The New York herald., 1873-11-08
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.


Commissioner Van Nort at the head OF the most
important department. OF the city, received
HERALD reporter courteously and gave him the fol-
loving information:- =
The comptroller OF the city of New York is
thorized to raise ST. 600 900 Tor the of the De-
partment of Public Works for the Improvement and
regulation OF the Riverside, Morningside and the
several other parks under the jurisdiction OF the
Department Nothing has been done these
works during the current year from the fact that
the Comptroller has not furnished the Department
OF Pubic Works with money to carry on the
projected improvements The consequence
is that property which has been assessed
for laying out these parks has received
no benefit, owing to the non-improvement OF them.
The work on the avenues bounding these parks
begun by the Commissioner of Public Works
during the year 1872 and was suspended on May l,
1873 owing 10 the fact that Mr.. Hawkins, the
sci representing the Comptroller at Albany, pro-
cured the insertion OF an amendment to the city
charter which placed the matter in doubt as to
where the power was lodged to execute the work.
Since that date no work has been done, and can
not be until the charter Is relieved OF this doubt
ful clause
DIsCHARGING THE MEN.
Even the current repairs which are absolutely
necessary have to be abandoned and men have
been thrown out OF employment on account Of the
wrongheadedness-to put II mndly-of Comptrol-
ler Green, Commissioner Van Mort has just dis.
charged the men employed on repairs OF wooden
and concrete pavements to the number OF 81, and
the men doing the repairs and sprnRling OF
country roads, numbering y, on account OF
the appropriations for these works being
poyed on repairs to stone pavements
3ss PAYERS and aborers, who will be discharged on
the 18th inst, the funds provided Tor this work
are inadequate for carrying it on, leaving a large
portion oi it unfinished, although IT is absolutely
chr hrsn n tn
tion. A large force could have been employed dur
ing the whole season, and could be still employed if
Further discharges viii be made on other similar
works from time to time as the funds run out.
THE MEN NOW AT WORK.
There are at present employed l, ,l25 men on the
Boulevards, from Fifty TO l55th street; ave-
nue. ST. Nicholas from 10th to l55th street; Tenth
avenue, from l55th street to Fort George Hill; Sey
enty-second street, from Central Park to Riverside
PARK. These works are nearly completed, and
men not required on them on or before January /.
THE WORK on THE STREETS
Under authority OF the last Legislature the fol-
lowing streets and avenues are to be improved by
the Department OF Public Works in man
ner similar to the Boulevards, and the force
now employed on the aforementioned works could
be used for the improvement OF these several
streets and avenues, VIZ z'-Seventy- second street.
Fifth avenue to avenue avenue a, flity-seVenth
nue. to avenue B; avenue Is, from Seventynnth
to Eighty sixth street; Ninety-sxth street. from
Fifth avenue to Second avenue; ll0th street, from
Riverside avenue TO avenue A; 10th street, Sixth
avenue TO avenue A also avenue A, from ll6th
street to Harlem River. The Department of Public
Works could keep these ], l25 men at work on the
above II the money is provided. There at
present employed in laying Croton water pipes
throughout various parts oil the city, with q view
OF giving better distribution, 375 men. On the
Tenth avenue work OF laying mains for changing
the mason work of the Croton aqueduct between
Nnety-second and 18TH streets there are at pres
ent engaged 40 men. This force Will be con.
tlnued.
One Thousand men are now employed on the con-
tract work, which is being prosecuted aud will be
continued to completion, though some OF the con-
tractors say they cannot get their money from the
Comptroller. Others are compelled to take city
bonds.
THE LATEST CONTRACTS AWARDED.
Commissioner Van Mort has awarded the follow
ing contracts for public improvements the pro-
posals for which were opened on the 3lst OF Octo-
her laat