New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-02
TIE srREET PROBLElL.

The nrpsent strike in which a halt for discus
sion has been called, is the climax of this years
scandalous failure properly to maintain the
cftv's streets First we had the usual exhibition
of the Street Cleaning Departments neglect
TO remove the snow, the system Of removal act
ualIv encouraging the leaving Of the snow on
the streets to he melted by rain or sun. When
the snow was gone the condition of the streets
showed that the cleaning Of them had as usual
been abandoned with the advent OF cold
weather. Then came the revelation of the
shocking condition into which Borough PreSi-
dent Ahearn had permitted the pavemcnts to
get. Here. too it was shown that the city had
no real system Of maintenance. Politics and
favoritism TO contractors fostered neglect. and
there was no adequate inspection by which the
city could keep informed of the wear and tear.
Now we have top of all this strike reveal
ing the failure of discipline in the Street Clean
ing Department. The streets are not cleaned,
their pavement rots and in midsummer the gar
bage collectors feel at liberty to quit work and
expose the city 10 disease.
Such an inquiry as has been conducted in
Mr. Ahearn's office if directed mt Mr.. CravenS
department would probably reveal as great
lack of sys I'm and discipline in cleaning the
streets as in paving them. Their whole up
keep-pavng, repairing. cleaning and removing
refuse dangerous TO health-haS scandalously
failed. We need more than new men in charge
of street maintenance. We need a new system,
a comprehensive unified plan We need il 50
that street cleaners of the future may be unable
10 plead that they cannot keep the streets de
cent because some authority fails to enforce the
law regards the littering of them, another
authority lets them become SO full OF holes that
they cannot be cleaned. and still another au-
thoritr permits them to be encountered and
made private dumping places in defiance of
law. But if instead of the present divided au-
thority and responsibility there should be ere
ated Il single department of streets with full
authority, should still fail to have our
streets in decent condition unless some organ
izer should be vouchsafed TO Us with capacity
enough 10 establish system under which they
could be Kept in repair and cleaned, There
have been reports that committees were 10 be
named by the Mayor 10 90 into this question
Of street maintenance, but we have not heard
their conclusions. if they ever reached any.
The topic will certainly come before the charter
revision commission, and if it succeeds in pro-
vding for the city some sensible, workable syS-
TEN of street maintenance it will accomplish a
municipal wonder.
The conference committee of various civic
bodies in its letter to the Mayor suggests some
immediate reforms, which do not go to the root
of the trouble but which, if effected would be
beneficial. The law against littering the streets
ought to be enforced, and if it were the cost
of cleaning them would be largely reduced. \
few arrests a day would stop much of the de-
Element. That the working force Of the Street
Cleaning Department needs recognizing re-
qures no argument District superintendent
are not held TO sufficient accountability. Sweep
ers are poorly drilled and neglect their work
Up-todate methods and instruments are not in
use. Sweeping was the utmost that could be
done with cobblestOnes flushing IS absolutely
necessary with a smooth. hard surface, from
which fine dirt is easily washed away.