New-York tribune., 1872-06-20
STREET. CLEANING APPROPRIATIONS

THE NEW BUREAU ALLOWED NINE HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE REST OF THE
YEAR.
Mayor Hall, Controller Green, and President
of the Police Board Henry Smith, have supervised the
estimates of the cost OF streetcleanng lately sub
mitted and published exclusively in THE TRIBUNE on
Friday last without reducing the special items, the
three gentlemen resolved upon appropriation, In
round numbers, OF 10000, an apparent reduction
of si1l,OOo Before reaching this result four
or five meetings were held by the Board Of Revision
All Of the items were carefully considered, and the
Controller was forced to confess that in no instance
were the estimates extravagant Each item,
in fact, had been carefully gone over with
experts by members OF the Police Board
The item Of 100 horses at $3.50 each was at first objected
to by the Controller but he subsequently withdrew his
objection satisfied that the amount was not excessive
Boston pays for horses used for the same kind OF work.
from $500 to SS25 each Cincinnati from $3.50 10 $685. and
for our own Fire Department horses from 1926 to $3.50
paid. The estimated cost Of harness, carts, sweeping
machines, scOws, dumpingboards, etc. and even tue
Of the horses, arrived at after consultation
with experts including Robert squres OF the ThrdaVe'
Railroad Company Alderman Mehrbach, one OF the
largest yerystable keepers in this city, aud others In
the estimates run above the amounts de-
cided on by the Police Board
Mayor Hall called attention to the fact that under the
provisions Of the law the Police Board was compelled to
perform than 81 times much strectceaning as
was called for under the contract held by John L.
Brown The amount allowed for the property of Mr.
Brown used by him in streetcleanng, and the addi-
tona outlay horses, Carts harness. ETC., foos up
to S33s15O Deductng this amount from 100000, leaves
S6ls5O which still further reduced by S457 q to be
paid to Mr. Brown and $4,000 additional for lifting up
offices, printing blank books, etc. Deductng all these
items leaves only s57 6l2 SO as operating expenses for
the remainder OF the year The other expenses VIII be
| for material that be used for years to come.
| Tba moved
alton be cut down to s2OOO He stated that he appre
ciaed the necessity Of appropratng sum sucent 10
clean we'll but at the same time he was not
unmndful the unusual claims upon the Treasury Tor
this year. of the duty OF officials to lessen the
present burden upon the far as could safely
! be done He was Of the opinion that the equipment
called for by the Police Board could be reduced to con-
siderable extent The carts, scows &C. cannot be pro-
yded for some time come, and until such equipment
ia complete, there must be more or less hiring OF carts
| scows and machinery. This hiring might be extended
over more time with advantage this the get
ting OF mass comparatively useless machinery might
be avoided He believed that the cost OF carrying away
the refuse and swepngs might be very muGh reduced &
scows tugs etc, could thus be dispensed with. In
large part the city the work, he believed could be
tbat the Police could be great advantage for
the purposes of inspection and general service thus re-
iieyed that with all these reductions fully $4,000 could
be saved He would have preferred separate street
|
The motion OF the Controller was lost the Mayor and
President smith voting the negative The Mayor then
offered a resolution that 100000 be the sum expended
by the Board Of Police in streeteeaning for the wear
voting the Affirmative and the Controller IN the neg
Tie revision Of the estimates has not yet been made
| A reporter of TIE TRIBUNE called on President smith,
statement Mr. smith thought that to do the work EN-;
GENTLY the amount asked for In the nrst estimate I'M would
qured, they needed not less than $50 horses ana the
number Of new carts For Work OF tnls 6dnd
strong heavy horses we're needed Inc carts proposed
| TO be used are the same as those IN use
in Boston, holding three ,oa times TSsro Ss m9es %as
no sense in cartng about cubic yard OF ashes or art
tbe Ue when three times as much could
lust as well taken in OF the carts to be purchased
obtain e requisite number Of scows for removing the
| dirt When the Board declined to purchase Brown's
outfit the superintendent and Deputy superintendent
both practical men-spent entire day looking FOR men
who would dispose OF scows fitted for the purpose ana
they could not find They absolutely compelled
10 take those OF Brown and his outfit with the although
valuation below the figure FIRST demandea py bTo"n o.
h% NeIIersey Central Railroad Company was at pres
| emf usipe al OF their own scows in removing ashes
and dirt, but the Board could not tell when TINS
| aid might be Withdrawn. Double gangs OF men were
now employed working night and day; and IL was only
by the greatest exerons that they could dispose OF the
dirt brought to the various dumping grounds. ~ was
| calculated that 10000 or 100000 cubic yards OF
ashes and dirt wouI be required to be removed .
would be needed, and for these estimates had
been received varying HOm S4',OO 10 49," eaeE
| nenses for repairs that could not be
foreseen and provided for. It had been stated
that persons willing TO take the ashes and art
Thus lar the Board had received few offers and IN each
case the dirt was be delivered In their own scows
The Board must be prepared, at its own expense ana
with it's own materials TO cart away the great Duk OF
the ashes and gathered In streets. Mr. smith re
Grated the Mayor that the area to be cleaned
is 81 times greater than that under Browns contract
| and added: Beside going over a large number OF
streets every day we Compelled to clean the piers
and bukheads and uupaved streets. This is something
fol iung
| an to nerform The Board OF Police determined to
have clean streets and to do this work we must nave
| the material and money wherewith To perform IT,
|