The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-28


FILTHY CONDITION OF THE srREETs-Perhaps
there il no city in the world whose streets are so
filthy as those of New York. Their condition, for
years past, has been the dsgrace Of the city author
ites and at the present moment they are Is bad a.
ever they were before. In some Of the leading
thoroughfares, on Christmas day, the mirs was
about foot deep, aud the crossings appear to be
totally neglected It 10 curious enough that under
despotic and monarchial governments, things are
much better ordered with regard to the regulation
Of the streets, than they in the Empire City Of
the only free country in the world.
This is rerroach to de nocracy and to republican
Institutions for which they are not justly RESPONSE
BILE, but tho men who have been entrusted with tho
government Of the city, and who have failed to
fulfil the implied conditions on which they were
elected. There ia no department. Of science or art
in which men reared under republican in sttutions
have not proved themsslycs equal, if not superior,
to men under any other form Of government, and no
reason nor the shadow Of reason, can be assigned
Why We have not as cleaN streets a. any city in
Europe. New York is far more healthy, By nature,
than the city Of London, and yet, though it il
crowded with four times tho amount of populst
ard 10 afflicted with twonty times the amount OF
poverty, its sanitary condition. owing to good drain
age and the superior cleanliness Of tho Streets is far
ahead of that Of New York, and the mortality Is
twenty i've per cent less Tie quantity Of rain
falling in London Is far greater than in New York.
and the surface of the soil being stiff, resentYs
blue clay, the moisture renains especially a. there
are natural outlets for it; whereas, in New
York, the soil being Of sandy nature, it soAka
from the surface such moisture rs does not run off
by the fall Of the ground Yet London, in the foul.
est weather is kept perfectly clean, willis New York
is synonime for all that Is filthy By daylight Ii the
morning the streets Of London are 10 thoroughly
swept, that lady in crossing it, not merely at the
crossings, but Mt any point, conlj not soil the edge
Of her dress whereas hers it is impossible for aer
to cross ut the crossings, even TO walk the foot
ways, without having her boots thoroughly satu
rated with vet, and her dress covered with mud
The jury to shopEeepers and others is serious for
it prevents the fair sex from going out to mako
purchases Of goods.
If DO asked what 10 the cause Of this neglect Of
the streets, we answer that it Is not to keep the
streets clean aldermsn get themselves elected, but
for far different purposes and it 10 net for sueh low
business that the commissioner, whose nominal duty
it to look after the streets, has received his appoint
ment He pockets tho salary, it is true, but hs las
army Of scavengsls II Is not because there is not
enough o: money spent IN the government Of tho
city that the streets are left In such dsplorable
condition. The citizens pay taxes su cisnt to nave
it a. clean as sny other city in shs world but the
public funds wasted and aqxandered upon objects
that do not contribute to tho advantage or the hap
pineH Of tho tax payers All classes Of politicians
who for number Of years have obtained possession
Of the city government and the spoif belonging
thereto, have reen chargeab]s with this NAL admin
istratiop; and till tho citizens overthrow the pre-
sent system Of primary elections, and take the no
eessary pains to elect to Office iii such can be
found) whose object is not mere enolument, bat the
applause Of their fellow citizens and whose chief 10.
ward . ,ns conscious pride Of having done their
duty, they must be content 70 endxrs for the future
the Inconvenience discomfo-t, and filth from which
they have suffered so mnsh ia the pact.
IMPORTANT 70 TAX PAYERS --We desire 10 call
the attention Of our tax-ridden citizens to the i'm
portant proceedings yesterday, before Judge En-.
met. They viii be found in another colsmn. II