The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-08


contractor. rhe highest amount ever received
under this system In any one year S5,.s0o Tho
une ls77 and s,nss that ms sb,s xors ss"
, done directly by the Department Of Public Works
with the most gratifying results, as net sum OF
$4,000 has been realized ~ period OF only seven
months, from June A. 1871, 10 The end OF the year,
being difference IN favor OF the present system OF
Ss,40o per month as against 81, 800 per month oh
, tanned under contract
| During the year 1877 large reduction was made
from the expenditure Tor gas for city lamps, and am
confident the year 1878 will snow still further largo
reduction. In other large cities the gas companies
are made source OF revenue The gas companies OF
Paris pay tho city about Sl,7o0,0o0 annually. Tho
following statement will show the total cost OF lighting
the city New York Tor the years from 1874 to 1877,
both inclusive. win the actual number OF lamps burn
ing each year. and the average cost lamp for tho
Total Cost Number or Average Cost
Pear sr rsa g 1 sofss p ssd aa e
31ss77ss. s ssss4s q q s sosyI 81
BY tho awards OF contracts made by the Gas Com,
mission December last for lighting tho city Tor the
four months ending April 80, 1875 saving OF about
s67 600 Will be effected over the corresponding period
| OF 1871.
The Fire Department appears to be conducted with
increased economy and Is in admirable state OF
funess and discipline. This rs proven by the dmin-
isned amount OF losses by fre and the reduced
| Tor insurance demanded by the underwriters Tho
| Department OF Public Works has complied with
number OF recommendations made TO 1t ny this de-
MIGRANTS on large mans, thus adding materially to
the facilities Tor obtaining necessary supply Of water
| Tor tire purposes In the localities designated.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
| The Police Department OF this city being more OK
| pensvo and having more numerous appontees than
any other city department. merits particular atten.
ton. In strength ana efficiency It IL worthy oil high
| commentator. think u was demonstrated during
the excitement accustomed by tho railroad strikes
summer that, as an Organization thero Is no police
the world superior TO ours in intelligence discipline
and physical stamina For the order that main
tanned in the city during the crisis were indebted
primarily to the police Tho prevention OF all tumu
In this city at that time was rot only OF
TO the people OF this city and State out 1t pre-
vented entirely the excitement ana disorder from
| spreading into the New England States.
The subject Of street cleaning is one which has
caused great during tho past year. and
IN regard TO which legislative action Is nnperavely
demanded. The uncean condition OF tho streets has
| been matter oil very general complaint. The duty
Of street cleaning Is, by law passed IN 1877, vested
in the Police Department This act makes II the duty
Of the Police Department to clean the streets and
move the dirt, ashes and garbage therclrom, but
makes no sufficient provision Tor the disposition OF
the material removed, and by various acts OF the
Legislature passed sinceShe year 1872 the Police De-
partmcnt has been impPded N the removal and dis
position OF the refuse matter taken from the streets
until ut present has become matter Of very great
| embarrassment.
would recommend that the cleaning Of the streets
BIO vested IN separate department bureau OF tho
city government and that the powers OF this depart
ment or bureau IN regard TO me disposition Of ref
law, that tho duty OF cleaning the streets may be
efficiently performed by the Street Cleaning Depart
|
any other depar ,meht of tho city or State govern
ment; and would also recommend that IN tho event
OF any conflict between any Of lie departments with
reference TO the subject OF street cleaning, the
Mayor, or some other authority, be empowered 10
graled 70 notice that the Leg is already
sdering this subject.
| RAPID TRANSIT
The subject OF rapid transit mas attracted very gen.
cra attention during the past year. and the great
STABILITY Of some method Of quick COMMUNICATION
between the upper aud lower portions vi tue city has
been universally acknowledged. MY own opinion
| has been, and Is, that depressed or underground
been Forty second street aud tho City Hall wo
| DO a very desirable pubic Improvement. think tho
construction OF such road Is feasible and would be
profitable investment for capital Ihc elevated rail
roads which are now beng built, although their
slructon infcts much uncompensated injury upon
property owners along Their routes Will undoubtedly
be OF great utility and supply III large degree ab
| soiute public necessity
LICENSEES.
| Last spring your honorable Board passed an ord
nance imposing tax Oi 81 each upon dogs and made
" my duty enforce the Under Its provisions
ll99l dogs were licensed and $3.50 was collected.
which, together with the other license foes obtained
through the Bureau OF Permits was deposited with
the Commissioners OF tho Sinking Fund Tor the rcduc.
tion OF tho city debL Eight thousand two hu ndred
aud thryfour dogs "cre destroyed and the expenses
attending tleir capture and destruction, amounting to
So, O5O obtained unused ces OF be an.
preparation for The Department of Public Works. CHER
cities derive a large income from the upon
doss. In the City OF Paris $780, 900 per OBJ
tanned IRON this source. The Same city also obtains
$4,000 annually for licenses upon vehicles The
amount received in New York from that source
$43216. This umounr Is capable OF beng greatly
increased Our city omnibus companies pay license
fec established by law for each vehicle. or our c "
railroad companies only the Sixth and Ninth ave nc
lines pay the license feos IN accordance with their
charter In granting the privilege OF using our streets
TO the elevated railway conpanies no compensation
to the city is provided for, through license lees or
Otherwise
SCHOOLS
| think the Appropriation Tor the present year.
So, 400, 000 view OF the abandonment OF unncces-
sary bullaing projects ana the suraoo OF other
n
the necessities OF tho year SUN OF perhaps $50 900
per annqIn might DO saved by appointing now teach
ers at lower salary than at prescott pad, and
unnecessary salaries and other ght be
cut on There arc few school buildings d ifercnt
parts OF the city IN which the number of scholars Ia
much reduced by The diminished population OF tho
districts and Tho proximity OF Other schools that thcy
are OF comparatively little utiiiy | would advise
far as 1t 10 PRACTICAL that such property should be
transferred 10 tht Com mlssloners OF the SInAiDg
Fund ana by them disposed of Ia such manner that
school buildings IN the nortncrly part OF Tho
city, on lands already owned By the Board OF Educa-
ton.
Excrsx.
Our community has been greatly interested and ex-
cited recently by an unexpected Judicial decision ia
law supposed 10 have been repealed was surprise
the community, and us unexpected enforcement re-
suited Ia great hardship TO many. II Is ~ be hoped,
however, tuat the whole question VIII be promptly
and satisfactorily settled by the Legislature when
now III session and which Is giving the subject prompt
attention. Governor Robinson, IN his Message, well
says ,.,5
"What ID nccuel Is TO substitute Tor all existing
laws on tho subject carefully prepared statute,
reasonable IN It's limitations ana RESTRAINTS clear and
explicit all It's provisions, and, above all complete
~ sclf TO De uniformly, steadily and constantly
forced"
VARIOUS SUGGESTIONS
| would respectfully suggest that tho Legislature
be called upon TO abolish the ohicc'ol Inspector oil
Weights and Measures, ana transfer The necessary
functions oil tho Office 10 tho Police Board some
othor department OF the city government
Tue opening OF Harlem River to navigation Is
matter which, IN my judgment, should have your
al Inn aftfin faaI
memorial TO Congress nom your honorable body on
the subject would be responded to !averably IN the
adoption VI ouch measures OF legislation "a wouid
result ia the early opening OF this the of
commerce. The work being done by the general gov
eminent would save the expense TO the city, give
many ,aborcrs employment aud add largely TO the
general welfare oil our metropolis. VIII JOIN heartily
Win you IN any measure you may, IN your WISDOM,
adopt to secure a result 80 desirable
Iho n.u ma al Lhart tau uh