The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-21

HEALTH OF THE CIrY-THK Gas HOUSES
Have notthe Grand Jury or the Common Council,
the power to do something in relation to the gas
houses, in the heart of the city. The char
ter, it is understood, will expire in 1850, and
two long years are thus reserved, during which
the health of the city, it is expected, viii be in
somewhat precarious condition, from the vast
influx of immigration and epidemic diseases.
Many of our citizens have already fallen victims
to ship fever, both physicians and clergymen.
Indeed, within the last few days, no less than
two distinguished clergymen have been cut of
by this dreadful scourge.
We have taken occasion to call the attention
of the Board of Health to many prominent parts
of the city, where nuisances of every descrip-
ton abound and suggested the propriety of a
free use of the Croton water, as an efiectual re-
medy, to cleanse these "Augean stables OF
filth and infamy. The gas houses, however, IN
the very heart of our city, are a species of null
sance SUI generis and it is only to be wondered
at, how such dangerous and destructive source
of sickness and ill.health should have been 80
long tolerated in this populous part of the city,
blighting, like the upas tree, the very atmosphere
that surrounds it, and diffusing its noxious va
pors through an immense area.
The approaching summer may be very un-
healthy, In consequence of the mildness OF the
past winter, there being little snow or frost to
purify the atmosphere, SO that it is doubly In
cumbent upon us to devise every possible means
of guarding against the frightful ravages of cpl
demic disease, that PROFESSIONALLY will reach
our shores in foreign vessels Viewing the
question, therefore, in, every aspect, and taking
into consideration the fact that the gas
houses being built for the company, in suit
able location in the suburbs of the city, are
far advanced towards completion, we would
urge upon the consideration of both the Com
mon Council and Grand Jury the necessity for
taking speedy and effective steps to rid our city,
as soon as possible, of this old and crying nui-
sance; for never were they more imperatively
called upon to take action upon the matter than
at present. The great spirit of improvement,
in the building line has been impeded good deal
in this quarter of the city, in consequence of the
continuance of the gas houses here; and where the
law so expressly defines the nature and character
Of nuisance-where it places it in the power of a
few inhabitants to uproot such factories as are
used for the manufacture of bones, soap, &c.,
we cannot see how any body of intelligent men
can hesitate to apply it, in all its vigor and eff
cacy, in case SO aggravated as the one we pre-
sent. The very appearance of the part OF the
city in the immediate neighborhood of the gas
houses, is a reproach to the city government,
and an additional argument in favor of the i'm
mediate removal of the gas houses; and If they
were removed, in one year, we feel assured we
would have new blocks of buildings quickly run
up, in every quarter in their immediate vicinity
| Both boards will meet this evening, and we
trust that some member of either board, will, in
his place, remind the city fathers of their
duty to the city in the approaching emergency,
and call their attention to our suggestions in
| lation to the Croton water and the gas houses.
If something is not done on the subject, and that
quickly, our citizens will have to desert every
street, lane and alley the next summer, should
pestilential disease creep In amongst u.s.