The New York Herald Newspaper, February 5, 1856, Page 2

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL. MAYOR WOOD'S MESSAGE. end Plers—Foreign Orininals and Peapers Sanitary Condision of the Oicy—impreve- mente om the faland—The Pullec=Strest @penmge—Public Maruets—Tax Callections —Croten Water—Cenurel Purk—Hew Ony ae, oe BOARD OF ALDERMEN. ‘The President in the obair. ‘WHT DON’T THK BOARD OF BUPERVIORS mmr? AMeress CLaxcey made few remarks’ in introducing Me following resolutions, which he presented at the last ‘meeting of tne Board of Alcermen, but which, for some genson or other, were mot read :— ‘Whereas, on the 1@th day of Januery, 1856, the Board of & date, aud oy theatatute they canng; be eonvered ‘ogetue: c amajority of ail thoes elected (being th.veen, mieten. pv noeer gil llipe ORR S Bes bean prevented to Sapercicors Barker, Gorwiny Fox, of the Board of Supervisors on Monday max, the 1866; avd, ‘the Bu; named above have eli re- sign any for a meeting, thus sy ection ‘the public cresitors from recei their de- the city, and entirely stoppivg all business in from oviag transacved— be, and Baqwested to call a special meeting of the Beers om Meniay, Feoruary 4, 1800, at four o/chck ‘The Arprauan of the Seventeenth ward referred to the ‘astiele which appeared in the Hmnwp this Monday) morning, introducing the above resolutions, ar¢ he oon- | £ LW l Alderman CLancry replied to the gestleman (Alderman My), who, be said assumed to be President of the Board ef Bupervisors, and thought thas ii he bad referred tu the wevised statutes be would find toat the Board of Saper- Winors was composed of the members of the Board of MBsernen, ihe Mayor and the tec rder. At the attempt- 0@ organization of the Ward of Supervisors, neither the Mayer nor Recorder, two component parts, were presen’; hho (AWerman C.) bad protested against ita organization ‘wader those circumstances, and left the Board, refasing te vote. He therefore contended that that Board was net reperly organized, and that the Akerman of the Seven- ‘teenth ward (Ely), who ciaimed to be the Presideat, was ‘wet legally voted to that position. He (Alderman C.) ¢id met recegnize Alderman Ely as Presicent of that Bosri, ‘ead until the Mayor cr tecorder met the members of the Board of Aldermen, for the purpose of organizing a Board @t Sepervisors, he contended there waa no Board of Sa- Pervisors, no President and no Clerk of the Board of Bupervisors. He (Alderman Clancey) had ia his posses- flon s document, signed by twelve democratic memvers @f the Board, calling a meeting of the Supervisors; and ir there wae ove whig or Know Nothing woo desired that hat Board shoula meet, let him cove up and siga ths @eB, and the Mayor and Recorder will be kere w-mor- pew, aud the Bosrd could meet and p:oceed to bastue- The Alderman of the Seveateenth made some furtac: @beerva icns, and offered the following substitate fur Aigerman’s Clancey’s resola ions Resolved, That in the opinion of thi: Board the Mayor ane Kecorcer shoud be relisred trom the duty of Su,er- visors; and we request the Hon. the Leguilatare teanead ve of the Bevined Statutes, 4th edition, page 684, by striking out the words “Mayor Recorder and——” Alderman Tccese thought tast the Board of Supervis- ams should be so organizeo as t de able to proceed to ‘Wuslvens without (be stuyor and Recorder. Alcerman HERRICK reid \hat the atvendance of the Meyor exo Recosder could be well dispensed with aud Ibe hopea the »exoiu ion of the Alderman of the Sevea- teerth wWoule be adoptea. Alderman Vooniis gave as his reason for not voting for the Mayor for Previceat of the Board of Supervisors that the jor bad broken his word with him in stating that he was not “a party man,” aud subsequently showing ‘Ghat he was, by the nominations he mace tw eertain cum- mattees. The sudstitute of the Aljerman of the Seventeen ih was @arried by a vote of i] to 10 NOMINATIONS BY THE STREET COMMISSIONER. ‘The Street Commimsiouer (Joseph S. Taytor) sent in a sommunication, nowinsting Jacob F. Oatley for A-ses- Pari ~ place of Chas. J. Dodge. Contirmed by a vote to 3. William A. Dooley, aiso as Assessor, in the} room of iam ge. Contirmed by & similar vore. Rufus E. Crane, as superinvendent of Wharves, Piers end Slips, in place of Rovert aarle, Confirmed by a yore of 19 to 2. TUM NOMINATIONS BY THE COMMISSIONER OF REPAIRS AND BUP- ‘The nomination of Alexander Ward as Superintendeat et Roads, in place of Thomas Sta r, was confirmed. Henry C. Willis, Sapyrintendent of Pavement, ia place ef Samue Radciiffe, was confirmed unanimoasly. MESSAGE PROM KIS LONOR THE MAYOR. The following messoge wes received from the Mayor, at ‘fhe sitting of the board, but owing to the want of cour- fesy which bas been ia‘cly manifested towards the chief mogixtraie of the city, 1: was not presented to the meet- dng uctil the Board was about to adjourn, at 8 o'clock: — Mayor's Ovrics, New Yonx, Feb. 4, 1856, Serre oy Tux Coumox Covxcu:— ” , On the Tth ult., [had the honor to address to you for @omsideration, seme general remarks touching the two Breat elements of our subsistence as a firat class commu- nity, viz.: Commerce and Form of Government. Upon that occasion I endeavored to call your attention to the mecesrity ot legislation in keeping witn our great in‘- rests, and with the important position, now and Prospective, which as a people, the citizens of this metro- polis were entitled to. 1 now propose in connection & feference to subjee s more in detail and pointing out More specifically in what this legislation shouli consist. ‘The subjects embraced in that message as well aa in this @emmucication, upon which you are precladed from act dug ander the Charter, and which more properly belong to ibe Legislature, you wid cf courre, if concurring with me, re‘ er to that body for consideration. It is quite pro- beable that the v: it mecessi'y fur farther smendmenw the Charter of City will force itself upon the Leg's- lature at an carly day, and I suggest that measures oe ry you to call aitemtion to the glaring detects, ofore a juded to by me. tha’ these may be remedied im any siterations which may be adopted. The other 10- pptos, however, whion are clearly within your provin:s to act upon, I hope will not be iaia over tor lesser subjects, ba ey pesos ap ale ig the past year, in pursuance of my duty under he Chai ter, [addressed several summands tole Coummon more Poinung out abuses, srving information ‘ene proposing matter for legislation, which were ey without notice, much less discussion and Sion: involved wrens ros mach importance, great subjests of. taxation, the punlis ity and safety. It will be om wo tions here. It is suffictent them, a» of file om the records of tue Common as demanding at your hands that notice which they failed to elicit from your predecessors? Per- amit me to ask that they may be called up and referred to ‘appropriate committees, that euch of them as may be doomed worthy may be passed into orcinances. Th nepees or the pate Siemens has not been improv «i dari last year. 1 capnot find reduction of exyenc @urer in any of the depar'ments. The same haste to get ria of every Goliar appropriated, and, if possible, to ere- mee the necestity for additional appropriations, has been apparent in every bureau, with but two or thres highly arecitable exceptions. This has been the practice under my own eyon; and thougn Mayor, and, ostensibly, (! Executive, i bave not the power to prevent it. My office, whieh, im its sathority, should be the stronge-t, is smong the weakest. The commirsioners and heads of tthe several bureau, are independent, aod only #0 far co- y me as may anit their own interes’s In one instance, when maxing the shameful of money by one of the departments 9. Jeet of complaint vo the Common Counaii, no notice what- ‘ever was taken of it, except to abuse the Mayor for inter