The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-21
MUNICIPAL INEFFICIENCY.
A plan for Cooperation Between CITY
Departmcnta.


To THE EDITOR OF tbs SUN-Sir: Napoleon
Ill, recognizing the advantage OF a re-
sponsible. capable head or administrator OF
municipal affairs. so far as the laying out OF
parks, bOilevards, sewers and other necessary
public works was concerned. conferred on
the late Baron Haussmann plenary powers
of an extraordinary character. the result
being economy, and a system OF parks anu
boulevards unparalleled in modern times. some
OF which. however. disappeared during the
Franco russian campaigns Of 1901, Visitors
to Paris prior 70 those years will remember
those beautiful improvements, and suriclent
Of the mastery work of Baron Haussmann
remainsto immortalize him as a man OF taste.
clear foresight and economy. where the Clty
Beautiful is the desideratum.
Can New York. or for that matter any Of
our American cities. profit by the experiences
of Paris, and can a plan be devised to/centre
in one responsible head such necessary power
and responsibility as will guard e~fectnally
against the present waste. venality and
jobbery that now exist in so many OF our large
cities2
Less than ten years ago, in New York.
when the upper West Side was In a state
Of transition from Goatville conditions to the
more finished state IL is now con-
tractors were laying an asphalt pavement
on a portion Of St. Nicholas avenue. under
the direction Of the Department Of Streets.
For a distance OF several blocks. as rapldiy
as the asphalt pavement was completed a
gas COMPANY followed in less than a week.
tearing up the street again, obstructing
trafio and seriously inconveniencing the
public, already incensed by delays. On in
quiry 1t was ascertained that the contractor
laying the pavement was liable TO a forfeiture
for every day Of delay aftera certain date. and
was hurrying TO complete his contract. The
gas company urged him to permit IL 70
change its mains before the pavement was
laid, and the delay would have been a week
at the furthest. but. Notwithstanding con-
ferences took place between the gas people
the wasteful work went on, either from Ieo
tape, want Of power, or worse reasons
In 1905 the Metropolitan Street RAILWAY
Company, in connecting it's Amsterdam and
Lenox avenue lines. tore up i45th street;
between these avenues, early IN the year ann
for reasons never given or obtainaole; haII
of the street was practically, an open dram.
and for weeks no work was. done on II, Inc
and householder and shOpkeepers alike can
bear witness as TO the dusty, lnconyenlent, ana
evil conditions that existed against when
they had no defence, and from which they ead
no relief for months. Finally the Connecting
line was completed and the roadway put 1T
order.
Early in 1900 the same street was again torn
up from Eighth avenue to st. Nicholas avenue,
the work being carried several blocks ny. the
latter street. Again the same CONDITIONS
existed as the year before. this time the Edison
Illuminating Company being the privileged
pirates. Again INCONVENIENCE ana annoy.
ances existed, for blasting. each time the
street was torn up, was added TO the other
nuisances, often beginning as early ass CLOCK
A. NJ, Finally the people were compelled 10
appeal to the police for enjoyment Of some Of
their rights as American citizens. For about
eight weeks thereafter the street was again
A few days ago October. 1909 a gang Of
Italians appeared on the scene at 5 o'clock
a: NJ. and with pick and shove the merry
sUmed. This time it Is the New York Tele-
phone Company, laying conduits for its
wires, and still the people suffer- the same
The point the writer desires to make is
that under the proper regulation the work
one time. This may be a debatable question
should one refer to the various very intelll-
the municipal affairs Of New York, but in
proof one need only point to the, manner in
which the subway was constructed; The con
ditions in that instance were such that the
departments OF Streets, Parks, Sewers, Gas
and Electricity were compelled willy-nilly TO
combine, work out the scheme OF changes
fully, before the pick and shovel began their
work Of destruction and reconstruction.
The, public. pedestrians. shopkeepers and
passed sleepless nights. but discerning minds
knew that the subway was compieted ahead
Of time, with, after all ia said. a minimum OF
noise. dust and general inconvenience
The question may be asked, What remedy
do Won propose for such conditions as you
nave OuNililtuF ' ~ - WHY Ndog w llniiAV
a suitable answer, especially in the case OF one
IMMERSED In municipal affairs. and yet We all
have our ideas. II is therefore suggested
that in addition 10 the various existing de-
so frequently In collision. now
existing. and not closely related. provision
be made for a central department, TO be known,
we will say, as the Department Of Public
Utility. 10 which other departments shall be
accountable. and with which they shall have
frequent conferences. and TO. which they
must make stated reports. and from which
they must have approval for the opening or
closing of any street for any purpose what
soever. A comprehensive scheme for con-
Quoting public improvements or repairs
would involve a plan under which every rom
pany enjoying a public franchise would be
compelled to file plans. weeks in advance,
OF their purposes and wishes, with the Conn
missioner of Public Utility. who would in
turn take up the questions involved with the
Departments interested.
Possibly in orr city another Baron Hauss-
mann can be found who would stamD upon
our modern American civilization his own
intelligent individuality, having a due re-
gard for the rights Of the public. whose nerves,
health and right to the enjoyment and pursuit
OF happiness are now at the mercy Of the
whims and sordid avarice Of every corpora
tiOn or contractor commit ng. under the
protection of the law, as real acts of piracy
as were ever committed by MORGAN or LATTE
in southern seas. EoR r. MORSE.
New YORK, October 10.