The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-21

Vital Statistics Of the City.
The report of the Registrar Of Vital Statis-
tics brings to our recollection the deplorable
fact nat during the past week there were no
less than twenty-one deaths in the city caused
byiire and explosion. We can infer from this
how little safety for human life there is in this
crowded metropolis, how gross the careless
ness in the construction Of tenement buildings.
and how absolute the necessity for better laws
upon this subject. We are almost tired Of
calling attention to the frequent loss Of life
occurring from want OF proper means Of escape
from those traps which avarice has set for its
poor victims, and from the habit Of storing
explosive materials within the limits Of the
city.
Let Us hope that the Legislature which
will convene in a few days will take some
active steps towards remedy. The moFtuary
statistics for the week show four hundred and
thirty three deaths from all causes -an increase
Of forty-eight over the previous week. Con-
sidering the peculiar location Of New York,
lying as it dees between two noble rivers, and
basking, as II were, upon the very borders Of
the ocean, it ought to be the healthiest city in
the world. Enjoying . climate almost unex-
ceptionable, and free from the local miasma
which afiicts many ether cities in different
portions Of the world, there appears to- be no
reason why it should not show lighter record
Of mortality than these statistics present. And
yet tho number Of deaths in New York is
greater in proportions to its population not
only to Philadelphia and other American
cities, but to London with its sluggish, mai
odorous Thames flowing through the heart Of
it, and the niasmatic marshes which outlie.it.
We must attribute this fact to two or three
very prominent causes First, the crowded
state Of many localities in the centre Of the
city; next the insufficient sanitary measures
adopted TO preserve the public health, which,
although greatly improved under the present
Board Of Health. are still defective; and again,
to the large influx Of foreign population,
amounting at certain periods to about forty
thousand month, who bring with them the
seeds of disease from other countries antsfrom
shipboard. The latter cause is one which, per-
haps, cannot be wholly removed, though bet
from q great deal OF the evil Bnt there is a
remedy for overcsowding dwellings, by facili-
tating the communications by railroad and
steamboats, with the suburbs and ghe interior
With two fine water highways open all the
year round for lines Of steamboats,, why should
there not be cheap means of transportation to
and from the upper end Of the island OF Man
haitian, Jersey and Long Island for those who
labor in the city. The miserable manner in
which the street railroads are conducted and
the, suffering which passengers are compelled
to.endure in the cars. deter many from living
up town, whore they could obtain comfortable
houses in healthy localities, instead Of packing
shemselvesin ienements with twenty or thirty
families gntil the city railroads md ferries
are taken in charge by board OF control and
removed nom the hands Of monopolists we
cannot expect much reduction Of mortality aris-
ing from overcrowdcd tcRements. That viii
be the arst measure Of reiiet in this direction,
and We have no doubt that this il the principal
cause after all Of The unsatisfactory returns
presented by the Registrar Of Vital Statistics.
Without plenty Of fresh air, good ventilation
and facilities for personal cleanliness, it u i'm
possible TO preserve health and none OF these
are to be had in tenement houses. While there
is nothing alarming in the Registrars report
beyond the deaths by fire a:d explosion, it con-
veys caution which should not 20 UNDECIDED,
and imprcsses upon ms the necessity Of legsla-
tive action to secure better sanitary condition
for this city, which nature maniiesly designed
| TO be the healthiest in the world.