New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-06
similar regulations in New-YOrk. aud in al
easy aud inexpensive way 70 closs profits
source of disease and crime.

source of disease and crlme
Tenement houses are but little improved ancs
their horrors were first revealed. As 10 tho
underground cellars, mora space, mors, AIR.
more light, and the most ordinary conveDiencss
for cleanliness are required to make them 6t
tor human dwellings, and the enforcement "
some internal police regulations for sanitary
purposes is still opposed or neglected by th,
cupldlty Of owners, Indifferent TO any system
of improvement except in the matter of ren!s
and their prompt payment. Legislative author
ity is ample for reform, but is appealed to ia
vain. When landlords learn the fact, now bs.
yond dispute among scientific inquirers that Il
is the best class of cheap tenements which
yields the surest and largest income. they viii
undertake for their own interest what no mo
tives of humanity can induce them to attempt
for their tenants.
Sewerage and drainage, the two necessities
which underlie all possibility of sanitary 70.
form, have been perhaps more considered By
tie city authorities than any questions relating
to health. What is needed is, system.
Never was q city more favOrably situated than
New.York for the adoption of a complete ~
well as extensive plan, which at moderate
expense would surely decrease the rates Of
mortality. If it be impossible now, or unds-
sirable, to commence anew throughout the city.
it is at least practicable to enforce comPii'
ance with few simple regulations among all
estates bordering on sewers already existing.
and, what is of still more Importance, to con-
struct in future sufficient sewers in all new
atreets before they are opened or built on.
Marsh lands and sunken lots in the upper
part of the city have q not less injurious infu.
encs on health than the gathered corruptons ia
its more crowded portions.
IL 10 of course useless to say anything on tho
subject of street cleaning. To suppose that
the streets of New-York will some time DO
really cleaned, as that word is elsewhere un-
derstood; to suppose that contract that had
anything to do with streets will ever be drawn
in the interest of the city, and if drawn enc
forced; to suppose that there could be such
person as an honest contractor-tbese are too
manifestly Utopian dreams and millennid
visions. But considering the subject only 10
its sanitary relations, remembering the pesti.
lence that exhales into the air and penetrates
every house and the system OF every human
being exposed to it, remembering that no 70.
form is Of mere perilous necessity than this OF
street cleanliness, and that probably no large
city in Christendom is to be compared with
New.York in the absolute, untouched. ineoa.
ceiyable filth of its streets all Summer long.
might we not proftably postpone for the pres
ent the assumption of sanitary superiority to
London and Paris In Paris Mr.. Hacklsy
would be impossible. In New.York the popu-
lation which breathes the sir be pOisons weaId
be amazed 10 hear that an earnest effort was
making to bring him to justice.
This city still toerates slaughter-houses a. q
fat-boiling establishments, even in its tS'eky
peopled districts. We should. like to say that
it is incredible, but it is asserted 10 the In
spectors report that their number 10 constant
ly increasing. In place of the saughtsr-houses
the well. known system Of abattoirs in Paris
might easily be adopted, with the best re-
suits to the health of the city. and with injury
70 none except those who deare to preserve
their pecuniary interests at the cost OF dIs.
comfort and disease to the population of the
city. Fat-boiling and bOne-boiling establish
ments ought no more to DO suffered to exist
on this island than stagnant lakes or pestiles-
tial swamps. Illness and death hold carnival
all around them. Their owners are enemes
to society, and might very properly b, bauish'd
together with the nuisances they perpetuate.
The millions Of people who during tho year
are compelled to ride in the horse-cars will
appreciate the force of the suggestion tiAt
their oyer-crowding and want Of ventilation
are sure causes of disease. Perhaps tho AZ
tent of the evil is not realized because 1t 10
transient, but it is to be remembered that it
occurs too frequently to be harmless. If you
shut up forty human beings in space mesnt
for twenty, and compel them to breathe sbw
poison for one hour day, it is not in tho
constitution of mortal man to resist its Effect
forever. The same is true Of ferry-bOats, tho
cabins of which are never properly ventaa'ed.
are generally unclean, and frequently hIhy.
IL 10 obvious that in the caae of railway and
terry corporations there is no excuse for these
outrages on public health and comfort.
They will probably be done away with when
corporation managers are made to undsr<and
that the franchises which they administer we're
granted for the public benefit not less thar for
the profit Of stockholders.
Into the marts of the controversy between