The New York herald., 1868-03-15
THE STREET CLEANING INVESTIGATION.

The State Senate Committee on Municipal Affairs
resumed their investigation in regard to street clean
ing affairs yesterday, at the Metropolitan Hotel. The
principal witness examined was Superintendent
Kennedy who testified as follows:-
have resided over twenty years in the city Of New
OF Poce in the performance of my duties have had
occasion to pass through the streets and avenues of
the city; they have been In better condition than
usual except when the snow and ice have prevented
them from being cleaned; during the last winter
they were in bad condition; do not think they
citizens; am not prepared to say that any streets
have been impossible, but many streets have been
kept as clean as streets should be kept cannot say
contract to the letter, but with few exceptions the
ceanngs have been made in accordance with the
terms Of the contract the terms OF the contract do
not compel him to remove the snow and ice, and
according to my observation the terms OF the con-
tract ira nave ~ eeen GHep Eo
to break up the ice, but did not succeed as the ice
froze solid few hours subsequently; Broadway is
required to be cleaned, between the Battery and
Twenty fifth street every twenty -four hours and be-
low Canal street at night; the language OF the con-
tract says every day. that think was DONE as it Is
omitted on Saturday nights; the contract system is
the most economic, the best OF which have any
knowledge; the contract provides for the cleaning OF
Broadway once In every twenty -four hours Canal and
Wall streets three times each week and business streets
twice a week, and private streets once in the same
period; in my opinion the last require more cleaning
than any other filth accumulates more rapidly
where large numbers OF people live In small space
tnnn IN Otner lOcalitleS: would mentl0u
In the Eleventh ward where 5000 souls live on a sim
gle block, which would require cleaning twice day.
a thorough cleaning Of the streets would certainly
require not less than S1,000000 per annum; am
speaking of present rates when labor s highs have
no idea of the cost of keeping snow or the streets
the fall this winter is the greatest since 1886; the
clearing of the snow is, think, practical: have
suggested the matter to railroad companies, with the
remark that they should pay their quota the snow
should he cleared Immediately on faHing and
dumped In the river. My impression Is that snow
should be carted away there are three dumping
grounds, one is on the North river near twenty
Seventh street. and two the East river. The num-
Der Is insufficient In the lower district II is neces-
sary to car the dirt TO the foot OF James street.
forms us that there Is one not used at the foot
of Twelfth street, North river. in my opin.
ion more dumping grounds should be used.
Certainly there should be another In the lower
lower part of the city. am not prepared TO say
that the police would attend 10 the matter more
eileCtualy than Ii IL attended TO AZ present when
the railroad companies proposed TO dump the snow
from the ends OF piers directed the police not to
interfere, but ordered them TO make arrests whcn
the snow was dumped into the slips IL appears 10
NE that the city Of New York Is always ready TO
pay every cent that II costs to do the work OF
eiiectually cleaning the streets.
Several police captains were examined, but the
testimony was unimportant
FIRE AT RIvERuEAD, L. lon last Thursday
| night fire occurred on the premises OF DR.. Luce,
known as the Forge farm, at Riverhead, L. |. The
| fire. when first discovered, was issuing from the
| side OF the dwelling house. Every effort was made
TO save the contents OF the building but so Intense
was the heat and rapid did the flames spread that
the premises were totally destroyed. The loss Will
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