New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-31
CRAVEN:STREETS CLEAN
CITIZENS: THEY'RE NOT.
Many Disagree scith Commissioner
Ne1C Methods Planned.

Commissioner Craven Of the street Cleaning De-
partment said yesterday that the streets or TINS
city were as clean they ever were nc this sea-
son Of the year. and in his opinion cleaner and
added that any person who said they were not
clean was laboring under a mistake He contend
ed that the department now working under
increased difficulties. for which the citizens who
are most prone to criticize 1t largely respon-
sible
1T is becoming more difficult for the Street
Cleaning Department to satisfy the citizens OF
New York" said the commissioner. because the
people have become more exacting and at the same
time less careful to obey the laws pertaining to
the streets"
The streets were at their worst. he said. imme-
oately after the snow period being then filled with
the accumulatons OF the winter season. which had
10 De removed by a special cleaning up. He said
that after the snow disappeared he put TO work
about thousand extra men, with eighty extra
trucks and hundred extra horses. This force
was laid off on the 25th OF the month. as the
commissioners said he did not think # was needed
any longer
There are very few complaints coming in now"
continued the commissioner. although during the
snow season there were good many. The last
winter the department had the heaviest work In
Its history in the matter of snow removal. 1t was
90 per cent heavier than that OF the previous heavy
record. twelve years ago.
He said he could not estimate the cost OF the
snow removal for this year exactly but thought
It would be about s. 100000
The commissioner is considering n new system
OF flushing the streets by the use of flushing trucks
which he believes will be twice as effective the
present method. These trucks are equipped with
compressed air tanks and water Is sprayed from
them onto the streets under pressure in a direction
at right angles 60 the direction OF the truck
making sort OF water broom which sweeps the
street from the centre to the curb. He said these
trucks had been used in many cities of this coun-
try with success. and that two or three OF them
had been tried in this city with good results. With
nve hundred six hundred OF these trucks, the
commissioner sald Il would be possible TO flush all
the streets of the city often as necessary. He
said tho system would be rather more expensive
than the present one. ana that he did not want
TO install it unless he could do It thoroughly.
Colonel Alfred Wagstaf. president of the Society
for the Prevention Of Cruelty TO Animals does not
agree with Commissioner Craven's statement as to
the present condition of the streets, He said yes
terday that they We're disgrace to the city and
fun of bumps and hollOws but that they were alb
solutely unsafe and menace 20 horses and drivers
the Automobile Club OF America in us fight for bet
ter conditions. and It is understood that the Ques
committee OF the club
The Washington Square Association, which was
trying TO better the condition Of the streets al.
though 1t Is cCnfnng it's efforts At present to the
TON Square IN a statement Just issued the assoc
citation that che present administration OF the
city government IN everything which concerns the
streets appears TO be bad and weak.
Any resident OF Washington Square may become
a membe: and the association win undertake 20
press any Just complaints. The association does
not confne itself to streets however but purposes
according TO the statement ITO persuade. and per-
haps coerce. the authorities to more vigorous
forcement OF the laws and ordinances affecting the
city" II announces that IL does not propose any
FOR the present at least ITO endeavoring 20 induce
the officials perform the plain duties In front OF
their eyes or under their noses. which they now