The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-25
VAN MORT ON CITIZENS, COMPLAINTS.

The Whole Question Of Well Paved
Streets Turns Upon Appropriations
An Answer from the Board OF Estimate
on the Cutting Down Plan.
commissioner Van Mort, of the Department Of
Public Works. has sent the following letter to His
Honor the Mayor, in relation to repairs to wooden
pavements-
DEPARTMENT or PUBLIC woRKs
coznssrosrHs oTncr, ROOM is CITY Hall,
Hon. WILLIAM HAvExEYER Mayor the city and Chair
DEAR are bens constantly
received by This Department from property owners and
as to the condition OF several OF the woods ayements
dion dangerous TO lie and property Is beyond QUESTION
One OF the sanitary inspectors of the Board OF health,
III condition dangerous 70 life nd detrncnts to
SoEe a ass %sSy hs
are gone. This condition causes several pools OF mud
'1sa s snd ss
n sa E mo d aeoo
POSITION and eXhaing offensive cases.
the present eondo Of several Of the streets Of he
TSpt aS eeeh aes s matter
. This Department, Is by the charter. charged with the
Ing streets and keeping the Clear Of
be iw s r
Gers thereof unless an appropriation shall have been
appTopa,ioa f MADE Tor this purpose
this DEPARTMENT can take no acton whatever looking
the pnycments Of The street.. and action Il can in
a"' N'nc ior tnlS purpose ucncuuS upOH
The extent OF the appropriate, previously made therefor
There In this city 1871 square Yards
piyements, which have been laid aggregate cost OF
e2Shi5 81. 10 maintain these payemcnts in proper
have to be executed in each year and il done with the
patented materials chemically treated, would entail
tle city an 0nnua expenditure of i5lJ0pp Considering
the present cond ton OF these pavements and their per
peuditure 81 The ubc money aud acting upon this
ychon di1 not hesitate to recommend 10 the Common
Council the inauguration Of properly devised scheme
fo the gradual removal OF thee wooden pavements and
the Substitution therefor Of stone pavements The Com
mon Council had not however the power and The L gs
la ure tailed TO authorize the carving OH. OF
ncndations or 81 some 9th equally efficient scheme TO
perfect the much needed reform.
Until some such scheme Is devised and duly author
lied IL appears IN me to be the imperative duty the
officers Of the city 10 that where ab soutely required
for the safety Of the pu Bile these payemcn,s prop
repaired.
Accordingly, and with the view of nroyit,nr for The
execution OF this work. asked for an Appropriation
pDyp THIS estimate was submitted by mo after .
fn examination which satisfied chat ut least 49, l5l
yards o pays;nsht must DC immediately repaired and
bic would cost the AMOUNT asked Tor BY me Without
any commune alton with on the ,uI.ecf am ad
ycd by TIC Comptroller tat the Board of Estimate and
App}rt onment mas reduced my estimate one hale
reccmmcn lat on o. The Comptroller n N Is the final
action of &c Board l. OF cour mus submit hut can
moi DO so without specially vi ing you hat for the
appfopr aed Tue work necessary 10 remove these te
Is sin ply fostering ana increasing those &C i've agencies
in our midst. "
Itiu, this important matter will receive your early
on as early a date as possible fccon,idcrcd by the
p9ard o. Estimate and Apgortonmsnt Very respect
'u'J' foWs' . 1EORGE VI. VAN MORT,
Commissioner Of Public Works