The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-01

Report Of General viele On the Necessity for
Radical Inprevement Of Our System Of
Sewerage, &c.

tics with reference 10 inc Pupho neo''h oon'aiu
many statements Of deep interest to all classes Of
ctizens but the most important are the facts elected
which the direct causes Of the increased
rate Of mortality prominent among which, IN every |
locality appear the two great facts that there Is TOO
much water underneath the surface and TOO little Ior
use above. The last report states:-"ln the FIRST
ward with the foulest tenements sewers and cutters
in the city, there one death to every eighe nun
dred inhabitants. ** In the Fifth ward, Win
low death rate until the last three weeks, there was
one death to every six hundred and fifty OF the In
habtants. Pools Of fifth along the entire
western side Of this ward, garbage IN
every gutter and stagnant sewerage are
ample causes. The Eighth ward has similar
causes at war with health" These statements are
confirmed by a recent report of the Board having the
sewerage OF the city in charge, which says-"rhere
are already more than two hundred miles Of sewers
under streets, nearly all Of which have been
built without regard to system. To correct even
lessen the evils arising from so many years of mis-
management Is task requiring much study care
and timen 1t may therefore be assumed that to de-
fective drainage and sewerage and to an insufficient
water supply may be attributed most OF the sanitary
evils from which the oity of New York suffers at this
moment To examine this matter still more closely
we find that of the twelve thousand acres comprising
the superficial area of the city, representing one
that amount thirty thousand building lots, are, by
reason of the presence in greater or less quantities
of water IN the soil, rendered almost unfit to
be occupied as sites for dwellings or FOR
commercial purposes. Yet no attempt OF any Kind
has been made to establish system of drainage
by which these thirty thousand los, averaging In
value $4,000, possessing total value even In
their present condition OF $780, 10000, can be made
suitable places for residences or warehouses. The
sewerage system, imperfect in ITSELF has no effect
whatever upon the drainage. There are many local
tiles where Golfer dams and pumps are absolutely
necessary to enable the builders to secure proper
foundation for the structures about to be erected
Yet what must be the normal condition OF those
buildings after they constructed, and what must
be the condition OF the entire neghbOrhood where
this constant presence OF water In the SOIL and
consequent humid masmatic condition OF the atmos-
| phere, is always ready to combine with those i'm
purilies which invariably attend the crowded occu-
| patton OF any lOcatyp
II would be more than useless to dilate upon this
subject not the remedy for the evils referred to
SO clearly within REACH and it is for the purpose
| of pointing out those remedies that reference Is now
| made to them.
| In a previous report upon the topography and ny
drOlogy Of New York the particular Localities were
| pointed out where the accumulation of moisture IN
| the soil, from springs and other sources, Is pro-
ductive OF Injurious effects. Upon the map accom-
panying that report the various lines OF sewers to-
gether with the elevations indicating the established
Grades of the streets are represented showing that
from the antciina axis OF the island the sewerage
descends 10 the North and East rivers, beng con-
veyed directly into those rivers poiluting the waters
tantng the air, creating deposits OF solid matter at
the wIarves and piers, and III every way fruitful
OF the very evils which their construction
the foul air which at low tide and in certain direc-
tons of the wind is forced into the dwellings, and
more especially felt in the chambers Oh the SICK.
The remedy for all this would be found In
the construction along the exterior OF the city OF
slow lying sewers,n which would receive the con-
tents of the lateral sewers conveying them to points
they could be discharged at ebb tide or trans
ferred TO properly constructed vessels ana trans
ported valuable fertilizng material to lands now
lying waste in close proximity to the city, Thus one
| great and positive good would be accomplished, the
| benefit of which to the commercial interests alone
| would be immense while as "a sanitary measure and
more particularly as means of thorough drainage,
the results will he incalculable These sewers lying
below the lowest substratn OF water deposits would
electually remove all traces Of moisture from those
sections which have been Tor so many years the pes
tilental spots Of the city: II the method Of con-
struction adopted should be that OF corer
Golfer dams, by being made permanent In
their character would serve to intercept completely
along both rivers and thus secure the great desde
| ratum Of dry and deep cellars for the water front
| being formed by this construction, the additional
width much required for these streets would be
secured IL IL not too much to say that the success
full construction OF these works Will add one-third
| III value to the property directly benefited by
thorough drainage, amounting at a low estimate to
the sum OF 800 900, 900, to say nothing Of the nd
rect results obtained IN. the general sanitary Inn
provement and material developments arising there
| from. In presenting this plan no claim Is made to
originality, since II Is fact already accomplished In
| the CITY OF London.
For a long period Of time, and even after the rad
Cal defects Of London sewerage were removed by the
organization OF board OF public works. the polluted
| water OF the Thames into which the sewerage sys
| tenn debOuched sent the most sckening Odors over
the metropolis constantly threatening the return OF
the much dreaded plague and rendering a res dence
IN that city Most undesirable iate let this dis
gushing and alarming condition Of things, which
was endured 30 long, might have been st further
prolonged had not been for tile fact that the houses
OF Parliament were located on the Thames and the
publication Of Its waters thus became necessity TO
the legislation Of the British empire. strong az was
that necessity, Is still stronger, since have
two-fod object TO be attained; and, although through
want OF public spirit or temporizng policy the con-
struction OF these works may be delayed, there
be no question that 1t Is the only remedy Tor great
evil which has been borne already too long.
WATER SUPPLY.
| It NAV not he fattering To the conceit Of a New
Yorker TO say that the Cr0tOn aqueuuct, with its
enormous cost, It's great reservoirs for accn-
struction and massive masonry by all OF
winch river has been checked In It's course
The qualifications Of great city, has failed TO meet
the object OF Its construction Yet Ia nevertheless
true that there IL but united supply of water AMI
that In most dwellings, 1t is dniculi TO yet water
the upper stories, anu very many OF them never have
there at all For all sanitary purposes Il Is very
| detective. There Is absolutely not water enough,
| and what there Is has not sufficient head g.
supply the wants OF the cty-neiter tile Injuries "a
the rich Eor tile necessities vi the poor IL cannOt
| even be relied on as guarantee against general
connagraOn. The iaus lies In the principle OF IT.
first construction II Is indeed admirable copy of
the splendid aqueducts OF ancient Rome, which sup
piled that city with wa,er In the days Of the CTshs
let that was De'ore the age or steain aud athOusl
by the Application OF the simple psncipie oi Rra'lty
water was accumulated and distributed throughOW
the imperla city, something more u required IN our
than this. To get the water we require " should
be elevated by the force Of steam TO a sufficient
height and sufficient quantities 10 supply Tue ne
cessary demand. Its use for manufacturing purposes
snoud be curtailed until domestic anu sanitary
necessities are satisfied. ON Reservoir square,
at present laid out az pleasure ground
there should be constructed an elevated reser
yoir into which, by the use OF steam, water can
be readily conveyed from tue present reservoir and
thus acquire the necessary heal whcn Is essential to
carry II TO the upper stories OF the houses. IL
water Il required than can be Obtained from inc
Croton river there many other streams IN West.
che ster county much the city, which with the
aid OF steam can be readily and quickly made avail
able at limited expense compared with The cost