The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-16
STREET CLEANING.
INSIDE HISTORY OF THE OLD BlooM THAT
WON'T swEEP-IDLE MEN AND HoRsEs-
gGows pEsoI w n IA.r1, t.INr.I nv. x,oor

INSIDE HISTORY OF THE OLD BROOM THAT
WON'T swEEP-IDLE MEN AND HoRsEs-
scows RESOLVED INTO KINDLING WOOD.
During the past winter no officers OF the city have
been abused SO roundly and with SO much apparent
justice those OF the Street Cleaning Bureau Every
resident OF New York has become iamiliar-iar too
amiiiar-wth dirty Streets and almost overy has
no doubt thought that there reason for their
remaining dirty SO long; exactly what that reason
was, however but icw know IL is generally conceded
that one OF the important branches OF a city's
public service is It's Street Cleaning Department,
and II is also generally conceded that there
Is, perhaps. no city in America wnere this im-
portant department mIscraby fails In New York.
The reasons why stated variously by many; the
fact, however, remains. The attention OF the public
has been turned TO this OF late and charges have been
made, among them gross incompetency and neglect
upon tho part OF those Entrusted with the service.
Asscmbiyman Peter Mitchell has brought the matter
before the body Of which he is member several times,
and cndeavorcd 10 obtain committee OF investigation
II Is stated that such committee would reveal
Of affairs that would completely the question OF
why the streets were not properly cleaned From Mr..
Mitchell the alleged facts given below have been
obtained and certainly show state OF affairs from
crediable to the stree. Cleaning Department
COMMISSIONER NICHOLS ASSUMES CHARGE.
In May, 1876. Commissioner $. +. Nichols was ap-
pointed chairman OF tho Street Cleaning Bureau
When he charge streets had been cleaned
OF tho winter dirt IRON the appropriations for Janu
ary February March and April. and there
siderable balance on handsome nnecn or twenty
thousand dollars. Some little timc before Commits
Voorhis retired the inspect OF the bureau.
acting under his orders recommend ed reduction OF
the force Of carmen TO the number OF thirty and also
reduction OF sixty laborcrs, pointing out in detail
whore this could be done without interfering in any
manner with tho work OF the bureau. Notwithstand.
ing this recommendation by the practical manager or
the department Is stated that Commissioner Nichols
Increased the iorce OF carlmen and iaborcrs.
now THE CARTS ARE MANAGED
This action OF the Commissioners kept In service
more carts than were necessary the result being
the carts drew only small loads and few OF them
Twenty-Five carts were distributed throughout the city
TO gather garbage only and most INSTANCES the
ashes and garbage were not separated the carts OBJ
tanned loads only NJ small groceries ana nj the mar
kets In this manner the carts took only one or two
LOADS per day each, while eight loads should BIO the
average. II is stated that this arrangement OF carts
the excuse for the increase OF the expense pa
tronagc OF the bureau. Forty more carts hired,
and then 10 complete the buresque tho department
carts dumped tho garbage, and The hired carts dumped
tho ashes upon the same scow and scow going TO
sea Noppcd It's load into the blue water.
MAGNIFICENT STABLES
Mr. Mitchell further stated that in tho summer Of
1876 tho bureau had yard and stables nj Ryington
street and tho Eas! River, containing 40 stalls u
Tn. sn ssS S and
department was about eighty Believing that l2O stalls
were not enough for eighty horses tho Commissioners
procured the Eighteenth Ward Market and turned that
into stable, with shops and Offices. II Is alleged that
TINS was done at enormous expense, aud what
/
ton stables new, beng commenced In 1878
and completed IN 1876 AZ thousands OF dollars
and IS stated were fully to the wants OF the
partment. The cost OF running the stables about
500 day. IL Is stated that wnen the bureau reported
money 70 DO scarcest there were twenycight horses
standing idle IN the Seventeenth street Stables for
moro than two months Had those horses been put at
work in place OF tho same number Of hired ones the
saving would have been over 500 per day the city.
There has been appointed superintendent OF the new.
stables at salary OF 800 per year. though what his
exact duties arc no one seems TO know
| QUEER PROCEEDINGS.
Our informant states that OF the excuses of the
bureau for their lack Of money that they are obliged
to hire extra scows 10 do the work. During tho past
summer there were scows as good as those In
sold by the department Tor apparent reason IL
charged That the law regarding the sale Of property
has boon constantly violated and that great
| OF material, consisting OF tons OF old iron rope
| &c, were sold at tho RvingtoD street stables
at private SALE and, more than that, II Is
| weeks cutting up old material into kindling wood
which was delivered by department carts 10 private
residences and Tor which return was made 10 the
| department Last fail there were employed about
there were In the department employ about
| three "gangmen" TO every laborer, and It is
further charged that nfty-cigh gangmcn wore paid
regularly for twontv.six days In each month while
moro than two days IN some months. Another matter
charged against the bureau that that great deal Of
money WIS wasted In tho purchase Of numbers OF
horses and their almost immediate sale Much OF tho
money that should nave been used in cleaning the
Streets Is alleged, was thus locked up In horsenesh
THE scows.
II Is also stated that last tall while the Commission.
we're paying IS per day for scows, oil tho
and the North River for over weeks, and that
during that time Two mon were employed watch ing IL
at u salary OF 81 per day each. This waste OF money
II is claimed, was entirely unwarrantcd and unncces-