The Irish standard., 1892-12-03
have since joined the ranks of New
York's most successful merchants.

have since joined the ranks of New
York's most successful merchants.
f He continued in the printing business
for six years, and though then holding
the position of assistant foreman, decided
that his prospects did not warrant his re-
naming in it. He thereupon looked fol
more remuneratiye employment, and
found it as clerk in the finance depart
ment OF the city. From that time to the
present, in one capacity or another, he
has been in the public service. Among
the offices he has filled are those OF
Clerk Of the Tenth Municipal District
Court, Clerk of the Ninth Municipal
District Court, Deputy County Clerk,
and Under-Sheriff, besides that OF Com
missioner of Public Works, which be
still holds. So quick was his apprehen-
sion of methods and the results they
were designed to attain, that he showed
as much familiarity with the duties OF
each new post as if he had been perform
ing them for years. Then his applica
tion and industry were unexampled.
Never late at his desk in the morning.
be never left it in the evening with ar.
rears Of work left over for the folio wing
day. His natural aptitude FOR business
was specially shown in his swift percep-
tion Of faulty methods and the substi-
tuition of better ones. For instance,
when deputy to the County Clerk, he
earned the lasting gratitude OF every one
concerned in the transfer of real estate
by reforming the Sea1cher's Bureau sc
that what had formerly been the work OF
weeks was thereafter possible In few
days Another remarkable example OF
his talents was his receivershlp IN che
case of Mitchell Vance & Go. His ap
pointment to this service by Judge Don
oghue was at the time denounced as a
job Of the worst kind by Republican
paper. In six months from the date OF
his appointment he made $3.50, 600 of as
sets, which had been estimated at $780,
600, by simply taking charge Of the busi-
ness and running it according to his
ideas.
In the office Of Public Works he has
shown that there is no practical limit to
his capacities. Some idea of the magni-
tude Of the business there handled by
him may be obtained from the fact that,
for the three and half years OF his in
cumbency, he had paid out about $70,-
100000 year, and collected and paid
into the treasury from $4,000,Oo0 to $5,-
100000 year. Yet Mr.. Gilroy, upon en-
tering the department, teok charge as
easily as if he had been handling mil
lions all his lifetime. Moreover, each
subdivision of the department. soon
found in him an expert authority on its
special work. It may be we'll to mention
that the department. includes buildings
sewerage and water supply. On each OF
these topics he converses with knowl.
edge of detail that amazes the listener
While commissioner he has paved Il
miles OF streets with new granite block
pavement, and 48 miles with asphalt
pavement. He has increased the daily
supply of water from 116 million gallons
to 1853 million gallons, and the storage
for reserve purposes from II billion gal.
Ions to u billions; he has carried street
lighting into So miles of new streets, re.
moved $500 telegraph poles, 5000 miles
OF overhead wires, and over $4,000 Other
miscellaneous obstructions, and he has
radically corrected the sewerage of Older
New York. These are the chief. not all
the improvements he has effected; he has
accomplished many necessary though
less important works besides. STILL the
expenditure for the area covered has
been less than that for any other period
in the last thirty years.
/ Mr.. Gilroy took an interest in politics
quite early in his life. Perhaps his first
appearance IN that field was when about
eighteen, as secretary to the old Tam.
many Democratic Union, organized tc
oppose Tammany Hall under the Tweed
regime. Later when the Tammany soci
ETY. came under better influences, he
Joined it, remaining jealous and loyal
member ever since. Mr.. Gilroy liked
Tammany because it was an association
OF the common people not Of class Of
g clique for the good of the people al
large. He says it is as cosmopolitan ol
as American as the community in which
It exists. No race favoritism is tolerated
within it. Merit, the practical merit
which IS qualified BY availability, is the
standard By which il measures men. Mr.,
Gilroy attributes his rise in the organiza.
lion to . sincere acceptance Of its pro.
.fessed principles and purposes, and e
the services he thereupon felt bound te
render. He il now Grand Saohem d
SSTammanY, and chairman of District d
and 81 the committee on organization.
7hen twenty seven Nj. GilrsY mar
Eried Miss Mary Sheriida q relative 81