The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-15
THE REIGN OF sLUsH.
Disgraceful and Filthy Condition
Of the Streets.
The Beautiful Workings Of the Street Cleaning
Bureau-A Reform" that Needs Reform
ing-The Law Which 10 Not Carried
0ut.pashing: splashing and
Intellectual Picking.

Where are tho street cleanersP Who cares or who
are supposed to care for the comfort OF those who
60 down the town to their shopsf Apparently no
body. During the past few years, when the work
was done under contract, there was something for
the people to find fault with. The contractor did
not do his work, and as nobody ever saw him he
could be blamed and scolded to the hearts content
by anybody who had suffered little splashing or
gentle roll In the beautiful snow when 1t had
been reduced to the consistency Of mock turtle
soup.
Under the old regime the contractor was paid
$45oooO under the contract for the cleaning of the
streets and during the last session OF the old Tam
many reign 5000, 900 more were added for extra
cleaning' by Mr. John Leverich for cleaning the
snow from Broadway. 1t will be remembered that
the old contract did not require the contractor to
clean all the streets daily; he cleaned Broadway
every night the principal avenues twice week,
the side streets once q week, and had all the
sweepings, scrapings, rags, bottles and ''ndings'
generally for his own profit. On these it is author
itativeiy stated he accumulated, in less than two
years. fully 81, 100000.
BOFFLN's BOWER,
as immortalized by Dickens, would fade into insig.
nicance before such results. Yet the streets were
not kept clean. The ashes and garbage were re.
moved only to suit the convenience of the cart
drivers. Complaint was universal, and loud cry
for ''reform''-iOr change OF any kind-was raised
The contractor needed not such cries. He was net
obliged to clear of snow or slush. The contract
was 80 wOrded that II the weather should be
stormy he was exempted from prosecuting the
work for which he was paid. He felt secure,
however, inasmuch as he "Obliged" men,
bers OF the State and local legislatures
in the distribution of patronage. "Sweepers''
and 'foremen" were given away according
to the amount OF influence the Official possessed.
Unfortunately for the contractor he refused men,
Der OF the Legislature q couple OF men, and the
gentleman resolved that he would Ego for HIM" at
Albany. The gentleman alluded to secured the
services of a page-or messenger boy-in the AS.
sembly Chamber to cOncoct a resolution for HIM
overhauling the Street Cleaning Contractor and
Commissioners. The matter was referred to the
Committee on Public Health and an Investigation
was made. The Police Commissioners, who had
already possessed SO little power that they
longed for more, demonstrated to the Assem-
bly, committee, through the venerable and
eminently respectable looking member Of their
board. that the work could be done for many thou
sands less than was then being charged. The re.
suit OF this investigation was the revOking Of the
old law creating the Street Cleaning Commission
and the passage of law, reported by Dr.. Tough.
ran, OF Ulster county, and urged by certain men,
bers from New York, under direction and ZEN
couragement'' from the ''buslness" man of the
Police Commission. The law referred to is as fol.
lows, and is here given to show the citizens of
New York just what they SHOULD expect to be done
for the money appropriated
SECTION 1.-The Board of Police in the city of New
ss s:.sa:
% % %
1%s ana f
fS an
blood ofai and other refuse matter and all bones, ali
Ss.,S ..a
rubbish shall be removed from the city col:
ue8 Sc
sunken lots and which may be required for such pur
SEC 2-The said Board Police is hereby vested with
Charged the % @
euon Of the N, for aS cleaning a the streets
b: 1854 between The Mayor, Aldermen and Com:
part, and john l. Brown, William H. beyos and
KNAPP "a to Of hs x eGnd pro
and to see that said en- fully W on the
Or otherwise have the rights interests and
%s d f. Of d y
Hy sa sHs or S s sna sr IL
the same cancelled and determined whenever the
.s s%
part 81 said By them Kept and per
formed Whenever the said contract shall be cancelled.
reason the failure q said soniractofs Or their
sSSd IF rsss e d to es
y ' s ss
ts and ss sE the
ne existing haa
5sSnonsy y he az N New YsTR Of nj
first part and the Long Island Bone Laboratqry Of
Of Police shall proceed to- and thence continue to
s the Sy ne 5 Of sS II s
to the removal from said city Of dead animals, blood
SEC I-The department bureau or city official or off,
s he and to s
and slips Of o ss city shall ana set for
docks piers and slips berths in slips and located
S i % the By this
said Board of Police Is hereby authorized to
ashes and either Of them to any
exrsdisnt and that the shall be promptly
Or o an s S So d he to oS
S & e e s
reporisa the Comptroller Of the city tOf New York
SEC S@The said Board of Police is hereby authorized
may necessary il executing the several provisions
s%S Ss ,Ssr ss%peassticnI ana also = employ y
l Necessary boats and cher '
things necessary to enable the said Board 70 PsEt9n
act and moneys necessary for the full performance
of said duties and to defray the expenses and make the
shall be included in he tax Of that year and levied anG
SEC. THE said Board OF Police within thirty days
sff
this act, shall make an estimate of the sum Of money
The payments to be paid during the year 1872,
executing the several provisions OF this act and shall
of December in each subsequent make an est
Of the sum Of money necessary TO deray the ex-
and make the payments to be made for the year
next ensuing in executing the several provsops q this
and shall submit such estimate TO The Mayor
Comptroller and the President of said Board Of Police,
who shall, within fifteen days hereaeI consider and
revise such estimate and shall fix and determine the
amount which said Board of Police shall be authorized
during such In executing the several pro-
visions OF this act; and such amount when so determined
| by said Mayor, Comptroller and President OF