The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-31

the determinations that have been practlsed in Pot
terri Field, Randalrs Island, and nearer the heart
Of the city, too, in burying like dogs, and pol
lutng the pure air Of heaven with the noisome
stencil of the purifying remains Of poor humanity.
We perceive that partial reform has been Co
creed by the force of opinion. A new Potter's
Field Is to supersede the old and the outages
upon law, decency, and the moral sense Of the
community, are to cease-at least, at RandalPs
Island. That the malpractlces perpetratsd in the
cemetery that island were contrary to nv, there
cannot be doubt. An act OF the State Legisla-
ture provides, under heavy penalty, that no dead
body shall be inferred less than six feet below the
surface of the ground surrounding the cemetery.
Now, in the Potter's Field-which may well be
called "the weltering field Of the tombless dead''-
the collins are not only not below the surface at all,
but piled more than Elk feet above tin fact not
buried at all, unless, indeed, we apply the term
burial TO the lower tiers, which three or four
feet below the level of the sand for in these pits
There are dead above, and the dead below
Lie cold In many cofhn'd row.
The fragrant violation, then, of the sanitary pro-
vision of burying the dead SIX feet below the sur
face of the earth, has been connived at by the mu
nicipa authorities, and particularly by the SAM
tary Committee of the body called the Board of
Health. The Board of Health consists of the
members Of the Common Council, with associated
medical advisers. The Sanitary Committee is
a part of that body, deputed by the rest to
attend to the health of the city, and make
such sanitary regulations the necessities of the
inhabitants demand. Now, this Board of Health,
and this Sanitary Committee have not only tolera-
ted nusances Of all kinds, poisoning the atmos-
phere with efluvia, but in the case OF cemeteries,
they have themselves set the worst Of examples.
The Potter's Field, on Randall's Island, is their
property; it was purchased by the funds of the cor
poratioD, and it is idle TO be shifting the response
bihty upon the Aims House Governors, who have
only legal control of the Nurseries, and not of the
cemetery. The latter has been in existence for
years, whereas the governors are only in Office for
few months Besides, from the limited and de-
fined nature of their duties, it would be strange,
indeed, if the public health, the abating of nui-
sances In general or of those connected with ceme-
teries in particular, came under their cognsance.
This bandying about, therefore, of responsibility,
from one to another, like shutte-cock or foot
ball, arises from want Of moral courage to meet
difficulties OF an honest desire to advance the pub
lie interests committed to the trust of officials. II
q gross Is Pointcu out ny tuc press, VI
complained Of by individuals, there is nobody in
fault, from the Mayor down to the policeman. His
honor has no power; the charter has taken il from
him. the officer cannot act without orders, or he
cannot find out the names Of the delinquents, hav-
ing probably, got hint to that effect, from the Al
deIman of the ward A Board of Health has been
appointed to look alter such matters and things.
But this body when appealed to, refer to the Aims
House Governors, or to the City Inspector, who
refers back to the Board of Health, and thus the
round of references and shutting goes on, while
nothing is DONE and the people who "pay SO dearly
for their WHISTLE" are victimized.
The Board of Health land this shows that, not
withstanding all their disclaimers, they do feel
conscious of their responsibility have been treat
ing about Berrian's Island for the new cemetery,
md have had il surveyed for the purpose. The
residents, however, in the vicinity Of the island
kicked up such muss about it that they bafiled
the Job. Nothing can more decidedly prove the
incompetence Of the Board Of Health for the task
they have undertaken than the selection OF such
site for cemetery. In the first place, there are
only sixteen acres in this island, though the cost
would be, we are informed, $4,000. But six
teen acres of ground will only suffice to bury
which is the proper average The dead OF this
city, last year, were 1878, of which only 1853
were removed from the city--the remainder,
therefore, namely, ll,056, were inferred IN the
cemeteries Of the city, including 2, s97 in Poter's
Field. Now, the number buried in the latter, even
last year, with smaller population, and no cholera,
would exceed The capacity Of the sixteen acre
island. What then would be done with the re-
naming s,l59 inferred in the other cemeteries Of
the city, which have been either closed, or ought
to be closed This year our dead will be found
TO be 20, 600, and this number it would take 80
acres to bury decenily, without making any pro-
vision for the future increase OF population.
Nothing less. therefore, than 200 or 800 acres
ought to be though, OF. Secondly, in the winter.
the distractions from the ice would sometimes
render that island inaccessible.
The last place that has been spoken Of il Hemp
stead Plains, on Long Island, situate about sixteen
miles from New York. II not too distant, this might
answer very well, as there Is ample ground which
could be purchased cheap and the railroad runs
right through II. Certainly, IT is infinitely preferable
20 the sma1 islands in the East River. There are
many reasons winch nigh, be urged against them.
The same difficulty that applies to Rsndalls Is
land with regard to depth Of SOIL probably applies
to every other island in the Sound Then again,
instead Of being further removed from the people,
it ought TO be brought nearer to them. II is ma
tural wish, common TO oil men, to see their dead
properly and decently buried. What Is the prac-
tice at Po,iers Fiedl The dead are brought to
the dead house at Bellevue, and that is the last
their relatives see Of them. When the bodies ac-
cumulate in sufficient number, they are conveyed
by a steamer to Pot,ers Field. How they are dis
Toscd Of there, the readers Of the Herald have
seen. The feelings Of the survivors are revoltcd
at barbaIiiy never practised even by heaihens or
savages. We say the people have night TO sec
their dead inferred; and the new cemetery ought.
to be somewhere near, in New Jersey,
Long Island, OF in the upper part Of this island, say
as high up as Manhattsnvie; for the railway
brings any part Of the island near, and that locality
will no, be peopcd for some years to come, and
even a. 4, were the cemetery should be - con