ference with the business snd soveregn ‘tives of an independent department of preroge the city go- wernment, The same reckless expenditare goes ‘on still. When, on the lith January, 1856, I oniled at tention to the fact that the amount ralsei by taxa {Birdnaliy risen trom $1 066,813 66 {a 1644, 886 07, im 1864, with a yet turtver increase ut ,000’ for 1865—the people were astounded. alked resolateiy, while staggering under the heavy hich official prottigacy had piaced upoa their what will they now tiok of the pronpest be- when called apon ise for the present year of dollars. ’ siyretsttt i xeoed that of any preceding cannot be properly ch: bie it by the State in pursuance of (om an aseeasment fs required of the assessed valuation of the commencing on the lst of Ve toe 30th September, 1856, ates at 747 84. Ano- the anpport o’ Free Schoois IO gener) of tue $800,000, collected Portion of which will be this ay total of $780,387 24 to o@ oity for the benefit of our brothrea countion. Heretofore we have paid om this last 'y about $81,000, which maxe: tne increased re- this year amount to nearly 6700,000-—« very to the taxation of the afty. The Board of , 86 well as the Governors of the Almshoue, asked largely imereased appropriations, and may be said of every other department of the ment which bas the disbursement of public any extent. As the Comptrolter, to whom tae Ot public finances more expecially belongs, ant care the whole subject ~y be eatety entrusted, securing the interests of the yeopte are con- ‘has promised to present to you soon a tull view lon of the debt and obligations of the elty— torbear at this time to go vsion. a and prospective_I t 1eoeth into it ih la presented the usual annual statements of eal conditions They present but trifling com- ive diferenoe irom elione ot the year Preceding:— NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1856. li = ant ssssssessss pe ee. eerorsoseee a + 13 2 &8z Payable. 6 per cent...B. 1. stoex, No. 2 ..Feb 1, 1856. $50,000 00 b percent. .P. B. scoox, No. 8,..1857 vo 1666, 500,000 00 5 per cent, Sth for a’ks & etips. 1867 to 1876. 5600 000 00 6 per eent..P. education stock... May 1, 1873..154.000 00 Total amount of tunceddebt, Jam. 1 1856.$1,204,000 00 —whreh 19 an increase, a8 compares with the amount of funded debs, January 1, 1855, of $50,000. i The interest om the foregoing store, both of the per- manent snd fended “eb, iy paid from ‘* the sinkiag fund, for the payment of interest on th- city deds.’” OUR DEFENGE. “In time of peace for war,’’ was the advice of aman who cemdined 10 an extravrdinary dogsee the us'ifics'ions cf @ patrict, soldier and raterman, We should beed berate ye ‘act adopt it with reve- Fence ano ebecience. is peeadiarly sppiicabie at .be present ime to "his city. Our géozrapbios! p sition and cor mereia! impo: tance would make thiy the apot avou Woich woula be concentrated the bo dest effort and most effective power at the command of anenemy. New York G7 all Atlante porta, wou d be the onjeu; of s:tacm oy nee or land. yew during the late war with Great Brite:n, when cur cap ure would have ben of triflfng compara: tive national consequence, we were the special orjuc: of British vengeacce, which invende’ ‘or us the att-ck which wap afterwarce mace upon Washington city, 1a jcult to oonceive that spy n.ties wi) sufli- ¢ force snd milita'y prowess wo andertake jugation, would not make this elty tae g:eat point to whica would be direcied » concentra od effort. 08 4 is well to remem er ‘hy sdviee of the “ Fut! his Country, and prepare for war im time of It is true that Yors nas not been lef unprotected. She ts far frow being en'ire y expoet. Natary, and t cons:rastion of many well placed works, uhake ber even Row, one of the strungholie of America, There is macy error ip the public mind regarding ber present defences. She} as already is position more guns of heavy aulbre than Senastopel bad a: the atvack of the ated armies or thao Crenstact hae a; this time, But yer there iy more to be seo mplirhe: necessary to a complete defence. Muco :ematux to be done am the way of protection ead Preven ion from asrauli by the erection of wares of & ye- Guhar characte: 4 in certain posi iona To shis sanject I bave given sme thoug' vand investigaiion. Deemtog it my duty, and oontewplstiog ap allusion tod in ibis communication. | have bad recourse wo the sdvice of ex- pevienced and #kiltu! officers, whose know © ge of muita Ty affeirs is jinied tw the utmo-t coafidenc. Majir General Sandford, whose ic an¢ postion great weight to his suggeswens farni:hed valuable Memoranda, in whien Lieutenant General Soott fully coa- curs. In the jncgment ot rhese geptiemen, the sp- reaches to the eiy of New Yok 2y the Nacrows or org is.ana Seand, are capable of bemg thorzugily and successfully detenced. Nature haa cone quan ‘or as, and ‘he principal points of defence have beea skilfu ly occupi+d by the engineer depariment of the gececa! g>- vernment. ibe batteries at he Narrews, with the addi ti-nal works erected at tbe sou heest pornt«t staten Injano, at the period of the Oregon cont oversy, under the direction of that atoompliche1 offieer, Cobsa-i Lee. of the United States Engineers, eould be »predily put in » cont ition to rexderjthst pase, if wei! manne, too hazsrd- ous for any force to attempt espectsily wnen aited by sneh tamporssy floating catienss as we could Gt up by the use of river steamereard other eraft, were: gthered with timber an¢ mounted with gans of large eali ore. General Sandfora shince that in addttien ta the de- fencer at the Nariowr, the evtrance tthe outer bay by the main end Ge iney’schanves should be provecied by Srtromg battery ugim Flyen’s Knoll, or tue Souvhwest Spit and tbe atiention of the general goveromen: shoaia be orsen to this subjec:, as such a work cannot be © on- structed in ime of w: The adwirable wo Throg’s Poiot, with such em porary batteries a» oouid be eres ed at Hurl Gate. wita the na ural difficulties of that pass, w uld preveot any approach in that direction; ow’ tne impurtanee cf nav: ing surveys and plans made under the dirsetion of tae United States Lngiceer Devartweat is suggested (euila it can be cone with due examication and. delive-ation,) ‘and copies ceposized here, aa well a- at Washingtaa, ct such temporary batteries at Hurl Gote as would enadle us to avai) ourselves in the dest manner cf the local ad- Yantages of the pass. The most important point of our defenoes, however, still remains to be considered. Ia the event of a war with England, ber immvane mariay of armed steamers enc travsports could ¢ mecacrace a Ber. muds and Helifox, and land upon the south sice of Long Inland # sufficier force to c:oxs the island ana take p>s- — of the heights opposite to New York io a few jours. It 18 pow s mstter of bistory that this plan was actual- ly matured by the British government during the war of 1812, and would have bem sttemp'ed bat for the erec- tion of @ line of cefences from Fo t Greea to Buttermilk Channel, under the direction of General Swift, avd the call of twen y five thousand of the militia of the 5 ate ia- to service, under the orders of Guv«rnor Tompkins The force cestined for this ve-vice afterwards attacked Wash- ington ano Bal:!more, sod subsequently was defeated by General Jackson, at New Orl-ana. Our revolutionary @istory aso reminds us of the land ing of the British arug st Gravevend Ray, and of the au- successiul reristance @ thei’ spproach made by Putnam and Lord BS irling, (who were in command ¢ uring the sich- ness of General Greene.) in consequence of their want of knowledge of the topography of the coumtry they were called upon to defend. But now the immense steam nary of England could en able ber to land fifty thousano troops om Long Islaud with more ease and certainty then in 1814 she coud land ten thousand. And the line of de‘ences