The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-09
What the Metropolis Has Paid for
Poor PayementS.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE STREETS.
Results Of Experiments with Belgian, Wooden,
Composite and Cobblcstone Pavements.
NEEDS OF THE PRESENT AND FUTURE.
Insuficiency of the Water Mains for the De-
mands Upon Them.

Tho very bad condition OF the pavements In our
streets and avenues, the result OF the regime OF
fraud and corruption which for some years ran
riot In this city and the restrictive and penny
policy which has since controlled the Finance De.
partment. is now being broughr home not only to
the authorities under whose purvIene IL properly
comes. but to the citizen At large. So great have
been the draughts on the taxpayer heretofore for
the laying down Of pavements, aud for which he
has received no adequate recompense either as y
citizen or q property owner, that he now looks
with dread and q strong feeling OF opposition
upon any proposition Tor improvements in this
direction. again, he has been so heavily taxed
In the past for worthless pavements
that 1t has become most d1ncult
problem to reconcile the present imperative de-
mands OF the city with exact Justice to him. Be-
fore MAJOR Wlckham assumed once the late Com
missioner OF Public Works. Mr.. Van Mort, realizing
these facts. addressed him q communication In
which the whole subject was exhaustiveiy dis
cusscd and which we to-day reproduce. The mat
ter of SUFFICIENT supply OF Croton water for tho
needs OF the city Is also demanding attention at
this moment, when 1t is realized that the large
mains, which were laid down for the supply OF q
much smaller population than We nave at present,
are entirely inadequate to the present demands.
The ideas and suggestions OF the Chief Engineer,
General Edward Il. Tracy, communicated to Com
Wickham, are also published herewith.
THE PAvEMENTs.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS,
COMMISSIONERS OFFICE, ROOM NO. l9 CITY HALL,
NEW YORK. Dec. II, 1874
Hon. WILLIAM Fl. WICKHAA, Mayor-elect Of the
City or New York;
During the past three years 1 have on ave
several occasions addressed communications to
the Common Council and to tho late Mayor in
relation to the deplorabe condition OF some OF the
pavements in this city and the means to 10
adopted for their Improvement. These communi-
cations have been without erect SO far as the
taking OF any practical steps Tor the improvement
OF the pavements IS concerned. The usual appro-
priations for repairs have been made, but the
lnadeQuacy OF these appropriations 10 produce
any lasting Improvement IN the condition OF the
wooden, concrete and copblestone pavements Is
80 apparent that no one mas looked upon them a.
. means to effect q remedy OF the evils complained
or but merely to prevent, as far as possible, the
further spread Of the evils.
YEARLY APPROPRIATIONS.
The following are the appropriations made for
the repairs Of pavements during the past three
years.
In 1872 for stone pavements. ...... $3.50, 900
For wood and concrete pavements. $4,000
In 1873 for stone pavemenrs. 90. COO
For wood and concrete pavements. 5000
In 1874, for stone pavements. ........... 100, 600
For wood and concrete pavementA $4,000
In 1872 we had In this city 139 miles OF Belgian
and otner stone block pavements, 80 miles OF
copolestone pavements. 81 miles OF wooden pave.
ments and ~ miles or concrete pavements. 1t
will be seen, therefore. that the appropriations
for repairs of pavements were at the follow.
Ing rates.
Per Xtle.