The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-20

! deposits. He has not yet accounted Tor The COM
| treasurer 1t is believed that the advantages OF
TINS ONCE prior to the accession OF the present in-
cumbent were. directly and indirectly, not less
| than $3.50, 900 per annum TO its fortunate holder
POLICE DEPARTMENT..
! The cleaning OF the streets has been placed
under the management OF this department. and it
\ Is very certain that there has been q great i'm
provement in the performances of this service dur
ing the past year. 1t Is to be hoped that the ex
| penses Will be reduced az the business becomes
This department, since its organization under
the new charter has exhibited degree OF vigOr
and intelligent zeal in the discharge OF the impor-
tant duties the law devOlves upon its heads which
promise to give us greater measure 0i security
to life and property and maintenance OF pubic
order than we have known IN recent years.
LAW DEPARTMENT.
Upon the Law Department has been imposed an
ence OF numerous old claims against the city.
IL seems TO me it would be well to give to the
wnen in his opinion, the interests Of the City re-
qulre 1t.
The Fire Department proposes among its
penditures for the year 1874. the construction OF
fire boat, to ply on the waters OF the harDOr. pro-
The department also contemplates the erection
OF aerial ladders, a late invention, to aid In the
speedy removal OF persons from lofty buildings on
DEPARTMENT OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTION
Great economy and efficiency have been intro
duced in the Department OF Public Charities and
Correction Expenses have been reduced, sine.
cures displaced and Wastelulness checked.
DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS.
The Department OF Buildings under ITS present
head is, by its exertons to deserve ii, regaining
! the long lost confidence Of the public.
| think it would be eminenty appropriate to con
care and repair Of the pubic buildings OF the city
and county, and to transfer to it all the powers OF
rom n tne commissioner Of Pubic WorKs: ana az" to
| this bureau should be committed the procuring OF
supplies for the courts and the oflces Of the gov
| eminent not charged with executive duty.
! DEPARTMENT or HEALTH.
| The Department OF Health under its new head Is
an,,,cv oil hafn an ho n I'D
DEPARTMENT OF DOCKS.
The work OF the Department of Docks has been
! certain piers. Ambitious projects which would
nave swamped the city have been abandoned.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Under the charter OF 1870 the Department OF
! Public Works was invested with comprehensive
equal the patronage OF place and money with It's
then existing rivals and co-consplratcrs The con-
sequence Was ana urea 1Us
the treasury Tor payment, with the Ohcia approval
OF its late head, that bear the unmistakaoe indca-
lions Of fraud and gross corruption.
Since the present Comptroller took Office he has
raised on bonds and advanced to this department.
for the carrying on of certain public works. the
The laws concerning this department have be-
come greatly confused, and as am advised BY
the Corporation Counsel the most serious cues
lions are likely TO arse, whether certain vast
powers can Oe executed by this department or by
the Department OF Public Parks.
This condition OF the laws arises principally out
It was sought to add to the already too extensive
powers of the Department OF Public Works GER
tain powers previously executed by the Depart
some law should be passed BY the Legislature
reducing the powers Of tins department to Their
and also TO prevent the confusion and loss which
may arse IN case OF conflicts Of Jurisdiction be-
The present reservoirs seem to be adequate for
the supply Of our city With Groton water for some
ate necessity for any large expenditure OF public
money in this direction
INIT hn I'M N
creased at a greater rate than the population,
having reached lo4 600 900 gallons per day or more
than 100 gallons daily to each lnhabltant. At no
distant day it will have outgrown the capacity Of
the present aqueduct, the maximum OF which is a
struction OF an additional aqueduct, at period by
no means remote, VIII thus become an absolute
| The construction Of bouevards, drives, &C., in
| wolves enormous expenditures. That alone ex-
NOT one-haIf completed, has already cost the city
SOS S62 1t was planned and partially construct
ed by the department OF ParEs put oy an nterpo,
to the Department OF Public Works.
DEPARTMENT OF TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS.
The Department of Taxes and Assessments Is en-
gagged in making it's valuations for the coming
year ii is certain that we shall see an end OF the
iavoritism that has existed In valuations and in
the system OF purchasing exemption rom taxation
OF which we have heretofore heard so many COM
In regard to real estate the provisions Of law
are comparatively definite, and IN this county the
assessments more nearly meet the requirements
of the law than in any other county OF the State.
technical compliance with the law concerning
real es tate in this county alone would inHict upon
our CITIZENS such share OF the burden OF the State
as would be uDen6urabe, with very slight
chance of alienation by the action OF the State
Board of Equalization. The disparity In assess
ments upon personal property in this county,
as compared with others is even more fagrant;
In eight years the assessments upon the personal
property in this county have increased
about thirty-seven per cent, while in al the
rest OF the State the assessments upon such prop
erty have decreased about seventeen per cent
curing the same period. The unexpectedly
Aswn nnnfh vy,tn hAfu,
| the period OF assessment and enforced collection
of taxes upon personal property in this county is
laws and the adoption oil an equitable code by the
| Legislature would bring to this county essential
relief. and be, at BEST but tardy measure OF
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
More than 200, 900 children attend the schools in
the course OF the year. The amount OF money
called for to sustain our schools for 1874 is very
| large.
| are not already too many Of the ornamental
branches taught in the schools. The children are
| urged and confused by the diversity Of their
studies am satisfied that the cost OF supplies IN
form OF school books, &C., ought to be reduced
There Is no room for doubt that the preceding
| Board left the school buildings In very dllapi-
dated condition, and it Will require considerable
sum OF money to bring them up to a fair state OF
| OF Apportionment.
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS.
am clearly OF OPINION that the improvements
! contemplated in other parks of the city should be
OF the Central PARK Under this it is
| proposed TO lay out ana purchase parade ground
near the northerly end Of the island. This should
be discontinued. From inquiries have made l
am satisfied that, the location Of this ground is not
at all adapted for the purpose. and that the owners
OF surrounding property would regard it as highly
Objectionable, and in the judgment OF some at least
OF these owners, 1t would be considered nuisance
! This Is no time for millions OF expenditure or not
strictly Indispensable purposes when convenient
and inexpensive sites can be had in the. annexed
| district.
1t cannot be stated with too much emphasis that
we shall run the risk Of sacrificing the valuable
results OF the past and shall certainly endanQer
the prospect OF further Improvement II the charter
| is again to become the sport OF faction and the
battle ground OF greedy schemers in the Legis
| lature.
! Although the charter In some respects seems to
] expand the legislative functions Of the Common
! Council do not discover that these have any
| actual existence save on paper.
The extensive powers which the law seems TO