The New York herald., 1870-06-30
MORRIS AND THE FAT METERS.
be Abolished-How sanitarian
Dodged the Issue.

II s gratifying to observe that the city at last has
sanitary officer of sufficient pluck and energy to
charge home upon the fat meters of the west side,
who have for years made the entire nelghborhood
bounded by Tenth avenue, Thirtyseventh and Forty.
hrst streets and the river stupendous charnei yard
Tor the enrichment OF themselves and the pollution
OF the city with the foulest smells that be thrown
out into the upper air. to be waited on the wings OF
the winds to the tables. parlors and sleeping
Of Gothamitcs
For over two years the old ana timid Board Of
Health legislated towards the suppression OF the
nuisances there located; but money political innu
ence carried the day. The vile stenches continued;
the wst side residents protested TO no purpose aud
falling In obtaining relief left Tor more c0nRen a
residences elsewhere. AS o consequence property
decreased in value and landlords in many instances
found 1t impossible 70 procure respectable tenants.
followed in the footprints OF their predecessors.
Promises were made that the relief prayed for would
Board lor weeks Meanwhile the anprlncipled
meters OF fat, Otfa and decayed matter Doasted Of
Their power to DEFY the Board, until HERALD In
spectOr made tour OF the establishments and ex-
posed the damning scenes and vianous smells that
Dr. Morris, City Sanitary Superintendent, fol-
lowed Iii an able report upon the nuisances, that in
every particular bore out The statements made In
these columns. Later the Sanitary Commttee fol-
lowed In the wake OF the HERALD inspector, and
were ast0unded at the reve ations made. Yet action
was delayed until such time as an ordinance could
mlrIy with the Offenders, and the latter continued
their nefaroas business without any attempt 10 com
ply with the law.
Last week the stencil from Kohler's establishment,
In Thirty seventh street, between Eighth and Ninth
avenues, became so offensive that The residents In
The heighb0rfl00d congregated ana threatened to
burn It. At this juncCure Dr. Morris stepped IN,
conferred with Captain Caffrey, arrested all hands,
Closed up the charnel house ana sent two loads OF
vile decayed and rotten animal matter that had bs9n
imported from Newark, N. j., to the 0ffai docks.
n n M aa
tabistment has not been re0pened. One would
think that this summary action would have alarmed
Donohue, et III genus Onlnes. But IL did not. AT
two O'Clock on the following Sunday morning the
The Sanitary superintendent became indignant.
and on Monday night, between eleven ana twelve
O'Clock, repaired to the Twentieth precinct,
to arrest the entire crowd engaged in
the work II their establishment were found open.
At that hour, fortunately Tor the fat METERS they
were not running their Establishments, and no ar
rests were made. Or. Norris, however, requested
the Captain TO arrest the proprietors and employees
oi every establishment the moment they turned on
steam, and declared he would stand by MIN. Some
OF the boilers declare that they VIII run the business
dent declares that lie shall discontinue business
II ne Is compelled to arrest them every hour in the
day. In this G urse he will Doubtless be fully sus-
tanned by the Board OF HEALTH who can no longer
afford to disregard the protests aud prayers OF the
sufferers by these vie nests OF filth.
At the last meeting OF the Board It was understood
that an ordinance Was to be put through TO sqnelch
the nuisance Dr. stephen Smith had one in his pos
session. few minutes before the Board met one of
the firm OF Gamble 4 Mcneil introduced member
OF the Sanitary Committee. What transpred
Is not known, but when Dir. Morris
reported against granting permits to any Of the fat
boilers member called for the reading OF letter
from Gamble 4 Mcneil asking for special report
from the chemist as TO the best means to boil lat
This was clear dodge and was successful. The
Board referred the matter to the chemist, Supern-
tendent Morris and the Sanitary Committee. VIII n
member suggested that 1t be referred 10 the two
former officials, Dr. Smith asked that lis committee
he included, anu it was done. Or. Smith did not
submit his ordnance, and the fat boilers were tri
nmp ant for the time. There is but one course f0r
DR.. Norris who was thus snubbed, to pursue--ar-
rest the rich and saucy fat meters and close them
While he has the power, irrespective OF an nbecle
Board Of Health and the press and the public VIII
sustain him,