The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-20

mnation OF that great body, the Wing Young
Mems General Committee, to support Gen. Tay-
lor, we may add, that David Graham, Esq, a gen.
tleman who has made himself quite prominent in
publicly advocating the claims of Mr.. Clay, has
been put on probation, and allowed until the next
meeting to study carefully Gen. Taylor's second
letter to Capt. Allison, and decide whether he can
or not support him. In case he cannot do so, he
will have the privilege of Withdrawing. We
think, however, that he will not avail himself of
that kindness, but will agree to support General
Taylor.
Allah is great, and Mahomet Is his prophet
The Wing Young Mems General Committee are
transcendenty great, and the worlds safe.
SANITARY REFoRM-TK CHoLERA--THE
STREETs.-Amid the hustle and confusion which
now agiate the public mind, there seems to be
but little chance for any subject that has not
close relationship to the pending Presidential
struggle, to obtain the slightest share of attention.
There are some evils however, of such nature,
that, whether We will or not, they continually
thrust themselves upon our notice, and the faml-
harty which they have thus acquired Is one rea-
son, perhaps, why they have so long escaped that
concentrated denunclation which seems to be the
measures for their removal.
Some time ago, the press of this city was over
flowing with complaints respecting dirty streets,
our unceansed sewers, and the general impunty
with which the city ordinances, on these and KIM
bred subjects, were openly violated. The conse-
quence of this cutlery was change in the mode
then adopted of cleansing the streets and, instead
OF the work being done by the corporation, direct
ly, 1t was hired out by contract. For some time
after the new order of things commenced, CON-
plants still continued to be made, and opinions
were generally expressed that, instead of matters
becoming better, under the new arrangement, they
had actually become worse. We did not join,
however, in this cutlery, as we considered 1t was
too hasty and that sufficient trial had not been
given to the contractors before they were so sum-
marlly condemned. We, therefore, defended them
from what we thought to be an unfair attack, and
deluded ourselves into the belief that, ere long, the
promised efficiency would be secured, under the
new arrangement
! We are now under the necessity OF declaring
that the state of the city, in almost every street, ID
| pelfectly disgusting and dsgraceful. Go where
YOU will even in our widest and most public
! thoroughfares, and the senses OF sight and smell
will turn away, with loathng, at the filth and
abominations which every where assail them.
How long is this state ofthngs to continue How
| long is the public money TO be squandered, under
| the pretence Of doing that which is not done !!
| How long are we to pay for the discharge of du-
ties which the contractor is unable or shamefully
neglects to perform? How long are the comfort,
| the convenience, the health and, in many cases,
the lives of citizens TO be tempered with, and
,bi do ouJ tbar RI A ~ Lo
pointed at the filthiest and worst drained In the
whole Union.
If the thing canaot be done-f we have really
arrived at such degree of barbarsm, that, like
the Hottentots of Africa, the atmosphere of filth
has become agreeable to us, we do not understand
why we should be called upon to make large
annual appropriation to different state of
things. If putrd Accommodations OF decaying matter,
in every thoroughare, be considered by our autho-
rites an ornament rather than otherwise, to the
appears nee of the city, we confess ourselves at a
loss to know what occasion we have for the SER
vices of street superintendent. No doubt, how
| ever there has hitherto been congenial feeling
OF the kind, to which we have referred, between
the Common Council, and the gentlemen who
have filled this situation. For, to do them Justice,
they make ii nice snecure.
| We printed the other day. for the especial bene-
fit Of the police, the rules and regulations of the
corporation with regard to refuse, &c, thrown out
of houses, which rules and regulations, every
member of this force has soemnly sworn to see
observed the best OF his ability But, for all the
good that has resulted, we might as well have
spared ourselves the trouble. Unlike the stars in
The song of Molly Bawn, who shine
"Because they have nothing else to do,''
they never shine at ALL or if they do, their influence
is very little felt These vIgilant worthless are oc-
casionally to be seen walking up and down the
most filthy and noisome lanes, and purl;eus off the
East and North Rivers, as well as in every other
part OF the city, but they appear to be impressed
with the idea, that murder or a robbery is the
only occasion where their reference is necessary
If the inhabitants OF one or two houses, from
which refuse has been cast, were fined as the law
directs, we venture to say that one week would
not eapse before a very perceptble change would
be made in the appearance OF our streets. With
regard to the way in which the contractors have
discharged their duties, their future proceedings,
we shall say no more at present. On the corpora
ton rests the blame for is their business, IN case
of any breach of contract, to annul 1t, and to en-
desvor to get II properly fulfilled. This, also tall
ing, it is their duty to try other and more effective
plans to accomplish the desired object. Let
every policeman, whose beat is found to be re-
ceptace OF filth, be instantaneously dismissed the
service. BY some means or other, let us have
clean streets. Let us try we cannot wipe out
the stigma which is cast upon us by every city in
the Union. Now is the time to accustom the peo
pie to the habit of cleanliness. The cholera, if all
other motives be unavalling, looming in the dis
lance, and timely precautions should now be taken
against this terrible scourge.
1t is almost tresome to be continually endeavor-
voring TO arouse those whose duty it is to look
after the public health, to a sense of their
duties. The daily mortality, which silently takes
place in the densely populated districts and which
l. da,..n q ifs cause is of LITTLE