The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-03
tons OF Swim, Gallagher. King and others company
In some dusty pigeon hole:-
now THE DEPARTMENT IL MANAGED.


that Tho streets OF Now York be kept cean ashes
aud garbage removed, culverts and cutters kept
erosswalks cleaned, and snow banks levcl!ed (when
stormy weather occurs) all Tor the sum Of
SoOoUOO per annum. So long the present sys-
be they either ioremen, gangmen, sartinen or la
borcrs-uness at the instance OF Aldermen aud ward
Know nothing except drink nsl win get empioy menta
lie paid Tor doing nothing; long as bribery and cor
rupon are sustained 50 long the city must suner Win
uIcean Streets dirty stagnant pools and filthy heaps
OF ashes and garbage all WINTER spring, ana through
part OF summer, causing disease and death. Be.
enughten citizens II / relate the means OF ges.
ting employment and what part the Commissioners
take IN dispensing their patronage. Each one has
equal rights. IL IS divided iarly; each appoint
equal number OF ioremen gangmen, cartmea, iaoor.
crs, dump inspectors ana scowmen. Unless they
some relative or friend they appointed ON The
solicitation of an Alderman or some prominent ward
politician. When appointed he Is sent 10 u ward II
a foreman lac must put all work who sent 10
him. whether he wants them not, able unable To
work; Old lane and almost crippled horses (Which,
II Mr.. Bergn met lhem would be snot) and old, snaky
carts, only 1T for hrewood The poor Iaborers (Gou
pity theml are only at objects for an asylum Well
he dare no: complain or discharge them. II he does
their patron VIII report and of goes his head. Ii he
inclined 10 do little for himself he gives hint, or
gets his gangmcn 10 do SO, that liltle money from
tho men every month would make things all
right. so II Is gwen. and OF course the time Of the
foreman expects at least. IS from cartnen aud
81 from laporcrs per month. and the sangman and
dump Inspector also expects trlnc. The former, Tor
not seeing tho loads not filed when they leave the
work, ana the latter (although he Is secure giving
delivered AT all, each cartman must have return
oil many loads 10 get iull time, each load 10 contain
q cubic yard. IL the Inspector IS an honest man and
refuses 10 give credit complaint Is made by tho
patron of the cartman and he IS discharged. The
simple Tact s no ioreman gangman or Inspector can
be an honest man and retain his position. SO many
miles OF streets are required to be swept ana art
csrtsd OF every week. How can ne 10 ts With DOR
old men. crippled and disabled, who require tho SUBJ
port their hoos and brooms TO keep them up.
rickely old uorses and dilapidated carts. that lose
hall the sun the way TO the dumpP He must lie in
ms day returns, or only run them with scrnpe
and broom here and there. So long corrupt poll
ticians are allowed TO and imbece Commis-
soners to submit SO long will the streets remain filthy
and money be wasted On bunimers VINO never IN
NEW PLAN PROPOSED
Two systems nave been tried and aiicd, tho second
worse than the nrst, although costing twice much,
one by Contracting tor the whole city by ono con-
tractor. the Other under the Police Board suppose
We try third, IL can't boworse anyhow, ana If only
next year. Frst-l would leave the elne control
unucr the Police Board, Tor the simple reason that,
properly exercised, having the best means oil enforcing
the law (and you Will further on) patrol
man, rCundsmen, sergeant and captain will De in
spector, Second-Let them DO authorized and CON-
PEELED 10 syo out by contract Tor each ward. each
contractor to furnish two suretes ia double the
amount agreed on, no only to be required TO deliver
the material at the dumping boards other
places deaignated 10 be paid monthly
certificate OF the captain of the precinct PRECINCTS.
wherein the ward is, tho captain to DO held strictly
responsible for the cleanliness OF his precinct Ii his
certificate gwen he Will take good in THIS
specl. by Nils contract 81 stem OF limited means
take hold aud furnish good security. Tho Cap
tam would mold all under his commando all neglect
would be reported Ii the certificate Is refused, tho
contracts should DO cancelled, the general suporn-
tondent TO employ men and carts, and whatever 1t
would cost over the M unit TO com bel the or
surcties hand All pshos and garbage TO be
removed every WORKING day in the year; the principal
streets and avenues 10 be cleaned three times week,
and all other paved streets cleaned twice week, and
dirt removed long ram or snow docs not prevent
When storms OF rain or snow prevent the work OF
sweeping tho cr0sswaks should be Kept Tree oil sush
tho cuivcrts ana cutters kept open, that when a
thaw comes up the water would run into The sewers;
tho swept from the sidewalks TO be leveleu alter
each storm, thus giving free access TO carts and
wagons to receive and deliver goods and ashes.
