New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-26
HOPE FOR TIE STREETS.

There is no doubt that the condition OF the
streets and the requirements essential to the
maintenance Of decent pavements are at present
receiving more official attention than ever be-
fore. For this the people ought to be CRATE
full There has never been time when our
vretched street surfaces were not inteliigcntly
criticised but it has been the custom OF many
city administrations hitherto to listen to protests
against the existing order or disorder, OF things
with entire compacency, and without the
remotest intention of making them the basis OF
any positive action. This Indifference has been
due partly to the general Generalization OF our
municipal system, and partly to Ignorance on
the part of the people as to the quality OF pave
ment which they had a right TO demand
Though the fact has been asserted thousand
times. it is doubtful if majority even OF the
Intelligent citizens Of New-York have until
lately become convinced that their pavements
were comparative as well as an absolute aoom-
nation. But slowly lesson has been learned
from the treatment of the streets in the greao
capitals of Europe, and in many cities OF tne
United States and our people have discovered
that to be splashed with mud, choked with
dnst. iolted to distraction and half-deatened
are not among the inevitable conditions Oh
urban existence.
Two encouraging announcements were maoe
last week-one by Commissioner Gllroy TO tne
effect that permits to open streets would De
given only in cases of extreme necessity AFTER
the new pavements had been laid and one by
Controller Myers, who declared his intention OF
compelling two of the gas companies to repair
the destruction which they had caused II the
principle of street administration thus enun-
ciated should be unhinchingy acted on the ap-
pearance of the city would be Transformed
within few years and the comfort OF living
here enormously increased. AS few Excavations
as possible and honest restora tion-the en1ope-
ment of that rule would practically double the
appropriation for new pavements. IL IS as
grace to the men who manage corporations
having interests beneath the surface, ana TO
fine city Governments which have tolerated such
qrotesoue and wanton acts of spoliatlon, thai
| hitherto there has not been once in ten times
even a pretence of replacing pavements WIN
| care and skill Earth and stone have been
dumped back into excavations in all parts OF
| tbe CITY with only SO much caution as was
necessary to have the stone on top, with the
certainty that oblging inspectors would certify
that the work had been properly done. IL this
so t of thing is actually to be stopped the gain
will be great indeed.
But when our new pavements have been well
laid and corporations have been forced to under
stand that they must be we'll treated the OBJ
legation of keeping them clean will still remain
This task will be UNNECESSARILY lightened by
smooth surfaces, but it can never be perfectly
accomplished so long as householders ignore the
ordinances which forbid them to deposit refuse
in the streets Commissioner Coleman, III a
recent report to the Mayor has enumerated
many Of the abuses to which the streets are
subjected and explained to what branch OF the
city government complaints should be addressed
in each case. 1t is a complicated code of pro-
cedme, well designed to deter citizens from
complaining at ALL since they can scarcely be
expected TO remember whether it Is to the
Health Board, the Department of Street Clean
ing. the Department of Public Works, or the
Police Department that they ought to report
any specific wrong. But it ought, neverthe-
| less. to BIO on The conscience Of every good
citizen to bring violations Of city ordinances to
the attention Of the authorities in one way or
another Some day, as the Commissioner hopes,
the machinery may be simpler and better
adapted to its purpose