which we tnen threw up and cccupied, is now covered by the city of Brookiyn; and in cace of avy simiaremergency we mast occupy @ more dis.unt and consequently more ex'eoded line of circumva la<ion, embracing the hills be:ween Brocklyn and Jamaica, snd resting upon Fort H-milten on the right, and Newtows Creek on Jefe. Sueb a ‘ine —— carefu), ceiive-ate and rkiifal bx- amination, and should from its importance and ex’ens be protected by a few permanent works om ita most con- spicvous, apd commanding points; and with ttese ad. vantages, and the intermeciate breastworks and :empo- rary batteries, would epave our militia toresiat wish confidence the veterans of the Crimea, as their anocat: rr ti the Veterans of the Peninsula is therefore only to provide the required exterior line of protection nd the batteries ana other works referred to. So far as the pertonnel required for resistance is concerned, no city ean surpsne usia the ne- cegsary material frogs which to make soldiers. We boast, with suficlent groubds, of some of the best disciplinec miitia corps in B; nor ts it aoon the regu lar mii'tia compasies alone that we would rely at the botr of need. Our almost courtiesa ta get compa nies, fire companies, etc., made up of brave and noble men, who know not fear, and mever shrink from duty would present such an obstac.e to the entrance of an ene- .™Y, that even the aliie: armies of Franse and Engisod ‘would have good cause to nesitate be’ore a tacking. It fs with no vain be that I aeserc tha no ci'y hee within itself a popuia‘ion which, at suca a time, woud evince a more military spirit, D>th as to obedience of or- ders or fearlessness of execution. It would rally to tae defence of this metropolis with successful force, and act As one man, regardless of seet, nativity or party. New York, when united, is irresistible, and at euch a Ume no human power could divire it. . THE DOCKR AND PIERS. Our indifference to ocmume’eiai progress is evinced in — tban in the neglect to provive proper doca- age. We prevert s singular contras., in this respect to every other seaport of any magnitade, know to ancient or modern commerce. The quays and docks of Loadou, Liverpool, and incee’ nearly a’) of the Eng ish ports, are first claes; and even our Canadian neighbors excel us ia ei po St. Pet } ia Ro there is one granite pier of four miles in extent. At Havre, wo devas are'the principal structures of impor tangs, having cost immense sums, and are justly the pride of itsci inns. [mesc, there ts net s ex‘y of Europe, posseasiog navigation, Which does not surpass us io the nece #ary provi ion for the proper convenience and pro ec lon of i'# shi sping. In e Mequence of the almont enitee depeacenoe cf this city, cireetly or indirectly, upon ita shipping and navigs- tion, the neglect we have -howo to these iaveresta {i aa Surprising as it is suggestive of our inattention to oac own welisre In our practice heretefire, ia con- struction of docks ani piers, we have evinosd nether city price nor ® due consideration of proper econrmy. Our quaye, in ‘be estima 1 do not jasti'y toe cisim we bave set up, rst Cings seaports, On approach to ‘he Empiri many re spocts in justly the object of oar iaudatioe and pride When abroad a stranger is surprised to fad our saiovlog with bo other accommocation than whet platfirms balit in the rudest manner, of loge and stones, can afford, and these in most cases cut of reoatr, dilapi ated an} alwar crowded and unprotected, without hignt at nighs or police ay. Tt would seem ae if we had reversed the po which naturally takes the bert care of that whicn Ly mon, Important. The preseat wooven piers and narrow slips, without safe y or secarity for mooring aif ird in-eed bat & poor idea of our progress ta commerce and wealth Wa d Ourselves fojustion in thus pre entiny to ths » i yeot the visiter an exbinition of ie {adifferen:e to, mad tack of prudence avd foresight im, public matter of ay much consequenpe; surely it reflects severoly apon the anton rites whore duty it x otto overlock improvers are Which are no materisily aanoctated with ov gust wens and prosperity. In a former communication Ire erred oy fact, that while the people ot New York havo or.” greseed in ail incividual and priva 6 enterprises, tae gs vernment and suthoritien had retrograded or remaited Inactive in the of charge of publi duty. In no ronpust is thin more falty shown than in ‘ha’ of our dockage as commodatins for vensels. Whilet our commore has gone om with am onprecedented rapiriv'y of grawin numbering over & miilim of toonage aud thousands of ships in ioreiem trade. we give to their acemmmo-tation the eame old wooden logs, rickety planks, and iasecuce baring io which to lie, An estimate of the magni: ude of the toreigs cowmorre of this port may be made »: relerence to the report of the feore ary cf the Treasure, } on ecmmerce wud navigation, for the yearonding Jans 50, 1855. This document states that the total tonn ee of the United States of all kinds, foreign and domestic, of Euro] é iz Hits the maconry, are DO Jooger req) and ther machinery have supecuecs lang est ame mod severat ly Dulit at the Navy Yard at Por: + ee a St ee i 2 comparison the cost of masonr, % bm er anuihe ext eave terse se wort was Drought ep to pustacs, iatter portion was sore A series of oondust- z aes thls mode for ipwards of six years, has sho ea uj a wn cnet ie ‘wpequivocaliy the most é ase. Preovies! and seientife men, ano of the construe ion of warks of this ascure me that sub- staxciat stope ducks and piers, of the best material end workmen: ought sat ‘o exesed the sum which the Kies oabpriny bas oven peylog for the preseut wooden one-, when tre continual repairs aretaciuded. This sup- pori ion i» bared upon the aciual cost, and sot upon the usual allowance for Corporation contracts, under 1! present exvavagant mde of doing ruch jobs. They o- ‘timate that a pler five hundred feet long, sixty feet , wide, constructed of steve, affording a capacity for yume érawing thirty to thirty-five feet of water, cannot joe 000. ton purebare cf graniie ip large quantities, and in the use of the refuse sions of quarries and excavations for filling, to De had xr littie more than the cot of tranap rtation. The Civing bells, vessels and machinery, Lt is thought, canny. exceed $18 060. If, however, we avail ourselves of the roggestiuns of that enterprising ci izen and nob!e philan- th: opis , who recommended tprough me to the Common Ccuneil, in February isst, that the stome exis‘iug in ls ge quantities om toie inland, i» tne vicinity ot Harlem Tiver, at Kings’ Bri’ge, be worsed and got vut in cuitadie piven for the ereouon of such ducks, by using the labor Gt the pocr who are supported more or less oy tae city aime in ,0 Jods «f grea: duwiress, the expense would fall short «t even py wea Pana go beeing 3 Niet and peu, ere BOW supported st puolic cost be adcecy alee would oe reduced still more, and the work be compieird ‘be sooner. Ibe efore, the 0s the ti. st instance, which hsa deterred azy serious effort towazvs the aduptivn of stone piers, may ov readily re- duce tc & much smelier ontiay then has been eapz0s0d. But, acmitung thai i) be impossibie to reduce first ‘ost of wouden aceks, dues it tullow thay they are reall, more exyepriye? 