New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-19
PART III.
PAGES 13 TO 2.
STREET CLEANING DEFICIT
COL wARING SAYS 1T WILL AMOUNT. TO
s5OoOOo
IF IT is TO BE AVOIDED. HE CANNOT GO ON
THINGS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION
OF THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE
AND APPORTIoNMENT.

vas unexpected For several weeks II has been
known that the increased cost OF street cleahins'
which had made certain deficit in the appropria-
ton of that department for the current year. was
one of the things which the municipal government
would have to face sooner or later very Wisely
Mayor Strong determined that there was no goou
10 be derived from delay and that the best pohcy
was to take the taxpayers into his commence
forthwith
Commissioner Warning appeared before the board
yesterday and presented typewriter statements
showing that II the operations and expenditures
Of the Street Cleaning Department were to go on
as ne has been directing them there would DE
deficit at the end of 1895 of 100000 Corporation
Counsel Scott asked Mr.. Waring II this estimate
included the $1esOoo bonds issued on account OF
the removal of and ice. The Commissioner
said that the estimate independent OF the
snow ard ice Indebtedness. This. he said' wouid
swell the deficit to $685. 600 He made no recon-
mendations to the board
THE COMMISSIONERS STATEMENT.
Commissioner Warnings statement regarding the
financial state Of the department was as follows;
Hon. William L. Strong Mayor. Chairman Board
Of Estimate and Apportionment. A..
Sir: The financial questions incidental TO the
work of the Department of Street Cleaning re-
Two things have been demonstrated. The first Is
covering ali parts Of the city. With the exception ito,
of the push-cart market portions Of Mott. Mu,
berry Bayard, Hester. Ridge and Norfolk SITS, and
few other small 81 ms TH o paved
thoroughfares of the city-the streets Of New.
be ma sIs S sish h ep they
The second is that this state Of cleanliness can
Ss b 9ss by yh hs hoar Of
Apportonment Of the previous he done
Either the streets must be allowed Ito Relapse h oo
viii still suffice without creating deficit at the end
Of the year. money must be provided LOT
re es should Gr II be decided that the
native is not advisable and that the second is I'M
Of workmen can be reduced. or the rate OF wages
The law Of 1892 fixed the wages rigdly at $500
This rate was adopted by Mayor S sS G
roy and his associates as IN a the Hi
The amendment of 1894 left it to the Board OF Est-
eNes r ae not 20 s
have reduced the rate. In effect 1t increased It to
sasn fd BY large S1a Of e force
the annual payment about s2i practically Tor
No material diminution Of cost can be secured in
any other Items OF the Appropriation IMAM sweep
II the operations of the department were to go
%oad be pasout $4,000 e reaching every item the
appropriation except administration, in which there
In reducing sf the cost Of labor we may either
lee, certain number Of men mem who are d now re
them Of all income with their families TO be pro
vded for. or reduce the rate of wages paid to the
The latter course would allow the streets. TO be
foamea woud return them 10 something like their
previous state of uncleanliness.
For the information of the Board, i beg to say
that as The work Of the department becomes econ
ash carts and their private sweepers which is
AnoheF In E TO be sA assn INTO consideration
The influential consolidation OF the real estate in.
the seyenynnih-st dump The city has now no
dump for ashes between Forty-seventh,st and One
IL gets relief from the central portion OF this
sy To- h by foot m h Ins thee E e
The increase OF cost and decrease of efficiency due
sill more recently. similar influence has Sc
cured the passage OF a law practically prohibiting
usly safe, condition. anywhere IN the ely This
has c9mpled " 70 give w pnonJsc'onsns dump
ashes from the whole area 10 be hauled 20 the
dump at the foot OF Lineon.aye'' on the Harlem
work. WORK. have to haul Their loads nearly y' seh, m"S
of hauling Gnn r." load s S "sn not "" I
Ny predecessor estimated the cost OF The work OF
The Ssns ls as nsu"s new plant to be Tor
This was co, down BY the Board of Estimate and
l await your instructions
Mayor Strong carefully examined Colonel War
ing's statement. none OF the other members pres
ent. Messrs. Fitch. Barker, Scott and Jeroloman.
making any observations. The Mayor broke the
silence by saying:
well. gentlemen, II there is to be a deficit at
partment OF Street Cleaning continued as at
present. something must be done. We must take
action. 1t is apparent that a great deal of
the deficit be traced to legislation which has
tied the hands of the Commissioner in the matter
OF dscharging employees"
Commissioner Warng remarked that the sweep
ers paid 500 year. and that II they reported
for duty in the morning they must be paid for the
day. He had power to lay a off.
The Mayor and Controller Fitch consulted to-
gether The Controller said that the question of
a deficit in the Street Cleaning Department had
already taken his attention. The Mayor suggested
the reference of the whole matter to a special COM
mittee TO examine and report what should be
done at the earliest time possible. This met the
opinion OF the Controller and the other members
OF the Board. and Controller Fitch President
Barker of the Tax Department and President
Jeroloman Of the Board of Aldermen were Sc
lected. The committee will begin work at the
Controllers office tomorrow. The Mayor may
meet with that committee.
THE WALTON CONTRACT
Commissioner waring then drew another type
written paper from his pocket. IL related TO his
contract with Walton for 'scow trimming" and
discussed the possibility OF getting a large amount
Of money out Of the proceeds of the dumps. 1t
was In part follows:
believe that the amount OF valuable waste mat
yer that can be captured at the dumps as CARLOAD
after carload is shot with a cloud OF dust into the
lion OF what might be recovered with better r man
hgement, these valuable waste matters being sought
at their PAGES Of production.
believe that the ashes separated from earbag &c
and rubbish can be sold for more than the cost OF
CORRECTION believe that the garbage, separa ted
from ashes and rubbish be sold for something
dumps ~
IL both OF these beliefs are sustained by expert
ment, the city may then save even the OF
three hundred and odd dollars per day for the Del
ehanty boats
believe that the paper and general rubbish con-
tain material worth more than enough TO nav the
cost OF collection and disposal
This is as far as my official opinion has been al
owed to have weight. As engineer. however, and
IS one who has given certain amount OF study 10
municipal problems. II me that It would
lot be unreasonable to assume that all the matters
elected from me housenods OF our people-a people
With lavish and extravagant habts-rnust contain
things that may be recovered which would be worth
at least one cent per day per head OF population in
OF the cost OF collecting them. BY the time
any system of collection can be perfected. the city