New-York tribune., 1904-10-31
PAYS A PITTANCE TO CITY.
WATER. 1888 4 MONTH.
City Can Revoke Permit to Sprink-
ling Concern Any Time.

Investigation Of the permit which gives a pri-
vate concern the exclusive right to sprinkle the
asphaItsd streets shows that the city will suffer
no financial loss II the permit Is revoked and the
serious danger from slippery pavements re-
moved. It ia almost beyond belief that the ad-
ministration would let this valuable concession
for nothing more than the purchase Of the wsser
used from the city, and that purchase at reduced
rates. The Department OF Water Supply re-
ceives each month 81 1888 from the street sprink-
ling concern, and in return furnishes as much
water as is needed TO keep its danger spreading
carts going.
Early In the spring Commissioner John T.
Oakley OF the Department OF Water Supply,
Gas and Electricity issued permit to Hilder-
brant & Byers. Of No. GA West Twenty-fourth-
st. giving them exclusive sprinkling rights. His
authority for so doing came from the Board OF
Aldermen. which, after public hearing. refused
to turn this important detail Of street cleaning
and maintenance over to the Department OF
Street Cleaning.
A Tribune rel orter unable to get copy
OF the permit contract at the Office OF the De-
partment Of Water Supply on Saturday. Joseph
T. Prendergast secretary Of the department.
outlined the terms OF the agreement and some OF
the reasons for putting the street sprinklng into
the hands OF a private concern.
"a permit was issued to Hilderbrant & Byers
elusive sprinkllng rights. They pay the city
S1.S3S a month for the water used. This
amount was arrived at by computing the
amounts paid In In past years when several
firms were engaged in street sprinkling and
charging them the aggregate average They are
not to use more than q certain amount each
month. and a careful record Is kept
'"TLe old contract which the concern had with
the city ran out in 1902 In past years two
three sprinkling licenses have been Issued
The different concerns were constantly invading
each others territory. causing much confusion
and conflict To avoid this it was deemed ad-
visable to put the sprinkring of the streets OF
Manhattan into the hands OF responsible parties,
Hilderbrant Byers have given a satisfactory
bond to cover their liabilities to the city. and
beyond the collection Of the monthly water bill
the department has nothing to do with It. The
permit is revokable by the Commissioner at any
time. 1t Is not contract for a term Of years.
under which the work was done under previous
administrations"
DIFFERENT NAMES: ONE CONCERN.
Hilderbrant Byers is said to be another way
OF saying the Street Sprinkling Association. the
West Virginia corporation which Major Wood
bury. the Street Cleaning Commissioner has
been lighting so long. The Tribune in recent ar
ticles on this subject has told how the concern
secured special legislation in 1888 giving 1t a
street sprnkling contract for ten years and OF
Its efforts to secure renewal Of the contract
from the Board OF Aldermen.
Tt seems almost beyond belief that the city
should deal out such private snap the work
Of street sprinling has become to a private
concern" declared officer OF the Street Clean
Ing Department yesterday. Laying aside the
question OF the necessity OF sprtnkling-for we
hold that II Is absolutely unnecessary and use
less-it would seem that if such duty could not
be entrusted to a city department it should at
least be subject public competition
Newly Yorkers/had chance yesterday TO notice
the difference between Fifth-ave. and Broadway
sprinkled and the same streets unsprinkled he
sprinkIing carts do not leave the stables or Sun
day and yesterday the asphalt dry for the
first time since the previous Sunday 1t fur
nished ideal footing for horses. and drivers
did not suffer from the constant fear of their
animals stumbling The police on duty at Muir
ray Hill had day Of rest, far falling
horses were concerned. Their troubles will be-
gin again this morning. for the wagons will start
sprinkling before O'Clock, If they follow their
Automobiles appreciated the dry pavement
and ran their machines with confidence they
never feel on week days, when the asphalt is
like a skating rink There was not q single
skidding accident reported 1t ought to be kept
like this every day In the week said officer
OF the Automobile Club of America. he
in upper Ftfth-ave.
NOT DUSTY WHEN DRY.
The few supporters of street sprinkling as
sert that the streets would be Intolerably dusty
il they were sprinkled several times a day.
Yesterday was a windy day. the streets were
especially cleaned for the occasion. vet there
little trouble from dust. The Street
Cleaning Commissioner declares that if the pave
ments are turned over to him exclusively he can
keep them clean a kitchen floor with the
powerful flushing machines which operate from
l TO 3 o'clock in the morning. and leave the
streets dry for traffic.
The complaints against the street srrinkers
by means confined to Fifth and Sixth
aves and middle Broadway From the business
section come frequent complaints. The sprink-
ling cars make their way several times each
day through crowded Nassau-st, Even the strip
OF asphalt In Liberty-st.. between Nassau and
William. does not escape the sprinkling octopus
There is a considerable grade there. and II
never should have been paved in asphalt in the
first place. Heavy wagons going dowuhin get
beyond the control of the drivers and horses.
At least four times in the last six months trucks
have been brought up with a crash against the
walls of the insurance building at Liberty and
William SITS. One team crashed through a heavy
plate glass window at that intersection.