The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-17
NEW YORK HERALD SATURDAY JUNE H. l8n-rRlPLE SHEET


The old and diiapidated wooden structures which
now urr0und the business portions OF New YORK
form vast network within which the sewage OF
the city composed OF house ana privy nth. the re-
fnse OF slaughter houses, workshops and man ulac-
torres accnmulates, and together with the waste or
commerce alid the constant influx vi sediment IRON
adjacent shores forms q srratuni OF putresciDle or
game matter OF great depth and extent. BY the
movements or the tides and OF the YES
agltaied It's elements internxed and the process OF
decomposition thereby fastened me result Is ap-
ner season III the escape OF Immense quantities OF
the most offensive aud delete lous gases. NOT un-
frequently laoorers along shore are compelled 10
leave their work, so oleasive aud slckening are
these odors. Tue eject OF these maiaIous c mana
tons upon those whose business contaes
them much 10 the docks aud vessels at the wnarves
Is most disastrous. la the summer anu autumn
we're and lala forms OF FEVER and diarrnnal diseases
are prevalent The history OF many epidemics IN
New York shows that they either originated about
the docks or manifested the greatest viruence
among those whose dwellings, are their vicinity.
Inc effect upon the paDlc health also OF the
slant diluson OF such volumes OF noxlOus gases
from large portion Oh tue water front Is most ma.
rious. Many outbreaks OF lever, dyseutery and stint
lar diseases ~ the most central districts or the city
nave been regarded as excited or greatly agra.
Vdteu ~ tils source OF contamination OF the
the only remedy against these sanitary evils Is
system oi DOCKS sucn as are now projected, made OF
inperisnable Material. Win a water 'front.' present
Ing smooth surface to be thoroug ally flushed by the
tides, and from walch all Accommodations from
sewers and otner sources are constantly removed.
b. Inspection ana surrey or lpaenle Rt Houses
The thorough sanitary Inspection OF the tenement
houses OF lhtS Cosniuencei hierODOlltAn
BOARD oil Heaith III The year 1862 was not completed
until The sprlng OF 1870 Ever! building containing
more tlan ,hlee families was visited by the inspect
orS ana examined from attic u cellar. and banks
prepared Tor that purpose were blled Win All tne
material lacs III respect " The sanitary conliuoa Of
every part OF The bailiaE and the health ana social
conuiri0n ot tie occupants. During THIS sdrvey ali
nuieances discovered were reported In Regular form
aad were suuects or orders oi the board and all
violations 81 the tenement House ACT, y and cases
OF Noncompliance wllh SAID act, were, alter due
notice, prosecuted by The attorney, IN tie name OF
THESE decisive measures nave resulted In the I'm
proved ventilation, sewerage and general cleanliness
oil tenement hodses, ana have materially aided III
preserving The health ahi promoting the comloft OF
an important portion OF tie clty population during
the remarkable meas OF the last summer
Inc registers report SHOWS most gratifying inn
pfoveneut III the aeaitn o. Inc Inhabitants OF tele.
Hent houses. Although less than onc-laii the total
popniatan OF New YORK occupy tenement houses
ye nearly 10 per cent OF the total morality occurred
among this class IN 1865; III 1869 IL el 10 Us per cent
ani III 1870 ~ was reduced 10 about sc per cent, .
gah OF 91s per cent IL taree years. TINS gives q
saving or coo lives. No better Illustration OF the
Vaiae OF sanitary work could be desired. THIS re-.
Lidrkabe reduction III the death rate oil the inlablt
ants OF tenement houses mas followed directly upon
most thorough Inspection and reconstruction Of
these dwellings, OF the poorer clAsses.
rue reihSpect,ons OF tene neht houses made during
tue present year nave resulted IN ESTABLISHING inc
ialE That greater care Is observed by owners
anu occupants IN respect TO the sanitary condition Of
this class OF buildings ana that Tins Improvement Is
mainly the result u the constant elorts OF the
heaitn autnorltleS 10 secure THIS necessary and I'M
portant reform. Many new structures Tor the ac-
sttucled wl,h ali the modern pliances for veDtlia
lon ana sewerage, aud n,eigenJ owners OF property
nu u 10 be To thcr own Interest 20 give Eo0l accom-
lhooations TO the poor, ana u demand care ana
cleanliness on te part Of their tenants. The result Of
the systematic survey ana Inspection OF tenement
houses aoove referred 10 are preserved in tSenty-
hVe bound volumes, which are constantly open 10
the examination 0! the inspectors, AIDING tnein N
their dutles ana proving invaluable Tor reference.
