-
ncaop, answer received In streets occupied
by city railroads. Of snow the empoyes of those
companies have frequently after have c,eapcd the
GRO sWak kg mi bar tho
mouths OF the culverL that have been obliged
clear them out again. Lattery the police has come
to the aid Of my employees. have been mpeded, cspe
pecaly in the streets occupied by railroad
panies in removing the ashes IRON such streets The
snow has been banked up so high each side OF the
street as to prevent the passage of other vehicle
and in this respect the police force hare compelled my
employees to give way 70 the cars This has been .
hbiling the throwing OF ashes and garbage into the
streets and TINS preventing on the streets
received more watchful Observance by the police IL
would greatly facilitate this department in its opera
tions
In your fourth and last resolution you are pleased 10
say that in your judgment the contractor for cleaning
the streets has in most particulars done all that could
be done % eaTy n out n ms % considering @ tns Sn
facd @ DO his duty in keeping the crosswalks clear as
formancc Of my duties under the contract aside from
the charge that crosswalks have not been kept In
ceanly condition, was no moro than had right to
pec from an impartial decision OF the The leading
aud governing object With me, since have had the
contract was to do my whole duty under IT, and IT, In
DOING the result has not met the expectations OF the
public the fault docs not rest with me- but with the
contract
An erroneous impression has gone abroad and seems
to have taken possession OF the public mind that
only to sweep the streets In but winter
remove the snow and ice Hence have bcen expected
10 clean the and from the CUTTERS which would
be upwards Of four hundred miles Of gutter and TO
move the snow with which We have just been visited
Such work not only not In my contract but Is al
most an mpossibility. There s no place TO put the
snow; and II there was IL would cost more than
81 900 900 TO do the work. Surely this simple state
ment is sufficient to show its absurdity ON the 18th
day OF January last addressed . communication to the
President Of the Board Of Health Of which the following
10 copy
JACKSON SCHULTZ Esq President Metropolitan Board Of
Health
sR-we admonished this of the year, fast
advancing towards spring Of the necessity Of early and
thorough preparations Of protective against ep
dcmics which IN all probability w under greater or less
Of virulence, by OF
all whether professional santarans other OF c
Il admitted that the most important preventive against
the lodgment and extension OF disease consists in canly