1 ‘bink not. Waen we consider the com inuss ex.encituse lur repairs, and the mecessity o entire Lew structures every few years, the aggregate cut- lay far ¢xceece that of ine stone d chs under iheir high. est estimate, Puolis works ofali kinds shvuld be erected ‘with selerenoe to their aurabuity, Notaing temporary OF insecure bhi wid ever be construcied for publie pur- poses, Unhke private ecifices, the presumption is that bey ure to jast fur centuries, or as loug au it is porsible, consider iy uses for wpich they may de intended, T an inctvidual usderwkes o suructure, to be ured for purpores requiaog great streagth, to be subdmitvd w the trial of msage, he eare- lects correspondiog maverial, aud adapta the ibe desired objects. Bat these docks and piers, whatever the cost, need not of necessity be ora: geanie to the City Iressury. I» my vpinion th» merchante will glad y submi: toa smell per aiem tax upun each vessel, ft rewurm they are accommodated with a firm s.one le ? or buikbead, at which to lay and discharge or take cago. Ira \be sums thus colleeted a fund coukl be made, to ge &) the ci coit of the stone pier account, and trom which cvtld de paid the interest on the cevt created by the cost, snd 3D cue courre of time Hqui¢a’e the principal itsel’. A #Wcok could be issued, rec e+ma ole in fifty years, by which to raise the money required for their o¢ coustrue: tion, the principal aac iaterest could ve provided for 2M 1D)8 way, Wi.heut co. iecting any portion cf it by gene rel \exa.icn. ‘hore wbarfs belonging to individuals, if it was deemed politic 0 permit private p.oper.y of thie kind—whicn in By juegien itis wos - sb raid be made to oontorm, oy tue Owners ts the pilav adopted dy toe Corporation, so tuat the ci. y -dould pitrent a unnorm stone \ ckage Lbroughout. The Common Coun tl pas power wo prererive the kind ot work individusis shail construct, when to oe used for BO €re) puclic aurposes ob tas eharacier. Ltheseto estommend ‘bet messures ve taken at once to aecomparh ro great » good Ww our common interests; the attempt is justified »pon princi lea of economy and weoe-si:y, Let there be an iutelligent, earnest effort made for bis pupae and we ehull seeomphsh hing ia beeping Win the megaitude and pretensions of the Fax prea y, The Harbor Commissioners, appointed unter the act of Jas! winter. have wade a report, in part, w the Legiua- tore. Ibave net oven» ote to procure a copy of it eutire; 1am advised ii oissusses ihe obvious neceusity of the pre servation nud impr: vemeut of our nob harber, and the cefining of its pro. er Doundar es; bur belog mosuly gen» Tali 18 character. without many specilic or praccieal reocmmendationa, [ forbear at this time ww allute more Pp rticularly tut, The acoption of the exterior line is a Subject of great momect to us. Ween the Commissisners have ocmpletec thetr igoors and recommended what legt« lation ix necessary, wil be the proper time for the thea Meyor toca) your attention to the surject. The time, however, for your aooption ef my recommendations for the construction of #ione piers and docks is now usps - ciour, A commiseion appointed by you for that purpuse, with power, could co-operate with the Haroor Commis- sivters, £90 ap imtelligen: pian devised, fuily imkeeping with the msgni'u ¢ of the 1olerests involved. INTRODUCTION OF POKRIGN CRININAIS AND PAUPERS. This objectionable class of emigrants has beeu fureed in upon us for many years. It hss veen the practice of the locs! authorities o° revera! of toe continental nations of Eurepe to send to us rome of their criminal and indigent popuietion, by almost every vessel that left their ports. Our country, and ¢specially this city, bas been made the gB eat exept tor the offcast and the cutcast of a people who, themselves in the aggregate are fur below the moral standard of ths uation, Toe vice and indigence, and Deavy consequent taxalion which has flowed irom there eaures, bas become to many reflecting men @ subject of vericusalarm. Public mcrals bave appes:ed to deterio- the public expenditures to augment in conse- At up early pe fod of my administration I do. vpen making an effort to abste so ap «wi. J thought that Jaiven of my i¢ cuties more imperstively for prompt ano erergetis ac ion. It was true no law gave me dvect con rol or implied power over it; but yot, as tre chet magirtrate with whom it might be supposed ficient suthority resteo to check any positive wrong g from the intreduc'ion of improper persons, | assume the right to interpose whatever force the moral poner of my office gave me. On the 2d of January, 1850, the duy alter my induotion ints office, I addressed an off- ia communication on this sabject to the Presidept ot the Unived Sta ea. remonstrat on behalf of the Corpo- ration and people of this clty egainst the longer continu- ance of this practice oy foreign 18, and aking the interference of the gozerel government in our Before the expiraiicn cf that month information was com- wunicated to me of the saiting of the Sardinian frigate, Des Geneya, from Genoa for this with over sixty aliegea g persons on board, whom it was were susylelous characters. An officiel communication waa immediately am dressed to the consular representative of the government, to the effect that upon the arrival of that Yesrel measures would be taken by me to prevent the landing of any of the Passengers until a thorough tnves- tigation was had on board, by which to ascertain the twutb o! this alegaticn; and that all who were criminals OF peupers stould got de sllowed to oume on shore, but should be retained in that vessel, That functionary ad- dreseed the Charge d’Affaira of Sardinia, at Washington, who at Cnce reveired to thiscity, and readily assented to any measure woich, in my option, should be adopted for the exclusion of these parsons, if they were of the clays represented. The Des Geneys arrived in Februsry, and was detained a* the Quarao’ine Ground un'il the exe. + nation re‘erred to was pad.anc until {t was ascertained thatthere were not obacxious to the charge p->- fe red sguiust trem, The effect of this procee lung Was wort selatary toroogbout Europe, as ewe directed inst @ vesse} of war, with the consent of the represan- ta iveof the gr vernment to woich she belongec, andithus & reocgmiion of our right, w @ municipal authority, to prevent puch emtyration, even when arriving ina govern- mene ship—a right heretofore supposed wo belong excla- sively te nationa’ autborities. he 26th February, in reply to inquiries by the Hon, er. representative in Congress from this city, a6 to the condition ot revere Belgian pavpors, then Io confinement fu the city prison, held by me, preparatory te teeis Deirg return d to Antwero, (which would have deen secompilebeu but fer toe summa, tbe at ea ip grant o¢ length tbe grounds y opport: igration of this class. Ow the 12th tT was addressed to ail the American pe. stating ully the grounds pon which we acted, and declaring that iets ana paup Jd ebould hereasiter be excluded, and questing that a pro- per potifieaticn to tha effecs be given to the several au- thorities who ft was known had been in the habit of for- worcing them. The replies received were highly satisiac- tory, acknowledging, in many instances, the truth of the charge, end evioclug & disposition to aid me in so landa- be am under ing. The government ot Switzer! fearing that the mes«ures acopted here might bear head. y upon its own people, who were emigrating to thia port wp large numbers, addressed Mr. Fay, the Amerison Chaage d’Afiaires st Serne, a letter of inquiry as to the extent of our requirements, Thst gentleman addreased ‘we an to heer points, to which L replied at length on the 8th of May, discussing the question in its sovial and pou- tical hesrirg. This letver was published io most ‘of the © ntinental popers, and, an} um happy to learn, haw toa groav exent accomplished ite intended chjec Duin rummer of 1865 it was quite apparent that the practice was stopped altogether. Fxamina- tion doard of emigrant veere'a was continually mace dy the police, aud vo pas engors which could ve txcinded om just grounds, consistent with tu ition anuned by ine, offered themselves for admission. In the autumn, howe an attempt was made to smugyie them ip. One of the German Dachies-—that of Meckien- ry dictate of wratitude, and ob principle, shioged, through the priton authorities of Gustrow, four criminals, per Ham- burg th'p Deutchaland, which sailed