New-York tribune., 1878-11-22
THE REFUSE OF THE CITY.
STREET CLEANING EXPENDITURES.


COMMISSIONERS OF ACCOUNTS CRITICIsiSG The Bu.
REAU OF STREET CLEANING.
The Bureau of Street Cleaning was lately
investigated by Commissioners OF Accounts Howe and
Mooney, at the request Of Mayor Ely. The Commis.
Lissioners made a report TO the Mayor yesterday In
which they endeavor show that the Bureau has made
mistaken reports to the work done by its employee
and that city paying for nine and half trips OF
the OF the Bureau and removing trife over sx
loads" In memorandum they criticse severely the
manner In which the books Of the Bureau kept Below
IS the memorandum:
1t Is the custom in this Bureau for the officers for
ward each twenty-four hours to Chief Clerk Green
statement under oath OF the number OF miles Of streets
cleaned during the preceding twenty -four hours; the
amount OF material removed rom the city, except what
Is contained In large book under the supervision OF the
Superintendent OF Scows detailed policeman In this
book are supposed TO be entered the date OF loading The
name OF sc0w the measurement OF material IN cubic
yards, aud It's destination. This system i complete
enough II properly carried out but the examination de-
FIRST, that from 1876 to July l. 1877, the measure
mens recorded are pretty generally correct After
are increased 80 per cent, and continued To date:
second either these were correct 10 1876
measured in the latter part OF 1877 and to date third,
since January l. 1873 The very rreg
uary entered; some five hundred Of them recorded
as 10 date OF loading name and destination, but with
measurements; fourth upon these Inconsistencies being
and Captain Gunner, the superintendent that
no mo, could be placed SR T% ss a book and md
Department. Notwithstanding is the Ouy book that
shows the amount of material taken and carried away
by the The prescribed measurement OF the
Department, both hired aud owned by them
The records show for i876 that 1oi2o75 loads
at I yards per load would be about 1871 900 yards
rhe measurement of the recorded in the book
referred TO, is about 644000 cubic yards. Allow me
Department 262 900 yards given 10 other persons other
than that received oy scows and the difference is
In allowing this last item there has been deducted
estimated amount OF 81 79O yards dumped seOws
by private admitted to be correct by
partmen but OF which there Is record. II the carts
only twentyseven cubic feet the shrnkage sn
large II they thfeequarters OF yard the record
then shows that the Department accounts for more
teral than picks up establishing the fact that the
tire records to the disposition OF the material
are TO be relied upOn. A careful eXamna-
ton, by the proper officer assisted by @ civil
OF loaded and uniOaded the dumping boards
arriving at the height AT which scOw can be loaded de-
veops the fact that this BOOK heretofore referred to-
giving measurements Of scows, etc. Is really OF no ae
record and regularly kept by clerk of the Deparmen
There is therefore, way by the check system OF as
certlininR nhether not the Department actually
picks up the material claimed by IT. variety Of per-
in different portions OF the city, and u Is evident that
the cartmen do not carry fall loads and
that a fair average would be not over
three-qurters OF yard load, II not less, 70 all carts
which nave carrying capacity OF y yards 10 hired
cart and 10 the few carts owned by the Department
carrying capacity OF yards The average days Work
throughout the city Is 9l3 loads TO "A cart.
II easy that upon this statement OF facts the
city is paying for 93 trips and removing trie over SIX
loads The Department CLAIMS that tue natural shrink
Of material is 80 per cent The Longest time taken 10
load Is fortyeIght hours. The best 0u hory OBJ
tumabie rdicues the clam, and viii not allow over D
per cent. This leaves 2Jper cent unaccountcd for.