The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-04

uNs
They have failed in these particulars:
First They have drawn their contracts in
terms calculated to allow evasion. The con-
tractors are required to keep the streets clean,
but no fixed number of sweepings (ss a
minimum) for each and every street is called
for by the contract. Thus it is left to the
Judgment of, perhaps, incompetent and pos
sibly interested inspectors to judge whether
the contractors have done their duty.
The public has reason to be much dissatis-
fed that at least one contract was given to a
party whose warrant had been refused the
signature of the Mayor for failure TO fulfil a
former contract
Second. The board has clearly shown an
unwilinguess to stop the pay of the contrac-
tors for neglect Of duty, and to anuul con-
tracts, as will be instanced by the CORES
pondenee appended hereto.
Third Complaints are referred to an in
spector, and his reports are received as evil
dence, irrespective of the loud complaints of
citizens, the daily press, and of this associa-
ton.
Fourth. The Board of Health having the
power to remove the oyster cart nuisance, has
failed to do its duty in that respect.
The members of the Board of Health must
see, in their own daily walks, that which any
other citizen who is not blind sees, that there
are streets upon which the sweeper has not
bEOu lOT ulOutub anu y6dIb-JuHJ u6hpS Ol ulJu
are stirred up, and piled in regular succession,
only to be again scattered, and replied after
the lapse os weeks or months.
That the sewer inlets are shamefully foul
that street sweeping is done, in the main, by
feeble old men who have not the power to
do effective work. That their sweeping is
not cleansing, but mere top surface scraping.
The Board of Health must see, as every
one else does, that there is but little unifor-
kaio
ing-that contractors will allow month after
month, year after year, to pass in certain To-
calities, without the removal of single load
of street dirt.
The remedy rests with the board: it is in
their hands, and they do not apply it, Let
the contracts be so made that the number of
times each street is to be cleansed be clearly
defined. Let the penalty be forfeiture of the
contract price. The contractor must be held
to an iron rule, else the duty of the board is
not performed, and the public purse is plum
dered.
Speaking of the Highway Department the
Directors say
''It may be truly said that in the Depart
ment of Highways there rests, under the laws
and ordinances, more power to correct abuses
in the matter OF repairs and construction of
streets, etc., than anywhere else, aud it is
but just to say of that department that valu-
dDl0 dlu udo DoOH gwen ny LuS Sulel OOuluulS-
| sioner to the association Still many COM
plants have been uncared for, and gross
violations of law and ordinances are of daily
occurrence, which it is incumbent on the
Board of Commissioners to remedy when
they have the funds for the purpose"
The report gives table showing that there
were 624 complaints made against the pas
senger railway companies, of which 524 were
reme3ied.
The receipts of the association for the year
were $4997'9j, and the expenditures
$4167'G4.
The following shows the number of COM
plants remedied by the Commissioners of
Highways and others at the instance of the
association
Construction and Repairs. Notified High
way Department, l7S remedied 114 notified
individuals, 167; remedied, 1926; notified rail
road companies, G24; remedied, 524; notified
High Constables, II; remedied, %; notified
Gas Company, IA; remedied, 13; notified
Water Department, 8; remeded 9; notified
| Park Commissioners, /; remedied, l.
Constructions and NuGSanceS. Notified
| Highway Department, A; remedied, 27; no.
| titled individuals, 17G remedied, 10; notified
High Constables, POP; remedied, 146; notified
Board of Health, 2l1; remedied, 176; notified
individuals, A.; remedied, 3. Total complaints,
| 1877; remedied, 1921