The New York herald., 1877-12-26
HOW TO DO TT.
Mr.. Swift Will Pay for
City Garbage.
HIS SEVERAL APPLICATIONS.
Commissioner Nichols and the
Back Door.


who recently made offer TO tho city authorities TO
take away all the garbage OF Now York. has been in
torviewed by HERALD reporter, and the facts
elicod arc interesting and valuable at this e they
are given herewith. Mr.. Swift has gwen the problem
OF how New York should be cleaned careful study,
and has been Tor years observer OF how tho work
was bungled He has to the conclusion that tho
Street Cleaning Department does oxst for the pur
posc OF doing what its name implies, but rather
to prevent the streets from being properly kept.
For the amount expended by tho Depart.
ment during tho past ten months s6oO 0Oo he CLAIMS
tho city should DO kept clean for whole year. For
that sum every oos OF strectway in tho city could be
kept as clean AZ carpet Any private contractor
could do IT, and II is also possible to the auth critics
but undcr the present system II VIII be accom-
pshcd. Mr.. swift says there arc too many officers
and TOO few men, in fac II has been said that ovcry
sweeper has q foreman. The money drawn from the
city treasury ia wasted In salaries ior men vino do
literally nothing. The department is kept in exist
ence to foster jobs and mako places for political hang
ers-on. II any real desire existed tho
part OF tho Street Cleaning Department to
have the work done well and cheaply somc
action would have been taken tho bids put In by
contractor some months ago TO do the work oil clean
ing the streets for $50 900 month $4,000 less than
II at present costs tho cny) This gontleman's bid
tho proper performance OF tho work from month to
month. He agreed that II no did not do the work to
tho entire satisfaction OF the Department to forfeit
the contract. His bid was also accompanied by pro-
posal to take all tho street cleaning
from the Department At fair valuation. No atlcn-
tion was paid to this proposition ana In all probability
Mr. Swifcs last proposition to tnke all tho
garbage mas gone TO keep It company in some dark
pigoonhole hese are not the only oilers that have
been made for tho profits OF cleaning tho streets
so great as 10 havc attracted tho attention Of many
contractors who were abba 10 givo any amount Of
bonds Tor the faithful performance OF tho work
BIDS OF all kinds have peon mado, some Tor the entire
city othors Tor sections and the pressure was at
time great that tho Board actually passed u rosolu-
ton TO havo the city divided into dstrcts for street
cleaning purposes. Further than the passng OF n
old methods still prevail In this filthy city. or these
different contracts or propositions the readers OF mo
must be contented with Mr. Swii.s experiences IN
this connection.
swIRT's PROPOSITIONS.
From Mr. Swift 1t Is learned that in January. 1875.
he concludeda contract from month TO month with
the Police Department, under which he was to re-
ceivc $500 a month for removing the garbage Al
this tno ordinance making IL u mlsdemeauor to
mix garbage and ashes IN force and the two wero
kept separate. Tho ashes made exccllent Glng aud
the garbage was taken by him to Barren Island,
II was boiled. baked and then puvcrizcd into icrtz-
ing material. TINS contract, Mr.. swift says, con-
went into the Police Board. and then ou his motion
q resolution notifying Mr.. Swift to discontinue
tho Adoption Of this RESOLUTION ps' tho ordinance
about the separation OF garbage aud ashes
fell nai, and tho houscbolders. noticing
that the ash men mixed the sun together In the
wagons. saw no reason why they should observe tho
rule. Thus gradually this wholesome sanitary rule
fell from grace. Disbcckcr took all the sun 10
Harlem and there dumped it The Hats. In obedi.
cnce 70 tho order Mr.. Swift discontinued the work,
no one has done IL since. Alter Mr. Nichols got
into the Board great hue and cry gotten up
about what should DO done with the garbage Fur.
naces end crema,ing machines wero talked OF. and
fin N fni vgus ei foru
appropriation IN order to build machine. On
seeing this Mr.. Swift wrote to Mr. John Kelly. tho
Comptroller, telling HIM that he would take all tho
garbage in New York Tor a term OF ten years Tor
$4,000, or 81, 600 year.
THE WORTH GARBAGE.
