Year: 1869

Our City is under contract with James r.
Whiting for cleaning its streets in specified
manner for $4S0,OO0 per annum. He has cleaned
them for years. quite as well as they were
previously cleaned at a larger cost though not
so well Eve think) as he covenanted to do and
should have done We have repeatedly found
fault with his work, but never yet saw an
opportunity for getting it better done at so
moderate a cost.


Last Winter, an utterly abominable Tax
Levy was rushed through the Legislature
without consideration or examination, which
contained this among other atrocious provisions:


H. Upon the failure OF performances OF the exist
ing contract for cleaning the streets OF the city OF New
York made pursuant 10 section one chapter 646 OF tue
laws OF 1865 upon the Mayor Recorder Controller
Corporation or majority Of them, declaring the said
contract to be annued the Mayor. Conttroiier, and
shall proceed Ia make new contract thereiOf Tor sum
not exceeding ssOOOo per aiul, anu TOT tr no.
in their Judgment the proper cleaning OF the streets ave
yenence shall demand such contract also require
removal OF the and ice from Broadway ana the
without delay and authorize and require the deposit Of
the same the North East River both at such con-
yenent places as tho said Commissioners shall designate


The SAID commissioners shall advertise for sealed pro
posals said contract In four OF the daily newspapers
printed and published in the City OF NewYork, and the
contract shall be Grorded 10 the person or persons rhose
proposals shall ia NE judgment OF me sdd COMMISSIONERS
or djOriy Of them. The most effective SeTUice, ana
SHAH be most advantageous he public interests; and In
case ptance OF any OF the proposals shOuo ap
pear 10 majority Of such Commissioners not for the
public interests the said Commissioners, or majority OF
thom may readyertse for proposals. but no contract
shall bc awarded except days previous adver


sement as aforesaid and the lowest bidder or bidders
for the same whose qualifications aud snretles shall IN
the Judgment Of the said Commissioners or majority OF
them be most advantageous for the public interest


sEcn2. Untsuch contract shall be made the SAID
the Mayor Controller and street CoinnIsSi9ner o. "a
majority Of thcrn are hereby authorized ahd ureceu 70
remove the snow and ice from Broadway, and 10
horze and require such and ice 10 be deposited In
the adjacent rivers such convenient points as they
snail designate aud TO perform such additional work
they shall consider necessary beyond that required Dy
the said existing % & 10 Hgep eapn t1V nt there
shall expended In pursuance OF this section, IN any
one year, total sum exceeding sloo'O0


In pursuance of this last section, we under
stand that contract was made with person
who is clerk to Mr.. Supervisor-Senator-S Street
Commissioner Tweed, whereby he has received
and is to receive 100000 for removing snow
from Broadway the past Winter; when the
actual cost of the work must be less than
S25, 900.


Now movement is on foot TO oust Judge
Whiting and give "the Ring" $750,OOO for
doing the work no better than he does it, II so
well. This is simply raid on the City for
S250,000 "clear steal"


We earnestly call the attention of the Legis-
Iatnre to this matter. and urge that the Tax
Low he not passed without clause expressly
recurring that, if the street cleaning shall be
taken from Judge Whiting, it shall be given to
the lowest bidder who proffers the requisite
security. Do not let this fail on any cOnsdera-
ton for, if you do, the S2j0,000 per annum are
gone beyond redemption.