from that port on the 24 August, Information of the fact had been prompt- ly commouricated to me by the American Consul a: Ham- borg, who ¢eserves the thanks of the whole American pnblio for hi patriotinm and fidelity in this matrer. We were thor prepared for the arrival of the Deutsch'and, and immedistely notified the consignees that urder no porridle cireumatances should these persons be allowed come on shore, The consigness at onee conceded my gis wil i i j i E i i: b ir re i i i i i i i f i : | i i i : Detween governments, how muck more ticabdle should be the act, whica, by authority, empties foreign pruons ani almshouses teto this country, to dis- seminate moral and phases pestilence among our hospi- peopel Aglance at the increasing almshouse and prison sta- tistics of this city, voge her witn the nationality of the inmates, teils its own tale. Comment upon these irresin- abie facts would be auperfiueus. No eiuizen can them without becoming indignaut in the realisation of the wrong which is thus consinually pet upon uw. Iam to be uncessiood as nct opposed to emigration. No man feels tte advantages to the whoe country more than my seif, We buve cerived greatand lasting vegefits from the freedom with whieu it bas been encouraged, and the fa- citires tor eftizenship offere: by our lawa. 1 would re- atrict neither. We require the physical endurance pos. nesnec in so large a degree by che great mass of emigrants who repair to this counuy. Every great publi improve- ment, and every manufacturing, agricultural, and mine- ral branch of industry bears living testimony of chis fact. We carnot thrive ax we shi without \bysical industry brought us by emigration; ana itis no little regret I have observed its ceerease at ‘his Tits: It bas fallen off from $19,223 in 1854, to 136,243 in 860, of which 62892 were German, and 43,043 wore Irieh, showing u preponderance of the furmer, whisa is pot, however, a recent chavge, as since 185] tae larger number bave been from Germany. Bat whether German cr Irish, if it be freed from the objectuonaole characteris- ties of the fe referred wo as convicts ond L spel greed me wice country is open to to partake of the Diessings of our tuvtitationa if Paes Srey will obey our laws, sup,ort cur fisg, and sid in tue developement of the pro- ducts of our nubile land. FANITARY. The public heatth and proper provisions for its matn- tenance & apnoiher subject second to no other in impor- tance, and ot which, 1 regret to add, we have been un- parc: Dubiy negicetful. We have not taken the necessar: precaution in devising preventives sgsinst the appro Of pestitence, ard im suitabie provis ons for ita reception and weaiment, if itrhould be our sad fortane tv be 80 affiictea. Beyond the iatroduction of the Croton water, and etreet sewerage, (ncw happily becoming almost gece- rah) we have mace little progress of late in this airec- tien, There is much more to be accomplished; not oaly 1p the adcpucn of raieguards against tue approseh cf denger fiom abroad, but in intelligens interval raga: Mone for the preserva'tun or the heafih of the residen’ population. This eity {a aa favorably sicustea for public bygeian as it is for commercial prosperity. There are vo causes of disease of » fixed local character, ad nothing ip the climute or pbyri sl poricion rendering us liavle twit. No epicemic or eon'agion, or general malady, can in this erty frem txea causes. There mus: pe m- duced from some othe: ies@ ‘avored place, or omanaie from temporarily loesl incitemen.s, which, under pro- per sanitery regulations eculd not exist, or if existing, by early removed, It is apparent, therefore, that all that is sequired are p oper measures, which will preciude the introauetkn of epicemes or contagions from withoat, a1d the ;revention ani eradicati n of auy cause of dis- esse from within, As to the former, the present quaran- tine regulations are probubly’ sufficient. Expo rience fas thown that there cen be itl adced to this system. It appears to be conceded by those who are best infurmed, that no safer mehod can b- adopted to keep away from cities there terribie scourges «fymankind. But to be effetual, quarantine should b+ salir, not partial. It should be fixed ard positive; ex- ciuding tbe spproach of every thing that nas been at a] under the infuence of, or within proximity to pertilence. Afier majnta'nhg strict quarantine, the nex: cousidera- tion should be, the removal of every thing calcuiate: > crea’ disease or promote infec ion among ourselves. 1.0 first requisite to this end is no doub:, generai cleaniiness— cleanhners of the streete—of the yards snd alley ways; of the apartments of the indigent and disola‘e; and in this eou- neetion,atteption to the privies, eoss-peols, #ewers and cul- yerts, markets snd slaughter houses, and sunken lote—ia shert, the removal of every thingyprocuciug noxious ex balations, It is known that pure air’and pure water are indinpeneadle to health; avd it is also well retiled, that without these disease, ‘suffering and death will speed: y follow. If, as is well de ermines, local causes will pc duce fevers of a cantagious type, there can be no duu t tbat the same causes will eympatize with exterior iu- pho partaking cf ite character, and soon assume ils jence. There are other sources of disease to which I have de- voted much attention, but which still demand closean? unremitting diligence, and more ¢ffective ji tion. i refer to the sale of diseased meat, impare and un- ripe aud partially decayed fruit and vegables. The sale of adulterated drugy atill exists to © great extent, though the recent law of Coogress, for the suppressicn of the im- portetion of thee ceath-dealing substances, has hed a gocd tendency. It would be well, if many other foreign articles equally injurtous were also prohibited. ‘Nhe over-crowcing of family in illventilated dwellings, and the oeeu, oblgw sud damp cellars aud basements, should also bé prevénted, The practice of watering the streets with Croton water, is in my opinion, deleterions to the public health, as Mkely, to instigate fevers ot the intermittent class. This water no doubt, contains eonsiderable paludal depo:ite, the debris of the rurrounding forest, at its source, which under the influence cf the sun upon the mud, created by being wet with 11, en; vapors, active «. he disorders referred to. if this be so, salt water should be used for street purposes instead. it is well known that salt marshes are freo from maladies peculiar to 5 raTi78 and fiech meadows. This truth has been abundantly illustrated in the Campana de Koma, in Italy, and the fens of Lincolnshire and Fasex, in England. In this sited fo ran feoley through tho guttera, to srry af to m ran 16 gutters, to to bre? eee such vegetable and oe8 as may coliee! To perfectly enforce these regulations, and to render this city exempt from the thousand agents of death{ to which we are subjected, sanitary police is indispen- Ifa corps of medical practitiovers could be or- ganized, having capacity to advice with power to execr.