The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-18
THE MAN WHO LAUGHS.
Dirty Streets a Capital joke With the PO-
lice Department.
ALL THAT Is NEEDED is MONEY----TO DUMP.

aeconately called by his friends being the President
Of the Board of Police Commissioners may iairiy DO
considered the Official morthpece OF the body which
Is just receiving the indignation and wrath Of
dirt-riddcn people. As the HERALD always likes 10
give both sides Of every story, President Smith was
called upon yesterday for explanation OF The dro
state OF our streets.
..what do you think OF the present outcry against
the Board for its negligence In not cleaning tho
streets?' was the first question asked.
The answer to tins surprisingly frank anc
straightforward for man supposed 10 DO supremacy
responsible for the condition which he admits:-"l
think the streets excessively dirty, said he 'or
all most OF them are, and have no fault 70
mud with the people who complain about them
However, we complain just as much as most other
people, and taking oil the circumstances into consd-
GRAFTON, do not think any departmcni-even sepa-
for the sole purpose Of cleaning the
strcets--couid do any more than we have done"
swhat. then, are the obstacles that prevent you
from keeping the streets clean 7"
A LONG MisspESr LABoRs.
ssThe first obstacle is that have not enough money
and that large part of our appropriation was spent
In clearing away the snow and ice That was done
much against my will, as believed the law did not
sanction this diversion OF our funds, but under public
pressure somewhat similar that being practsed
upon u.s. Tho fact that we could not draw more than
one.twefh OF our appropriation in any one month
prevented US at the same time from doing any more
than did Another great difficulty Is that we have
no places where 10 remove tho Gith. Wo have tried
all things obtain relief from the Legislature,
but all no purpose We tried to have bill passed
allowing Us to Ill up sunken lots; that was
defeated Another allowing US to contract for the re-
moval OF tho stuff by certain parties Tor number OF
ycars-you II takes capital to undertake such an
enterprise and pcop, Will not embark IN It as long as
they cannot have It for certain number of years
also killed. Then We wanted to deposit 1t in
Little He'll Gate below the high-water mark
President Smith then into m interesting his
tory Of this proposition, showed how II obtained the
sanction OF General Newton and OF .the very highest
sanitary authority in New York, Professor Chandler"
but was finally defeated like all the others of their
Efforts toward relief
FIGHTING FOR A NOBLE CAUSE
This was not all, however. General Smiths woes
by no means as yet exhausted snow, we have
some old scows' he continued 'Hhat were built at
time when Jersey Central took away about half the
dirt but whore can VIC go with them II We go TO
although none or them are really seaworthy-wc are
followed by Blunt outside the jurisdiction OF the
Unned States On Staten Island we have an injunc-
ton on the Kings county shore We have to battle with
the Shore Inspcctors here have to fight the oyster
mon. there our men arrested by the rural police
Why IT'S got TO such a dangerous pass that can't
get any laborers scows Tor love money. Now
say TO the Legislature You have refused to sup
ply place where deposit this filth, aud, no
who II from the streets, the city must
have place take II to; and hold you greatly re-
sponsibe tor the present condition OF affairs. Re-
member have 81, 10000 cabic feet OF dirt to
remove every year. Little Hell Gate would have taken
this stun for years and that would have gwen
time to hit upon and perfect plan OF permanent re.
hct''
CREMATION PAvoRABLY VIEWED.
.what do you think Of ,rematng the garbage?"
Il IN fivcr VI tnis plan personally II it is within
economies but II 1t should prove too expensive 1t
might make lime cheap but DIRT dear"
has sally OF the phiiosophic President OF the Police
Board Vas greeted by the laughter OF Comm ssioner
Nichols, who was present during the interview. 1T
$780, 600 year 10 take the DIRT IRON the city,
ami n we build and run furnaces more cheapiy
am in avor oil II. We are making some experiments in
that dirccten already and have two different sets Of
machinery before US. Our cnci engineer is TO VISIT
the ncisnburhood OF Philadelphia III a day or two,
where . lmekiln mas been specially recommended to
This kind Of limekiln would cost about $1,000.
chow many furnaces would you erect, anu ut what
placesy"
IAN, there's another difficulty again. We should
have TO acquire the title To the land on the piers. and
you know that most oil the piers are not suited Tor
such Oh course should want TO erect the
furnaces at the piers and close the scows, that
the ashes could readily transferred them with
any cost OF carriage. At pier No. IL East
River We could probably erect furnace. and. per-
haps, also ut the loot OF Gansevoort street, the
North Kiver."
HOW IS
elm Paris the street DIRT sold by the municipality
at u considerable price 10 contractors, who make "A
fortune byiL Why cannot the same thing be done
mere 7"
'.Ah, In Paris they only burn wood and very little
OF that. They have not one-ourth the ashes there
that We have IN New York. aud they wood ashes
The bargain, which are considered good manure Here
We get ABOUT ave per cent oil garbage ~ our ashes,
which makes them unavailable Tor manure. I"
why cannot the mixing be prevented here well
as in iaris-as long AS We have the best police the
worldyn
General Smith. who views the whole puzzng ques-
Ion evidently laughing philosopher, replied with
smile in Paris they hold the house responsible,
and here only the person who mixes The garbage and
ashes, and II you arrest sad person here Tor that
offence the Ponce Justice snaps his fingers at the
Policeman and discharges the prisoner" Aud TO
demonstrate the multudpous distractions OF the law
10 tue efficient cleaning OF the streets General Smith
said .-'l dou't suppose we have ever dumped
load without violating some law or other.'
General Smltns interocutor looked at the champion
vo'itor OF inc law with admiration Here was man
who could voiato the law every time load
dumped, and whose face yet lost nothing OF lis wonted
roundness and Joliity.
''wnat do you think Of the Mayors letter yor ?"
~ assume General smith replied ignily and with
out any appearance OF terror at Mayor Eiys missiye
"tnat the Mayor was badgcred and bothered TO death
To hang US TO amppost and means 10 give US an OPP
porlunity 10 show the public by our answer that We
have done our duty"
do you think you can give satisfactory answer 20
ANOTHER QUESTION.
The laughing philosopher OF the Police Commission
smiled as he replied, II have no doubt that
answer VIII be satisfactory the Mayor whether
II VIII Oe satisfactory 10 the man who reads u, with
the dust III his eyes, tg another QUESTION
.fhc Mayor suys that the tact that you succeed in
keeping Broadway and Filth avenue clean conclu-
proof that you keep the other streets clean
100.
Hero Con- missioner Nichols spoke ups" Yes but
We c,caned Broadway and Finn avenue OF snow and
Ice right oil"
Gould you not have cleaned all the other streets.
tooyn
1T would have taken 81, 900, 000n General smith
replied.
SPECIAL TOO EXPENSIVE.
show about building special tugssp
They would cost about 500 900 apiece, aud as we
should want at least fifteen, they would REQUIRE an
outlay OF $780, 900, and then you know there General
Smith laughed ia sly way even a city government as
pure that OF New York could run these tugs a.
cheaply as private parties could They could pro-
baby be for less than $4,000 year cacla total
OF S-25 900 You that u cAn burn the sun tor
500, 900 even slJo,O0o year, do much
better. y
..How about dumping In the SoundH
swell. we have tried That, aud We nave n with