The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-18
OUR DIRTY STREETS.

VIEWS OF MAYOR ELY UPON PLAN OF
CLEANINo-THE HERALDs POLICY IN
DoRsED.
The sum OF s,25. 900 is appropriated to clean the
streets Of the city OF New York during 1877. This
large amount is under charge Of the Police Commas
soners and they have exclusive control OF the ,mpor
tant work. How these onerous duties have been dis
charged is a very material question agitating the
minds OF all our citizens at the present moment We
are on the threshold OF spring, In TACT her and
Oalmy breath Is already felt. The timo will not be
long passing until the torrid beats down our
fctid thor0ughiarcs Two thousand dollars u day
can be spent by the Police Department in giving US
clean streets Is tho whole OF this money iavishly
appropriated by the Board OF ApportionmenI
tributed for such purposes Can the work DO better
done other ways than through the machinery OF the
Police Commission? These points which the
HERALD has canvassed particularly within the pa
lew days.
MAYOR xLY's VIEWS
representative of tho HERALD called upon Mayor
Ely Al his office yesterday 10 ascertain his vicws upon
this important subject.
do you think the present plan Of cleaning our
streets could be improved upons" he was asked
.Well, think the system OF cleaning the streets by
different precincts would DC an excellent one. Con.
tracts might be gwen out to each precinct and the
tractor held directly responsible tor tho discharge OF
his duties Il would be simple matter for ladies or
gentlemen, the street In front OF their premises had
not been properly cleaned, to make compliant at the
nearest station house"
do you not think It would DO an Improvement 10
bring the Street Cleaning Bureau Immediately under
the control OF the Mayors ohices"
=" do not feel ut liberty TO personally urge the Lcgis-
lature to give me any additional powers. Whatever
duties delegated 10 me as Mayor Will discharge
the utmost OF my ability. am OF the opinion that all
the streets might be we'll cleaned
tor as under several. Ono individual might be held 10
q strict accountability when q number might compli.
cate respon siblities."
.'HOw TO the removal OF snowp"
II think the railroads might DO compelled by legisa-
tive enactment to remove the from each side OF
their railroad tracks. Branch tracks might be laid 10
the North and East from few leading points,
upon which open cars laden with tho could DO
run. and thus dumped into the water. This would
prove great saving 10 the CITY,"
ado you approve Of the plan to Ill In tho marsh
lands around Wards and Randalls islands with street
refuse ~
''Certainly understand there Is NO objection to
tho plan. see stated that II will 500 900
year the city. Besides the health authorities havo
thought OF before great deal Of expense Is now
Cured IN conveying the refuse upon scows.
or this labor could be obvated II deposits were
made upon the marsh lands"
"In your opinion Is $725 900 sufficient to keep the
streets OF New York ~ good, healthy conditions 2"
"That amount Is ample. IL ought TO cover all neces.
sary expenditures This subject OF cleaning Is
Of the greatest Importance. II Affects not only the
health OF largo population, but the of
the city itself. Tho first thing that strikes stranger
arriving IN city Is the CONDITION OF the streets II
thcy arc dirty an uniavorabe impression Is immed-
atcy created upon the minds OF the vistors which
carried TO n PARTS OF the world entirely agree with
ideas o the HERALD to this cleaning COZ.
troversy and give them the fullest Endorsement"