The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-18
CLEARING THE SNOW.

THE ENoRAnTY OF THE TASK AND THE GREAT
EXPENSE TO THE CITY.
The task Of carting away the mountains of snow
now gathered in the streets falls mainly the Street
Cleaning Bureau. The machinery available for this
superhuman undertaking is q shovel brigade Of some
three thousand men and an equipment Of 400 CARTS
The bureau has been at work since Thursday night
when 1t collected nearly two thousand carloads and
dumped them in the river. But its officers confess
that they pause dsmayed before the rampant of
that now girds New York-the huge barricade thrown
up several feet high from the sidewalks, from the
housetops or by the red iron prov and whirng brush
of the snow ploughs. They estimate roughly that
100000 carloads are now lying the ground. They
believe that their operations will cost the city $4,000
daily and may last for an indefinite period.
They profess themselves utterly out with
the fatigues Of the past two days. and the bureau
bears generally listless and-woebegone ar Their
work Is much interrupted during the day by street
traffic but general muster of the carts was held yes
terday afternoon and Superintendent Wylie expected
to gather eight thousand loads during the night
The process is necessarily SLOW The more fashion
able parts of the city to have been regarded by
the bureau with eye favor and the least arsto
cratic to have been wholly neglected 1t is only in
existence for in the regions of business it is being
gradually churned into sush and from the realms Of
fashion it is steadily carted away.
SMALL OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE.
The aid lent to the bureau by private individuals
is quite nconsiderable few expressmen having
night stands, few merchants who load wagons at
their door. let their interest induce them to hire u
cart and few shovels But the horse car companies
lend most assistance to the good work. They not
compelled by law to assist; their charters merely
bind them to keeping the tracks free of obstruction.
Nevertheless, often the waves of and sush
raised by their poughs break upon the sidewalk,
property owners speedily cast them back the tracks
again. The companies retaliate the property owners
return to the attack, and begins in which
the horse authorities would inevitably be worsted.
So they engage their carts and their and
set to work vigorously. The Dry Dock line has
cleared the streets through which it passes from tho
Bowery to Grand street ferry. The line has
given thorough employment to the small force that
it commands. Immense snow laden career
wildly down third avenue. Many express themselves
willing bear the cost of street cleaning if the rest
will cooperate But the work is not yet systema-
tzed. The greater number are content to displace
rather than remove the snow, packing it that the
duties of the bureau become harder than ever.
far the law is concerned the responsibility Is
thrown wholly on the Police Commissioners. Prop
erty owners may .Peon Of snow heap itself
upon Ossa of ashes before their door and yet have
remedy against the companies that SO pile it, The
bureau maintains that it will bring I'LL its
into play, but in weather tickle the present it
can make no promises of speedy accomplishment.
1t admits its responsibility and is disposed to face it,
But its clearing apparatus would wholly made
Quate to the undertaking.