New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-03-11
STREET CLEANING.

MESsRs. PETER COOPER, A. 7. STEWART RICHARI
OGORNAN, j. II. WHITING, THOMAS c. ACTON
GEO. b. LINCOLN, AND RECORDER HACKET1
BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE.
The Senate Committee appointed to invest
gate the workings OF the street contract system me
again at the Metropolitan Hotel, yesterday morning
Mr.. Peter Cooper, the first witness examined, benl
sworn said he thoroughly acquainted with the work
Dgs OF the contract system believed the existing system
to be the best but would not say that better plan could
not be devised having had opportunity for cOmpar.
it might DO improved by having the police watch III
operations the work would be done with less trouble ant
better by this scrutiny especially in those districts un
likely to he infected with disease did not think the
WORK could he much better done with increased force
SOsuer u impossible TO Keep the streets much cleie
during the Winter season than they have been kept
while the railroads continued TO throw the snow on ts
sides OF their tracks 10 could not be readily removed has
seen the streets in condition than they we're au
the aggeraOn Of dirt this had been greater
ever before. He considered it possible to clean
the snow from being dumped from the doeks ana II
ee carried away tins necesaea ores In the City d
owing to the fact OF his being native OF ~ no 80
anxious 10 have its condition bettered the question OF
ton had investigated the piesen ~ sei M M
the condition of the streets was personally investigated
last Summer by several mePels d pa 1e ASSOCIATION, MN
mart ~ Idge whiting; the Association found that he
had been more vG ant perhaps 1hn ms contract re,
after a heavy SNOWFALL II would cost about $4,000
tn clean broadway from the Battery to Union
square; it would have been an impossibity q clean
M last week, owing 10 the interruption
OF business occasioned only general thaw could effect
Mr. Richard o'GOrman, Corporation Attorney, testified
that he member Of the eet-Cleaning Commits
sion had nothing to DO with the making OF me present
contract personality the Commission met fortnight ago.
contract was repeatedly considered by It's members IL
bespeak the feeling OF The Commission there was gen
ernl dissatisfaction with the condition Of the streets
during br Schultzs membership, reports from the
police that the streets in bad condition members
cate was never completely satisfied with the appear
of the streets particularly the parts where tho
has I'm force and that the work has been done
in other way in his opinion the condition Of the
for the last few months has been peculiar and he
would not measure exactly the responsibility OF Mr.
Whiting under these circumstances, unless It was
OF the people; ho would not say what the
public sense is to the suficiency OF the
kept as clean they ought TO be- but to whether M
Whiting has performed his duty is another thing no bet
varied exgencies Of single season IN New York have
thought the Commission have no power 10 make another
contract the city call on his sureties to perform H.
the Commission require greater power than they now
have for II the contractor should fail there Is no author
y in the City Government 10 provide substitute; there
possibility that the city might be left without any
never been formally taken In this natter knew nothing
OF the contract vt the time of its creaon knows OF no
other persons interested In the contract than Brown
Devoo Knapp knows OF Judge WMtlng being inter
ested in the assignment OF the cOnrac docs nor know 70
whom the consideration OF S2Oo0c) was paid: have no
to believe that there were any other persons ~
interest, and positive knowledge on the subject what
Mr. James r. Whiting recalled, and offered tho original
contract between Brown Devoe Knapp ana tlle Amer1
can Dock Improvement Company Of NewJerscy, TO re
move the garbage, &C. from the city; knows OF no other
contract for this purpose there was no agreement mat
tOn for the assignment was part ia cash ana part IN
notes; obtained part OF ihe money Se q, rom Mr
Pepr ~ te extent OF S 900; the notes given by him was
fpput Al "a
received from fIeld, who declined To accept on inter
est has been willing 70 allow ms books y By inspected
declines TO produce the books ard accounts Of
present; declines to say what his net pr6fts
ssgS been sre ga and he E shRda4 OF
February amounted 20 $4,000 beside the monthly pay
his law business; there agreement TO pay them
$4,000 counsel fee under this contract understood Mr..
for how long has been assured by people who stopped
him in the street to tell him, that Ar Horace Greeley and
present there no person Interested I'm my assignment
except Brown DevOe Knapp. who have one-ffth; has
hfiRa k66d condition or The
sreets Mr. Whiting remarked that he had certain eA
plantations In writing To make, when ne "Ouu submit
and be willing 10 be examined thereon.
AZ Aievonder II stewart sworn said he did not know
that the sad condition OF Broadway lad caused any IN
reference WITH me ned rnSoY The garbase and
shes which the great difficulty ~ the streets because
he would be interested TO enforce ,ne % P ~
ing the throwing OF such NTH III Tue sieets 5e pg oi
snow on the side Of the streets u great pubic out9se
the sidewalk; far rs lihave ana BToduHAy arr con
cerued they kept IN as good cohdlloh last year ~
ey esof Tor meat length Of time would wrong Mr.
OGOrmau recalled. and sald thtie was 10 remedy
against the png OF snow and ice IN the streets SNORT Oh
Cir Brown the original street Contractor said he bid
inc amouut for which the contract was made some BIDS
were lower; had no talk with any OF the commission W.
regard 10 accepting or rejecting the bo, ADAM stor5
and Charles Maylaud Inspectors, tcbtihtd III ieghu
"a tber specpl duties and the dirty condition OF the
streets Thomas c. Acton, Police COMMISSIONER suDstan
TALLY said Am familiar with the condition OF le see's,
the great trouble is that the contract B made IN huch
Wav as be OF very little benefit Judge Whiting conforms
with the contract better than any OF MS pIedecessos
have. he Is embarras sed for dumping ground can say
what II would cost to clean broadway nut ~ "ou oe
es evneusiye 10 remove the wien u faS lhdh 10
ct in Law; the contract IL deficient IN that u does nor re-
GuIre the contractor 10 remove ashcs not III ,
Whiting has been very efficient I'm this way more so than
could be legally exacted OF him; don't tlhk inc cay
can be cleaned under the present contract ~ IL ought 10
MIR George T. Lincoln, President Of the Board Of
Heah-The Board under the present 3M anu the pres
ont contract are not able 20 reach officially the question
of cleaning the streets; visit all parts OF the city TO
ascertain lis sanitary condition. ana to endeayOf 70 aDate
houses are properly regulated; the c0ndluoh OF tho
streets consider simply fnghtiul sad AT m9eIing 81
refuse to for the payment OF any more money ee
delicate about saying that Judge Nhng mar hot con
nied with the contract, but do consider that moro
should DO required; Brooklyn IS cleaned by ward con
tractors, but oven then the bsei - tn w nScI Sye
PAYERS OF NewYOrk CITY would pay more cheerily LOT
cleaning streets than for any other luxty ana ta ine
Legislature would be justified III promoting ana securing
such Improvement q, ~. =,
Mr. John T. Hackett Recorder, said; have eOncluded
mo-, The dv Of cleaning the streets should be left the
MayOr or 10 some OF tho city Departments as the
present contract system Is not adequate 10 keephk e
sfreefs propery clean think that additional legislation
is required for that purpose. -. -
After thc examination or Recorder hachtl. WINS
Nnsbed the senate Committee adjourned TO assemble on
next Saturday morning.
REVENUE MATTERS.
Collector Shook continues to make seizures