New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-09
CITY A SEA OF SLUSH.
BIG FORCE NOW At WORK.
Taking Advantage of ThGsO-OH
Methods Blamed.

There was q remarkable scene OF activity n the
lower section OF the city about o'clock last even
ing, when white coated men and men with any old
coats on Gheir backs swarmed upon the streets
among the teams and the people This was the
night squad OF the Street Cleaning Department
with hurry orders. the department being de-
termined 70 take advantage Of the condition OF the
snow. half melted slushy. before the temperature
might fall At night IS the only time that the de-
partnnent get IN telling work. for then the
streets are practically clear OF teams. and the
refuse. whether snow Of Just unadU!terated dirt
can be gathered up in half the time that would be
consumed during business hours. While re-
porter OF The Tribune in the once OF the snow
plants from merchants and others were coming
IN thick and fast These complaints were 50
numerous that the gub-inspectors were almost de-
barred from making their reports.
I'VE cannot blame these people for kicking,
said an assistant inspector IN the Office. The con-
6itions are such that wooden man would object
But what can we Go about It? As soon az we
opened our eyes this morning We sent hurry orders
20 ali contractors to 60 over yesterdays WORK 70
employ extra men. and 70 hustle for dear NE
But what can they DO about lit Take one Of the
cross streets above 60th from Fifth 10 seventh
avenue There are at least seven hundred loads to
be removed from one street alone To the general
public it looks as II no impression whatever was
being made end yet the snow is being got out OF
the way quickly possible.
Take the first district which embraces the
region from Canal the west and Chambers on
the east side down 20 the Battery. There VII be
large force at work there tonight cleaning the
cutters and piling the snow and slush into heaps
which viii be carted away before morning The
contractors viii also be there tonight. How
among the vast number Of teams and pedestrians
could anything effective have been done before
nightfall? Impossible.
The fact OF the matter IS that so long as We
have the present primitive method OF cleaning the
streets there VIII always be complaints II old
Peter stuyvesant had the streets o. New Am
Eterdam cleaned during the winter he employed
q cutters The abutang properly I~Iie W. % coTS
sees OF property are supposea 70 % ms " , Coz
tiers. who il turn hanos the complaint to the Cor
cases 81 rroseettion been heard OF recently? And
among the most emphatic klcAers are 4eGCna rs
who are violating the law every day. were ne
cutters adequately cleaned heavy thaw Woula
Al tie Office Of the Corporation Counsel It was
said that the records Of eonteplated prosecutions
ticuaTly concerned about The new snowfall. and the
oo for that mater II pTeGlcIs an eRlee1I -i ne
that 50 long as the temperature OF the snow neaPs
poEnfoSn yesterday and on the PRINCIPAL thor
streets was almost indescribable, There were seas
q mud az the way 70 tre Battery, snG ne Iea5
Epattered pedestrians It was impossible to escape
ge92 s5a q stunt into the %as 6 81 3 the h 3
staining II beyond the power OF the brush 10 re-
II was generally pool which covered the shoes to
near the tops with its Shiny layer. Sidewalks be-
fore noon were reeking. the buildings oTipped as II
sitter a rain s9ual, but so used are New Workers
70 this sort Of thing that the severest nlucy acct
dent caused & sort Of doleful smile, and very sell
dom was an epithet forthcoming.
AT the Street Cleaning Department there was
air Of sullen despair. AL remarks were 7refaced
81 We cannot control the elements-' There Is no
doubt II said there, that the conditions con-
fronting the department the worst IN years.
Contractors have been working their men to the
limit. with apparent results. when down
where they The uniformly cold weather dur
ing the last month, while handicap to the depart
Ynent and the contractors has STAYED of cpl
demic. There IS an increase of pneumonia, but not
enough OF an increase 10 constitute epidemic.
While thaw wiz put different phase on matters
REGARDING the health OF citizens, the time
If viii 50 aid the street cleaners that the menace
% health VIII be removed IL z short time.