New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-16
bnPE POWER TO DIR. WOODBURY.:


As every intelligent citizen knows by this
time or ought 10 know, the business OF sprnk-
ling and sanding the streets is in state OF con
fusion owing to miscalculations and misunder
standings of one sort and another. The Commits
sioner of Street Cleaning. resolute, persistent
ingenious and interchangeable man. earnestly lie
sires to get control of these two details OF mu-
nicipal housekeeping by means of new ieglSla-
ZION. and if his methods of persuasion are as
well adapted to the latitude of Albany as to the
aldermanic chamber he may reasonably nope 10
succeed II is desirable that he should, Tor uhHef
his management the monopoly which he wants
10 establish would be Il public dement,. III
Woodbury. sought to accomplish the same op-
ioct last winter. but the Mayor considered some
provisions of the bill Objectionable and caused
tbe nroiect to be dropped. hut there Will be no
repetition of that mistake this year ana we can
see i'm advance no reason why the legislature
should not acquiescP.
1t is a well attcsted fact that a preliminary
draft of the charter by the advice OF Coione
Waring vested control of sprinklinG ana sand
ing In the Commissioner bur that intended pro
vision was lost in the final shuttle. perhaps not
altogether without design on the part OF some
body However that may he. the charter Is
silent on the subject and the consequence Is
that old methods or no methods at all. are stu
EMPLOYED uncertainty respecting legal obiiga-
lions ana privileges exists. and the people are
the losers. as usual. We have no doubt that llr
Woodbury. would perform both operations ell
GENTLY if he had the requisite authority. and we
hope he will get the opportunity that he covetS
At this time of year the sanding of the streets
which need il Is of particular interest and con
sequence 1t is a painful thing to see the horses
trying to keep their footing on the slopes of
Murray Hill. for example, and making a
CHI III foil u-p Of
TO see one of the poor creatures founderng
about with broken leg. Yet probably humane
persons whom such sight diStresses seldom
stop 10 think how common ii is and how great
a total of misery and loss results. We wish
complete record of such accidents for the last
few days might be published. 1t would not be
pleasant reading. but il would be instructive
1t is believed that paving contractors are bound
to sand the streets at necessary times and places
where unexpired contracts apply. though recent
contracts contain no stipulation to that effect.
But compulsory measures have not YET been
taken. and meanwhile an important requirement
Is largely neglected. Commissioner Woodbury.
has explained that if he had the work TO do ii
would not cost much. because suitable sand is
cheap and on days when it needed TO he done
there would usually he plenty of otherwise I'M
employed carts and men at his disposal.
Under present conditions Murray Hill and
other uptown slopes cause great deal OF
trouble but several of the cross streets leading
10 ferries and filled with heavy traffic are per
haps even harder on horses. though less talked
about. 1t is dscreditahle to the city that an
evil which might easily he reduced to small pro
portions should continue unabated except here
and there in haphaZard way. NewYork is
rich and can well afford to do the work. The
people are sensible and kind hearted. and they
want it done in the proper manner. DIR. Wood
bury asks for the necessary authority. and he
ought TO have it as possible