The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-15
THE DEPARTMENTS
What the Servants Of the
People Are Doing,
The Public Works, the Fire, The Docks, the
Charities and immigration Bureau.

Now that the sword OF Mayor wckham far
more dreaded than that OF Damoces-ls hanging
over the heads OF the various departments, 1t Is
naturally to be expected that they will do their
utmost strengthen their positions by displaying
q sudden zeal for the public welfare. A tour
through the departments yesterday, however,
showed that there Is comparatively little doing in
most OF them and IL Is gratifying to be able to
state that none OF our officials are dying with
work, and that most OF them are still willing to
serve yet while for the city's good. The follow
ing are jottings OF the principal news IN the de-
partments:-
At the ofhce OF the Department OF Parks. NO. 1s
Union square, everything was remarkably quiet
and nobody seemed to anticipate any unpleasant
message from the Mayors ONCE. The Commits
sioners held meeting on Wednesday, which Was
attended by Comptroller Green. Bids for 500 tons
OF coal were offered, the lowest bid being that OF
Caldwell, Weston Co., which bid will probably be
accepted. The rates proposed are S. 65 for 100
tons, to be used In open CRATES and IS So for 400
tons, to be used In furnaces. The main subject
now engrosslng the attention OF the Commission
ers is the Riverside Park. The land for this
park, 1t will be remembered, has been
paid Tor by the residents OF the vicin-
ity, and they are now anxious as
outlay which the city promised to give in the
creation OF this Park. Another topic which is now
receiving the consideration Of the Commissioners
IS tine laying OUT in permanent lorm of the
streets, avenues and lines Of drainage in the
Twenty-thrd and Iwenty-tOurth wards Tue
story OF an outrage on young lady in the Park,
which appeared IN one of the papers or Monday,
is contradlcJed by the Park Commissioners
THE EXCISE.
Applications for licenses from saloon keepers
still continue to pour IN at the once OF the Excise
Board, Mulberry street. Commissioner Stiner has
been making strepuous efforts to see that the
Excise law is complied with In every point, and
Will soon personally inspect all the places where
liquors are sold. and which are subject to the
jurisdiction OF the Board. The receipts OF the
Commissioners are averaging about $4,000 day.
Quite number Of applications from keepers OF
immoral houses have been refused. There are SIX
classes OF licenses. The 1rst which costs $3.50, Is
for the large hotels; the second, $3.50, second
class hotels and large restaurants; the third $780,
Tor the ordinary saloons; the fourth, $50, Tor
wholesale liquor dealers and grocers; the fifth,
$50, Tor the sale OF ale and beer only lat OYSTER
saloons, &c) and the sixth and last, $780, for retail
grocers VINO sell ale by the measure mot to be
drunk upon the premises). The bulk OF the
licenses issued are OF the $1O0 denomination. All
are hllea out by the applicants, embrace the dec
laratlon lnat the premises 10 which this appi.
cation refers are not to be used Tor gambling, i'm
moral OF unlawful purposes"
THE DOCKS.
Work is still progressing on the bukhead wa II
al the loot OF canal street, North River whenever
tue weather permits, ana 1t Will De finished May l.
IL Is designed to connect with The other new
bulkhead walls on the river front. The ston g
pler AT the Battery Will be COM leted in Inc latter
part OF next summer Little more than hall OF the
bulknead wall has already been Completed. and
when finished IL Will Da 400 q wild
and PROBABLY cost half million dollars. The co T.
mlssloners are also causing pairs to be mace on
many Oh the DOCKS although very limited
SCALE They con template soon making COnsldera-
bic improvements at Coenties sip. A stone bulk
head and new.pler are TO be built in accordance
with the approved plans. They also intend TO
erect couple OF nreprOol sheds for the reception
anu aevery OF good at the 1901 Of CHRISTOPHER
Inc WORK on tue i've new piers and on the bulk
head wall az Christopher street Is nearly COM
pieted i0r distance OF l,2O0 leet. The bulkhead
wall costs about 1915 per lineal loot. or about
$3.50 600 when completed, and the piers cost ABOUT
President Westervelt said that the Board con-
tempated building number OF piers on the
North River front before the LIST OF May, between
Spring anu Barrow streets. They to be built
on splles Oi wood, like those now In existence.
Mr.. Westervelt Says 1t would be lmpractlcaDle TO
build them OF stone, as they would cost eight or
ten times more. In other words, he observed, the
interest on the outlay Tor one stone pier would be
sufficient TO build a wooden one OF the same d.
mansions every Two years.
THE PUBLIC CHARITIES.
NOW tnat the appointment OF Mr. Brennan has
completed the Commission OF Charities and Cor
rectl0n, work may De expected 70 begin in ear
nest. President Bailey SAID yesterday that the
number and salaries OF the employees would have
to be reduced to effect a saving OF $40, 900, and
that altogether 100000 would nave to be saved
to come within the appropriation for the depart
ment, and Notwithstanding this fact the appli-
cations for places continue to pour IN necessarily,
Mr.. Bailey added, with sympathetic sigh, IOr ali
these applicants are doomed to disappointment.
the superintendent OF Outdoor Relief Is now re-
ceivng great many applications Tor help from
poor distressed people, and pays out from
500 to $3.50 day, IN small sums varying from
fifty cents to 81. It will be interesting TO FIN
residents to learn that fifty cents or 81 per
week Is what the city allows to poor families IN
distress. IL Is needless to say that this amount
does not enable them to indulge In iuxuries.
IMMIGRATION COMMISSIONERS.
Castle Garden bore almost deserted appear.