The New York herald., 1868-03-21

l am prepared to say, and do boldly
sal OF his testimony, that his statements viewed
i'll the light OF practical experience, are worthy OF
lation And this win now proceed to show. For
the sake, however, OF candor and fairness frankly
admit that he was correct when he testified that the
streets cleaned by private contract a the expense OF
the householders are thoroughly and completely
cleaned, but must add that OF all his testimony
made before the committee that alone was wholly
free from error. And there is good why these
favored sections OF the city, swept In part at private
cost, shonid be adjudged as thoroughly and COM
pleely cleaned. For, firstly IL is notorious that the
inhabitants OF these locations by habit by preference
and by panstaking are lovers OF cleanliness and
secondly, which is the chief reason, In addition to
the weekly sweeping by your employees those sec
tions of streets are daily swept AT private cost.
Now let us make Mr. Schultz his own Judge In this
matter. Has he not decisively settled SO far his
authority is worth anything, what is TO be consider
ed thorough cleaning OF the streetsf Speaking OF
those locations that swept daily at the cost OF the
householders he says:-"And the condition OF those
streets and those for the cleaning OF which Mr..
Whiting contracts Is seen in this, that the private
streets are thoroughly cleaned and the others
not" Well sir, may you allow Mr.. Schultz TO judge
between yourself and the public, according to his
own statement, that those streets are only tho
roughly cleaned which, in addition 10 their being
swept weekly by your employees are also swept daily
at private cost. Now this standard of thorough and
perfect work which he adopts, and winch is
only attained by sevenfold labor and cost,
he Is pleased in his consistency to demand
shall be your rule, who have agreed to sweep the
streets but once week, and for which you receive
pay but once. As well might he attempt TO claim
lldt biue vi ledtilcT Ill u week Dy lOFccu
chemical process is equally valuable 10 one that has
lain six months six years in an approved decoc-
ton OF oaken bark. This your very critical Judge
condemns himself by absurdly claiming that your
work, though equal to the contract shall be as COM
plete as II your pay were seyenfold greater than
It'll
AS to the cost of public and private sweeping: In
his testimony before the committee he says:-I do
not hesitate to say that half as much IS paid by
private individuals to keep certain portion or the
Mr.. Whiting, for the work he has done" From
street sweeping in this city do not hesitate to say
that there Is no proof Of his having made any ade-
quate investigation OF the subject, or II he did that
both his creduity and ineXperience were very much
imposed upon. The area swept by private contract
is one-sxteth Of the whole streets OF the city, and
confessedy the wealthiest and cleanest portions.
Now let me particuldrze somewhat. The whole
amount paid for private sweeping in this city does
not exceed s25,OOO annually; add to this $25,Ooo
more, and we have the sum total (S5000O) which
Mr. Schultz says we pay for all the work performed
by you under your contract. According to the same
as much you pay for work done; therefore, since
you spend only S50 900 per annum, your profits must
be $450000 For this highly original mode OF solving
the question OF your gains the thanks Of the whole
community are justly due to Mr.. Schultz.
presume, sir, that Sour acquaintance with the
stern realities OF your position will save you from
being overpowered by an Illusion so pleasing. But
your critic after all his assurance very much
to your pecuniary disadvantage, elsewhere is found
declaring after very extensive and patient investi-
CATION, he had made up his mind, from all the infor
nation he could gather you are annually making
S140,0 900 or $150000 net profit II will not, certainly,
require much acuinen or consideration on the part
OF the committee or the public to determine what
degree Of confidence should be repOsed in testimony
SO consistently rendered.
In reply to another question OF the committee we
find Mr.. Schultz going out OF his way, as he repeat
mony to give it as his impression that a less sum
than is now expended, or not greater one certainly,
will clean the streets thoroughly. But will here re-
fer for moment to the perfect standard for street
cleaning which THAT gentleman has given us. Ac-
cording to that he declares that the whole city ought
cost less than third n m
distinctly AYERS Is paid by private parties, in addition
to the work performed under your contract in order
to secure that degree Of cleanliness which he de-
mands. In other Words since 1t costs s25OOO
to sweep One-siXteth part OF the city, that being
the proportion now swept by private enterprise,
it will cost sl,5O0,Oo0 to merely sweep the whole
paved area according to the normal standard which
he has introduced. But according to the most re-
liable statistics, derived from general usage 1t costs
to remove the sweepngs ashes and garbage two
thirds more than 1t does TO do the sweeping that,
according the ideal Of Mr.. Schultz instead OF its
costing 100000 per annum for street cleaning he
would have the people taxed $4,000, 900 in order to
equitable compensation for the same work. Surely
the committee must feel exceedingly grateful to Mr..
Schultz for his comprehensive, luminous and consist
ent unfolding OF his ideas in regard to the matter
which the committee have been sent to investigate.
In view OF the foregoing inconsistent statements Of
Mr.. Schultz, can hardly believe that either the
committee or the public will be greatly msled by his
extravagant representations as to the working OF the
department
Aside from certain spasmodic complaints to
be elected by the inevitable obstructions occasioned
BY the prevalence OF large quantities OF snow and
ice in the streets, believe that Mr.. Schultz Is the
only man who has undertaken seriously to impcach
the efficiency Of your management. But doubtless,
II that gentleman should ever be installed in your
place most surprising revolution would soon be
wrought. His generous offers would induce not only
the usual type OF the manual laborer to join the ranks
OF the street cleaners but skilled mechanics would
take up the hoe, the broom and the shovel, and ex-
press companies, ice companies and safe companies
would be wholly unable to procure horses ut all ade
quate TO their purposes.
J. WOLFE AMBROSE,
Inspector Eighteenth Nineteenth and Twenty-frst
wards.