ESTIMATED REDUCTION
To show how the sum mentioned would 90 sufficient
to perform the above work let US demonstrate. There
are twentyiour wards OF more or less extent; allow
81, 800 Tor each on an average, II Will amount to
$50, oo0 per month; multiply by twelve, we have
SAB, 900 per annum. Delivered at the several dump
ing boards places designated 1t will take this
This $l6S per annun, Sl4 900 per month,
for hauling and dischargng the scows at the final
destination. This c0uld be also contracted for at
less sum.
Tho above sum tor hauling. &c, is on the supposi.
ton that the ashes and garbage must be separated
ana carried outside tue limits OF The city; but 1t Will
cost haf this sum II separated, INC ashes
Will be sought and paid Tor Tor filling IN purposes, and
MS Mr.. Swift Will remove the garbage the Whole Will
nearly DO saved. The separation can DO accom-.
cept with The poorer classes OF tenement houses,
and II an ordinance. IS passed and put
in force, making the owners, not the tenants
unless they caught in the act responsible.
you will soon tad that either by line or nprson-
inens ono latter the oos.erl ~ can % done.
them OF tho necessity OF 0beying the law, and
should the contractors cartmen mix IL their carts
punish the offenders with greater severity. II may
be SAID tins is all bosh. / would refer those who
think to the contracts entered into for with
Robert G. Brown, from May, 1873 to 1874. Ho con-
tractcd for the Twelfth. Iwcnty-third and twenty
fourth wards Tor u less th here estimated
Tho work was as we II not bo,ler done than at any
tnc before or since. He employed only aole-bodied
men, good horses and carts and Two men 10 superin
tend VINO were left full control IL was taken from
him nitl ha HAY kcu A oil adj
there was no legal power TO give II out by cont act
know men who Will undertake to 90 the rwolltn,
Twentythird ana Twenty-fourth wards for far less
than Is here estimated, and give good security, IL
they get dumping places on the Harlem and North
rivers and in tho Twenty.third and Twenty-fourth
wards. II 1t IS gwen out us whole, u the resent
system Is held ON to- or II the Mayor or Board Of
robbery and corruption will sthl continue. the ward
contractor Will be ruled only by his pockcts-he will
know, If he fails In his work ne wont get his money
The captain. tosave himself, Will withhold tho Cortif
cate, and the streets VIII DC kept clean.
ABOUT Snow.
few words about removing snow, and have done.
Immediately after every storm, boorc there Is time
10 have II frozen up hard tnat requires picks and
crowbars TO break II up, compel tho railroad
panes level of wha, they sweep from the tracks ON
all wide streets and avenues and cart II away from all
narrow streets on broadway and the principal
streets where no tracks exist and whore stages run,
compel the companies to pay one-third OF the expense
OF the removal BY attacking 1t while soft IT can BIO
even If IT docs freeze bard II can DC much caser
broken up and carried away. GIVE me, even under tho
present svstcm, tuirty twenty VI my
own selection, with full power control them ana
discharge and will engage 10 do the work as above
In the largest drticst ward the city Tor 50 900
per month. OLD STREET CLEANER.
OLD STREET CLEANER INTERVIEWED
A HERALD reporter found ''Uld street Cleaner' ana
had nteresting talk with him the subject OF his
letter. He said that he has known Brown 10 sweep
and clean Third avenue, from Harlem Bridge to loom
street, distance and onc-naii miles. with ten
and four CARTS in one day, while under tbs Police
Commissioners twonty-our men and eight carts have
Only succeeded ia cleaning TO i06tn street
When Brown bad tho contract men wao
did work wcro discharged, but under
tho Ponce Commissioners working ability "a
at discount and political 'hack Is every tnlDg ia
1874, when an ordnance wa passed regulating tho
of to % used carting street sol, several
VINO went 10 work with wicgeis and small wagons
discharged. bat next day they appeared with
orders from tho Comm ssioucrs 70 be put
again Unucr the present. system the men do not daily