The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-29
OUR CITY SEWERAGE SYSTEM.
To THE EDITOR OF The HERALD

OUR CITY SEWERAGE SYSTEM.
To THE EDITOR OF The HERALD:--
while we are about Tor inaugurate new system
anu new activity in providing our harbor with
improved docks and piers for the accommodation of
shipping 1t may be well TO take>a short review OF the
past In order to point out errors and i'll Judged
proceedings under the old regime which may and
ought TO be avoided under the new.
IL would seem on such a review.that there has
peen the most remarkable reckessrnss and indlr
ference OF our city authorities IN a matter which 20
vitality concerns the health of the metropolis and Its
future greatness and glory. There is hardly shipping
port OF any pretenslon In Europe which has not Ella
b0rate and carefully executed plans for keeping the
sewerage separate from immediate contact with the
water or the harbOr, while here In the chief shipping
port OF the western continent the pestilentia filth
the pufrtd carcases OF dogs and dsemboweled cats,
the olal OF the markets and the inky foulness or n
Vulnerable sinks and cutters which noats and testers
In the water along the bulkhcads and piers which
engirde our city presents picture the most disgust
Ing to contemplate and OF the gravest sanitary i'm
portance The stencil which arises from some OF the
East River slips In this early period OF the warm
season Is already fearful enough to presage pest.
lence
In looking to the future great difficulties and EN-.
barrassments must be experienced from the action
and errors OF the past large number the city piers
ana bukheads have been leased. some of them for
long terms 10 private parties at price which makes
.ne leases lor the luture almost donations. Since
Tue passage OF the new law raising the rates or
wharfage THESE leases are putting th0us OF dol
lars IN the pockets OF private persons, which would
otherwise go into the city treasury; but the wosr OF
III Is tnat these piers withheld during the period
OF Their leases from the application OF any new sys.
TEN or operations, either OF construction or clean
ing, unless the city is disposed TO spend its money
Inv hpps fnr
large sums the franchises It almost gave away 1t
was grave mistake that the city piers were thus
put unuer the control OF private individuals some
OF them for periods of upwards OF ten years. Short
leases or not more than three years should have
been given, or II long leases they should have been
made terminable at years notice.
The attention OF the Board OF Aldermen was called
piers by a committee OF that body In 1888. Instead
OF proceeding vigorously with some systematic
fnoyl S OF Improvement the management grew
which then expired were renewed, with provision
that the lessees should do their own dredging THIS
was certainly most stupid error, and betrayed an
ignorance ana recklessness almost criminal
lessee might allow the hlth to accumulate along the
Dulkhead OF his lease until, becoming almost "A wash
at low water, the waves from every passing steamer
would stir up the putrd deposit and send its
sickening eifiuvia a pesuential mission What
remedy was there for such nusancey IL the les
see, looking TO his own interests and considering
public decency, should dredge his slip, the hlth
VI MS nelghbOr lessee, more Slovenly and ildlf-
ferent, would now In with every changing tide and
oil MS SLIP up again. Gould he sue his neighbor aud
"A
lessee receiving from the city slip properly dredged
and cleaned might return it again choked up and
nthy. because no survey OF its deposits was made
on leasing The city would thus lose the cost OF
cleaning IT again. Matters had 10 such pa,
that IN 1865 special committee OF the Cham.
Der OF Commerce, OF which Mr. George W. Blunt
was Chairman, made "A thorough examination
OF tue wharves, piers aud slips OF the
city and presented report to that body Including
tabular statements OF the rentals and condition OF
each pier wharf and bulkhead on either side OF the
city, This opportune action OF the Chamber of com
m Mr.
was the beginning OF the discussion and agitation
which has eliminated IN the present Department OF
Docks. The committee was instructed 10 proceed 70
Albany with the report and memorial OF the Cham.
Der TO urge the claims OF this interest OF the city
commended In the report not then appointed the
agitation commenced, seconded by the powerful
efforts or the city press has finally IN the PROVISIONS
OF the cnarter, given the assurance that the
future VIII not be as the past.
Without undertaking TO determine EXCEPT with
the fullest discussion, the particular design OF the
piers to be constructed and the material TO used
whether or stone or OF stone and iron combined
some general CONSIDERATIONS In the plan looking To
| the utility and convenience OF the improvement
along the margins OF the city are sufficiently evident
| from the experience OF the past. First broad
and open boulevard should be constructed adjacent
TO tue water on both sides OF the city similar 10 the
Q6dts IN Paris and the Thames Improvement In
London Under these bouevards should be i'm
mense main sewers TO receive the contents of all
the crosstown sewers. These main sewers should
nave their termnli at some convenient point
near the Battery. from which their contents could
be discharged during the strength or the epb tide;
sewer To some point on the Narrows below Cover
nors Island In the CONSTRUCTION or these great
boulevardS and main sewers may II not be sugges
Ton worthy Oi consideration that the city use the
labor of tue criminals sent TO BacKwes Island
providing each with a zebra garment, ana working
them IN squads under an efficient superintendent
AS this work Will always he adjacent 10 the
water. ferryboat could convey them to their
| again 10 the island at night Work OF
such KIND under the immediate eyes Of the public
| would be felt 70 be a keen disgrace ami would
| quickly reduce the calendar OF crime. And why
should not the city which supports Board OF Char.
tiles an Corrections and pays Tor police force and
police courts to take care OF these criminals anu
lagaroni have the advantage OF their labor,
The work OF constructing stone and iron piers with
spacious warehouses upon them can only he begun
IN the present with the hope OF their completion
along the whole water front Of the city IN the next
twenty-five years IL should be the settled policy
however for the city toease piers and slips
by the year, except TO public ferry companies after
the present lesseeS release their claims, that
tue work or reconstruction and renovation can
go on Systematically and regularly along the whole
line oil our water 'front.' The public interests and
welfare VIII also require that IN the transition from
the present condition or things to the realization OF
the new system the Board oil Docks SHOULD provide
for the proper dredging and cleaning oil all the sps
and basins on both sides OF the city, 50 that tie
sanitary considerations involved shall have the
guarantees OF a systematic and comprehensive
method. The magnitude and cost OF this great work
instead OF being grounds OF discouragement should
stimulate those In authority TO rouse TO a sense OF
the importance and grandeur OF the undertaking
that they may leave no means unapplied to hasten
on Its progress SIDNEY +. SHELBOUKNE.
TAX observation-disclosures Palmer OF Illinois
and Judge Is. 5. Edwards having declined to return
their salaries az taxable income basnp their
found In seventh Howard, Assessor Baker referred
tile whole matter to the Commissioner OF Internal
Commissioner to at once proceed TO make assess
ments Of the salaries OF the above named gentlemen