New-York tribune., 1906-10-18
LITTLE DROPSOF WATER
LITTLE GRAINS OF GOLD.
SuIIiUan's Sprinkling Contract
Hangs on Cutting of Hearst.

Annual street sprinking profits estimated at
$4,000 a year the stakes involved in q show
down game between Mayor Mcclellan and Water
Commissioner O'Brien, one side and big Tim
and Little Tim Sullivan, the other side. The
showdown will be Election Night. The sprnk-
ling profits go q firm called Hildebrandt ds
Byers. This firm pays the city S0.666 for six
months OF water from public hydrants. and
the concern collects all 1t from property own
who will pay for the sprinkling OF the streets
This company is known at the City Hall and in
the Department OF Water Supply, Gas and Elec-
trcity as Sullivan company" It is worth noting
in passing that the man who keeps account of the
water used by the company is Water Register NJ
Clarence Padden Big Tim Sullivans lieutenant
in the Water Department
This sprinkltng contract is one OF the most sus-
picious the city has executed The Mayor
probably can abrogate it whenever a yearly term
is up If he wants to- but the Mayor is not war
ranted in doing this unless the city do tho
work now done by the company. bill has been
sent TO Albany four successive years looking to
the transfer Of the sprinkling business to the
Street Cleaning Department In some mysterious
way the bill has been lost in the shuttle each time
Whenever it looked as If the bill would be reported
out OF committee, some influential Senator As
sembyman would step forward and smother 1t.
Senator Grady and Assembly, La Fetra at
tended to the smothering the bills last appear
ance. Mayor Mcclellan favored the bill turning
the sprinklng over to the Street Cleaning Depart
ment, and many Tammany supposed 70
Charles F. Murphy's Assemblyman. AS he had no
particular fondness for the Mayor, It was easy for
MN to lend hand against the bill;
moses IL Byers and Jacob T. Hfdebrandt
the names of the men purportng the street
sprlnkling business Their Office is No. Oh West
-4lh street Their contract with the city calls for
the payment OF Sl0,6o6 for six months
!or street spr4nkIlng purposes, from March Is to
november 20 Their contract expires on November
p 20 OF this year The company has the privilege OF
ming thirty carts not than twice every hour
on al Gays except Sunday. 1t pays the wages OF
TWO city inspectors at So day.
This company has monopoly OF the street sprinh-
4lls business: NO one else get city water for
street sprlnkltng purposea In the last five years
It has done a fourishing business account OF
broken condition of the city Street Clean
ing commissioner Woodbury. last summer needed
water for flushing certain streets. The Sullivan
company objected and ne didn't get it
The approval of the Board OF Aldermen also is
necessary for the carrying OF this work year by
year Here IS where Little Tim shines. Il ia
manic family, that the street sprtnkling can go
on uninterruptedly. He has been very efficient In
taking cars of his work There are plenty OF Re-
publican members who declare that the Hide
brandt-Byers contract Is splendid thing for the
city, as IL costs the taxpayers nothing. and Is
almost wholly paid for by the rich In the purely
residential sections.
Fire Commissioner O'Brien was shifted last week
from the Fire TO the Water department. The Com
missioner has had an eagle eye on the Suivans
since the Buffalo convention He met Little Tim
sullivan one day this week at the City Hall.
w nat are your people going TO do for HeRrst2''
asked Commissioner OBrten.
Little Tim began a pantoTnine OF stroppine
up and down his left arm.
Tim"
Mayor Mcclellan has not asked the sulIivans to
do to Hearst what McCarren is doing to him in
Brooklyn, but every one knows what will hapnen
to that water contract and to Colonel Padden, the
guardian of the hydrants which let the water into
the Sullivan water carts. If Hearst is not we'll
done below 14th street on election night.