New-York tribune., 1890-01-18
THE CITY GETS A NEW BROOM.
CHOSEN FOR THE STRENGTHENING WORK.
MAYOR GRANT TAKES HORACE LOOMS FROM
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO
FILL MR.. CoLEMAN's PLACE

FILL. MR.. COLEMAN'S PLACE
Mayor Grant has at last succeeded in finding what
he believes to be the right kind of man ior Coni-
missioner Of the str ct Cleaning Department, anu yes
terday he appointed Horace LOOMS To the once ann
sent his name to the Board Of Health for conirma-
ton Mr. Loomis has since March !, 1886, been
engineer in charge Of the Bureau of sewers IN the
Department Of Public Works. lie was born Ill
Binghamton, y. V, fifty years ago, ana alter Ut
tending the public schools began his scientific educa-
ton at the Rensselaer, Polytechnic Institute at Troy
where he graduated in lS6j Ever since ne mas
been in the active practice Of his profession rs cVi
engineer. During the first ten years after graduation
Mr. LOOMS devoted himself to railroad construction,
and was employed upon the Lehgh Valley Raliroad,
the Lehigh Coal and Mining Company, at Mauch
Chunk, Penn. and the Lehgh and su'quehahha ha'i-
road. The late Robert A. Packer, who succeeded his
father, Asa Packer. president oi the Leheh '"eS
Railroad Company, was one Of Mr. Looms c"ss-
mates at Troy and they were Intimate frichus "urhS
time of the ngnecring work in Penpsyi-
vania. Subsequently he was interested with gyer
W. Barnes In the Dutchess aud Columbia RailroaS anu
in the branch Of the Erie road between Hoboken ana
Fort Lee. including the building Of the Erie docks ana
the stockyauts in NcwJerscy.
Mr. LOOMS entered the service Of the city In 1870
as assistant encinccr If the Croon Aqucduct under
General Fitz John Porter then Commissioner oil FuD-
lie WORKS. Three yea later. when the plan was
watersheds to increase the water supply OF the city
Mr. Loomi, made survey of the IIou-atOuic Valley.
lie also made the first survey for the new Aqueduct
Ills present salary engineer OF the sewer piNi-
sion /, $500 year. Iii, salary a. street Commits
sioncr will lie $1,000.
Mr. Loomis said yesterday that In politics he was
a Democrat. but wa affiliated with No organization.
lie live, at Mount Vernon, Wcstrhe-t,r County. ana
j. brother Of Frank LoOmi.. counsel OF the Nc"-l 'rt
Pa
mayor Grant expressed great relief at the final
set lcmcnt of the matter. II the now Commissioner
proves to be- the for the place. he said. D" am
going to claim thr sole credit Of it. for discovered
Mr.. Loomis myself
The Public Works Commissioners. Mr.. Gilroy. sid
that he should part with Mr.. Loomi, with regret.
In the iu p raut place in which ! found him in
my department" Mr. Gilroy added. have come to
know him thoroughly capable man. and to rely
upon hi judgment in matt Of moment outside OF
his own bureau. fear that shall have serious
difficulty iu nllne th' place ho varaicS.'
The newly appointed Comui ~i,ncr said T. a Trib-
me reporter: d" accept th, now ohc' with reluct
anoc and difhicn"c. fr ! rctIz' what great things
the people # NcVYorh and the new paper press cN-
pcct oi the Commissioner Of street Cleaning. and how
uuplc sant tn, result of failure wouh he t, me. 1
only say that / will d. thc very best to do
my duty faithfully and clean tc -tic,t Of Ncw York.
More than that canu.t promise" Mr. LOOMS
aided that the details OF hi department were new
To- him. but that from what De did know about it he
was Inclined To- prefer tn" contract ,y-tem for clean
in- thc streets.
Sc'ti.n 1o7 Of ihe Con-ordatiou act Chapter 3G7.
section of the law of l--lJ provides:
The Mayo- shall appoin, The Coumi,. oncr 81 Street
Cleaning with tr approval u thr Baud ~ Health, but
n. after three ballot, the said Board shall f'l 20 confirm
or r'ect ht majority vote Iison nominated br the
MAYOR two Affirmative Nor., ~ members u sad Board
'A1u b' sufficient fo- h., Confirmation.
The Board 81 Health VIII meet today 10 act the
Mayor nomination OF NJ l. Omi,.