10 preserve the hves and health OF those VINO are
obliged by circumstances 10 occupy the densey
crowded sections OF he CITY must continae TO be one
Z. CehUrS aJl6 Underground ROyHtS.-lne permits
granted by the Metropolitan E1ard oil Health oc-
cupy cellars anu easements Tor human nan.tauon,
having ueea revoAed by this Board, new applica,
tons Tor permits were made IN due form, The prem
nes Wefc inspected ~ tae Health Inspectors aud,
upon lhe recommendation OF the CITY sam
tagy Inspector, new permits nave been from
TINE 10 time granted or denied by the
board. In SOME cases ccCars heretofore occupied
lave been ordered vacated, and N a large numbe.
permits have been VI hilclt until I'M provemeGta
had oeen made IN The ventilation and drainage OF
int premises. The scarcity OF proper accommoda-
lions Tor The ind,gelt, aud the want Of cheap and
RAPID transportation 10 SUBURBAN districts seem To
render Il necessary TO toiera.c The occupation or
rooms partly underground rs human habtauons.
10 compel Tie vacation OF ali sucn pres es results
IL paGperiLing the occupants But while tle occu-
patton Of such places OF abode perllttcd the ut
most care ana w,tenfuuess are demanded from the
corps OF inspectors preserve the health o.
Who are compelled 10 live III these humble quarters,
b, securing 10 tuern the u.eaLest amount OF light
anu AR and Tie most perfect sewerage and drain-
age. me Board fully appreciates il5 duty IN this
p1rtIcuar and does nor hesitate 10 cause Cellars to
be vacated wherever, by reason OF CONTAGIOUS DIS
case or the VOCATION or the terms oi their permits,
such course seems To be advisable or necessary.
3. Houses dangerous or UIlat Jor Human Ka0itd-
tton.-At various times during the year the Board
has ordered houses 10 be vacated, pursuant to see
ton II, chapter 9vS Laws OF 1857 upon tao certih-
Gaze Of the Sanitary superintendent thai sad houses
were. By reason OF want of repair unit Tor human
hab,ation. Copies OF tae reports OF its inspectors
upon the dangerous condition oil buildings, by rea-
son OF old OF detective walls, unprotected or dilap
dlted stairwats, OF from want ol FIRE escapes, nave
been from tnie 10 time forwarded 10 the Depart
meat OF Buildings With request TO the necessary
action in the premises, aud have received prompt
Q. Staoies-rhe attention OF the Board has been
constantly directed by is inspectors 10 the cUnd ton
OF saoies for horses. and large number OF orders
have been issued the lIupro, enent " such
premises. BY the construction VI connections with
sewers and uI proper manure vaults and by the en-
forcement or the ordinance Tor the prompt ire
qaenL remova! OF tile manure, the principal causes
OF complaint against TINS class Of establishments
are removed. complete survey OF al the stables
III the city has been made by order o. the Board and
the report Oh the Cuy sanitary Inspector on thls
subject VII be found III the appendix ny.
Cow stables few Ia number, aud, when per.
mitted within the cay umlts are SUBJECT 10 Goa
stans SUPERVISION requiring the utmost cleanliness
ana thorough drainage.
IL. S.d6t Naaare.-fhe constant demands from
nelghbOrins districts fof manure ior icrtiiiGng par
poses prevents any Objectionable Accommodations or
thIs material IN tae STABLES Oi tais Guy. But II IS
tie pecuhlry interest " dealers in TINS article TO
So g IL upon vacant lots III tc c5f until such lines
~ Tue year a. the dcniauo rom farmers and gar
dcnecs Is most BRISK and inc highest pnccs can oe
realized. The straw aud cOafser parts OF the ma
nure also increase III DC W such storage, wnlia
the cost Of Iansi oiiIc0n OF manure that is Iully
prepared ana Is tt for lmmciiate use Is aater,gIty
less. Besides, during me winter months tue reno
VA 81 manure - sometimes di!icdlt on account OF
Ice Ia the MYERS, sid laltlcnlary u the waters adj
jacent 70 the points where th!s articlc usually ndS
market Tor Consumption. 10 preserve tu5 city
rom Inc nuisance hkey 70 result from
tac storage Of manure upon this i aud, ana
ut the same time avoid unnecessary intcr.
ference IN The iessrnale business Of large
number Of citizens. mas been the ann and effort OF
thls Board IN tne autumn Of ~ me Board
gfanted lew permits Tor the storage u manure IN