The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-04
Tho Streets OF New York.

Tho Streets OF New York.
We have had some evidence of the efficiency
OF the Street Cleaning Department within
the past few days. The immense quantity
of snow left by the storm of the 9th and 26th
ult may have been too. much for them. but
they have achieved great deal. 1t is moro
than ever necessary that the work should be
pushed on, and with increased energy. The
rain predicted by the Weather Bureau has
come. and slush, knee Deep will be our lot
unless the masses of snow at present remaining
on the ground are in some manner disposed
OF. Give us more shovellers and more carriers,
then, without delay. The mistake which has
been made by the Department lies in not
having attacked the snow while fresh fallen
with an army of laborers and carriers at least
four times as numerous as those they set to
work. Four men on the first day after snow
storm could clear away more than one man
working for ten consecutive days. 1t is the
same thing exactly as householder who the
first day of the storm can clean his footpath
in fifteen minutes Two days later it would
take two hours.
Ip order to assist the city authorities in the
work of preparing for a thawing rainfall all
owners of houses should be obliged to keep
the cutters in front of their property clear of
snow. BY this means the water will have
good chance to run into the sewers, and thus
not only rid the streets Of an inconvenience,
but, by flushing the sewers, carry off the seeds
of pestilence which during the cold weather
may have accumulated there waiting for
spell Of warm weather to make their presence
disagreeably felt. In former years the citi-
zens gazed TRANQUILITY at whatever the heavens
sent-snow, sleet, hail, rain or wind 1t was
all the same to them. They were obliged to
wait for a change of weather before they
could dare to hope. The contractor who rep
resented 'sthe authorities" did nothing; the
citizen grumbled and followed the example.
The contractor was o philosopher, believing
that whatever was was right. If it showed, he
stopped work and saved money. If it thawed,
he waited with the patience Of Job for week
or two, no matter how much the beslushed pub
lie raved, until the sun had dried the streets
and saved money for him. If it rained, he let
while he received the money. In perfectly
fine weather he swept Broadway. If there
was storm Of wind he thought it better than
a million brooms for removing dust, and
saved money by not interfering with it to the
extent of gallon of sprinkling From the
contractors point of view the philosophy was
perfect 1t was the disser aler of the sluggard
transformed by the wand of Tammany into
the Golconda of '.masterly inactivity" Sad
to say, things are changed Man, proud man,
with his usual presumption, has taken the
scavengering business out of the hands Of
instead of Arctic Boreas to sweep away our dust;
shovels will take the place of showers and
water carts are to simulate Jupiter Pluvius
when he is out Of the way in the Summer
months. The citizens are bold enough to
approve the almost blasphemous innovation,
and are prepared to pay for it. The promises
have been fair enough, and now let us be
treated to little more performance. We
must not rely too implicitly on the De-
partment Eternal vigilance is the price of
cleanliness as well as Of liberty. If the De-
partment is energetic citizens should do their
share Of the work. 1t would, just at present,
be good idea for the Street Cleaning Bureau
to frame few clear, simple rules, setting forth
the duties of householders in this respect
under the law, and circulate them widely in
the city. There would then be no excuse for
infractions of the municipal ordinances anent
clean footpaths and open cutters.