The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-05
G Commissioner Fetherston Has Pre-
sented to Board Of Estimate Plans
for a Radical Change in
Methods and Equipment

ANY such model district" says Com
missioner Fetherston, should contain
all classes OF population representative
OF general city conditions rather than
Of any special class OF buildings, and
this district does contain such mixed
classes OF buildings, with a preponder-
ance of tenement houses"
In speaking OF the attention the city
gives to the lower East Side the Com
missioner calls attention to the fact
that the Department OF Street Clean
ing has practically twice as many men
working in the congested districts as
in the residential sections. and also that
the proposed model district contains a
typical congested area. The plan for
this district will obvlate such nuisances
as the open refuse receptacle. the open
collection cart and the open water
front dump. and in the one district
alone should save the city over $500
a year. Commissioner Fetherston says:
II propose to benefit living conditions
not only in this district but eventually
in all districts Of the city. hope to
secure the necessary funds from the
Board OF Estimate and Apportionment
to demonstrate that the work can be
done economically and to the satisfac-
ton Of the community"
The expenditure OF 1888. 900 for the
installation OF modern equipment in this
one street cleaning district OF the Bor-
ough OF Manhattan will result in ad-
vantages described In the report OF the
Street Cleaning Department as follows:
An annual saving to the city OF
s54342
Department property valued at $780,
600 returned to the city for sale or
other uses.
The elimination OF the nuisance and
menace TO health in the district, re-
sulting from the open refuse can, the
open collection cart and the open water
front dump.
The thorough cleansing Of each stree,
in the district by machine washing,
scrubbing or sweeping.
The maintenance OF open streets free
for traffic at al. times during snow
storms by machine snow sweepers.
1t is reported that "a per cent. of the
employees in the Department OF Street
Cleaning have been charged with vio-
lating the rules OF the service. The
Deputy Commissioners in the three bor-
oughs Of Manhattan. Brooklyn and The
Bronx have heard / 655 charges and lie
employees have been dismissed during
the last four months and a half under
the old regulations.
TN a properly managed organization
no such condition should exist" says
Commissioner Fetherston. land the con-
trast leaves no doubt OF the deplor
able status OF the department with re-
spect to the management Of its per-
sonnet under old regulations. Soon
after the first OF the year grievances
flooded the mails, many we'll founded.
others based upon fancies drawn. To
rectify this situation and establish a
new and helpful spirit of obedience.
confidence and esprit de corps was one
Of the FIRST duties OF this administra-
ton"
The Street Cleaning Department has
Instituted a novel plan to control in
justice and favoritism among its en-
ployees. The innovation is described
in the report as follows:
Commissioner Fetherston will be at
home on Fridays, from 4:30 to P, M,
10 hear grievances which any member
OF the force desires to call to his at
tention."
In order 10 bring about real coopera-
| ton among department employees the
Commissioner has appointed twenty one