New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-01

a reason for not revoking II. In the mean time
he hopes for thorough discussion Of sprinkling.
and is open to conviction 10 its being unneces-
sary, as the Street Cleaning Department de-
clares 1t to be.
In the mean time horses will continue TO slip
about. automobiles will skid. and the dresses Of
women who must cross the street will be more or
less ruined. There was the usual number of ac
cidents in Fifth-ave. and Broadway yester-
day. Between s and Q o'clock in the morning.
and just after the sprinkler made It's second
round, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Murray
Hill was a most dangerous place. Several cab
horses went down. One unfortunate animal. at
tached to a hansom fell twice within two blocks,
and twice required the services Of a squad Of
police and friendly drivers before he was able
to get to his feet. Fortunately. none Of the
horses which fell broke their legs.
If there has been d general complaint against
the sprinkling of the streets" said Commissioner
Oakley yesterday. 1t has not reached this Of
flee. This department has nothing to do with
the sprinklIug, except to sell water to Hilder-
brant & Byers who operate thirty carts in
rious parts of Manhattan. A permit was issued
to them early IN April. and 1t expires on Novem-
Der To- when the wagons will be taken off the
street.
FOLLOWED HIS Predecessor.
In issuing this permit. followed the example
Of my predecessor in office. There seemed to be
no law directly governing it. The firm applying
for the permit was conf posed of responsible par
ties. and they We're in position to do the work.
I had no idea that street sprinkling not
necessary The fact that the citizens who bene-
flied by the service We're willing to pay for it
seemed to point to its necessity.
Since this permit issued the Board Of AL
sprinklng, requiring all persons engaged in
sprinkng to contract with this department for
their water Next spring. when the matter
comes up again, the contract. or permit Will
probably be given out by public letting. That
is, the firm which makes the highest bid for
city water will receive the contract"
Are you willing to hear arguments from
responsible parties or organizations against
street sprinkling?" the Commissioner was asked
"As the head of the Water Supply Depart
ment would welcome discussion OF the sub
ject." replied the Commissioner. 1T seems TO
me, however. that the question Is for the
Department OF Health TO settle 1t should be
able to decide the necessity of street sprink-
ling or the lack of IT,"
IF the Department of Health should decide
that street sprinkling was unnecessary. or that
the streets could be satisfactorily flushed in
the early morning hours by the Street Clean
ing Department. would you refuse to let street
sprinkling contract next spring." was another
question.
Il do not believe that the ordinance recently
passed is mandatory" said the Commissioner.
1T seems 10 me that it is left to the discretion
OF the Commissioner II the Department OF
Health is opposed to sprinkng, or believes that
the dust problem can be handled In another
way, I will ask the Corporation Counsel for an
opinion and IL the ordinance is not mandatory
will not issue permit"
The ordinance to which Commissioner Oakley
refers was adopted on June rs and approved by
Mayor Mcclellan on July 25. 1t provides that
the parties engaged in sprinkling the streets
contract with the Commissioner of Water Sup
ply and obtain the approval of the President of
the Borough to such contract. but lin no case
shall there be contracted for or used more
water than shall be sufficient thoroughly TO lay
the dust in such streets lanes and highways"
In approving this ordinance the Mayor made
this statement:
am advised that there now exists no proper
legal authority under which the sprinklng of The
nance is designed to and does accomplish the
such authority should exist and such work should
be done seem clear to My opinion, however,
npo gaI the opinion Of the Board Of Health copy
of which is hereto annexed and upon the opin-
numbering in all some four hundred. who have
duly petitiOned that TINS ordinance De approved
BOARD OF HEALTH'S ACTION.
The advisory board Of the Department of
Health acted on the street sprinkling matter
in July, passing resolutions favoring the sprink-
ling of the streets a means OF keeping down
the dust The same resolutions declared for
thorough flushing of the streets. Commissioner
Darlington gave the resolutions the following
personal Endorsement.
1t would seem TO me. from my own knowledge
of the effect Of dust in assisting IN the produc-
ton OF respiratory diseases, that the more the
streets are sprinkled and the more the dust is
laid and removed. the less will be the death
rate due to this form of disease
1t was said yesterday at the Department Of
Health that all the department desired was
that the streets be kept free from dust II the