New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-17
All Condemn Fetherston.

Thomas r. Wheeler president o. the
New Taxicab Company, characterized
the Street Cleaning Department as
frost" saying the condition of the
streets had put the automobile out Of
business, principally because no effort
had been made TO clear cross streets.
Frank Bennett, statistician of the
Public Service Commission, after lis
tening all day TO complaints about traf
tic conditions, said that the situation
was the worst he could recall owing to
the poor work of the street cleaners.
lie thought the railway companies
were doing their best TO get cars run
ming.
Robert Adamson, Fire Commissioner.
said the condition Of the streets was
80 bad that fire apparatu. could not
30 more than two blocks, and even If
it reached a fire most of the hydrants
had been buried in snow. He thought
Fetherston was doing all in his power,
and accepted Fetherston's suggestion
to order the firemen 10 help remedy the
situation.
Another 10 criticise the clogged
streets was Daniel Haston, secretary Of
the Sheffield Farms-Sla wson Decker
Milk Company. He had never seen
the streets in such state, and sato
similar conditions never existed under,
Commissioner Edwards. He said the
milk business was demoralised. and!
that It took wagons two hours and q,
half to travel distance that would or
dinarily take forty-fve minutes.
When asked to comment on tho work,
Of his successor, former Commissioner
Edwards chuckled and replied:
L have absolutely nothing to say. I
am going 70 bed carly. and no telephone
calls for snow removal are going to
get me out. They have my best and
most sincere wishes for success ana
may God speed them"
Fetherston eIanres tho Weather.
Commissioner Fetherston put all the.
blame on the weather-the failure Of a
thaw 10 help his men out. He admitted,
however, that a day had been lost IN
measuring contractors carts. This
measurement he said, was necessary TO
check their claims for payment, which
we're made by the cubic yard.
This feature Of the contracts. he said,
would have 70 be changed TO prevent
this delay, but that nothing could bs
done this year. as the contracts were
let. lie praised the work OF A. r.
Gunther, who was in charge Of IT.
Gunther said no trouble had been
caused by the change Of administra
ton. and agreed with his new chief
that il was entirely due to weather
conditions.
The two way. in which the city va
most seriously affected were the failure
Of the milk and coal supply. Milk
trains were from twelve to thirty-six
hours late, and even when they did get
here the dealers were practically unabl"
20 distribute the milk. The same com
plant was made by the coal dealers, and
apartment dwellers shivered and called
in vain for heat
At the now City Employment IN
change, No. 20 Lafayette street three
hundred men. under the leadership of an
Industrial Workers of the World as
tator. became disgrunticd al delay IN
giving them work and marched 10 the
city Hall in a body 10 complain TO the
Mayor They were dispersed without
difficulty. Meanwhile two hundred
otners who waited at the exchange were
rewarded with Jobs in the Department Of
Bridges at % cents an hour.
| In many sections OF the city surface
car traffic was at a standstill except for