New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-29
THE STREETS or THIS PRECINCT OLEAN

GOOD WORK OF CAPTAIN CROSS AND THE WOMEN
OF THE AID SOCIETY.
campaign of education is going on in the twentieth
Police Precinct. Captain Cross and the StreetCiean-
ing Aid Society doing without appropriations what
the Street Cleaning Department Is not DONG WIN up
preparations Long ago the citizens OF Ncw-lorK De
came used to helping themselves when the municipal
authorities failed In their duty, and 1t provoked only
slight comment when a number OF energetic women
formed the StIeet-Cleaning Aid Society some months
ago. They opened an Office at No. 222 west Ihrty-
e!ghth-st., which Is in the Twentieth Precinct, ana
Captain Cross has heartily cooperated with them since
then. Mrs. F. p. Kinnicutt, the chairman OF inc
society, wrote to The Tribune yesterday saying thao
clean streets could be found in the precinct and re
norer nj once went there TO see such unusual sight
He Jaw Captain Cross who modcstly disclaimcd any
praise and said that he only doing his dnty But
a walk through the entire precinct showed that lie ana
his men have done most excellent piece OF Work.
The precinct extends from the north side OF twenty
seventhst, TO the south side of Forty second-st, ana
from Sevcnth-ave 10 the North River. Every street
was perfectly free from fth although most Of them
are full OF tenement houses, and formerly were no
tOrious for their bad condition. One could stop W
Scventh-ave. and look down the streets to"aru "c
river without seing anything but bare and clean gut
tiers and sidewalks. The captain has Insisted par
ucularly on making residents keep ashbarreis lnslue
the area or stoop line, which prevents ltterng the
was to be seen on the sidewalk when the reporter
walked through the district. That aggravating CLASS
of offenders the Italian fruit hucksterS, nave also
been taught some useful lessons by repeated apphca
ton and It was interesting IA them rush into the
streets and gather up the small bits Of rubbish around
their stands when they saw the captain approach
Several people who were sweeping garbage and paper
into the street stopped suddenly when they saw mih
and meekly deposited it In barrels.
To appreciate the difficulties with which the ponce
contend in such districts this one must remember
that the streets are crowded with children, who use
them for Fairgrounds, and that they are lined with
small shops particularly groceries, the owners Oh
which never heard Of any other method OF getting ro
Of refuse except that Of throwing IL Into the middle OF
the street A boy came from pnno factory In the
district and calmly dumped barrel OF shavlngs In
the street to burn them the reporter passed Five
minutes afterward policeman arrived from the station
and left a warning which will prevent repetition OF
the offence The captain has not been at all harsh
with the residents but they know he intends TO prevent
the careless depositng OF dirt In the street, ana tcy
are beginning TO help him.
The society deserves much praise for the dlsnter-
ested work done by its members without any blowing
Of tr7mpets Many of the women interested have
con, through the streets a. early a. m. They
report any case Of nuisance uncleanliness TO the
street Cleaning Department and get to follow the
motter ND and remedy It, That department, to quote
from the letter. actually "shows entire Willingness
which Is gratifying OF course . 49,. 49,, c..
CAPTAIN O'COnnOr, Of the Fourth PrecUlct ana zap
tain brooks Of the Sixth Precinct, are also cooperating
with the society.