The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-24
The HEALrH or FEE CIrY.-A short time ago

HE HEALTH OF THB CIfY.-A short time ago
we adverted to the dsgrsceful state Of the city
d .nsious to lealth, offensive to the senses, OBJ
structing the free passage Of the streets, and in
jarrg the interests Of merchants, storekeepers
and h,tes, by driving or keeping away customers
and vi tiers who would otherwise spend their
money in this great heart of the republic, to be
circulated thence back again to the remotest ex-
tremities. We said we hoped the present Common
Council ' ould not follow the example of the late
"dirty" Corporation, who opposed the City Inspec-
tor in every sanatory measure he proposed for the
city. We are sincerely glad to find that both boards
have since done their duty in the premises, to very
great extent and particularly the Board of Assis-
tants, who originated the resolutions for the re-
moyal Of all dead animals, horses, cattle, dogs,
cats and other deleterious substances, both animal
and vegetable, to distance Of twenty-five miles
from this city--an islet the east side of Long
Island having been procured for the purpose. In
the Board of Assistants, the measure was
adopted unanimousy-in the Board of Aldermen,
by sixteen votes, only two voting against it.
This is the very thing that excellent City In
spector wanted to have carried out two years ago;
but he was not sustained by the '"City Fathers of
that time, who preferred to apply the public money
expended for sanatory purposes, in such city as
this is well laid out, and win repay hundredfold.
Hitherto, New York, in point OF cleanliness, has
been the disgrace of civilization, and New Workers
who have visited Paris and London-with Immensely
greater populations, and fewer natural facilities for
purifcation-haye blushed, on returning to their
own city, to see how filthy it was, compared with
those European cities, Notwithstanding that nature
had done so much for the American capital, in the
formation of the sland with high ridge running
through the centre, and declivity either side,
sloping into the East and North rvers-those two
great scavengers, which, by q proper system Of
drainage, would sweep away the filth Of the entire
city, with the exception Of dead animals, &c., for
which the Corporation has now provided.
We are glad to see any degree of progress in this
respect and shall always be ready to give the autho-
rites credit for it, They have begun well-let them
rersevere to the end. The next thing that claims their
care is the muddy condition of the Streets which,
though not injurious to health, except SO far il
gives vet feet to wayfarers, is source Of great an
noyance and offence to both citizens and strangers
making them feel uncomfortable they walk ont
and destroying the dresses of ladies' This require.
immediate attention The next thing to be attended
to after that is the horrible piggeries up town, and
those denominations, the cowpens, where, from dis
eased animals, who never get any exorcisc-some o.
them never permitted to lie down, and none of then
ever breathing the free air of heaven-pure Orangt
county milk" is drawn in any quantity, and, ate
the application of little Croton, sold to our cti
zens for their wives and little ones. We constantly
hear complaints Of the difficulty of ''raising chill
dren in New York, and of the dreadful infant
mortality. Can it be wondered at, with these afro
nsn nprsC0 I'M nfYlra
death all over our population? City fathers lool
| to it.