The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-16


tages. 1t maintains brigade OF teachers and an
army OF scholars in public schools. 1t contributes
10 the support under private auspices 81 $1,000
tons. New York city disburses largely also In the
endeavor to force ignorance and greed to respect
the laws OF health. 1t expends quar- ter OF n mil
lion for salaries OF judges and Court attaches.
This sum sounds largely, yet It must be remem.
are the tribunals where moves immense htga-
ton from foreign countries and IRON every
State in the Union. The city authorities must
necessarily take the initatory and lead in all pub
nc improvements and advance the nrst cost OF
them until II can be to great extent collected
back from property owners; and they are generally
glad to be advantaged without paving for the bene-
MT at ALL or, paying, to prolong the day OF pay
ment as long as possible. This assessment advance
averages several millions per year. and must always
be borrowed and the interest lost.
diminish, and not increase, must necessarily prove
delusive. The city expands, and In every year
demands new obligations for expenditure and
shows fresh fiscal necessities. Taxation rates must
Increase yearly. The reformer is not yet born who
ave ve evsn Keep them under n three per
and comparatively wonder at the present CON-
plants. Attractive to capital as the city has been
In the past, the DOCKS parks, well cleaned and per-
fecty paved streets OF it's future must prove more
magnetic to wealth. Increase OF population ana OF
taxable capital will however, distribute the load Of
accommodating tax.
Police information best exists in files of the pub
lie press The subject however, Is OF intimate I'M
portance to citizens and ourselves and especial at
tenton therefore invited to the Report OF the PO-
lice Department. six years ago the number OF pa
trolman was l,S4S The number now IS only about
three hundred more. While undoubtedly police
force that is constantly subjected to popular inu-
ences and political changes becomes necessarily de-
fective in system and management, much OF the
adverse criticism that is hastily made upon police
operations in this city is due to the fact-not en-
ttrey appreciated by either press or popuace-
that, while all appreciate how vastly our properly
and population have increased within the past SIX
years, only 500 additional policemen have been
apportioned by law to that metropolitan growth.
p.nU
would do much toward meeting the exigency.
During the recent conflict between labor and CAPT.
throughout the twenty-four hours OF three consec-
utive days. The force ought to be sufficient to
necessity for calling for military AID. If cti-
zens knew how extended in some parts
OF the city were the beats over Which
our appeal for additional police force would be uni
versaly seconded. Nevertheless the recoections
OF the past year, as well as the police report show
that the police are entitled as body, to great
praise and confidence, Notwithstanding their dis.
| parity of numbers-the very professional and
drilled law breakers OF the metropolis outnumber-
| ing them constantly.
| The Police Department have recently assumed
charge of STRENGTHENING powers and duties. AS
yet the machinery is detective; but such ample ar
rangements have been maze that hereafter it may
| be reasonably expected, the broom grown Old, ill.,
stead OF the new one, will sweep cean Much of
success, however, must depend upon the citizens
| themselves. Hall the debris which Is thrown into
the streets from dwellings and stores ought to he
removed through private means and expenditure.
PUBIC Street-cleanlnB cOnuenplateS the carrying
away of dirt arising from the authorized public use
of the streets. Whatever the law authorizes the
use OF Lawmakers should protect to the extent of
its use, and that only. The wretched condition
OF the cObbe-stOne pavement, especially in the river
ward extremites or the city, doubles the expense
OF street cleaning in such localities If your hon
Orable body would authorize the repaving of
greater number OF streets, then In the end the
increased expense OF the paving could be met by
the diminishing expense OF street cleaning. Jour-
nalistic complaint has been made that under the
new arrangement, the expense of street cleaning
hn ntrlU min thnu. CA
be no complaint. The last contractor was to re-
celve about five hundred thousand dollars per year.
This service, taking all his obligations to clean
the entire paved surface OF the city, on an average
twice week. The estimate OF the present eX-
whole paved surface of the city every twenty-four
hours That is. the STRENGTHENING service being
trebled, the expense will be trebed. The present
expense Is Just about three times the former one,
and the bids for the service varied from 500, 900
for three times week to 81, 100000 for daily SER
vice.
Attention is called to the very interesting
report OF the Department OF Docks, including the
report OF the Engineern-Chief General Mcclellan.
One of the most important and necessary works
ever undertaken in this city Is the building OF
wharves and piers, in accordance with the plans OF
the Department of Docks.
The plans of the department were approved by
the commissioners Of the Sinking Fund, April %,
1871.
The Legislature recognizing the value and mag
nitude OF the work of Improving the water front,
conferred upon this department. very eXtensire
powers, and placed at its disposal 5000 600 per
annum, to be raised by the issue OF city bonds,
under authority of the commissioners OF the Sink
It will be seen by reference to the report that
during the year ending April 80, 1872 the first year
has expended the sum of $1,o75 sos 81.
During this time, however, the department in
made application to the Commissioners OF the Sink
ing Fund that the Comptroller OF the city be
directed to issue 81, 100000 OF dock bonds Tor the
improvement Of the water front.
The commissioners of the Sinking Fund on May
bonds, and November ID, 1871 directed the issue
of an additional 81, 000,000.
1t appears, however, from the report that OF
these 81 000, 900 the department received from the
Comptroller but 81, 100000, and this by system OF
instalment extending over year, which has had
the tendency of Gripping the work and OF infuslng
feeling Of doubt aud encouragement into every
undertaking of the department, inasmuch as the
Commissioners OF Docks, with wise and com,
the existence OF the department have acted upon
the resolution to incur no obligation on behalf OF
the city, unless the department has in its treasury
the funds to meet It's obligations, or unless the
Commissioners are assured by the Comptroller that
| the necessary funds would be placed at the dis
posal of the department in time to meet its obga-
| lions az they matured.
Special attention Is called to that portion OF the
report which treats OF the receipt of the funds from
! the Comptroller
1t will readily be seen that to push forward with
economy, efficiency and despatch the important
work OF building the new bulkhead wall and per-
manent piers the Department or Docks must know
with some degree of certainty, at the commence
ment OF each working season, the amount OF money
that viii ne available for It's purposes.
The money that is appropriated by the Commits
sioners of the Sinking Fund should be placed at the
disposal OF the department within a reasonable
time after the issue Of the bonds has been ordered
The Commissioners OF Docks express the opin-
ion that the new bulkhead wall OF concrete and
granite can be constructed, making river street
OF $50 feet wide on the North River, and 200 feet
wide on the East River; and commodous perman-
ent piers of preserved wood or of concrete and
granite be erected 500 feet long, and varying
from eighty to one hundred feet in width, without
any Ultimate cost to the city. They represent that
prominent commercial interests stand ready to
lease the piers to be constructed on the new sys-
TEN on such terms rs will pay the interest on the
outlay, provide fund for the keeping Of the struc
lures In perfect repair and a sinking fund to pay
the principal OF the bonds issued for the improve
ment of the water front, as they shall mature.
This is a most promising prospect, and consider
nd can ~ nj ia