The New York herald., 1871-09-01
The Board of Health and the Filthy
Condition Of the City.

now proceed intslligen,ly and vigorously
but to accomplish anything that will be OF
real and lasting benefit they must take more
comprehensive view OF their duty than seems
to be contemplated at this time. Not only
must the markets, the streets and the tene-
ment houses be thoroughly cleansed, but
something must be done to prevent the annual
recurrence of the evils from which we are
now suffering. The sanitary inspectors have
told the Board that our public markets are 30
constructed that it is impossible to keep them
in more than fair sanitary condition. DR..
Morris shows, however, that even this is not
done; and the condition Of Washington
Market especially is always one of reeking
| filth. This market, and not it alone, but
nearly all of the others, is as noxious as would
be a2 abattoir or fat-boiins establishment
| in the very heart of the city. If the city will
not replace these old and dilapidated buildings
by structures fitted for the purposes for which
they are intended, and all efforts at renova-
ton after the removal of the booths and stands
in tho street should fail, as they inevitably
must, the duty OF the Health Department will
become imperative. Notwithstanding the in
convenience that would be Occasioned and the
outcry that would be raised, it will then
become the duty Of the Board to close them
up as nuisances detrimental to the public
health. The filthy marketman must be dealt
with just as the fat-boiler, or any other person
engaged in business which engenders
disease is now treated. 1t is desperate
remedy for desperate evil; but, sooner or
later, it must be applied. The sooner some
thing Of this kind is done the better; for
nearer; and if i! makes its appearance in this
city these plague spots will court fearful
Epidemic
We do not forget that the marketmen of
and that for years they have exerted it to pre-
serve the wretched buildings we call markets.
But the Board of Health must rise above every
political consideration, and think only Of the
great public duty committed to their hands.
If the cholera comes here in its devastating
course, and is assisted in its work by the filthy
condition of the city the public condemnation
will be irresistible. No political considera-
tons will weigh with the people in comparison
with the issue of life and death. Aud these
reports OF the sanitary inspectors and in be-
half Of the Sanitary Committee will rise up in
Judgment at that direful hour Extenuating
circumstances will be ruled out of the case,
and from every quarter will be heard the cry,
''You knew your duty, but you did it not"
The graphic character 6f these reports, and the
minuteness with which the plague spots of the
metropolis are designated, will in themselves
be a stronger condemnation than the bitterest
words Of dcnunciation. 1t is impossible for
The Board of Health to put aside their awful
responsibility in this natter, and we point out
their duty and the consequences of a failure
TO fulfil it thus warmly to strengthen them in
the task that is before them and to assist
them in their arduous work.
Hc would be bold man who would make
pilgrimage through any of our markets after
the revelations of the Board of Health. AL
most all the stalls in all the markets are in
filthy condition from want of proper care.
The alleys are slippery with mud and grease.
There are piles of sweep'ngs under benches
and behind chopping blocks, and the defects
in the flooring are used as a convenience
to hide away filth. Everywhere are the
most horrible and sickening smells. Even
the sidewalks are slippery with accu-
mulated filth, and the cutters are full of offal
and decaying animal matter. These things
are true not only of the markets and of the
streets and sidewalks appropriated by the
marketmcn, but of many other places in the
city. Broadway itself is far from being clean,
and most Of the downtown thoroughfares are
next to uncomfortable. Even above Fourteenth
street the cross streets within stones throw
of Fifth avenue reek with the foulest and most
offensive odors. The fruit stands which block
up the sidewalks on every crowded corner are
miniature markets not less nosome and un-
healthy than Washington Market ITSELF What
right have these people to inoculate the city
with disease by carrying on their filthy traffic
in the pnblic streets? 1t is practice that is
becoming only less nuisance than those ter
rible nuisances the markets. But the greater
evils must first be cured, and then it will be
time to look after these little sinners
Just here rises one Of the gravest questions
with which the authorities of New York have
to deal-the condition of the streets. While
the tenement houses continue to use the gut
ters as the receptacles for garbage it is vain
TO expect either clean streets or pure atmos-
phere. Yet walk of half an hour in any part
of the city will reveal the fact that the ordi-
nances Of the Common Council are habitually
violated almost under the eyes of the police.
The streets themselves badly paved and worn
into holes in many places, share with the gut
ters their forbidding Office, and pools of filth |
and muddy water tester like so many sores and |
emit the most unhealthy vapors day and night. |