The New York herald., 1876-11-24

The XlJ1, given Dy your IOr 1870 averaged
$l3,l25 month. During the four winter months,
under Mr. Stebbips' administration from 1st January
10 LIST May $685. 500 had been expended leaving for the
eight and tall months only SJ4, ,000 average
OF S1l. 700 month. When assumed the administra-
tion the early par. OF May. found this condition
of thngs-Frst that tho parks could not be kept up
on $lI 700 month well they had been on
$24 900 month; and second, that the divisions OF the
total on hc rem.asS mao oeen
The saving the police was OF obvious propriety
BY increased vigilance and discipline we produced
because the money thus expended leaves no pcrma
ment results such as follow expenditure upon the
Improvement OF the parks
On the Harlem River bridges we necessarily post
poned the reconstruction OF the spans OF tho
Central bridge. The wheels and other apparatus
for the draw Harlem Bridge II was found. exam
nation could be safely postponed tor another year.
view oi the greater Importance OF increasing the
money applicable to the maintenance OF the parks
In respect the Bronx River bridges, Jailed to
ret the concurrence OF the authorities Westminster
county and therefore could rebuild any OF them.
These all proper and judcious subjects Of econ
omy. On the other hand we found that the Central
Park and the maintenance Of tho Twenty third and
Twenty fourth wards were items OF imperative me-
cessity.
ana Twenty fourth wards in bad repair They needed
constant repair and gradual reconsructon with stone
The thus TALL was favorable to the work, and Il
was very 10 use great quantity OF stone 10
the roads from damage through the coming
winter.
In the Central Park the grass had been greatly in
jurod by tho excessive heat oil The summer OF 1875
The roads and paths needed gravel and thorough
before tho wlnier set in. They had been neglected in
previous years. and getting 10 bat stage when
further neglect might lead to the necessity OF expen
sve reconstruction The trees all needed close
ination and a great deal of work. The money had
was insufficient keep the parks in their ordinary
condition. We wanted to do more
In September presented this subject to your Board
with an oral ut stating The poiuts OF this letter.
Al that time we're planning our fall work, which
could be done only at that season.
We had BY close and watchul economy gone nt
rate which would these items OF appro pration
as iolows:-
Police. $50. 900
Harlem River bridge. Is. 600
Bronx River bridge. IA, 600
Independence Day. 32o
and had balance unexpcnded from
1874 SS,0i3 ~
lS7o... o,42I 5V
We wanted this transferred 80 as to add to the ap-
propriations for the maintenance CT roads in the
Twenty-third ana Tweniy-rourth wards $40. 900 and
the residue tho Central and city parks This would
have put tho roads IN the Twenty third and Twenty.
ionr,n wards IN drst rate order or The winter ana
every dollar Of the residue could have been spent
Central Park, and IN that the total expenditure
the parks Tor the year would have been twenty pcr
cent less than the sum expended in the year 1875.
VII
In this letter the following points have been sus-
OF the total OF s495 00o our subdivision was moro
judicious, view OF the proper object the expendi
turc, than the one fixed Tor us and by which have
= There is nothing indicative OF bad faith nor in.
consistent with the public good. On the contrary, our
8 our saving the items when we have accumu-
lated surpusscs has been proper, and
T. The work on the Central Park and the roads IN
the Twenty third and Twenty fourth wards Is tho
proper object which these savings ought to be OK
pended.
WILL
The records Of the Board Of Estimate and Appor-
tonmcnt show constantly and repeatedly that II IS
within the law and their uniform practice to make
Just such transfers these This power was cx-
prcssy gwen TO provide for like the present in
which the experience OF department as the year
progresses becomes better test of what the wsest
expendture the examinations OF another board
before the year commences
IX.
Ton thousand dollars still be expended to rrcat
advantage in the Twcnty-third and Twenty fourth
wards great deal OF " rk eau still be done before
the cold weather stops it. and gravel and broken stone
can be obtained at greatly reduced prc, kept In
readiness Tor tho next years work. This stone and
gravel cannot be obtaned early IN the spring. when II
Is most wanted
In the Cen raj Park $50 900 could be used upon the
and paths, and among tho and The accu.
mutation Of road MATERIAL at low prices for the spring
work.
For the eight months from hay to December we
have had $94 600 to spend upon the parks The pro-
portion OF tho expenditure in tho same eight months
was in the preceding years rs follows-
1870. $l66 900
1874 2l2 600
1870. 20OOOO
II must be obvious TO your Board how inadequate