The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-19
The Health of the CITY,

The Health Of the city.
IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY IN
sPECTOR
CITY INsrECToR's DEPARTMENT,
New YORK, June, 1852.
To THE HONORABLE THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF New YORK;
Gentemen-The City Inspector would most re-
spectfully submit the following communication to
the consideration and action Of your honorable
body, in the earnest hope that tho Importance of
the matters embraced therein may induce prompt
action on the part of your honorable body.
During the March session Of your honorable body,
an ordinance was adopted whereby this department
has been deprived of all assistance for the perform
ance of its outdoor duties By this action Of your
honorable body, this department being deprived OF
the services of the Deputy City Inspector and nine
teen Health Wardens the city has been left wholly
without authorized officers to cause the removal
or abatement of nuisances dangerous to the public
health--the only aid allowed to that department
being the services of two clerks, whose time is
wholly occupied in the granting and recording OF
burial permits, registering of Deaths and receiving
the numerous complaints made by our citizens of
nuisances that threaten the origin spread of dis
case. Additional labor in the Office is now required
tho granting of scavengcrs permits-and 1t is al
most impossible to perform the labor of the office
without additional assistance. The time of the City
being employed in the investigation OF com
plants, notification, and attention to other public
duties renders it impossible for him to give any out
door attention to the numerous and startling COM
plants that made to this department daily. In
consideration of the health wardens who continue to
perform duty, Notwithstanding the ordinance passed
at the March session, not receiving any compensa-
ton for the services they have performed for more
than three months past, the City Inspector cannot
demand the same vigilant, active and faithful DIS
charge of duties that formerly existed, and which
| due regard to the welfare of citizens demands.
Another for the want of efficiency is found in
the fact that these gentlemen, while in the perform
ance Of their duties being frequently insulted and
abused, and even violently assailed by persons who
are at all times ready bid defiance to all law and
| authority, and who rejoice at the opportunity of
! abusing public officer, under the sanction OF
the ordinance Of your honorable De-, body AGO.
4 and Health Wardens. AS the legislative branch
Of our city government, it is proper and be-
coming that the executive heads OF department
| should do act that might appear to defy or
contravene the action of your honorable body; and
this consideration independent of the injury to the
cause of the city, in the trial now in progress),
would be sufficient reason for the City Inspector not
requiring that strict discipline and prompt attention
from the officers of the department, which are never
| theless, most imperatively demanded by due re-
| gard to the public good.
/ The City Inspector cannot but regret that like
degree of consideration for the rights, duties and
sponsbiites of the heads of departments, combined
with considerations Of the most vital Importance
the preservation Of the health and lives of our cti-
zens, and the welfare and prosperity OF our city
| should not have been displayed by your honorable
| body before the adoption of an ordinance that has
left citizens to justly complain ofthe liability to
the attack, origin, OF pestlentia disease, without
to cause the abatement of the great and dangerous
nusnnces that abound, and that ct all times threa
ten the lives Of the residents of large cities
The Haath Wardens who were, by the action of
your honorable body, virtually removed by the
adjustment of the office of Health Warden, having
deemed the action of your honorable body illegal
and void, have, thus far, continued voluntary Duty
in the hope that by process of law, or by the re-
scnding or repeal of the ordinance of last March,
your honorable body would provide compensation
for the service rendered. For term of nearly four
| p,nnths fhaea hny rmedd uty with
| out compensation therefor. and they have shown a
commendable public spirit in continuing to perform
this important public service, instead of leaving
this department wholly without aid and our city
without protection.
Under these circumstances, these gentlemen can
scarcely be expected to continue their services in the
event Of epidemic disease prevailing or, at the pre-
sent time, they cannot be blamed for not risking
their lives by violence, by the dangerous diseases
with which their daily duties compel their contact,
while thus deprived of all reward tor their labors.
In this state Of affairs. our City Inspector cannot
enforce the discipline and requirements Of the dc.
partment. 4iihout injustice to these gentlemen; or
on the other hand assuming an authority in oppo-
sition 70 the acts OF your honorable body.
Without receiving compensation for their services,
the City Inspector cannot ak the performance u
duty from these officers with the rromp,itudc and
! fidelity the public interests demand.
| The number Of complaints of nuisances existing
and endangering he LeSth ard lives Of the commu-
nity this season. far exceed those Of former years.
and among them some Of tie worst and most dan
Sti'us dit NulI iDcEthsl. evil tAtttih. It-
cau5c this department. has not IN officer properly
authorized t. perform 4 its out. door duties
Daily he office IL this department i crowded
with compliments. and each days post brings ot
tcis Of complain, from ~ parts Of tie city; aad the
only notice the City Inspector take Il the evils
Is ~ state that +" nc is wholly without out-dooi
officers ~ liz command q perform the duties If til
department.: and the pablic interests, aai the
health End lives u citizens, must suffer The
consequences Of this department being deprived 3
it, necessary force and efficiency"
u my appear Of small importance to dispense wit,
the services of twenty officers 81 orr city govern
incnt; but reelection upon the dangerous and disa
groeabe duties Of health wardonsthc importance
Of the thorough cleansing and puri1caton of oui
city OF all dangerous and offensive nuisance s-tht
welfare Of the community, and the health and lives
Of our citizens perilled b. exposure TO epidemic
Iestiential disease. particularly at this season
Of The Year, should sufficiently urge the in,
the ordinance Of the March session immediately il
order that the city may be placed in condition Il
meet the approach or prevent the origin Of disease
by the adoption Of prompt measures of cleansing
and thorough purifcaton. If this department must
be thus absolutely deprived Of the assistance re-
CURED, the responsibility must rest upon your homo
rabe body
The present state of the city in regard to clean.
liness the thousands of reekng and pestilencc-
breeding nuisances complained of at this Office
Especially dangerous during the warm season, }
| and the near approach and prevalence in ylrious
parts Of the country Of that dread scourge the
cholera, demand that no means should be neglected
to forthwith redeem the city from its present state
Of neglect and filth. The seriously and Justly
alarmed state of the public mind presents sufficient
reason and excuse for this department making this
urgent appeal to your honorable body, aud your
honorable body must appreciate the great necessity
| Of immediate action upon matter that involves
the welfare of all branches Of trade, mechanical,
manufacturing, commercial and mercantile, the
growth and prosperity of the city, and the health
and lives Of our citizens, all destroyed by the me-
glect Of proper sanitary measures, should disease of
epidemic or contagious character unfortunately
appear in the city,
All Of which is most respectfully submitted.
A. W. WHITE, City Inspector.
The Fatal RencOntre In Charleston.
| From the Charleston Mercury, June IS
| A Cor0ner's jury was summoned yesterday, at IL
| 0snlncl 10 hold n INN AZ hodu of Mr Re-