The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-04

mgs Of light and sunsbDe and pure air shall be equal
enjoyed by all its people under the provision r
suitable laws The fact Cannot be that many
hundreds Of thousands OF dollars annually bestowed
BY law on voluntary bnmaDe associations the Of
disease in the city Of New York. the existence OF which
could be entirely prevented by proper sanitary regula
hops The excessive mortality which seek TO remedy,
unless some eectual action takes place speedily must
continue steadily 10 increase and for natural nc
dent to the position OF the city, which limited accom-
it's numbers.
seaport open every breeze from the waters, vel
coming rhips from every cline, the cty Oh new Iork n
the key Of the greatest inland trade in the world But it's
superficial extent limited. 1t is nevertheless destined
10 contain millions Of inhabitants and becomes therefore
imperative question for its rulers 70 determine how ana
where people find dwellings within its bounds.
It's population, under existing regulations must crowd
each other than at present. where may be found
thousands Of persons crammed into single block OF tene
mcnt houses. How important IL h, then, that due pro
vision should be made TO guard against the
proads Of disease and death resulting from
within CONTROL
The present is the tme while least one half island
remains be built up0n 70 accomplish this benehcent
work and TO beyond doubt accident the perma
reduction Of the mortality which is startling
WISE sanitary regulations may, under Providence,
change the whole character the future Of New York
and the legislative bodies which deliberate earnestly
sponsibties which attach them, when such state Of
things as presented in this report1 calls upon them for
prompt, wise, and active interposton.
The importance Of whatever Affects the sanitary cOndi
tion of a community numbering threc ourths Of mil
lion of sous viii readily bc admitted, and the urgent
eessty for such investigation the Senate entrusted
10 this committee is fully established by the testimony
herewith submitted IL is demonstrated beyond all
sonabe question that the great city whose progress in
the material elements OF Prosperity astonishes not only
ourselves but The. world death is making alarming
nroad upon III population. and that the average yearly
mortality is lar beyond its due proportion. There
Dualiy cut oil from by disease and death enough hu
man beings to people city, and enough of human labor
10 sustain It, Individual resistance to this mortal foe is
entirely in vain. Hospitals, institutions Of charity and
benevoeDce dispensares and relief societies abound in
the community but they exert themselves hopeessy TO
arrest the evil, the maades for which they offer
control
Great cities are certainly the pride Of nations but they
require u paternal control, and all Christian and
civilized communities recognise the duty OF
exercising l.. 1he difficulty has mainly been
in devisDg the mode OF using this power judciously,
not needessy to place restraints upon personal free
dom The aid Of science must sometimes be invoked to
strengthen and direct the hand Of government, and to
guide legislation in the duty of providing remedies for
istng evils due regard TO the pubic health of popu-
ous and growing cities calls loudly for the practical appi
cation of scientific principles resulting from investigation
into the OF increased mortality and Of the best
modes Of prevention Such investigations are constantly
IN progress ana u is not the part OF wisdom to reject the
counseis which they oer. 1t is but recently that public
attention has been drawn to the direct effects OF Light the
character of the solar ray, and its chemical and
bealtbu action apart from its sensible heat SO also
regard TO ventilation and the introduction and diffusion Of
heat in dwellings: great progress has been made Of late
years in reference to these subjects and the sfu arch
tect Of the present DAY readily avas himself of the eknow
ledge which denied to his predecessors. vast debt
is due 10 science for such discoveries. Humanity finds
them practical and reliable agents for good.
But nature is full of remedial measures Of its own, if
we were reaoy ana disposed 70 ke advantage OF tnen
me cneus. 'he puarmacen.st ana 'o surgeon woia pe
spared much Of their most painful duty could be
brought 10 Iey HUne upon wnoesoe AT uireCt suhngnt
and pure water The city Of New York. thanks 10
of its intelligent, energetic and phanthropc ctizens
Jys we VI .ne As.er pesse IN ooun.lu pro-
nu a lver @ LOWS wn uenua' ,s suees = anu
as.nues, HuppyIhs ose.' n"Dau "ieh euln.'ens sum-
wafer anay thrss, !" prePare iood anu 70
.a p,oao Ina 10 .. i'e ,,, VI. w"'cr -, ~
tides uplift and cleanse the respective streams.
