The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-12

MAY IL, l86,7.-TRlPLE
SANITARY CONDITION or BROOKLYN
--~~-~c~~~~~~~-~>~~~-~~
Whore the cholera Ragged Last fear-De'
scrfptien Of Rcd Hook-Work Of tN'e hea'a
COmmissioncrs-Whae Has Been aA'o Wne'
Ought 60 be Done.
As the days percsptbly engthen out and the hys o.
the sun become and more intense, in earneA' o.
cheated terms" 70 come 1t 10 natural for people +
inquire into the probabilities Of fresh reign and holo
caust Of cholera suoh goomiy noted the summer Of
lsod The residents Of Brooklyn have especial reason
for The manifestation Of this soliciuds FOR in certain
section Of their city the epidemic ragged last year with
violence (which rigorous sanitary measures restricted
70 certain limits, but could not eradicate nor
suppress, until the brsszes Of approaching
winter lent their aid 70 drive OF the
spectre that chung 70 their hearthstonsa The probable
tiles Of fresh outbreak stated high authority 70
b very great and in wow Of this fact inquiries into the
condition Of tho CITY, especially In lie old cholera region,
become very pertinent q this time The people, with
tho experience Of Last summer fresh upon thsm and
conscious OF the number Of inviting circumstances which
conduced 70 the reign Of the epidemic In the Twelfth
ward may very justly manifest some anxiety TO the
condition Of affairs In the old Infected region in COM
parson with the state existing Last year at this time
whom the arst real alarm Of the approach Of the dreadful
enemy was given They very naturally inquire what
the Health Board Is doing in the way Of aba.ing the
great nuisances and general nlthiness known 70 have
prevailed In tho Twelfth ward just previous 70 the
break d the dsease last summer but neither observa
on persistent inquiry Of much avail In ferretng
out such sanitary works as may now DO at least
should be progress under the direction Of that august
body.
When the cholera first broke out in Brooklyn last
year made It's entrance apparently from tho sea- by
the way OF that noisome locality known Red Hook
Point whore shanties pg2eries muck and flth Of all
kinds prevailed and gave fresh strength to the cpl
demic after Its Tong journey the At first it
spread with alarming rapidy, threatening TO take pos
session Of tho entire Twelfth ward and thence spread
those sections adjacent to IL: but owing 10 the
| prompt and efficient taken by the Health
Board for its suppression it confined one narrow
space about portions Of Hcks Luquesr. King Nelson
| and Richards Streets Ia close proximity TO the
| noisoms marshes and undrained lots which official
neglect had allowed TO grow into fesering receptacles
/ OF al h whose odors death 70 living things
Red Hook Point is narrow strip OF land running out
from that portion OF the Long Island shore on which the
Tue point puts off toward Gowanus bay and Is covered
with substantial warehouses and oundres, in Of
/ small bay Is. however, formed between tho mainland
and this narrow strip and ths according 10 the plan Of
l u
bay with present regular shape, and continuous
cesson Of wharves, beginning at the Point which will
thus DO made no point a. all. Along the shores OF
| this small bay therc Is . continuous succession
| OF broad Marches which the tide, ON receding,
leaves bare and rcdoIent Of nlth or rotting
carcaes Of defunct animals deposited In It's Shiny
by the waters OF the bay On these marshy tracts deep
sunken below the level OF the sroes OF the city, and
below that OF the sea- tho sQuaters have estab-
lished themselves in their Wrstched shantiss whole
families living In CABIN with but single ROOM and
surrounded in many instances with mud the drain
md m cts
4 shiny and nosome from accumulated nth. Many Of
these houses even perched posts placed at their
flowing depth. or to escape coHsact with and gradual
submergng In the SHINY 0oze which the dwellings
people who allow nth Of all kinds, garbage and refuse
matter Of every description TO accumulate in front
Of their very doors without once taking the
trouble OF removing II. The streets meeting Hamilton
or these Aithy marshes have according TO che plan
ine marked BY The surveyor These again arc crossed
by other strees made through the marbles and there
may be sach sections the marsh laua Is have
been thur built up into streets Squares Of swamp lard
enclosed high made streets u packed earth On those
sunken lots squares the squatters m maintain their
domestic establishments; but removed from the cleans
ing offices OF tho high de, their condition and the odors
given out from their dwelling places worse than ever
spongy with The action Of rains on the sor mud in add,
ton TO their natural marshy MANURE, and many Of
arc so S0v. ssa,u with g, water which in winter
ragged g0sins who exist and flourish In great numbers
this neighborhood, and In changes 70 dark
and gives out the vilest imaginable odors In
| sequence. Al present these lots filled with water
most strongly constituted man Bal whom the gIarns
summer blazes those stagnant pools tho effect
suou a. 10 render retreat TO relieve the visitor
from tho effects thus worked upon his sensitive
nostrs Such spot above all others would select
as most likely 70 invite threatening epidemic, and
through this as the doorway the cnoers entered Brook
Ign. But It is stated . fac. that al.
though here the epidemic made is ewrse. i.
distance OF among tho crowded tenement houses but
the dry mainland IN Wocot street, where the hlsn
and garbage accumulated 70 immense masses which
and gave out combinations OF the most vlaiuous
Smells in addition TO the odors waited thithsr from the
nosomc fats The officers Of the Board OF Health, rS-
cognizng the th and accumulated uastiness Of the
sagnan. pools Of these sunken lots the primary
and the source OF maintenance < the DIS
ease raging 50 furiously a short distance Oh,
and Ia more healthfui locations las far Is
mere situation was conoerosd = once took steps 70
one especially very nc',ome spot in Luqueer street.
receiving especial attcntion-and ordinary drains,
| ri the newly made streets for the purpose OF
conducting on the sagnan from lot TO lot until Il
born on IN the rscsding tide THESE drains when wers
roughly made Of wood, answered their purpose very we'll
indeed a. far as the running OF OF the
osrned, bot left exposed the shimmenng bed OF the
marsh which, with tho heat and the decayng Of
matter, both animal and vegetable, maintained The
healthy state OF ana ~ In the sAme frghfa condition a.
Now however, TIE condition Of thsss sunRsu lots d
the least degree bstter than last year this
when they werv gathering their miasmaic forces fol
their evil work. TIE drains which were placed
beneath the new ssrests by the Health Board
| arc mostly choked up by accumulated fllh. and
the water gathered In the hoows from late rains
lies there pIacidly receiving and conceaIns for the
Time all sorts Of vile NATTER which WILL undoubtedly be
worked upon by the heat OF with the dis
asrous effect that marked the elimination OF the
causes last year The probabilities secm at least u
favor such result OF the negligence plainly apparent
this On the fats along Richards street the car
| cases OF numerous animals now lie rotting already
What will be the effect whcn the has further adj
vanccd may b imagined The pggeres which nourishcd
In this neighborhood last spring have been entirely
abolished and not stray crunter Is TO be found any
where about the Twelfth ward Captain Rhodes OF the
Forythird precinct police. having set his men work
| with great porsistsncy running down" both the
porkers aud their owners with the result Of eectuay