The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-09-18
The LiUhtinR OF the CITY.

of the city, the heht ~ SO distributed as Just to
make the darkness vielble," and II would be al
most as well to have no hight at all, as such a
miserable apology for IT, Indeed, Ia some re-
spects, it would be better to have total darkness
for then the peaceable, honest citizen would have
some chance of escape from the assassin, the
robber or the rOwdy But the dim oil lamQs,
which seem family struggling for existence,
amidst the surrounding gloom, and scattered at
long intervals, give the lurking assaiIant light
enough to see his victim, but not enough to the
victim to recognise the features Of the rulian
who attacks him under cover Of the night The
lives and property of very large proportion Of
the citizens are every night at the mercy of the
ill-disposed and that there are so few ASSASSIN
nations, robberies and assaults, Is owing more to
the forbearance or cowardice Of the thieves, to
their scarcity, than TO the Lighting OF the city, or
the vigilance of the police The officers, as we
have the means Of knowing, are afraid to venture
into the darkness not being able to distinguish the
persons Of the gang they would have TO grapple
with, nor TO ascertain how great their number
The consequence W, that there are more depre-
da,ions committed than ever come to light II is
notorious that sailors are robbed, night after night
in those streets lying along the two rivers, espe-
cially the East River, and these robberies are
never reported, because, from the darkness IN
those streets where they are perpetrated, the
plundered would not be able TO identify the rob-
bers, and, therefore, it would be totally useless
for him TO make any complaint.
A gentleman connected with this Office, having
occasion to pass through one of these streets, few
nights ago, on his way to FIRE, enqured Of one at
the police the shortest route to his destination,
when the officer very good. naturally advised him
TO beware of passing through certain streets that
were then lying right before hlm-a caution that
seemed not altogether unnecessary, for two
men had been robbed and beaten few minutes
before, near the same spot II was In the Fourth
ward.
Sometimes, when man is brave or ioolhardy
enough to resist, he is knocked on the head, or
sirspgled, and thrown over the quay. Hence, in
week after, we hear Of an unknown man" being
found drowned, floating at Astoria, Wards Island,
Fnshipg Bay, or wherever else the tide will carry
the BODY. Then, from the burned way in which in
quests are generally conducted, the Coroner having
toe much to do IN this way, rarely is any lghtthrown
on the dark mystery, and verdict Is returned Gin
accordance with the evidence" which is, IN fact,
no evidence TO the purpose. The body Is buried,
perhaps in the sand, as a late occasion, and
thing more is known, or ever will be, about the
deceased, till the day Of judgment. They manage
these matters better in the great cities Of the old
country. Ii is very seldom, indeed, that you will
ever read in the journals of London or Paris Of an
inquest being held upon the body Of man " I'M
known"
These are some Of the results of keeping the city
in darkness. There are many others, such as the
breaking of legs and spraining Of ankles in the
holes in the sidewalks, insults to respectable fe.
males, and the practice Of prostitution in the case
Of the unfortunate.
Even in those parts Of the city that are lighted
with gas, what is the fact I Why, that the light is
only slight degree removed from darkness.
Broadway, the B-wery, and two or three other
leading thoroughfares, are pretty well lighted but
the majority OF the gas-hehted streets are dark
enough for the perpe Of any degree Of wick
edness with IMMUNITY. The quality Of the gas is
Inferior, the quantity dimnutive. and the lights SO
far apart, that they are like angels visits" Then
they are exinguished little after midnight-the
very time they are most wanted or are not lighted
for an hour and half after sunset The police are
constantly complaining Of it; for instance, they re-
port that, in the First ward, on Friday evening
20 half past seven O'clock which was an hour after
dark. And this is no solitary instance Of criminal
neglect or wilful malversaiion. There is one
street IN the came ward that il never lighted at
all-Marketfeld street-where designations, made
on The Battery and elsewhere, are consumnated
ard the police, though knowing these facts, viii
not risk their lives by attempting to interfere with
the parties.
The First ward contains three-fourths Of the
money, ans large proportion Of the movable pro-
perty, Of The city, and yet even il Is lighted the
way we have described There is not meet
ing Of the Common Council held that there are
not circumstances, memorials, and petitions.
about increased light; but so little attention -
paid to this subject by the "ciy fathers" that
the citizens despair Of justice, and give the matter
up in disgust. Yet il Is net because enough Of
money not expended on the lighting Of the city.
There Ia more PAID for qsarter light and three
iourhs saikIess, than would iliumne the whole OF
the Inhabited portion Of New York spleDdidly, If
the money we're properly applied. Gas Ia three
time. a. efp~nsive her. as il ~ in London, Liver
pool, Manchester, Edinburgh, and other large cities
IN Great Britain. In those cities, the charge, at
,ne time, wac just as rxorbliant a. Ia New York /;
but the citizens determined not To be hpmbugged
any Longer. They started nvsl companies, over
threw moncpoee, and. by The universal use OF gas,
even IN private dwellings, they made II the cheap
est of lights while the new companies had, after
al, much profit as the old, in consequence IT the
great increase OF consumption-ihc chief expense
consisting IN the laying Of the main pipes.
II we had up intelligent, upright Common Coun-
cal what ought to be done u the that body
ought to take The lighting Of the city into its own
haIds employ fret rate men, nj liberal salaries, TO
conduct the business, and thus give TO the citizens
the immense profits Of the gus companies. The
cf the sbonnablr oil lamps ought 10 be totally
abolished, and the whole city lighted with gas
only. Blu, these Just and necessary reforms u is
vain To expect from the present imbecIc and
corrupt city gOyerI ment
CONVENTION OF THE EPISCOPAL CHrrcu-RE-
sroRATroSs AND RrvoLUrIoSs-The Episcopal
Convention Of this diocess viii assemble in ~.
Johns Chapel, on "Wednesday morning. SEPT. 18th,
at ten o'clock, for the transaction of business the
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