''Few men," said Mr. swift, .'havo any idea OF the
value Of the garbage OF the city OF New York Itis
richer and moro valuable nan that OF any other city
III the world Ninety per cent OF 1t Is III food for tho
stock.
n the cities OF Europo tho garbage is much less val.
liable on account OF grcat rugaity OF the middle
and lower classes, from whom most OF IL COMES
Bones lott at table polished aud boiled; on their
entrance TO the kitchen the vegetable and animal mat
tor are carefully separated and put TO use Now IN
London. where the pop ulaton Is much larger than
that OF New York there is not hail much garbage
and what there Is IS not worth much However, IL ssI
gathered and PAID Tor by persons who manage to make
something moro than u mere living. If this be
more material and richer. | have made a careful
estimate of what can be done with tho
refuse Of New York city aud have arrived ut tho
conclusion that 20 600 hogs ana several hundred
OF horned cattle Gun DO raised on II yearly Tho
and greasy portions would, OF course have 10 be
separated from vegetable matter ana fed to hogs
while the green's, cabbage leaves potatoes 30 would
mako excellent dry food Tor horned stock. You ask
about The separation OF tho ashes and garbage. Why
nothing IN the world IS simpler than that IL wouid
pay he man who had tho privilege OF gathering the
garbage provide every house IN tho city with two
galvanized iron caDs-one for ashes, the other Tor
garbage The outlay would DO returned six months
Each householder would be told that ho could the
cans. but II they wore lost he would have TO pay for
thom. The ashes, when alone, would also acquire u
valuc and could bo sold for 1ing purposes, ior
healthier material can DO found"
GOING
Mr. Swift takes exception 10 The me thods OF taking
the from the houses "All the poisonous o,c
OF tho garbage found in the LIQUID that
runs from II, ana which Is the result oil decomposi
ton. The carts in which they now tako this stun
away are leaky, aud all this liquid oozcs out and nnds
and s dangerous to public hcalth.n Tho reporter |
questioned Mr. swift about tho danger OF going sca
WIN scows and ne answered ina. properly con-
rem Island IN any Kind of weather; that his |
boats had only missed four trips in one year, |
and those on account Of Ice IN The Narrows. The !
steamboats, and scows used by the Police Department
were altogether unit for tho work, and several OF |
them havo already been lost Thc STEAMBOATS, are |
weak lillie things and agans. even an ordinary tide
are powerless 10 draw the heavy loads thcn
They generally wait until the tide serves and 90 down
with just steering way. When the incoming tide |
meets them they are compelled TO dump their loads,
and all tho ihy stol is thrown on the Long Island
shore. There need be no difficulty"
Mr. Swift says:--"About disposing OF this garbage
for 1871 tho SINKING Fund Commission aside
10 acres on Barren Island as dumping ground l
This place has boon used because they say II is
impossible 10 build dock. Now could build u dock
there for $500, one that would be adequate Tor ull
purposes OF the department."
In connection with this 100 acre plot the HERALD
has discovered some interesting facts, which
are given below.
THE TROUBLE WITH SHORE INSPECTOR.
In speaking OF tho trouble tn. New York police had
with Shore Inspector Fersu Mr. swift said somo
Things that may be interesting TO the Mayor also
10 Governor Robinson, who will have to act on
the charges brought against the Police Comm ssion
ers. The law creating the olco OF Shore spector
was drnftcd by ana passed through the influence Of
Senator Henry Murphy, VINO, in common with
many others living on the Long Island
shore, was very much troubled by the beachiDg
81 garbage ana NTH at each incoming tlde The law
states expressly that no person or persons SHAH pass
through tho Narrows with refuse ofal with
The intonton Of dumping the same in the lower bay
without tha permission OF Tho SHORE Inspector,
who shall prescribe at what tides this dump
Ing shall DO done. Anybody obtain per-
mission from Mr.. Ferguson 70 carry garbhge
down and dump IL at tho high water slack.
When dumped at this limc the ensuing SIX hours Of
ppb carry an the stun 10 beyond tho reach OF
oca, tides and created, little or none
Of IL Is ever brought back or cast upon the Long
Island shore Persons carrying garbage or olal that
s TO be deposited terra Grnd need not consult Mr.