To
the Buffalo Street Commissioner
26 May 1870 • Buffalo, N.Y.
(Buffalo Express, 27 May 70, UCCL 11723)
STREET SPRINKLING.
The manner in which Delaware street is sprinkled above Virginia is simply ridiculous. A crippled infant with a garden-squirt could do it better. The work is done by the city government [&] paid for by the property owners along the street—& the pay is amply secured & the work contracted for for three years. Now one thing or the other is absolutely true, viz: Either the contractor is not paid enough to justify him in doing his work well, or else he shamefully shirks his duty. Which is it?
472 Delaware.1
Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary
Street Sprinkling.—In answer to the
communication published on Friday, under “Notes From the
People,” with regard to the sprinkling of Delaware
street, we are requested to state that the contract for sprinkling
the public streets does not commence until the 1st of June. (4) The same day the Express also
reported: Street Commissioner [George
W.] Gillespie has with commendable forethought and energy
secured a sufficient number of street sprinklers to thoroughly
sprinkle Delaware street and the roads in the cemetery, previous to
the moving of the procession today. (“City
Notes,” 4) The Memorial Day procession included civic officials,
clergy, and numerous groups of Sunday School students and twice passed
the Clemenses’ house at 472 Delaware (“Memorial
Day,” Buffalo Express, 30 May 70, 4;
Buffalo Directory 1870, 62).
Source text(s):Previous publication:
L4, 141.
Emendations and textual notes:
& • and [141.5 (twice)]
