New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-03-10
STREET CLEANING.
TESTIMONY or MAYOR HOFFMAN, JUDGE WHIT
ING, AND JACKSON Il. SCHULTZ BEFORE TIL
SENATE COMMITTEE.

cleanliness OF our thoroughfares Mr. Dreamer opened
the proceedings by explaining his resolution offered in
the Senate recently and remarked that his object in
posing IT bring about change the better the
business OF street cleaning in New-York. He thought
that the unuteraby filthy condition Of streets fully
justified the indignant protest OF the citizens against
continuance Of the present system. want OF system
ana demanded prompt action on the part OF the Com
mittee.
Mayor Hoffman was the first witness examined. To
the questions asked by Mr. Creamer the Mayor replied
am member OF the Street Commission which meets
twice a month: James II. Whiting the contractor paid
a. general rule twice month; the Commission sup
p,sed that ne had complied with the conditions OF tie
contract az far circumstances would permit until
GENTLY most OF the time when MIR Schultz was President
Of the Board Of Health, was the practice OF the police
captains receive reports from patromen OF the condi
tion OF the streets; this practice seems have been
abandoned and since then the Commission have two in
pecto Ony the reports are that the streets have been
swept, and ashes and garbage removed, except during
the snow season; the inspectors are Charles IL Whean
and Adam Stock their reports are not sworn u; tney
report twice MONTH hut each report embraces week;
during this Winter fewer complaints have been received
than heretofore as to the removal OF ashes anu dr 10
complaints 10 the neglect OF the contractor have been
received; the Commission has audited the sem inontny
payment OF the CONTRACTOR he has been paa lhe sam
amount for the last quarter as al anF OIner Pernu,
the substance OF the reports OF ISpec1"tS va" .rs
the ashes ana garbage were ItiuU,cu, SENT st
mouths open and the streets In good condition az tey
could be under the circumstances. THINK the streets OF
the city are IN very Dad cOnditoi lhih i9rS
ton is required; what that legislation should De, am
unprepaTed 10 am opposed 10 plece-nea legislation
for the city, and wish 10 see TINS nt.S uI ,c SO
troll Of responsible person. don't thk the present
don't thnk any coltract VIII answer my ,po, ~ y
impossible tn say what expenditure would be required
ana get as much money a. they cam think some egisa
ton required compel owners OF property to keep the
miserable failure the contract between MI Whiting ana
the city binds the contractor 10 the strict perform
is 10 keep the sewers and culycrts open and
the CROSSINGS clean This part of the contract mas been
very impcrfoctly fulfilled. owing in measure to the TACT
that the frequently chOkcd mp 10y matter from
the inside OF the houses over which Mt Whiting has no
passabc, and IN auditing tho last semi monthly payment
we told tho contractor so The present street C2ni
SION are not responsible for the present contract tnk
am the only member who was on the old commission
il the present contract Is TO he continued thnh " -
necessary that department should he authorized 10
spend such sums OF money as VIII Keep the streets prop
funds The present Commission cannot cancel the exist
ing agreement, because Mr. Whiting claims that he has
one ~ bst IA Keen the streets clean; because II his
pay were stopped would not tend 10 improve the CON
dition Of things and because there seems TO be no
In q suit against the cty think he contractor would
triumph; as, however. we have what Is considered
good man CONTRACTOR do not say whether nc Is or
OtI think had better make the best of bad thing
ordinary years. the money appropriated - suihceti
but Winter Ike the last, SlOOOOO or S2O0OOO extra
would DE required ashes and garbage are thrown ON
the streets but tue people are not 20 blame as ~ large
tenement houses the landlords have provided no place Oh
reception for ashes and garbage Mi Whiting has no
dumping grounds on winch to pnt snperfous snow ana
sad he had no place 20 put this superOus snow ana zee
that the Commissioners had refused To let 1t Ice de
posted ~ thC paris was tleh uouSnl tls ~ s i
be- dumped of the docks and let float out 10 sea- but me
maiey the street Commissioner cohsthleu 70 Iet te
parks be used. Tho Inspectors are responsible 10 Tue
Commission, aud receive a small compensatlo-S
year each. have neither the power nor the ieas 10
have the aud ice removed nor has any department.
