regu by inexperienced hands, is one that needs further lation. The Supt. of Streets, by the ordinances, has the care and custody of the streets, so far as the paving, grading, and repairs are concerned, yet they are opened and dug up by the different departments of the government, and the Gas Company, without the least knowledge on his part, and many times left in very bad condition. SNOW THE STREETS LAST WINTER. The amount charged to the item of Snow, Ice, &c., it will be seen, amounts to $33,278.78. Of this amount, $32,909.62 was for the care of the streets during the months of January, February, March and April, 1856; and the balance, $369.16, the latter part of December, 1856, the commencement of the present winter. Thus it will be seen that the amount expended during the winter months of 1856, ($32,909.62,) is the largest sum ever expended on the streets of this city, in the winter season. In the quarterly report, submitted to the City Council in April last, I took occasion to make the following remarks in relation to this heavy expenditure of money. "The amount was expended for removing snow and ice from the public streets, and for labor performed in levelling snow and picking up ice. The unusual severity of the weather and the great quantity and peculiar kind of snow which fell on the 5th and 6th of January, 1856, made it an imperative duty on the part of the Government to provide means to make the highways of the city as secure to travel as the lot of the case would allow. It was a case of absolute necessity to do this. The above great outlay was made, and the citizens received the benefit of this wise liberality on the part of the government, by the dispelling from their minds all fears of damage by overflows from heavy thaws and rains, and the comparatively good condition of the streets for travel. There has not, for a number of years, been experienced such a severe winter as the past. Had not the snow been removed it would have been next to impossible for teams to pass through the streets the past month, and there would have been great liability to damage to those having goods stored, and those living in cellars, in the lower parts of the city, from thaws and rains. During six days, immediately after the great storm, there were carted off from the streets, as near as I can estimate, some 30,000 loads of snow." Annexed to this report is a schedule of the property belonging to the Paving Department. All of which is respectfully submitted. ALFRED T. TURNER, Superintendent of Streets. 7 Schedule of Property belonging to Paving Department. 1 Set of stone cutters' tools. 77 Gravel shovels. 64 Snow shovels. 13 Crowbars. 8 Wheelbarrows. 9 Paving rammers. 107 Hammers for breaking stone. 10 Street horses. 2 Stone drags. 4 Paving hammers. 3 Trowels. 2 Levels. 4 Water pails. 2 dippers. 2 Tool chests. 1 stone roll. 6 Hoes. 5 large hammers. 1 small do. 4 Nail hammers. 5 planes. 3 Axes. 1 hatchet. 1 Auger. 1 vice. 2 Iron rakes. 9 files. 9 Lanterns. 125 hammer handles. 4 Ledge drills. 2 chains. 3 Cords white oak buts. 2 Bbls. cement. 75 Lbs. nails. 180 Pickaxe handles. 1 Chaise and robe. In Board of Aldermen, Jan. 12, 1857. Laid on the table, and ordered to be printed. Attest, S. F. MCCLEARY, City Clerk. |