The New York herald., 1869-06-08

tensively used. The American patent however
gives 1t better adaptation to our climate as respects
the action OK summer heat upon the surface or a.
.ne friction during winter from the calks
| winter, are rendered necessary for horses shoes
The Common Council appear, by their action about a
ment and the City Tax law, by its provisions
allowing the use OF that pavement. evidences
and the Citizens Association. The report OF the
Committee on Roads TO the Board OF Councilmen,
February 1865 agreed that the Fisk concrete pave
ment saved the wear aud tear OF horses and vehi-
Giles, made no dust or mud, was hard and smooth,
and yet animals did not slip upon It, and that 1t was
| superior to the French concrete pavement laid in
Paris which has worn for thirty years; that it was
superior to stone and cheaper than any other pave
ment in the city, and thar this macadam concrete
curing 1867, 10000 square feet laid. Also tnat
| It had been tested in Prospect Park, Brooklyn;
| Druid Hill, Baltimore; IN streets OF New Haven,
| Chicago. Washington and L0cKhaven; and that six
inches pressed to four inches in depth OF the pave
Brooklyn, wthstood, without perceptibe impression
upon It, years attack by the vast trucks engaged
daily in hauling anchors, chains and the coarsest
| mercantile material.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE STREETS.
| The Legislature this year had the fairness to en-
power the Street Commissioner, in his discretion TO
| mend all the Old cobble stone pavements. They are
| everywhere In deplorable condition. The expense
ofrepairing them enormous that prior legis-
laton shrunk from voting the supplies. The need
for tue money Increased yearly. But the expense
to be betrayed by the issue OF bonds.
STREET LlGHT-A HINT TO THE GAS COMPANIES,
Something practical must be done Immediately to
give our citizens q better quality Of gas than they
nave lately been compelled to burn. We have 1t In
our power 20 become independent OF gas companies.
Ii has been suggested over ana over again that con-
sumers living In block should club together and
make their own gas Science has been long hard at
work at fndlng out new processes OF making light,
and the results so tar are extremely gratifying.
cheaper and much better light can be procured from
the new oxygen. or magnesium, magnetO-electric,
or gasoline, many other means OF producing light
than from the wretched street glimmer vOucllsaied
magnesium light made some important discoveries.
It may be called artificial sunlight as It shows ali
objects In their true cOlOrs. The magnet0-electr
light is perhaps the best OF all for street purposes.
One OF these lights placed on Broadway would shed
brilliant enuigence ior one quarter OF mile on
THE RESULT.
Some months ago Baron Haussmann ordered the
discoverer OF the new method Of producing oxygen
gas 10 light up the City Hall OF the French capital.
Alter Which the Emperor ordered the court OF the
TuIerie3 to be Illuminated In the same way. Those
brilliant exhibitions led TO the granting permission
to lay an extra pipe In the city OF Paris for the
veyanoe of oxygen, to be used with the street gas.
few wealthy gentlemen have recently erected works
in Forty first street, near Eleventh avenue for pro-
ducing this oxygen and the retorts in daily
operation. They have mad about 900 cubic ieet OF
oxygen in gas holder, and made much more by
81 alternately air and steam over the man
ECONOMY IN LIGHT.
Many OF the lights just referred to can be produced
at an expense less than the charge OF the gas CON-
panies. In due time some OF these Inventions must
suoersede gas for street purposes. The time Will
come when our citizens can laugh at the former gas
lamps as much as they did forty years ago aC the
old-fashioned Oil lamps. Between private gas con-
sunerS and the companies the former must always
be at the mercy OF the latter. The latter are an
hundred IN number throughout the State-they al
ways work together and naturally In their own In
terests.
THE MONOPOLY ALMOST AT AN END.