@ ll of these reecmmendations, we would soon bave ix j. tarn — public bealth, increased population, de- creared expenciture, and a better state of moral ant, S oertatn lane cfindigenta, ‘This poloe could for { with littie additional expense to that now ‘curred fom the piyslciees Strending the City Dispensaries, Hospitals, Poste Department, ke. Exch Council districs could be placed urder the eepecial charge of » eompetent mei cal Pan, who, beniden the duty of visitiag ano aiding the in- digent invalid, should sled have authority to remove any of ibe precisposirg causes of disease herein described. ‘The Municipal Po. iee eouki be made « valuadie auxil: ary. The whole should be under the direction of one compe- bot oH pes trae Baby’ should be beld to the meet er. eccoun ty fox ibe faithful discharge in trust conferred upon bim, SE With the organization of this bureau, tke present de- partment. known as the City Inspestor’s, could be dis- au} peed with. The Heaith Warde other Ereless dopendenta of that offee,, would n> bets quired, and the large oeclays of money re re- qub ed in that direction, would be savei to the Tréasary. DAPROVEMENTR ON THIS 19.450, This city comprehends the whole island, every nore of which has been rurveyed and marked out into strects enc perks. Near Sfty years ago, the neceasity of set tii apart every foot of tt for the oocapation of the millions cf whabitents who were to possess and enjoy it, was so ap- it that mescures were taken for that purpose by the appointment of a commission of intelligent men to per- form the work. The day for the fulfilment of these anti- cipetions is near at band. The lsying out of the Central tark—the almost entire union of lem and Manhat- ‘avville thefrapid increase of Yorkville—the connection made by actoal settling of the city proper, and what was once the viliege of Bloomingdale—have left, indeed, but few roral pola wnteached by city ), in rerident popu- dation, ‘be com ena entire consolidation of the people of New York into one Cop ad community, which will, in fis habitations, stretch from the Battery, on the scuth to Hariem river and Spuyten Duyvel on the north, and trom river to yiver on the east and west, is not as far cistant in the future as the day is in the past which contemplated the mighty growth and power of this me- tropolis, by laying out and preparing the streets and avepuer (or ft reception and provision. We shculd not be #0 far behind oar ancestors. They have given us the grovnd and marked out the lines, leaving to this genera- Uen, *ben required, the performance of the actual work. Heretosore the southern and middle sections have been éeemed the ovly portions of the island susceptibie of Imm diate occupation, and to which we were to look for preremt rettling. In my opinion, no inconaiderable popa atic 6 will be acded from the northern part, and that the Hardem river will scon become the great businors mart, to which river craft, barges, tow boats and canal boats WA) arrive, and where all bulky produce, such as lumber, coal, Gourj§and grain, will necessarily be discharged, ibrige, te already ture, at ite lant dra Sr ae removal of the old will leave Alreacy enterprising apd far seemg capitalists have templates ‘by er many _ mepent works of valae im the viemity of jm river. tt chew there‘ore, improdable that s population, to ve oe ieee’ hs commmupay, ~ ete nu fe he there a w om AeSa gorau vo teect Chae. now rapadiy Soraiag: taett pwards from the # extremity, and thas eonau- aie the entire consolablon of the Zatabutants of New ‘York the rovner. NS <0 1 ease Lote dextrin ofa reghen #0 great @ population Tite. ~ araled ‘Dy our ancantore when waee ‘thovght and inle ligestofscial action of those whore daty itis {0 look sfter bite welfare. As stated upon an- from mi feud apd peculation, but Ure want of tnrelligence im publi attention to the further deve possess. im mo rerpect has evineed than in the neglect of improvement of the wnoecupied part of the island. We have shown s want of prudent management of the great estate we have in- herited. The be, Amey sere the stewards in charge at the ulty Ball could te forgiven, if the general munage- ment was govd and the vigtiance hai been ex- ercised a to its condi! fon and the inerease of i's return. Blessed with an extensive and vaiuabie domsin, the city erBmeni snd private owners have been sleeping over their posrersiuns, w! the suburbe ot the city havo availed them-elves of our negiest and have taken from use large part of our best population, This is proven dy the rapid progress of all the surrounding cities, to«us and villages, whore almost entire a\a 10n are business cenizens of this metrop>iia. things being equa, no ove can rey that any man ¢cing business bere would not preter to live upon this island, with ite many advan- tages and contiguity to bis business, than io the rupur'! by then do we find several hundred thousand peopie living outside this domait? For no other reason taan that we negiec: te provide them with habitations equal in eeopomy and health to those they vow enjoy. fhe difficulty ¢f communication with the upper part of this island, which tormed the excuse and reason for the exadug, no longer exists. The ay railroata on as wany different avenues, if compeled to perform thuir duty and fa:fil the objects for which their charters were granted, may succersfaliy compete with the ferries, which carry away our population upon the waver. Bat the proprietoss of there granta should be made to do their duty, and im consideration of past, present and prospective profits should at once be made to extend their aceommodations as far out as the avenues are pre- pared. This was the main condi:ion apon which their pr were obtained. The opening of the Central Park is destined to form an era in the history ef this city, and both the Corporation and the owners of property should be prompt to avail themselves of its savantages. Both sides of it. to the Be ‘will form the sites of the choicest residensos, and i ppeedily filled with a first class population, if that ares be thrown open to their ingceas. "To ac- this ol ject, so desirable to the city and so in comp): portant to the owners of property, the strests on © ther side rbould be immediat: opened under one commis- rion, who can, at very mederate end {noonsiderable ocst, accomplish the object within one year. ‘An ordinance abouid be immediately passed, enabling private owners to proceed at once to open, regulate, g-ade, and lay sewers, at their own expense, under the direction and contro) of the proper officers, without the afd ot this army of contractors, assessors, collectors, anc iu- spectors, who eat up the substance of the peop.e, and ceter the owners from ocnsenting t> the inpr. vement of their estates. Ind energy and sel interest azo better a thousand fold tham the best regulations of gov- ernment, In considering the improvement of this island, and the preporation of the unoccupied parts for the future, 80 many important Lk cogent par themselves, that 1 cannot find roc in the p ly limited space aliot- ted to this document, for them all. This subject will be reterred to again. POUCE. Although the police force is far from that condition of eficieney to which | am striving te bring it, yet I am bappy to state that improvement haa teen made in this imp’ rtant cepartment during the past year, Tue -ystem of individual re:ponsibility now running throughout, from the humblest member up to the head, oas had a good efiect, which, wgether with the military spirit which to some extent has teen introduced, has added to be ‘ficiency of the whole corps. Target excursions forwed of the members of esch eomwand, and con'inued rivate drilling have been attended to without relaxation, ie uniform is no long-r obj-elonaole to the men; they have cessed to look upon it as a oadge of servitude or degradation, but have real zed the fact, that, t» be a policeman, snd to wear a suitable dress, as indicative of an honorable and responsible offies, cannot In any view be properly oppo-ed. It has been’ my effort to itopresa upen the police the true importance of thelr offices, to reward merit by promotion, and to make devotion to duty the only requisite to favor amé advancement. Poli- ties have been strenuously exelnded from the department No member bas been allowed to take part in party contests; for, whatever may have been his previous pras- ace, when he became Policeman he ceased to be a politi- cian. This has been, and is now, the rule of the cepart- ment, equally applicable to all; évery violation of which bas been promptly punished. I think that New York will room bave good cause to be ratisfied with her munict- pel