OF the City Government The burden should rest upon
the railroad companies they should be forced To do
the work all thOrOughiares covered with ther ras
The Street Commissioner or the Mayor sh0uu DC asoI
Ted 10 eNpend all money necessary to perform te work
which the agreement does not obge the contractor 10 10
Piled with not the matter Of annulhng IL lies WIN the
Courts. ,. H. iii,
am the purchaser OF fourhfths 81 the reetcleanng
contract. Tor which paid bonus of s2nhp MT brown
the former contractor owning the other NTH expected
TO make money ont OF the contract. Out hlu aisoa
cond Ion of the CITY ana think that / succeeded.
for there b. not the face Of the globe mots heany
mis- wear | have this Winter removed 1900 loads OF
and ice from broadway ana nave removed thou-
ands Of loads from other places which was not required
10 do: the CORPORATION charge me slONO agtdtiOt
manure therefore must sell all cam aud say now mat
am ready 60 give n up t0morrow-t the Legi5iatme
can gct il done better-wthout making penny have
400 policemen watching me; l have two inspectors
watching me. ana think tho contract should DO d9h"
well do not bribe the Inspectors. A. am not IA the
habit Of doing that Of which any honest man Should se
ashamed my reason Tor giving $1,000 bonus 9i th1
contract may he briefly stated but n time were gwen
should prefer TO offer them IN writing when the yellow
thought that the nth had been properly removed from
offered me the contract for s25oOoo which was more
than was willing to give at the time but took
to purify the and streets OF the city, possible
aud TO make 1t healthy. The contract am ready 20
throw up tomorrow, II l can get my money back MY
object Is and OF course shall reimburse myself II cam
cleanse the city Of IFS pagneSpot In the dlrtiesl
wards had the out 10 wash their sidewalks after
the streets thoroughly cleaned and far purity
concerned. have left Baxterst as comfortable
as Broadway OF the houses In this street there
80 people and IN few Of them as many a. 800
lived. These had no place TO throw their ashes ana
garbage, and when the cholera came there was every
prospect OF It's sweeping like Whlr~nd through ms
region OF misery and filth. My men were set 10 work
here, and I told the oyerseer that II single
OF cholera occurred IN that locality, he should
] forfeit his position. Question by the Chalimah-
Have you ans objection produce the books kept by you
under this contract ~ which you have entered the
mitcc A. prepared 10 answer that question;
can't afford to loose my money. q by the Chair Has
broadway during this Winter been kept constantly
able for vehicles and In the condition that the interests
OF city require that IL should be kept Fora rea
sonable number OF vehicles IN my judgment IL mas. V
Can you tell the amount OF money you spent in February
cleaning streets and avenues A. L can't say u II
amounted TO $4,000 may have amounted 10 more Dut
hardly think Il IS question for the Committee DIT
Cr0wleyI do not think so Mr. whiting Ihe Commlttee
will not be impairment as 10 inquire into matters
strictly private. Mr. NhngMr. Brown has an interest
In this contract and should like consult him. II he
wants counsel IN this matter he should perhaps nave IL
O. What streets and avenues have you cleaned during
February cleaned them all by removing the ashes
As To the removal OF snow &C. gave Orders 10 my ~
spectors to remove IT. don't know lit was done. II
| went INTO Baxter-st. or not 1 also removed It
from Broadway. O. Haze the crosswalks been kept
O. DO you understand that under your contract you are
not compelled to remove ashes thrown on the streets A.
large factory may have Is barrels OF ashes per
day. now, If they throw those into the streets 1t Is yo-
atiOn OF Corporation ordinance, and am NOT COM
PEELED 20 do IT, yet have not refused q What was your
object in taking this contract A. IL was solely To get
New York a saubriOus atmosphere O. Have you lost
money by this contract A. do not think that is
fair question: must consult my partner Mr.. Brown:
say that the contract kept according to the letter
money can be made. Mr.. Creamer asked Mr.. Writings
opinion what IL would take aud what II would cost
10 clean away the on Broadway, from Bowling
Green 10 UnOn-square, before IL turned into ice Mr.
Whiting unable 10 say, as sleigh riders generally
wished 10 have the remain. but, In his opinion, 10
remove the snow would be waste Of money; 10 remove
two OF from the Battery TO nionsquare, would
$4,000, and that would be useless
| expenditure OF money O. Were you privy TO making
the original contract A. ! was not. 1 purchased
The contract 1906 and had interest IL previous TO
that time had "a knowledge OF parties having in
In he fori