New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-05
FOR SPRINKLING BILL.
Organizations Push Measure to GiOe
City Care of Streets.

When the bill providing for sprinking and
sanding the streets of New-York which was
carefully drawn by Corporation Counsel Delany,
at the request of Mayor Mcclellan. comes before
the legislature shortly a determined effort will
be made to obtain it's passage For four or five
years this bill has come before every legislature,
only to meet defeat or to die a lingering death
IN the committee room. The influences that
have worked against 1t most powerful as
might be expected when one realizes the enor-
NOUS profits that accrue from the private sprnk
ling monopoly which operates here in the
spring, summer and fall months
II sanding and flushing alone were involved
the bill would go through without comment. II
is the sprinkling clause that really counts and
there the trouble comes. If the Commissioner Of
Street Cleaning gets control Of the sprinkling
Hilderbrant & Byers will have 10 go out OF
business or work for the city under the Com
missioner's direction on a moderate contract.
The passage of the bill will do away with the
indirect form of taxation which the collectors
for the sprinkling company now levy.
poll of the legislature, which has been taken
by friends OF the bill, shows that it Will pass In
the Assembly without question. There is a fear
that the Senators will rally 10 its support,
however. and that the bill Will again fail there.
One Republican Senator of prominence is work.
ing quietly against the BILL while the Tammany
Senators usually vote against it. Considerable
pressure will be brought TO bear the Senate
in the next few weeks by the various organiza-
tions which are committed to push the measure.
Senator Prentice has agreed to introduce IL in
the Senate and will lead the fight for its pas
sage.
Among the organizations which have Joined 10
fight for this bill are the Merchants Association
the West End Association, the City Club. the
Transportation Club, the Automobile Club Of
America and the Society for the Prevention OF
Cruelty to Animals The Merchants Association.
through its legislative committee, is prepared 10
make hard fight for the bill
The legislative committee of the City CLUB
and the trustees of that organization have be-
gun an active campaign for the bill. Laurence
WELLER, secretary of the City Club. has recently
sent letter to Senators and Assemblymen So
Letting their support. His letter reads in part:
write you on behalf of the legislation
rnttee of the City Club. and also on behalf OF
the trustees of this organization, to express our
hearty approval of the above mentioned bill
This bill gives TO the Street Cleaning Commits
sioner of the city of New-YOrk Jurisdiction OF
sprnkling sanding and flushing of streets. At
the present time this service is performed by a
private corporation, organized in the State Of
Virginia, which makes contracts with the prop
erty owners on the various streets TO sprinkle
in front of their property for a certain consid
GRAFTON each month. This is unquestionably
municipal function and one which should not De
delegated to a private corporation. Owing to
the careless way in which the streets are sprin-
killed., irrespective OF the atmospheric conditions
which exist, there are many serious accidents
10 horses on account Of slipping on the wet
asphalt and also because OF the skidding of au
tomobiles for the same reason.
This measure IS that Is desired by all per-
sons owning either horses automobiles in the
city Of New-York. 1t is measure distinctly in
the public interest, and l understand it is ap
proved by a number of civic organizations.
respectfully request that a hearing be given
upon this bill at early date, and that the bill
be favorably reported by the Committee on
Cities.
S Carman Harriet of No. 81 West 39th-st.. is
another ardent supporter of the Street Sprinklins
bill He said yesterday TO a Tribune reporter:
The work of sprinkling, flushing and sanding
the streets Of this great city should he under
the absolute control of the Commissioner OF
Street Cleaning. II has been attempted by CIV
ing certain privileges 10 a private corporation
which charged a tax. If one did not comply
he did not receive the service, parts of the
city were neglected and never watered. If the
landlords of buildings. apartments. fats or tene-
ment houses refused 10 pay the fee the fronts
of their premises were passed over. This old
toll gate principle is out OF date. The sprink-
ling sanding and flushing OF the streets are as
important as their sweeping. Simply brushing
the streets without washing them is not sufh-
cient. The extra expense should not be con-
sidered, for the welfare OF all is concerned.