police. The gradual tmmprovement continually made in ita personnel, bv the lopping off of improper men, aiter tria) andjeonviction upon ther with the new regulations introduced from time to time, will have this effect. provi¢ed it is exempted from the blast- fog effects of izan influences, a0 cestructive to ever Cepartment of our city ent, To procure effi- ciency there must be Gisedpline, and to preserve discipiing there must be military rule, which can only be exereised through and by cne head, possessing unrestricted power. There should be no social or official equality in 60 mili- tary = body as this, Outside interference should be ere should be noattempt to create a supe- rior Vibes over the head of their Comms néer-in-Chiof, to which the officers and men would be contin ap- Pring fora redrevs of every grievance. Next Placing the police under one nead, (itself removed by life tenure from all partizan infiuence,) the only im- provement which, in my judgment, can be ihe present system, is to concentrate jthe sole power in the of the highest maleipal officer known to the laws, viz. : the Mayor. To divide its government is s1b- versive of authort y, which is as eseential to the true mapsgement of a 1d 5 character, as it would be e! to an army on the fi ‘battle. An alteration has made during tho past year fn the Surgical Bureau of the department, which has far exce in {ta benefits what was contemplated by me at the time of its adoption. It has been juctive of much raving to the treasury in the time of the men, as well as being a philanthropic poogedies Under the eld system, little: ‘was paid to the general kealth. Station houses were rarely visited and ing] cleanliness was not deemed a part of the discipline, when sick at home the men were pot visited, excopt merely to ascertain whether the disa- bility had been produced im the discharge of duty. The new plan regerds the ‘ventilation and clean! of the station nrures and sleeping Hee reco furnishes at all times @ sufficient supply of ines, surgical instru- mena, tourniqueta, &e.; requites immediate atrention to a); invalid policemen, whether ‘becoming sick or disabled fn the cischarge of duty or not, and constant attention uptil entirely reocvered atid fit tor duty. ‘The better to carry out this purpose, the city was di- vided into reven 1 iets, and each district placed under the chi ot aeompetent practising phy- siclan, who, onder the law, had to be appointed @ police- man anc detaiied for this Guty, with a Surgeon General as cbief of the whole, to whom reports are made by the district surgeons once every forty-eight hours. Critical yrical exannnation is made of ha hd peg appointed ‘the commrismevers, not only by the district surgeon in ward to which said person may belong, but also by the Surgeon (General, stationed permanently at the office of ‘Chie of Pohce. Stephen Hasbrouck, M. D., the ex- perlencea medieat itioner who fills this post of Sur- eneenes, See ied much attention to its duties, and succeeded im organizing the system so as to already preduce, efficiency and advantage. en to his last monthlyfreport, the benefit of this change in the eani- tary sega’ntions has beoome apparent sooner than enti- cipated by me when devising it, The saving of the time «ft the wen, by the detection and exposure of attempts to defraud the service by simulated sickness, is alone more than sufficient to pay the whole cost of the bureat report, aiter detailing the many duties and services P tofmed by the surgeons in thelr several districts, particu. larly with reference to the case of the disabled and mck of the department, and proper attention to the station hones, then gives the following tacts as to the practical results of the system ttself— “We shall now to lay bsfore you the reeult of our labor in this department during the five montns last past, and frem our record it np that the time lost A reason of sickness cr ¢isabi ty of the policemen, in D the twenty-two districts, amounts to three thousand ine burdred and forty-rix and valgrad hg and the time amounted to ost during @ coresponding five thousand three nondeed sod seventy-nine days:— 1854. bir 1866, Da; Difference........1,48234 daya.”” From thin statement you will perceive that the city has gained in time and ¢onsequent serviees the sum o1 1,482%% days, notwithstanding the month of December dbes net obtain the same proportion as the other mnths, m coneequenee of several members suffering trom fractured hnmbs consequent upon revere duty. The amount thus saved is reveral hondred dollars over ths sum necessary to pay all the surgecns; and the men themselves enjoy- ing the benefit of prompt and gratuitous attendance, are raved what otherwise would be a serious dratt upon their tarnipgs, which is barely wufliciont for the support of approximate to ite true character. e clase trom which policemen are #6! ia Lo are, in general better to military and more readily to the deprivationa and to the con- trol of others, tes. x same class an country. wat unt man fs & sovereign; independence querwy increasing as bis means of subsistence décraases. ‘Me is @ voter with certain influences upon Ma Sheets power and Srnsclvurnese of seifimoor-ance so cetrimental to disci- pine, even though deprived of an opporcuntty to render much partizan service. A recollection of former proweus oF cf puccesstul political e-mbats, with the learels atill green, proveciee Bas sabe ee Me the = —e tions necesary {n a well organi Agaic, ‘iho th the potice of pricpoci singe to hola their office during gvod behavior, still here the power to appoint acd remove is » political sai to con- tinuel change itrelf. Tne dependence of heads upon the caprice or fickleness of parry: necessarily affects the members of the body; for though hoding office daring good bebavor, they ave, after all, depenient in many respects upen the p:ejudices or pleasure of those who hold 80 maak Lt, md oe them as do the “olive Commis- siovers under exis'ing laws. ae sot ge of peat chad Loe ay poy is rticn @ population very aan Whilt we bal aver of bat about 800 mer on patro) duty, with a Poy po jun, according to the Inet census (1866) of about 650,000, London has» patrol ferce, excluding officers, of 6,745. with = population im 182 of 2,868,141, Thus New York has one mun to every 8173 inbabitents, and London, one to every 3614 inha- bitants. Onr whole police force numbers about 1,100 ver- sons, but from this is to be deducted 167 cap:ains, lieu- tecante avd doormen sbout 200 on de'ailed duty, leaving for petrol service the pumber stated, vis: 800. It cap readily be seen that the force of London is snfi- cient to place an officer at ulm at every corner, whilst the entire Cependence of the poorer classes on wee th and, power in that metropolis, together with the extreme wast aud wretchecness of their condition renders it e pieasaat transition fre m that state to the more comfortable, though lens free porition of @ dosile, obedient and suomiasive municipat guard. Theogh Dom prepared to admit taat London is tm sd- vance of us in its povice, arising mostly from the cawea indicated, still, in my judgment, the day ts not distsnt when we will not yield she palm. If ail political iola- epces ase removed, ond the corgs forget tier foruer affinitrer—feeling no identity wi'h the community, exept as policemen—vwe shall soon equal any similar corp in the worlc, not at {edly military. An Am@ican {« cons itutionally chivalrous, bold and inte)ligent, He bas aptness ss a detective, qaicknes! in discernment, perseversnoe and energy in pursuit, aida tenacity of purpos unknown to the people of any ober couptry. He posseaces ail the eseential requirites for uch duty. Let him fee) that he ls a entre! on wach, ‘and that iife and property are placed in the eas‘ody of bis vigilance anc honor, no men will evince more fia e or defend bis port with greater courage, Hence there DO 1€a+on hs § ‘New York should be behind London in the efficiency of her police, and. in my judgment, the day will come vhen she will be equal, if not ruperior, in ths a8 well 96 io many other municipal regulations. ‘Let te Yanés of politicians. which curse avd parslyze our cty goverrment, be kep* off of the police. If they will, e& them take else, tut leave this, upon the integrityot which our peace order, liberty, property and life deperd. ‘the propie uf New York, irrespective of party, mad: & nodle rliy Jaet winter, ard successti resisted of there Cisdolical attempts, in the oon and demoralize the police. Ifit be renewed, 1 pe that the tame apirit will be evinced, so that at leas:one ‘branch of municipal gevernment way be xpared fromthe canker which nuw threatens the whole social organizaion. STREET ee 11.1888, (De. In my ecmmunication anna) . 