The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-25

resisted on the ground tnat the former
Commissioner mad not power 70 make any
and could not be enforced, and that under the act
the matter stin rested In the discretion OF the
present Commissioner anu that his Judgment was
That 1t was not necessary for the city to take such
lands or water rights.
about 300 600; but the SUPREME CoSrt sustained
the position OF the Commissioner OF Public Works
and decided that he was not compelled to carry
out o verbal agreement made by his predecessor
The alterations OF the aqueduct on Tenth avenue,
between Ninety-second and 18th streets, CON-
monty known as the big Pipe Work. have pro-
crossed very favorably and rapidly, with greatly
reduced force and expenditure. This work was
commenced in September, 1870. Last year, at the
beginning OF the season for outdoor work, the en-
tire force employed on the work was reorganized,
ana the results OF this reorganization may seen
employed. work done, and amounts expended
previous to January ], 1873, and since that date
10, t issS, q St Sa.. f1' :" No..
Average force employed ........... $40 424
Pieces OF pipe received .............. LO2l Lii
Cubic yards OF rock and earth exca- $500
Cubic sss Yards q foundation and pro: . -'0O
lection walls constructed, 1900 1880
Cubic yards Of masonry built. 800 i6l2
CUBIC yards Of earth oiled In .... 5000 5000
Amount paid ior labor and sundry se.o,. 80
This work will be completed next summer, when
the masonry aqueiuct will be removed. and the
land occupied by 1t sold for the benefit OF the Sink
The high service reservoir and tower az Car.
mansviiiss, FOR supplying the extreme high points
on the island with water was brought into use last
year.
inches in diameter, was laid during the eleven
months ending November last. The aggregate
niles 81 about il miles of f pp e Ssed or
conveying the water to the reservoirs.
the receipts o1 water rents ITS for the year ending
collecting such rents was $ss.o74. During the
year 1871 the amount o, collected was $l207, os9.
1878 over 1871 Of Sci s42 and decrease IL COS: Of
ressurS on Of shs o% TO the I ss
stagnatl0n in business diring the past three or
four months the Consumption Of Croton water for
boilers, has greatly diminished, causing q cor
responding decrease in receipts for water rents
LAMPS AND GAS.
A large saving has been effected in the cost of
lighting the public lamps Early in 1872 the Com
missioner Of Public Works requested the several
lie lamps, and they agreed to reduction from an
average OF $51 per annum for each lamp to S42 SO,
they first made, that their bills for gas furnished
the city in 1871, amounting then to some 100000.
effect. was finally waived at the earnest solicita-
ton or The Commissioner OF Public Works. The re-
suit is that the expenditure for lighting and main
tanning the public lamps has been reduced from
S1,151,14e in 1871 TO $79s766, in 1872 and to
$74565s in 1873. Since the lst OF January, 1872 the
extra lamps, which had been placed in front of
saloons, restaurants stables, hotels private resi-
annum ' to light and maintain. The f humber pe Of
extra lamps yet remaining is S35. An investiga-
by Of
Gil is still being continued.
SEWERAGE
The work OF improving and extending the sys.
tenn OF sewerage has been vigorously prosecuted
during the past year. Ten miles OF sewers, az
and 81 receiving basins have been constructed.
The total length OF sewers in this city is a2o1l
ground drains, which have only been In use a Jew
years, have proved very effective and beneficial to
the public health and to property owners in drain.
ing low and marshy grounds. Many of the old
sewers are so defective in plan and construction
that they fail to carry or the sewage natter gen
city. The work Of replacing them by new and
expepdsare o the mean a ap aS
priated for this purpose will permit A large saw
ing has been made IN the cost Of cleaning and re-
pairing sewers and basins, which were formerly
done by contract, but are now done by days
work. In 1871 the expenditure on this account
showing reduction Of nearly s4s, 600.
The aggregate expenditures Of the Department
during the i 81 were 0 During the
year 1873 they were including $500 for
awe er Of ne @ f1ads ana
The reduction in expenditures in 1873 as compared
with 1871, is therefore $685., 400.
On special and trust accounts, for regulating,
grading, paving, sewering and otherwise improv-
ing streets and avenues, Tor alterations OF the
aqueduct, construction Of reservoirs and exten-
sion OF CrOtOn water mains, the sum of So 3d. S3s
was expended by the Department Of Public Works
during the year 1871, and the OF ST. 69s 06O by
the Department vi Public Parks on the improve
ment OF the Boulevard and avenues north of Fifty
ninth street during the same year, making a total
OF $7929, $780, In 1873 the expenditure all these
accounts under the Department Of Public Works
was s5,s71 462, showing reduction or diminuton
OF expenditures OF 81, 952, 437.
Under peremptory mandamus OF the Supreme
Court acquisitions were made upon the Finance
Department for the payment Of 500, 900 Tor water
meters furnished under contract made in 1870.