The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-03-10

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eislnsa ssa Mr. whiting tn. contractor
that under specifications and two OF the contract
heard that before he never claimed that in my pres
Appropriation bin to clean the cutters and the bad
places below Fourteenth street; we expended some
or 900 on the CUTTERS these the contractor did
TO- clean; but he never claimed to that he put that
construction on the contract; believe that on close
examination OF the law the Police Commissioners
residents to clean the gutters the law only went so
far as the sdewakss they tried however, to enforce
By on Ss e
Q. Not by any ordinance OF the Common Councilf
A. believe not.
what streets were not cleaned by the contractors a.
The reports were made up at the oce from Walllngs
ana All 9 e q e e are
all marked In red.
Q. Do these maps cover the nine months you were
President OF the Board9 A. They do.
@. For the week ending 14th December, 1866, see
one map is nearly covered with red lines showing
the streets were not cleaned at all during that week.
A. Yes.
Q. Also for week in Octoberf A. Yes, that was
Q. Were these reports made from week to week?
dence as correct and make. out the maps accord
ingyf A. Yes; they would take the report OF the
foreman of q district who would positively swear
that the streets In his district were cleaned during
Q. When the police would report that they were
nots A. Yes In reference to ship head docks pier
and wharves they would report that they could not
be swept on account OF encumbrances on the
hss 'afss vsW ps 81 ts %s
docks, piers &C., unless the whole space was clear;
encumbrance he was not obliged TO clear any portion
Of that slip or dock at all, whereas l always be
eved he was bound to clear what he scoud for that
Q. Are there any suggestions you would wish to
maker A. Yes, will state some general measures on
the Board Of HEALTH up to the present time, from
the spring Of 1885, the contract requires that those
cart; such be has not been Uniformly runs now
nor has It been during this times the consequence y
that people bring out ashes and garbage IN the
come round the contents q the boxes or barrels are
making the streets look :: very bad and much
encountered with this onal and debris; we
,abored to SHOW MT r Whiting the impr4pety Of
through certain districts Of the city at certain times
SO that the citizens Of the districts might know about
lected to do this; think he refused to establish
any such system; Mr.. Whiting has neglected as
TO a ana n
unable TO lift the barrels Of ashes from the ground
and dump them at once into the cart; instead OF
doing so he dumps the barrels In the street and
sh0vels It into the cart to the great annoyance OF
the citizens; and 80 great Is this nuisance In
cross rom one side Of the streeto the other while the
ash man Is going through this practice; this prac-
tice has been subject Of great complaint and re-
monstrance; since 1t has been complained OF directly
Mr. Whiting has had to remedy 1t by sending out two
carts, but 1t would be moro reasonable to my mind
the barrels ought to be lifted and empted
into the cart at once; submit that Mr.. Whiting did
not take these facts Into consideration and did not
exert himself to remove the ashes and garbage as
he was bound to do in tight carts; the men come
with open wagons through which the liquid stuff
myriads OF flies that infest the streets ali day; the
mode Of gathering garbage is very objectionable;
Hssn q Mss sss sD III s.
faithfully and thoroughly cleanedS A. They are not;
the reason say is, that large number OF the pri
mostly fs Setwes e Fifth ssasG and syenaes
between Tenth and Forty-nfth streets; these
expense Of dollar month paid BY each Householder
these streets are completely and thoroughly cleaned
and the difference between the condition Of these
VIII ting contracts Is seen In this, that the private
streets are thoroughly cleaned and the other streets
O. The streets which Mr.. whiting contracts to
clean are inefhciently done A. Yes; he cleans on
the filthy part behind; do not hesitate to say that
half as much s paid by private individuals to keep
M W 81 coy e as e 0S
Q. Would 1t not be better to do away with the
public contract system and leave the cleaning OF the
streets to private individuals as is the case In
great difficulty would occur In carrying out
sna sixth WaTa Where sSeTe are Hs eight on
body's business would be nobody's business, and
nothing would be done.
Q. Why not make the owners do 1T A. The own
ers live, perhaps, In Europe, or Jersey, which Is
about the same thing, and beyond the reach of the
Q. There are other portions of the contract not
compiled with In your opinionf A. ind great
many difficulties In the way; one difculty is In e.
fully and thoroughly cleaned; 1t is difficult to say
what would be right.
Q. Turning to the seventh specification Of the con-
tract what do you say as to its fulflmentf A. say
that with the exception Of the streets named the
terms OF the contract might have been complied with
mean the streets back OF Broadway. say that all
the crosswaks and all the cutters should have been
nnes like Broadway and intersecting streets, have
not seen but with rare exceptions this work DONE
q. This system OF putting the streets and avenues
under the control Of the police contempates going
on from year to year keeping them thoroughly clean,
OF the outlay go to the Tax Levy for the Year, A.
Yes; my impression is that less sum than is now
Ss IN soT os and compse VIII 'e"n
@. That would depend on the efficiency and hon.
esty of the police A: They would do honest and
efficient work for all the money that would be drawn
for their service out OF the public treasury; say
further az to the personnel OF the mode Of doing
II at present. say the horses and carts en-
ployed are all inadequate, under the present
system particularly; when the city made this
contract FOR ten years IL distinctly understood
that we were to have O permanent organization,
equipments, proper stables Tor the
horses &C.; now, l say thai these contractors have
entirely failed In bringing about that promised re-
suit; the same agents only are employed TO clean the
streets that were formerly employed, with the ex-
ccpton OF a few ash carts and n Thoroughly made
quate class OF persons To attend 10 the work.
q. What better means can be adopted In ascertain
ing the condition OF the streets undeL the contract
system from your reports or by oalling on the
captains and sergeants OF the different precincts
whose duty it would be to travel on estab-
lished beats' A. think the police are the
best judges you can possibly have. think
they have o pride In keeping: their districts
In order, and they are and always have been, very
anxious to give all possible nforwation; think they
have been kindly disposed toward tho contractors by
aiding them In every wfy by anything have said
do not wish to be understood az saying that Mr..
whiting has not been energetic In the work as his
predecessors; ! think he has,; Just energetic as
those perhape, who have chested him.
q. Was there not universal complaint without re-
gard to any party or clique or to the complaints Of
the press that the streets and avenues OF the city
In Var ha1