The New York herald., 1869-10-28
OUR CITY SEWERAGE.

OUR CITY SEWERAGE.
Two Hundred Miles of Sewers in New York.
Grave Errors i'm Their CONSTRUCTION ard the
Remedies TO BE Apple d. Esects OF Inswili-
cient Drainage and StagnaHt Wafer in
Vacant Lots ON she PabIic Heaith--W hat
the Board of Health aud the Croton Beard
IRE Doing.
In the administration OF CIVIC affairs there Is no
subject OF Importance to the welfare Of city
health and comfort OF its population than that
OF drainage and sewerage. In the large cities OF
the Old World the history OF their progress demon
strates the truth OF this assertion, and the vast
SUNS when have been ana are still being expended
to remedy the errors OF the past show the alarming
condition to which, through years OF negle T. they
had at length arrived.
In this great city, with Its densely populated
wards, the unsystematic manner IN which the sewer
age has been managed has already resulted IN the
outlay OF hundreds OF thousands of dollars, with no
perceptble result, as well as being deep-seated
agent Of disease The mortality list Of New York
has been greater IN proportion to Its population
than even the older cities Of Europe and the nu-
contagious diseases that have swept over the
island IN years past may be attributed in part 70 the
dlapldated ana lily constructed drainage channels.
There are already more than two hundred mules Of
been built without any regard TO system. TO cor
rect lessen the evils resulting from many
years OF mismanagement is task which VIII require
much study aud time as wen as enormous outlay
OF the money OF the people.
SEWERS ABOUT THE PARK.
In the upper portion Of the city where sewers have
been laid the engineers those 10 whom tbls busi-
ness has been entrusted, have sadly neglected to
study the lessons Of the past, as the sequel Will
attest. Numerous small streams fed by underground
springs have their the Park and
empty into the North and East rivers after meander
ing in different directions. Since the limits OF the
city have extended up so far these streams have been
filled up with the garbage and refuse OF the streets
and the new made ground bought up divided up
Into lots aud sold to spectators. The subject Of
sewers was the last Thought Of bat in time they
were bult, but IN "a manner that siou!d
ace S iSe wara at ne se ar nrse
bunt OF inferior MATERIAL and lastly Inc sewers IN
several streets wili have 10 be taken out entirely,
which VIII involve an expenditure To the city uf
between $4,000 and 100000, when, ii they mad
been properly constructed IN the FIRST place, all Of
tins expense ana trouble would have been oDyla.ed.
SraGNASf WATER IN VACANT LOTS.
The people are indebted to the indefatigaDe efforts
OF the Board Of Heath for fe reDlns these
pools OF disease. 1t Is estimated tnat there at
preseat 600 gallons OF stagnant water IN lots
sewers incapable oil draining by reason OF their
in.erlor construction and limited capacity. These
lots are always filthy In summer, aud ireauenlly
rial when Is used to I'LL III VIII form nucleus for
disease as soon sthe warm weather comes again.
DOCTOR viELE'S REPORT TO TIE BOARD OF
HEALTH
During the month Of April Of the present year the
condition OF affairs by Dr. Viee. whose efforts as
member OF this Board deserve the gratitude or all.
The following is his report OF the condition Of The
grounds ana sewers:''I throughout the sanitary dis
trict under my charge there Is great accumula-
tion oil standing water. In many places this water
has become sIagnant ana very offensive III conse-
quence OF the refuse matter which ls thrown into 1t.
nave on several occasions called your attention
TO the subject in reference to particular localities
where the pressure OF decomposing animal and veIe-
table matter called for prompt To avoid seri-
GUS injury to the public health Since the cause OF
the EVIL Is so widespread III Its nature as demand
the application OF remedy botn permanent and
general IN It's character refer TO the suoJect in
order to bring TO the notice OF thus Board the cond
ton OF tue properly immediately adjoining the
PARK and iyng between Fllty-etghtn and sixty fifth
streets aud ttlth and Lexington avenues Tnese lots
are filed with water ranging from taree to tean
In depth. These blocks lie In the course OF one OF
The original drainage streams which, rising near the
antllinal axis OF the island, flow through devious
courses into the North and East rivers originating
from perennial springs. these streams receive IN
their course an accumulated supply from numerous
otner springs and wnen, as every case under my
observations OF street construction, their be.
comes obstructed, The consequence s that large
area becomes Hooded and the ground permanently
saturated. within the last five months additional
DISTINCTIONS In the free now OF water nave bee suf-
ered to be made, and ground which mas never Deen
wet before ls now overnowed with water. This mas
been serious neglect which VIII be felt Ior years to
come. let there ~ "A remedy"
REMEDY SUGGESTED AND HOW ACTED on.
The doctor suggested the bniiding OF deep drains
beneath the old sewers aud the or tue fIed-In
streams, which would drain TINS accumulation OF
stagnant wafer. His suggestion was mmedIately
acted upon, and resolution was introduced by the
superintendent OF the Board OF Hea.lh requesting
that the Crutop Beard II tAey valued the lives of
thousands residing IN the upper part OF the CITY, 60
fcuedy IN sotne manner the evils To TINS fesou-
ton the Croton Board replied that The sewers
erected were ample Tor all that was required OF
them, and that they should do no more-eXhlbiung
at the same tifne an utter disregard tor the health
and welfare OF the, city. Not TO be thwnted,
Eaton, their counsel aud after satisfying
themselves that tney had tue power to 90
aaead IN the mater, Instructed she'r engineer,
W. A. Wortben, 10 draw up plans Of the groiIus aud
the requirements. Ths gentleman reported that
large aud deep drains, bdiit OF substantial masonry.
| below the oed of the old sewers, extend
iag g through sixteth. slxy-nrst, si@ty,see-
| son avenue and from Fiith avenue. at the juno
tlon OF sixty fourth street 10 the sewer az the rInc
Mon u siAty nntn street aud Fourth avenue, which
| report was accepted and men set Immediately TO
/ work AZ TINS stage OF proceedings the members
opeaea Their eyes TO The trde STATE q aiiaifs and
i Department.
The work is now in rapid progression, and the
\ Contractor expects that the WORK VIII be finished
tome tlnc during the coming sumner. AT present
there are about go men employed both DAY ami
nlsil a. an average saary of 81 30 per day and IL 5
cstated that 1t wr cost the city fully 100000, II
= a 'arEe. sum, before the WORK ls finished. The
|
| Dut /. taxpayers VIII doubtless have their pa
tienct . fel! ~ pockets severely taxed by tne
| penul'ure OF thls money. wnen IL could have been
| saved by little foresight OF those TO wuon sucn
i matters are entrusted.
| NRfGHrENISG PROSPECTS.
The Board Of Health have a grand scheme IN
| contemplation IN regard 10 the regeneration of all
| tfe sewers running through important thorough
fares. as well a. those IN localities wnere disease
mostly preaominates.
/ HEAVY BAIL BoNDs.-At the Tioga county Court
yesterday Judge Murray decided TO favoraby enter
tain the question oI ban Ia the case OF FREDERICK
Strader ali Maiy De ihetge, indicted Tor lnu der,