1855, Board ef Alcermen,) made to ths tate Common ohntct t re‘erred to the heavy outlays attenaing the opening,rqu~ lating, gracing paving, seworing, repairing, &c., of the streets of this city. In that cocament 1 attemptet to show the gross travds und unparcopaoie neg‘est, ska productive of onerous taxaiion, which hua for years Pea Practiced, through these means, upon the owners of eal estate ardo ber proper y. My attention on that oca- eicn was particularly directed to the various formsbu- reaux snc cepartments required in the cerformane of these duties, and to show that the whole shouid be uder oxe department, which should have ex lusive sugrvi- sion and management, from the declaring of a steet opened unti! the fxal completion of the work itsele This conso)dation of the whole duty into ope buesu or department wovla reform the many abuses noi ex- inting, provided that department was somti-tered 7 an officer to be appointed by the Mayor, holuing the pace at bis discretion, and pr-vided suitabe amenameus to the laws and rules governing the subject wre mad, by which the righ's ond interests of properry ownermwere properly protected. 6 tyttem uncer which this work is now done goes back to the year 1807; thengh the operation of thi sys- tem appears to be very different now to what it ws at that time. The gradual increase of the expensivness of street openirgs is ularmingly perceptible. from 1814 to 1837, the averege amonnt per mils, for fea of counsel, commissioners, and others employed by hem, wes about eight hundred and fi'ty doll From 183% to 1844, it increased to two thousand three bundre) dol lars per mile, and im 1865, taking the Bowery 0; from Chathum to Frapkfort aquares as a guide, a chance of about 1,460 feet, for which upwards of twentythou- sand dollars were charged, whi is at the astomding rate of over seventy thourand doilers per mile, ir the same services, in this case, the Surveyor’s feeralone were taxed at five thousand three hundred dollars, Nei- ther the frequent and loud complaints of our otizens, ner the recommendations of Sake vetaaal os of the Legislature; one of the Sevate (Mr. Verp’ancks Com- mittee, Seva'e Doc. of 1842, No, 100), ssid another yf the Acwecbly fn 18501445 + Commistes, Asetnbly Doo. 26.100), nor even the positive injunctions ¢ the Coratitution of 1846, article 8, sectin 9, have brught about spy awelioration of thece abu-es. In 1850 the Legis'ature passed an act di tle Su- preme Court ‘to make rules to apply to the theapxis+~ ing laws inrelation to the taxation of costs” to theoosts: in strict opexizgs, and the Court did make sruleupn the subject during the clerkship cf thelate Mr. Hallett, which ins ead of diminishing, omiy increased the extrtiong previously been practi-ed. Quite reantly, however, acme ot the judges of the present court made an attempt, in good faith, to carry out the spiritof the law, and’ esteblished a set of rules, whi'h were al that our citizens could have asked from them. but thejndges of the seme court, no doubt from proper motives, naw ft to ignore the course of their brethren and to restore matters to former basis. It was under tha deci- Sion that the contain the Bowery opening and otter kin- dred canes were consummatec. At tts seedon the Legislature, with tezdy justice, pessed an act taxing the tion efter Corpors conan! yoo a4 ans bu a salary of $6,500 ( it by judgment cra be rege arto hy ot one and not fn addi ‘The $3,600 poy annum and the perquisites which ho previowly enjoyed. The change, by virtually a Ing the umless and yo- fuminous “ ,”” for every of which fitty cents to be paid Lim out of toe , wii de much to lesen the evils oom a Fs at ottil remaina the bear cor 8, ISvente, apace ant einace; all atom eee be putan to. If the enormous prcfita of the = ration Counsel have been cut off there is no reosom why the sineoures of these o:her ola:ses, also, should mot be abolished. Their work can, in my opinicn, be better done ata venth of what it now costs us. leam sep no reacon, for instance, why the expense to the city of com~ missioners’ fees in the matter of taking the ninety: six acres for the new Croton reservoir, where but three com- missioners were enploye?, and ’no app atrement for awards or damages, outside of the ground were to be made, sbould amount to near $8,000, whikt the foos —— by the five Centra! Park Commissioners, whe bad duties to perform of far greater importasce and far more laborious, comprehending the opening, and ascer- taining the awards anc damages of seven xed ani fitty acres, should only amount to $17,000, Ii men cf the charecter of thoee who acted as commissioners in opea- ing the Park can be found to work for thecity m good faith, et four dolin‘s acay, it seems tome that it is our duty ndeavor to procure their serviees. prints of opentag ellie nitgeus aot Stents, 2 now vr of 0} CS ave now opened by law or ented to the city, by commission com of mea whone object in accepting the piace will be good of the city, and not thelr owa private emo- lument, and whose characters be & guarantee against extortions and perjuries on the part of the subor- dinates iP opted by yom I ths no 1 wr og the measure, ‘woul carried oat io Counsel to the Corporation fa ® manner to answer all the Denefite to be derived fromit. A large part of the trou- dle and expemee would at once be saved the commission by caliing the attention of the parties in interest to the provisions of the statute, which ailows them to cede ‘heir Janda required for atreets to the city, and thus save themeelves from furtmer expense. As to the work required to be done in the streets, after they have gone thro gh the procera styled ‘‘o ig (ty whieh ta eimply meant the acquisition of thle te the nd by the city,) grave coubte exist in my mind whether our whole aystem be not tounded in error, My etromenta upow and recommendations by wide ce form the abuses growing out of the present mode of thie work, made to your predecessors, should be asten- tively re‘er red to and promptly adopted by you. We da not reeive the det:rment which the continuance ot these th, abures haa been to the progress of this city, in the pre- vention of the legitimate increase of its resident o lion, Tens of thourands have been driven away, and probatly hundreds of thousands have been from erming. A reform in this matter will not only raise the velue of our property, and thus increase the bwtls of tax- tion, but will materially add to thenumber of those wha are to bear its burdens. ‘To ocmpletely do away with the sywem, and ta remove all the vile sppertaiain to it, will, #0 doubt, be the work of time, requiring much intel and study, and can probably be accomplished only though @ com~ mission of educa ted men, who will be actastet by consi~ deretiony of public weal, and who will givethelr services for the duty without compeneation. Jt would, however, five some relief if you would adopt an ordinance by whicke parties owning from street to street, on any block, be al-