New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-16
THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF
HEALTH.
The OGaI Consrnct-Twenty-Eigh Miles
Of Imperfect Sewers - Contemplate"
Meeting Of the Oystermen and Vege's-
VeudeTa.

The greatest activity continues at the head
cnarters of the Metropolitan Board Of Health. We
have been authorized to state that il is not at present
the intention Of the Board 10 interfere with existing
contracts for the removal of oal and cleaning the
streets So long as they fulfilled in such manner
AZ TO be neither offensive nor unhealthy there viii be
no nterposition; but tie contractors should aii IN
their duty. or should 90 it improperly then the work
will be done by the Board and the cost deducted iiom
money due them from the city
The REMOVAL or oFFAL.
Concerning the contract for the removal Of otia we
learn that the difference Of opinion between the con
tractors and the Board, already alluded 20 IN III
TRIBUNE will be submitted 10 legal decision, unless
the fulfilled by the officer. OF ihe Long lsau
Bone Laboratory They receive $1,000 per anhum
from the city for removing ol and are obliged 10 re-
ceye il at any point on the streets where u may Ue
delivered TO them. Heretofore the butchers ,r
aware Of this fact have cGred their own ona 10 tne
dock thereby saving the contractors, perhaps e5iWp
wear 1t Is estimated that u VIII cost me contractors
QOOO per annum 10 remove the DIAL II they strictly
comply with the terms Of the contract, ana thal II
vond even then be profitable. The practical result OF
ths controversy VIII probably be ihis the butchers
viii cease carrying their DIAL TO TIE does aku WIZ
unce IL In covered vessels upon the Sidewalk IN iront OF
their premises II il be taken away twice daly as re-
CURED IN the contract there viii be 10 trouble II NOT
the Board viii remove IT, charge the expense 10 tie con
tractors and have the same deducted nom their yearly
paw This IN all probability, VIII hring me matter be
fore the Courts for adjudication, and result either in
new contract faithful futlmont OF mat "hch now
erists In either event the oial VII be removed ~
such manner that tie nOstrlls of citizens VIZ not be
disguised nor their stoDnchs nalseaed by the yanoa.
od0rs that have recently followed the tehces and
rendered the dock the very pareuoi pes'Hchee'
TIE sEWLRs.
Among The plants that have been received by the
Sanitary Superintendent. is from CAcrFy 81, which
led TO startling disclosures concerning the sewer
age II The city. TIE complainant had been notified 70
remove the contents Of n cesspooL He replied by
saying that had been frequently emptied but ea often
reled by filth that had been backed IN from The sewer
Which No or near that point seemed ~ be bermcucay
sealed The nuisance although on his premises, could
not be rem eded and consisted almost entirely Of the
filth that flowed from other Iohis and should have
been carried of through TIE sewer. Desc develop
mens brought about investigation oi the Sewerage
system which has not Yet been completed. For IN
formation the Board Of Health addressed the Croton
Aqueduct Board. which replied, through Mr. Theodore
WertOn tie engineer ID charge oi se"eS se'uhg oItH
TIE following facts
Below Iifiy.nnth.st there are q miles o. unpayed
streets, Of which nearly three miles ying mainly De
tween Forty second aud Iiity nnthsis. are not !.t
graded. a part Of Fifty fourth-st, between Tenth
ave and the Hudson River IL not yet opened by law.
South Of Fifty .ninih.st. there are go miles ofpaved
streets unsewered. some portions Of which however
have private drains.
The total length of userwercd streets. paved and
unpayed, below Fifty ninth st., is more than - miles
Above Fifth ninth.st. the greater part Of the ISLAND
is neither severed paved and very large portion
not yet graded, and many streets are not opened by
law.
Owing TO the large number .of Public Sewers. built
before the organization OF the CrOtOn Aqueduct Board
IL cannot be accurately stated what length was im
properly coustructcd but j. estimated that not less
than p miles at present require rcmodeling and re-
building
We have seen maps OF few tof these defective
sewers, some OF which shnpelcss and utterly inca
pabe OF carving off the surface water that might How
into them from the fact that IL would hrst have 10
overcome a grade which. In short distance. was
greater than the diameter Of the sewer. We presume
these sewers included in the p miles that require
rebuilding. 10 put them In proper condition would
probably average Of s. per foot or. IN sther
words, over e7.OOOO0O. The Aqueduct Board CON.
plains that ii has money and can therefore spend
none until the necessary appropriations are made but
In the meantime would not be well 10 shut up the deec
tive and keep them entirely closed until they
can be put in such state that their use will not be
offensive and unhealthy, The stencil that annoys 80
not unreQuen:ly arises from the wc-hoes and catch
basins TO improperly constructed sewers and at some
points the odOr from this II insuferable. The
Board Of Health this matter In hand, and speedy
and beneficial result OF its investigation may be eA
pected,
THE OYsTERMRg AND VEGETABLE vESDERs.
President Schultz c0ntemplaes calling the 0ystermeh
and vegetable vendors together as he has the butchers
to consult with them concerning certain changes that
IN many places built over the GUTTER thus OBJ
structing and rendering them unhealthy The heat OF
stoves and ranges for cooking oysters, especially III
Fulton Market, destroys the poultry. vegetables are
carried through the streets by yeniers and sold after
they have begun to decay. Washington Market Is
deemed a nuisance All these things are being inTes-
gated and will be remeded but for the means we must
aw ait the decision Of the Board.