~ an, ~ srnsh Sroa,o, D. ,ha o.aan ,a,nor
rs noIsss na y, &c.,. no baa Of ,s .,ina,
a, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES al ,hasa ID .an,anns ,ho r,or
.,,, =, ~, ~ o !. 90 aoa @ ;ts - So, VIC a ~ :.
% y VI ue o h ar T ns.,h s fao, anu S
raMay increasing me rate Oh aeatDs as appears from
oeiuly plsPaeu s.ass.os ~, .e sl seven YEARS. IS
sIoasy IN aoo Vi ~, e e'Ate ny oauses
or TINS excessive mortality are mainly attribuaoe TO the
rapid ana s.eaay increase oi Ine popuaon, without
pioloi N WV s.eA',o VI sai
hy in ana s h ,ao ,h & ,v c. az
W e ~ oes al, "a se ., v app @
Vi .ene HOUSES, oauy Cne.l uocu, npeIicoty ven
.ateo; .IsuinSehty usneo ino sewers' anu per'ious
" 7, % % fn h oyydrce thu, tho os, co,rc
~ WI Spi."A ,,,S @ va .. ~, 80 s. ~ s v $40. ., .s
hu,sances are permsea 70 remain ui'noaea Surlng .ns
s,erinn oxcreman,ai nat,sr in coss ox,v h tho
rhc 5,anSa.s ana ,hat ,,n ~ ,,nh,o thi,h S ,s.a, -
aaaa ~ ~ ~ a, ss ti,a . ~ uDs is a - - .h .
cnsa,s IN ,b 5onsos -, ,ha ,a ,h az, ~ " ,h '1 ,,
~ ., ~. ,i M @ m r , ~ ;o ~ & a 'o i. nun VI WIG sa.sei
ndI az ,h ~ dwa ~ mi Vasi u n ,h o V~uu IUi
classes
Io,a, -ocrl,,ons oxist IN roo,rd q, ho,a erh
oca an eA,st IN aegara 70 aese suo
;onob, tna dn,v ~ ,h. S,as ubich Z ha connatant
anhori,v N adon without aav some change oS systen,
hch iha of ,ba Hal
Deuartment at present orFanzed as branch Of the Cv
T. c,is og,ca M - 49, NO, ~ annh ,bo ~ n;ao, ~ r @ ,y
- as as,ab,sSsd The com,,ss acom,yuond ,ac ,hara
ore Thai ihe nreeen, organ;zaon rnder ,h,t n,,n he
aho,shed In asy,sne sniabe and eaicent snnsti,ute
~ har. an, ~ ,au5 ~, go 80 "a os ou,, ~
a;y,i uy . Aea s, ~ Wv ", W., hyh ny ,s 40 vpery % .e
ment.w " ~ ~ " WV WY e0N
Eirst wba,ovor rea.ss IN tho af,rs of bo ci,
,ba carsos nre,on,io' and cnro y, seas - al ar
hronnh, NJ a. ,ta nhr ,ora ana ~ ,,,,inn ~ 81
con,nnn,,u a, oro M y, Tho o1rcs ~ tsoaso rcern,
f,om v,oiay;ion nj ssni,.,v ,aws.and - ''-e
se,ooS on ,be ss,v Ic," VI hn, a,
f,nm ,boee haso,e s,a,ad Tho ar,,s. nna ,b ss,
hraTc thev nronose 10 consde io no.r Rnard n ho
ca,id tha pna,fd ~ tJea,h ;, ,tS m on, IN ~ 90 ~
under the t,e of ,.sunern,enaen Of Tho pubic usoh
win snbo,dirata sanarv olcer Il, e.ch yYard ~ ~
- nr pnn,, oe ua,SS ~ ~ " s o ""'H ~ VI =. .',S s
M robera of tna rnodcai nroSesson. ~
and his assistants IN he npa,6od NJ
com,e,ent ~ detec, dsnase and ,o annI, ,bo oa1as
T% bu'ns cn,.d nS .h na s ~ ppy , nv - ~ les
nnsed n Ieave ~ cbarca o ,bc ~ ri,,' Jos,c,a " " P
aance y, ,he dc,aIs or This sioci lii a, o,.o ho