The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-09-16

State half cent additional for distances over
400 miles out of the Statethe postage to be prepaid
except when sent from the Office Of publication.
city Intermen OF Committees
Procrastlnation of the Common Council,
Sc.
We have sometimes tried to fathom the depths
Of prohigacy and corruption which prevail in
this modern Sodom of saints, massacres, rows,
churches, lord bishops, aldermen, &C.; but we
have pretty nearly given up the business in
despair. Our line is not long enough to go to the
bottom.
There are two reports lying before us, on the
subject of city interments, presented by special
committees appointed by one or other of the
Boards of Aldermen. 1t appears, that at different
times, the subject of city interments has been agi
lated, and such hosts of memorials, petitions, and
circumstances, sent in to that learned and august
body, that they have been compelled to take up
the subject. But they have hitherto been satisfied
with only making reports During the month of
Jane, the following resolutions were presented in
the Board of Assistant Aldermen
Whereas, The chocrs is nov raging in our midst,
and whereas this city being the great Of dcbsrc
lion from all parts OF the world Is peculiarly liable
tho,e diseases which like the cholera in
less sslubous emes and follow the wake OF commerce,
ana
Whereas. All lawful means should be taken in n city
81 such thropgipg population to keep the a,mos
~ pure and ubtainted as Posslble; and
Whereas IL appears from the reports q City In
spsetors for past well from medical tcsti
opy that the burial deposit Of the dead within
eity Is 20 the ling corrups the air and
hts 10 for III. ginAtion ard OF cpl
dsmical diseases therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That IL be referred to special committee
90 into the subject aud 10 of the best
method Of remedying the evil and OF the oropraty Of
passing an crdpanoe fcr6iddDg hereafter all inter.
nsnts or deposits tf the dead within the city selow
l.Fh sta1
matters tLus committed TO thtir charge with all
vsnisnt speed.
On the llth Of June, Assistant Aldermen S,ur.
sevant and Miller were appointed on this commit
See, and with industry and ability worthy Of
praise, have investigated the matter, and, in view
Of the tremendous array IF facts presented, they
recommend an ordinance prohib,iinl al burials ol
deposits Of the dead, within the ctty, south OF d
hne at least as low as FoIue;h street, and the y
wisely remark that vas; benefit would BE- rem
dered to the citizens of New York, now und Tor
ever hereafter, il the public voice should proclaim,
ne il some time assuredy will, that no intenmen,
shall again take place the island of Manhattan.
II Is certain that there is not a sensible man on
this island, who would not concur heartily IN this
Recommendation, unless he was concerned ia come
vault, cemetery, or burial ground on, OF which lac
was making monty, at the expense OF public health
In lsis there were u 9l9 deaths in this city, and
81 this vast number only 1868 were removed from
the city for lnterment, the vast balance Of IL ,0J6
being deposited or inferred in New York.
Where and how these thousands have been
stacked upon one another, most Of them half
covered, or not covered at all, pitched like car.
non into holes, chopped up and cut to pieces, and
dug up, to make room for corners, before the
nesh had left the bones, we have already in part
Informed our readers. For the last ten years, we
have uttered our solemn and unccasing protest
against these barbsrous practices, and have called
vain for common councils TO abandon their
Bacchsnslian reyels, for which we are taxed to
pay the bills, and for once bcstow q thought on the
good Of the citizens, and relieve ua from the rc-
mendous evils and oppression under which we are
new groaning for be 1t known, that so long "a
city bunas continue, priests, bishops and lord
bishops, grave yard ownCrs, deacons, underiakcrs,
and churches are specializing out OF the poor and
the unfortunate, who are compelled TO Pay more,
On many cases, for single grave in these tran
silent receptaces for the dead than an entire burial
lot costs in several Of the rural Cemeteries OF New
York. We have, On a former occasion, exposed
che villanes and braialilies that are practised in
Ais city We tha continue to do 90.
There are facts enough stated aud Arguments
enough educed in Mr.. StuI,evsn,'s rcpor, to alarm
any other Common Council than our own. into The
immediate enactment of an ordinanc. 10 prohibit,
for ever the burial of the dead on the isaad. II
goes on 10 show that the effect ot having over
1880 bodies every year decaying ia our midst, is
10 I'll the air with cxhaations the mo-, impure
This is proved from the pesiilence that often fol-
lows from the dead on fields OF battlefront III F,
frequent sudden deaths which occur in the dlsecct-
ing room, the testimony of medical teen on the
subject OF the POISONOUS character Of the q ases
escaping hom decomposing bodies. The medical
men OF London have risen in a body to annihillte
the filthy custom Of city buriss At a recent Court
al Common Council, Mr.. Ander,on moved that the
court do petition Parliament to pass an act 10 pro-
hibit intemenfs in London and other large towns
II is needless to say that the motion was carried
BY acclamation, in view Of the horrors that
accumulated at the very doors of the citlzess
Among other eminent men, d. Lynch SUP.
ported the motion, and stated, that twelve
shirtsenths Of the dead human body il dis
s'pa'ed in the air we breathe, and malignant,
ass fatal diseases were every day the conse-
sssnees lie pointed to the narrow plot Of ground
reshing with pestilence, heaped with the remains
Nseniuries Of decay, lie soil supersaturated with