They constitute together an immense monopoly,
which can always suitably impress their views upon
legislators. But as between the gas companies aud
the city, practical results andsbeneicia to the city
can be obtained by submitting the quality OF the
gas, Tor winch We certainly pay remuneratiye
prices to scientific test under direction OF NUM-
cipal servants, anu by the city selecting larger
burners for lamps. The Mayor recommends that
your appropriate committees forthwith select some
section OF the city ior practical experiments upon
the efficacy OF the --latest inventions IA street light
Ing
CLEAN STREETS.
The streets OF New York are assumed to be swept
under the provision OF a contract made several
years ago. Municipal annals during the past fifty
years evidence the unpopuarty of street cleaning
inspectors ana contractors. There IS no use IN deny
ing that our streets and avenues cannot be kept
clean for the sum now paid to the contractor. The
sum which was adequate when the contract was
made, is now insufficient. legislative attempt was
recently made by the municipal authorities to in
crease the stipend and provide stronger guarantees
for performance OF labor; but 1t was unsuccessful.
THE PAY Observation-Disclosures TO THE
CITIZENS.
II the taxpayers want their streets thoroughly
cleaned, they must make up their minds to pay a
proper sum for 1t. But they caa also do much TO
aid the authorities. II the sweepings and refuse from
the interior OF shops, stores, manufactures and
houses were carefully removed by holseholders and
not furtlvey thrown into the thoroughfares II some
pride was taken IN maintaining cleanliness In front
OF premises, fully onehaf the present expense and
labor of the authorities In trying maintain clean
would be saved. The contractor
might be aided by policemen detailed to his olce
Independent ana spasmodlc enforcement OF ordi-
nances by the general detail OF patrolmen are not
practicable, and the ruts Of the present police sys-
TEN are very deep, any one wishes to start car of
reform.
CITY IMPROVEMENTS.
But the most important IA well as interesting SUBJ
iects for our municipal care are-frst how to pre-
vent IN the daytime the chokings OF thoroughfares
secondly how towards nghtfall, to afford 200, 200
people easy and rapid access TO their homes from
their places OF toll and business.
To practically and Immediately solve these prob
lens the city authorities could almost afford to sur
render their entire time and attention.
Every one must have noticed that, whereas in the
Infancy or New York city people came to 1t from all
parts OF our own country "to make fortunes" they
fortunes already begun elsewhere or to spend them
gnid the uxurles and comforts OF great national
New York has been, therefore, for
some time becoming a centre not only for accumu-
ating but investing fortunes And the tendency of
population and the traffic TO our city s great that
we are In danger OF being hampered by our own
THE TRANSIT PoR TRAFFIC.
II our down town thoroughfares are annoyingy |
choked up In 1862 what will be the case In such
respect only i've years henceS While the city thor
oughfares above Fourteenth street are being cared
for in the matter OF ornament, those below Union |
square should be attended TO In order that the de-
mands OF transit for trafic be fully answered
All improvements above Fourteenth street must |
be made under authority OF the Legislature II they
alter the map or plan OF the city, and upon assem-
blage OF the next Legislature the Mayor Will ask
your cooperation respecting several applications 10
that BODY for many improvements within Albany |
control. But the Common Council have absolute |
control over those to be initiated and perfected
below Fourteenth street. |
sHORTsIGHrED PoL1CY-rHE FUTURE
We cannot longer AFFORD 70 laugh at our short |
sighted ancestors who built the back part OF the
City Hall Of red sandstone because the city proper
lay below Chambers street, because we have been |
for many years, with our best foresight committing
similar blunders, and the laugh may be turned upon
us within three years. Have not municipal autho-
rifles egislated, and rather for present than the
future, upon the data OF the pastS Has not too
much regard been paid TO the clamor OF taxpaing
ciques, or OF some rich men who have cared more |
TO amass family wealth than to invite metropolitan
GRANDEUR Certainly IN this Industrial epoch when
all the forces OF nature are being subdued TO contri-
butte to individual prosperity and enjoyment, public
men should not forget to plan and legislate for the
future. What we have suffered from the short
sighted policy OF our predecessors should not be en-
tailed upon our SUCCESSORS.