The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-02-16

this goody city have been calling out tor light. Not
that they ever hoped to penetrate mo the dark re-
cesses of political caucuslng, and have the causes
tor any Of the numerous unaccountabe man9uvres
of the city legislators brought to the public eye
No. thew never expected that but they have, at
Zines family hoped-in fact, the people have dared,
attimes. 10 eryect- that reform would be made in
the matter of lighting the city
The old plan was TO light the street lamps by the
almanack and no matter whether clouds inter-
vened, so as TO make Egyptian darkness to pervade
us, at the time, or any other cause brought dark
ness about us, if the astronomer had declared
that, at given time, the moon would have
"arisen," and not "set," no torch was applied
to street lampwick, whether robbers knocked
men down, cor whether they forebore." And
manys the poor wight who has barked his shin
against curb-stone on such occasions But when
length the new police law went into effect, all this
was to be remedied, and we were to be blessed
with the rays of the modestly shining public luni
naries whenever darkness made 1t necessary, no
matter whether the moon up or down. But
this hope was only raised to be crushed like all
hopes founded upon the integrity of small Office
holders.
Now, we have to complain, not only OF a want OF
quently whole districts are left unlghted until late
hour in the evening, when there is no reason to ex-
pect light from any other quarter. There Is also
great reason to complain of the imperfect manner
in which the lamps are trimmed, as they are many
OF them found to emit SO very feeble light, that
they might almost as well retain it, for any service
it renders pedestrians. In some of the districts,
boys have been doing the duty for which, aswe
Ill H. ko.n sc
the city. In some OF the districts where gas is
used, we see but half the lamps lighted at times.
This may save expense to the city gas company, but
it would better please the citizens in the immediate
neghborhood, to have the lights trimmed and burn
ing. To show that we do not.want proof OF the
neglect which we are here complaining of, we give
lice, during the winter.
On the 10th of December, seven lamps were
reported in the Tenth Avenue, on which were
no caps; they had been In that condition some
time. On the 2lst OF the same month, report
was made, stating that there were no lamps
burning in 10th street, between the 9Th and 10th
Avenues at IL o'clock the night of the 10th. On
the 3lst of January, all the lamps in 18th, 18th, 10th
and 2ls Streets from the Sth Avenue to the North
river, were reported out at q o'clock, A. M and
all the lamps in 22d street, from 9th Avenue to
North river, "out al 10 o'clock" Now this is all
wrong-if men are employed and paid by the CRY
to attend TO this business Of lamp Lighting let it be
required of them that their work be properly done,
or that their places shall immediately be declared
vacant and other men placed in them II is not only
requisite that the lamps should be trimmed and sup
Piled with oil daily, but the glass should be cleaned
often. This part of the lamplighters' duty seems to
have been lost sight of by most Of our knights of
the lanthorn.
This evil of poorly lighted streets, is not seriously
felt by the great majority OF citizens, who are at
home before the shops in the principal streets are
closed, and do not, therefore, readily observe the
want of light; but persons whose business requires
their attention till late hour at night find it most
unpleasant task to be cropping their way through
dark streets at midnight and besides, every lamp
that is left unlghted gives out an invitation to bur-
glars and thieves 10 to that particular district
and prosecute their trade.
But enough of this subject for the present-it is
dark and unpleasant one.
STATE LuNATIc AsYLuM.-We have received the
third annual report Of the managers OF the State
Lunatic Asylum at Utica. 1t contains some inter-
estiRg particulars The number Of patients in the
Asylum Is $50; admitted during the year, 293; and
discharged, 26S. The number discharged, as reco-
vered, was 1873 improved, 70 un,mproved, "a, and
Fl died. The large amount of patients discharged,
recovered and improved, speaks well Of the mode
of treatment pursued at this establishment and con-
rasts favoraby with the system pursued some years
back, in almost all institutions OF this kind
The whole number OF male patients admitted into
the institution since Its opening, is 43l. OF these
IsS farmers, 63 laborers Is merchants, 10 scho
lars, IL clerks, 81 professional men, 6S mechanics,
speculator, barber, 6 schoolboys, 6hoteEkeepers,
and pilot The whole number of female patients
admitted into the Asylum, since its opening, is Alb;
and their occupations were as follows House
keepers 344, school girls a. tailoresses 49, instruc
tresses IL, miliners g. mantuarnakers factory girls
2, music teacher l. There are great many suppos-
ed causes of insanity. We will give few OF them:
fright Ia, abuse of husband IL, jealousy 7, political
excitement6 s, infdety Of wife 4, seduction g. loss
of property 40, excessive study 81 death of kindred
81, lntemperance %, perpexity OF business e. Mil
lerism IS, disappointment in love Is, ill health l62,
religious anxiety l02, remorse 8, going into cold wa
ter ii, Fourierlsm L.
These are rather curious statistics. OF four
hundred and thirty-one male PATIENTS lS3 were
farmers. It has always been thought that those
who cultivated the soil were freer from men tai
excitement than others Of different professions :.
but here we have more than thirty per cent OF the
whole number of patients, who are farmers. The
only way Of accounting for this strange dispropor-
ton is the religious excitement created by Miller
and his dupes within the last few years. The sup
posed causes enumerated by the officers of the Asy-
lum include 10 Of Mersm, and lO2 Of religious
anxiety The greater part OF these Of religious
anxiety may truly be put down as arising from
MiIlerism. II will be seen what an immense
amount of mischief Miller has produced among his
dupes
There is one great feature introduced into this
Asylum, which. we think, is worthy OF being adopt
ed by similar institutions throughout the land. The
establishment OF schools and Libraries for the use
Of the PATIENTS we have no doubt has been lnsfru-