The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-29

IT'S OBsTRuCTIOSs.-Is it not public disgrace,
that tho most prominent and handsomost thorough
fare in the wealthiest and most fashionable city
in this great country, with its splendid crystal
palaces, and elegantly attired promenaders, should
be suffered to exist in really dirty, filthy and
disgusting condition Is it not discreditable,
that in respect to cleanliness and order, it is
inferior to the streets and common thorough
fares in the English provincial towns Yet such is
the What decently attred man OF woman can
walk up Broadway Mt any period of the day, without,
after having ccughod up the lung grinding flint
dust, expressing positive disgust
To this filthy condition OF Broadway are to be
added yet more dangerous grievances, caused by
the many unnecessary distractions which pcdestri-
ans have to encounter. Proper attention is not
paid public convenience in the erection of stores
and i'll the repairing Of tho street. Ii only few
days since that we lady precipitatod to the
ground, by stumbling upon plank which lay i'm
moN;thy fixed across the pa, ement, and really, for
auelt reason would show to the contrary, had the ap
pealanco Of an intentional obstruction. For the
better accommodation Of those also Who it might
be supposed, might desire an accidental suicide
by broken neck, thin planks, plant under the
weight of some twenty individuals, are placed
across deep chasms, and over which narrow crowd
are obliged to pass.
The extraordinary freaks and gyrations Of the
omnibuses, consequent upon their irregular and
sklul driving present prospects equally gratifying
These disagreeabilitics and dangers are remediabe
by the enforcement of proper police regulations,
similar to those VII exist in London and Paris.
The first grievance Stranger in orr city finds
ont, is the absence of the beneficial effects in
the public streets of these funetionarics; and
we really must complain of great dcrelIction
of duty on the part of city and police
authorities. 1t is much more easy to cross any one
of the most crowded thoroughfarcs in London-and
which are more crowded than any part of
streets--than some Of the crossings in Broadway,
owing to the unskilful driving and irregular pace Of
the omnbuaes and other vehicles. There should be
a uniformity in their speed.
Our streets would appear to he seldom if ever
cleaned, and when they are scavengcrod, this
delectabe operation is performed in the day time,
by way, doubt, of an additional gratifca
ton for the aforesaid promenaders and pedestrians
We must however, really beg leave to give our pre-
ference to the London mode Of night scavengering
as agreeable and more convenient for business
operations and We cannot help noticing the regular
operations Of the strcet orderlies,' posted in the
daytime in all the great thoroughfares Of that
city, at convenient distances, for the purpose Of
removing filth, and thereby the cause Of those
diseases which it would no doubt engcnder, and
from which take the liberty Of saying our city is
not exactly" entirely free-and we may perhaps
hint that il docs stand in "rather" IN unfavorablc
contrast five rcoollec tho bills Of mortality rightly
The streets, loo, Of the British mctropolis-cyen
rhe most crowdod-are regularly watored during
tie summer months, Except, we believe, on n Sun
day. when the working classes get out on every
seventh day. 10 enjoy themselves, and the better
portion go to church, stay at home matter Of
gentili:y) Without such operation they would
bo-alMost like our Broedway-inpassable, and
trade and commerce OF such nature az il carried
On in the crystal palaces Of that fine thoroughfarc
would be seriously retarded Upon this latter point
We hope the broadway residents will be acute M
usual.
We really blpe that the authorities will direct
their attention T. the subject, and give necessary
and avert from their devoted heads the
curses N all biped pedestrians