New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-04
TIE CITY's DIRTY STREETS.

IHoRoUGHFAREs MORE FILTHY THAN EVER BEFORE
AT THIS SEASON OF THE YEAR-wHAT. OUGHT
To BE DONE.
The condition of the streets and avenues Is COM
mented on in no complimentary terms by business men
and politicians alike. The former see that the bust
ness thoroughfares are in much worse condition
than ever before at this season of the year. while
the politicians ask if they not in worse cond-
ton than they were when Commissioner Sidney p
Nichols was removed by the Mayor and the Cover
nor for alleged neglect in not cleaning them. Com
missioner MacLean, the chairman of the Street.
Cleaning Committee of the Board of Police, asked
the Board Of Estimate and ApportIonment TO appro-
pirate for the coming year $1O67, 4l0 for cleaning
the streets This Is a very considerable advance
over the amount appropriated for the current year,
which is in round numbers S69O,OOO Oh this sum
SGl2, 800 was available for cleaning the streets.
paving salaries, etc, $4,000 appropriated for
removing snow and Ice, aud $1,000 is paid to the
tugs in the harbOr and the rivers for towing the
ecows loaded with ashes and garbage.
From official sources il was learned on Tuesday,
by a reporter Of The TRIBUNE that on November
IL there was available $103, 600 of the original APP
preparation for cleaning the streets III is the opin-
ION of those who qualified to speak on the sub
ject that there is no necessity for the pavements
beng as filthy as they have been for two months.
come. II would much retard the work OF cleaning
the streets. heavy, driving rain storm Is the ONLY
thing that wonld and the Street Cleaning Bureau,
while an ordinary rain would make the pavements
in some places ankle-deep IN mud vi the amount
appropriated for cleaning there remains about
Slj4 900 which can bc expended during the current
month. Ofthe 0,O0O'apprOpriated for removing
snow and ice there has been expended S1S,3OO
leaving nearly 500 600 available for this purpose,
aud il cannot be expended fOT any other In July
there was expended for cleaning the streets T1l 900
and IN August 81 900. There il available for De-
cemb,r $4,000 more than was expended IN july
Commissioner MacLean has not been hampercd 10y
his fellow Commissioners. All bills have been au-
died promptly and ordered paid.
The office OF the StTeet-Ceaulng bureau. with ITS
clerical force, was removed yesterday from the old
market at the foot Of East S6venteentl-St. 10 the
Central Off C. IL is believed That this Will he
measure OF economy. The services OF a telegraph
operator aud some other employees can be dispensed
with.
Commissioner Vonrhis said Tuesday that he
thought the present fine weather should he taken
advantage of to put the streets IN more favorable
condition meet the Winter storms A fall of snow
followed by cold weather would he very bad as NJ
would almost entirely put sop To streetcleining
operations The paycmeuts are very dirty nos, and
the accumulation of dirt and ashes which would be
sure 10 follow something lie did not like TO con-
Template IL was true that the street-cleanng ma
teriai was IN bad condition; many of the scOws
were unseawOIthy. When he left the department,
come wears ago there i0Iry-twO In good condi-
ton now there are only thirty-tbree. The tugs
also are in bad condition. ana many of the carts are
hardly fit for the work. The systcn of giving
block TO one or two men to clean has not bee found
10 work well the gang system OF fifteen or twenty
in each gang, under the command OF an Inspector,
did better. lie was decidedly OF the opinion that
SG4 900 was sufficient TO insure the streets OF the
clty beng placed IN a clcanly condition, II II was
iudiciOusly expended.