The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-12
VIEWS OF MAN WHO HAS HAD SOME ExpE
E1ENCE IN PARIS.


E1EScE IN PARIS.
New YORK, March 0, 1877.
To THE EDITOR or THE HERALD:-
About two years ago this very Same question Of
street cleaning and discussed In the New
York papers, and many communications proposing
many different plans for tho end IN view were pub.
shed through your valuable paper, and It must be
said that they were all as impracticabo then as they
and will be under the present state Of
things.
was one OF these communi cation WRITER'S and l
confess that did know time under what
difficulties the Street Department then working
A subsequent interview aud conversation with the
Police Commissioner In charge OF that department very
soon changed my ideas that subject, Tor this very
Intelligent gentleman proved to with indisputabo
nerres that things that time and above all
with the insufficient appropriations street cleaning
II was u material mpossibty to properly and salts
factorily clean the city Of New York. was street
inspector in Paris some years before the present
system OF cleaning had been nangurated at time
when street cleaning was done under many difficult
ties. Consequently the whole matter was well known
to me, and II convinced OF the great difficulties
in tho way bore everybody else, believe, would
been convinced likewise Have changed since
sthen? | cannot bellows IL from what soc and near
and the very conditions which were wanting then
wanting to insure efectual cleaning OF tho
streets OF New York, and among these conditions prn-
cpalIy are the following:-
Frst-A more proper and better paving and its
keeping in good coSditon
Second--A more extensive system OF sewers, and
their street openings being kept better condition.
Thyd-An unlimited quantity and free use OF water
through larger number Of street hydrauts.
Fouyth-A money appropriation adequate to the
work to be done for tho entire and efficient cleaning of
the whole city.
Does the city possess all or any Of the above ncccs
sary thingsy The answer is to-day what It was two
yeas agO-None
This great question of street cleaning has been
by committees OF practical men appointed Tor that
purpose. anu the result OF their work always been
that unless the above mentioned conditions werc
reached the elicicnt cleaning OF a city would dIi-
cult II not impossible and above ALL very costly.
Paris has now very nearly attained the much desired
stnte OF cleanliness and London Is strenuous work.
ipg toward II, experience and practice
every day that the present system the cheapest and
the easiest mode OF cleaning.
Why could not New York do London and Paris?
J, who pretend to know something about these mat
tcrs viii MAINTAIN that for many reasons and above
all from her geographical situation, New ork oud DO
and ought TO be the most easily chcaply cleaned OF
the three But / understand that II is now proposcd
To have the cleaning OF the city gwen out contract
by district This used TO be the ord system in Europe
ana IL Is still prnctscd IN some cities II IL do,rn,t
one, but II may be done under stringent condi.
tons, some OF when arc:--
First-Not to allow tho person to contract for
Second-To have the city divided into as regular to-
biographical parts as possible regardless OF present
district division.
7hrd-ro change or modify the present system OF
dumping so rs to make IL EASIER cheaper and moro
einccnL Inc pres'n system OF removing garbagc OF
all sorts Is expensive, dirty and Slow say
bciicve that an arrangement could be entered into
with all the sireet railway companies in the city for
the use OF Their rails tor DIRT and garbage wagons and
the construction OF small tracks connecting the dump
ing stations with the street railways. The garbage
wagons could be so constructed as 10 20 and or
% Dc
clean, closed when ul and able be up and back
to and IRON all tho ping places on any railway bc
tween TWO passenger without any injury to the
health or to the convenience OF the people Susn
wagons could hold the contcnts RI six ordnarv c"r,s
and be drawn on The rails the cars speed by
ttrcc horses. THIS system would at realize econ.
omy IN time, In general stock aud consequently in cx
pcnscs. At lrst the above scheme viii seem ,uIcu
OF accomplishments but II could very readily 10 cstab
shcd the city government would compel tho street
railways TO consent 10 Tie use OF their rails Tor a con.
sidcration
hour,-ln giving out as particular contracts outside
OF regular district ones streets and avenues as
Broadway, Bowcry, Third Filth and Sixth avenues.
CITY In some way resembles the human body: II has
circulation divided into arteries veins.
arteries being OF greater importance than the veins
must DO attended 10 specially and DC Kept constantly
clean MS they are constantly travelled b. larger mum.
Der OF people, ana more necessary 10 the lie VI the
CITY
FUh-By the appointment OF general inspector of
the street cleaning con,racs without The ,udor
OF whom no money will be paid to contractors Nv the
CITY Treasurer, the said Endorsement TO DO given only
after the reports OF tho Street INSPECTORS t,nc IN
writing that the luinment OF the onract has been
properly and faithfully DONE these reports to no con
trocd at VIII by the General Inspector or his assist
ants, MIN and them being such to accept
one, Two, even i've per cent on the amount of INC
contract Tor becoming bind times OF an easing
indorsng dsfositon. ! believe sucn men can be
found u looked Tor without any regard TO political
creed or political expectations. ono inspector two
ASSISTANTS appointed by the Mayor VIII be sufficient
On those conditions think tho district contract sys.
TEN may work well enough. or course, IL will never
be entirely satisfactory but we win certainly get
cleaner streets III The city government. rccogn
the Necessity VI working gradually but surely toward
an entire and efficient cleaning OF the whole city, WILL
through It's different departments, make the necessary
changes ana improvements III tho paving, IN tho
sewers IN the furnishing ci water by means OF steam
force pumps along the East aud North rivers and IN
the increase OF street hydfants, the only things which
VIII ensure the desired and much wanted result The
subject of street cleaning Is nearly iLcxhausiIlc and
| could write great deal more about u. | have taken