The New York herald., 1869-06-15
A HoRRID NUISANCE on TENTH AVENUE.
Hotbed of Disease-Necessity for Immediate
Relief.


A Hotbed OF Disease-Necessity for Immediate
Relief.
About two years ago the HERALD called the atten-
ton OF the authorities to the horrible condition In
which the sunken lot on Tenth avenue. between
Flfy-third and Fifty fourth streets, was at the time,
huge receptacle for dead cats dogs goats and all
kinds Of carrion and filth. The miasmatic efiiuvia
from the putrefying carcasses and from the accumu
lated NTH and garbage infected the atmosphere or
the whole neighb0rhood and created and spread
disease. The inhabitants OF that portion OF the city
applied to the police and health authorities ut
the time, and 1t seemed for while. as If something
would be done to abate that pestifer0us nuisance.
But what was done mas made matters not
only not better, but far worse to-day
than they we're two years ago. Garbage
carts began to dump all the refuse picked up around
the city into the lot increasing its horrid outflow Of
pestilent air. The natural outlet of the accumu-
lating stagnant and filthy water was obstructed, ana
thus the Offenslveness OF the nuisance increased.
The dumping Of these carts was stopped once or
twice by orders from the police, but quickly re-
sumed, and has since gone on uninterruptedly
filing nearly elght.tenths OF the whole lot extend
ing half Of the block, with such repulsive mat
ter from which, ON any warm day. an unbearable
stencil arises. Water still accumulates there. and,
as ii II were done by refined system Of cruelty TO
the inhabitants OF rtyourtf street. sort OF open
canal was left through nearly the centre OF tins
mpregnated with odors such as no subIer-
ranean sewer could excel over the sidewalk
INTO Fity-iourth street and down that street and tts
O the residents OF that street but snort time ago
made complaint of II TO the Sanitary Police where
he was referred to the Superintendent OF the Sanl-
tary Department. Here he explained the condition
Of the place and stated In addition and aggra-
the block on Fty-iOurth street, from Tenth to Ee-
venth avenues, Tor the last two years When the re-
porter OF the HERALD vsiled and examined the place
yesterday he found that neither this statement
any OF the many complaints made were exagger-
ated But the complainant referred to above was
consulting" with the Cfoton Board about this very
matter and something" would be done as soon as
possible Thus the confusion OF our municipal gov.
ernment shows Itself again. While one 'board"
wastes time by ''consultng'' another "board" moth
ing is done, and through the Ineificency of these
clrcumlocutlOn ''bOards" the people are made to
surler.
were consulting" and undoubtedly with proper
gravity, dignity ana earnestnesS matters have
grown from bad to worse; for even In this case q
worse condition was yet possible. For about three
years contractor Is building sewer from the
North river up Fi1tyffth street to Eleventh avenue
which street IL is to be continued 10 Tenth avenue.
Weeks ago he reached the corner OF Filty-fOurth
street and Eleventh avenue and began to dig up
some hundred feet or thereabouts east. Doing
this he blocked up the street entirely by the dams OF
earth ne threw up anu not nos pools Periece lakes oi
garbage ana other vegetable and animal matter ON
the vacant lot on Tenth avenue were formed. rem
dering the whole neignbOrhOod one immense hOtbed
OF Infectious and contagious diseases. Our reporter
visited several houses and found the cellars led TO
the depth OF from three TO lOur feet with black,
murky water, emitting stencil deiyng description,
all coming from the street, owing TO tne negligence
OF the proper authorities. One of these houses thus
afflicted Is four story brick double tenement house.
having tour families on each floor, where hardly
day passes that the services OF physician are not
residing here, u Is safe to say that THIS is Che u
healthiest spot In the CITY, Tor the rate OF disease to
of tS fnp
rain like that OF yesterday morning view OF that
street Is actually fearful. The black offensive sedI-
ment IRON the filthy canal Is washed into and de-
posted on its surlace the street Is torn into deep
ruts where the carcasscs oi cats dogs and other
towards the head OF the there forms a lake Of
that sickenng stun, IN which but the otner day
child was nearly drowned while trying to cross from
one side OF the street to the other.
And work on this sewer Is delayed, II not stopped.
Whys The reason may perhaps 0e louni IN ths:-
Some of the OF dwellings III this street, 1na
ing 1t Impossible to obtain redress by their remOn
strances to this or that 'board" concluded TO make
up purse u sort OF stimulating present TO the
tractor OF $500, 10 induce hiIl to hasten with the
work. The owner OF No. 5i6 paid thirty dollars; he
twenty dollars toward that object tnat the CON
tractor thus privately stimulated may proceed little
faster; ana one house owner promised to pay MIN
OF his house with the sewer by July Wny Is thisf
Is the stipulated contract price insufficient, or IL It
intended that the properly holders may get out
of patience and become willing TO add pri-
vately to the amount OF taxes assessed upon
tuchi ioI the uuhuiue vi VIC scNerl lHe pcopio
In the neighborhood are at least very much
ncensed at the way in which they are treated and
even maltreated, and they are eXcusabe II they
charge ali manner OF sins and malpraCtices upon
those from whom they should he entitled To protec.
ton and redress. They charge, among other things
that certain officers Oh the Health Board have been
levyng private tax upon them; that all along 1t
has been willingly paid IN the hope that The horrtd
complication OF nuisances would quickly and hnally
be abated And all In vain. They are now tired
OF II and will they. say no longer stand it,
IL Is time tnat the consulting" OF the "Health
Board" with the "Crot0n Board' should cease, and
that energetic be taken in hand at once to
cure this sore spot, for with the approaching not
days the scorchlng sun may here breed disease to