The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-22
STREET CLEANING INVESTIGATION.
The Legislative Committees Last Session
of Inquiry-Vievvs Of Thomas G. Acton
and jackson s. schultz.

The Legislative Committees Last Session
of Inquiry-Views Of Thomas G. Acton
and jackson s. schultz.
The Committee on Cities OF the Assembly re-
sumed Its session yesterday afternoon in the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, Tor the purpose of investigating the
workings OF the Street Cleaning Bureau.
Thomas G. Acton said that it made little differ
ence who did the work SO long as 1t was DONE He
would clean the streets at night and use all the
machinery attainable, and he would buy dirt from
every man and woman that brought it to him at
the dumps or elsewhere there Is market for
bones and rags and there should be market Tor
dirt; where there are many tenement houses
hardly any number OF policemen can
prevent the people from throwing garb-
age or DIRT in the streets, as they
even 60 to the roofs OF the houses and throw it off,
He, therefore, would make 1t an inducement for
such to save their dirt and sell it, The trouble of
all contracts was circumocution, or the plan OF
elbow not to do It," and they invariably benefit
the contractor. The streets Can be cleaned and
Kept so for $75O,000 per annum, and profit OF
100000 made by the contract. Ii contracts are
made the terms should be OF the most binding
nature, and the parties entering into the agree.
ment should be held to q strict responsibility. In
the matter Of removing the snow, there are times
when such quantities have fallen 1t is impossible
to get rid OF 1t; but during the past winter
all the snow could have been removed without
any difficulty. II the work Is done by the Police
Department he would hold the superintendent re-
sponsible as the head, and every captain should
See that the streets OF his precinct were kept
clean. Ii such officers neglected their work he
would break them. The police should have the
whole machinery at their own disposal anu should
not be troubled with outsiders. The department.
has the material at its disposal and they should be
allowed to use 1t without interference. The dis
abled men OF the Police Department could be
made fOremen OF sweepers, and were well adapted
for such business. II the Board OF Health obtained
the WORK OF cleaning the streets, they would still
be obliged to have the aid of the police.
Acton hardly knew how he would compel the
police to DO the work. but they had the ability to
do II; there was no necessity to 20 out OF the de-
partment.
Mr.. EAsTMAN-What do you think of making a
Mr.. ACToN-It would only make more places
something you want to avoid.
MI; r, E ns there Is only three ways
where 1t Is, put 1t In charge OF the Board OF Health
or make separate commission. II the work Is
the dirt as Mr.. Acton suggests.
Mr.. ACTON, In conclusion, said there would be no
d1mculty IN the matter OF properly cleaning the
streets If there was right head end every man in
the Police Department made to do his work, and
severe punishment meted out to those who neglect
IL. He thought the city should own Riker's
Island and the Two Brothers in the East River,
where all kinds Of stun can he dumped. The
longer the work Is left IN the condition that It now
is the worse will matters become, until they are
lntolerable.
JACKSON >. SCHULTZ SalQ tnat the whole difficulty
now experienced In the matter OF keeping the
streets clean arises from the political character Of
the police, and so long as Its management Is iunu-
enced by partisan motives, and men are appointed
to positions without possessing any qualifications,
to discharge the duties incident to them, SO long
will the trouble continue; and 1t Will not be RENE
died until men of honesty and courage, free from
the faint OF political corruption take the place Of
the present incumbents at the head OF the Depart
ment. 1t Is certain that the streets paved with
cObble stones cannot be kept clean, and the egis-
lature would do o wise thing II an act were passed
to pave all the streets south or Fourteenth street
with Belgian pavement. TO Keep the streets al
ways Clean as clean as they are in the sprngtlme
after three days. hard rain-he would in the absence
q proper supply OF CrotoD, have pipes of sixteen
inches diameter, capable OF sustaining 200 pounds
TO the square inch, running into tue North East
rivers. and engines centrally located to force the
water through them, and thus the streets could be
washed every night. Large traps could be made
at each outlet to collect the sediment, and boats
would remove this every day without ncOnven-
fence to business along the docks in the slightest
degree. This plan Is feasible and can be done
within a year. In addition to washing the streets
this water can be used TO put ont fires, and thus
the expense of large reservoirs in Yves tchester
county may be saved. The whole paraphe rnalla
would not cost more than So 00O, 600 or Sc 1000.
Mr.. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS know OF no Kind of
pipes that put to such use as you name, would
not rust out IN q year. And again. you let % pail
colf IN q