New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-16
HEALTH OF NETWORK.
THE STRENGTHENING MIDDLE.

A LETTER PROM THURLOw wEED-fHE DANGERS
or ONE-MAN POWER IN MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
To TIE razor Of me Tribune.
SIR: The strcct-clcaning fever has infected the
minds OF nearly all of our best and most niincntaI
citizens and while it remains at rcd heat nothing
will ailay or soothc il. But n New-iorkcr quite
as anNOusly our ncghbors in favor OF whatever
will promote health and happiness, desire to say
few admontory words. 1t in neither necessary nor
expedient nor safe TO place million dollars annu-
ally in the hands Of any one man. In the present
case the Mayor is showing too much solicitudc To
obtain the exclusive expenditure of this large
amount Of public money Most mcn-lndced, all
thoughtful and diSintcrestcd mcn-would rcluc-
family accept difficult and laborious duties inyoY-
ing such dangerous pcCuniary responsibilities Ana
yet Mayor Grace refuses cooperation, while the IN
dignant Citizens Committee, backed by the medi-
cal profession indOrses the "0ne-man power de
nnnd of the Mayor.
This question ought to be settled, as other and
moro important questions have been, by compromise
The Mayor may be advantagcously associated with
the Controller and some eminent citizen IKE
William T.. Dodge William Dowd. Morris X. Jcsup.
or James Talcott or if physician be- preferred Dr'
Willard Parker. DR.. Slyrc, DR.. Hammond. Dr.
Gray, DR.. Van Buren,, DR.. Flint or Health Officer
Smith. In this way what yerybody wants would
Mr. Schultz. in his Stcinwav Hall speech. said that
he had year or two ago accompanied the foiicc
Commissioners in search of dumping ground for
street garbage and dirt and that ailnbc local
ity was found but in disregard of their duty they
had refused or neglected to occupy it. But Mr..
schultz omitted To inform his hearers that while the
Commissioners preparing To utilize the LOCALITY
referred to-, residents in IT'S vicinity apptchcndiuH
disease procured from the crilaturca Law restrain
into effect The fact that the loaded scows oi III"
Police Board lay icc-bouud in their hcrtls several
weeks during the winter and that al othcrtnnc- the
river was ~ rough that they could not safely move
is ignored though ii is patent to every rejecting
person that To- cloan the streets under such c"ndi-
tions was an iuipos,ibiliiy.
| am disappointed in not finding m authorized
denial that Mayor Grace il the owner Of land "n
Staten Island that wonld be- reclaimed and enriched
by process which would simultaneously clean oar
streets. IT, ~ was positively asserted 10y eminent
physical at their Indignation meeting, our hlthy
streets hayrcngcndcrcd presidential diseases now pre-
yainr To an alarming extent. will not country mcr-
chants instead of coming 10 New York to make th"t
spring purchase. b. driven to other aud healthier
citicsf do not. however IN r. IN tins alarm.
With all pos DIE respect for th,- distinguished gen
tlcricn. think like my c-iccmcd friend judge
Choatc. they dealt m "rlttcrnc rrucralltirs.' AZ
any rate there arr such pres nt evidence, "i naA-
ria a, To- prevent our country friend, or htIang'r'
from visiting the city, ~.
Nc,r. Ioyk Anil D. 1851.