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

sulphuretted hydrogen, and carbonic acid gas, its
surface strewed with bones and moist with matter,
and exhalations alike disgusting TO the senses and
destructive to health; that plague spot was hemmed
in with novels, in which space was economzed to
the verge of suiocation, by which means fever,
dysentery, scrofula and consumption, were never
absent In summer the smell from the vaults was
easily perceptible in many of the best churches.
People often returned home from them afflicted
with headaches, vomiting and falnting fits
The house OF God was thus filled with poisonous
emsnatIons. 1t was said, DR.. Lynch, a charuel
house. and the grandeur of the sanctuary was m ide
by this abomlnable system TO have an interest In
Its pollution. So is it in New York, where there
churches that have vaults under them, which
pay 60 large revenue for the storage OF dead bo-
dies from all quarters that they allow the foul and
unchTstian stencil TO come up around their altars
and they have sent and do send IN their remon-
strances against any action Of the Common Coun-
Gil to prevent it. The report quotes the following
from the Ne,c York Herald -
SHsMErUL.-Tbe Coroner yesterday called upon
to visit the Catholic buryng ground (potters's Field
at the corner Of Fiftisth street and Fourth avenue
where three cofus about three feet long, had been
thrown into the enclosure without the knowledge OF
tne keePFr PER aesoau'"E hpaia ;nn
the collins contained those Of infants who
to have died from natural causes. The Coroner while
the ground took occasion to lock ut the mode ut
burial in this cemetery and his resulted
in the discovery OF a number Of trenches about one
hundred feet long. twenty feet deep and about
feet wide. Into the e trenches the coins placed
In and not covered with earth until the trenches
are filled We are informed by the officers attached
the Coroner's Office than there hundreds II not
Thousands. Of these collins exposed u public view
Who s to blame in this matter! somebody sur-ly Is
Obnoxious to loud censure. 1t Is, indeed shameful
We have other facts to relate We are prepared
to show that in the fashionable parts of the town,
the Common Council have been obliged this sum
mer to close burial grounds, for the inhabitants of
the neighborhood were dying by scores, and the
stencil IN their dwellings from these putrid pits
was absolutely intoerable.
Yes, the Common Council could treat memorials
from the upper ten with respect and close grave
yards that were offensive, and dangerous 10 the
rich, but what have they done to exempt the poor
of this city from this fatal curse? There are dis
tricts in the ghborhood of the poorer grave-yards
of the city, where the INDECENT and the destitute
are now dying day by day. Everybody knows
that hardly dozen deaths from cholera have oc-
Cured in the lower part Of the city during the
summer, while in the central and northern dis
trcts, they have cached one hundred day, and
once fourteen hundred week, embracing other
diseases. Ii is useless TO deny that one OF the
principal causes of the health Of the lower part OF
the town has been, that burlals are not allowed
there An ordinance was passed long ago, PROFIT
biting burials IN this district, and petitions without
1 number sent IN, that the line may be extended
up town. But this not enough. 1t Is puerlle and
contemplate legislation, 10 wait till the ruin has
been wrought Better 10 forestall the evil, while
there is time. The interest Of the city now re-
quircs that burals Of all kinds be prohibited on
this island, and TO this point the present Common
Council viii have TO come, unless they would
eufIer TIE odium OF lceislang for the rich, and
leaving the poor and helpless to take of them
! selves.