The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-12
TIE CHOLERA BANKS OF TIE =
RIVER. go 0tSSO


To THE EDITOR - ~ RI p
The public nerves . -
$50 ,so,,e =, OF a visit from that fearful pesli-
ras, a.. cholera. Leaving its home in the far
'," cholera plague, like terrible bird Of prey,
leads It's wings westward, casting the shadow OF
death over the nations passes along, enveiop-
ing alike the rich and the poor, the grea. and the
owly in the shrOud OF It's deadly presence.
Guided by what seems like human intelligence it
seeks out aad taxes possession Of the places where
The least preparation has been made to II, and
leaves there the terrible evidences OF lis visit IN The
crowded cemetery and the widowed household.
From the overcrowded city as well as the reeking
battle field the deadly vapors leap up to greet Its
approach and swell the number OF It's victims: but
the experience OF the past has taught US that ats
true ally to he found in rho neglect OF SAM
tary precautions which alone can stand between us
and IT'S ravages. With the fact OF the possible ap-
preach o. the ch9era staring US IN the face Il Is TO
ny their gross neglect OF the most common
precautions, guarantee the disease recep-
tiOa Of such character as 10 make IL
certain thai q long residence, If not permanent
stay among U.S. wlli be the result OF It's visit.
The unfortunate whom business cOmpes TO traverse
the western bank OF the Hudson River from the
sugar house IN Jersey City to the oil docks of Wee
hawken Is never at loss for evde ices OF the filthy
condition OF the surroundings, and II he Is lucky
enough to escape fever he viii be forced to admit
that nothing but the merciiul Intervention OF PrOvI
denCe pr0ect the inhabitants from fearful ep-
idemic, which may al any moment spring rom tie
hOtbed OF aDomnaton through which they are COM
PEELED to wade when passing anu from The ferries.
The very air Is loaded with the fouest yapors. ex
accumulation of fltn heaped on every size. Sunk en-
lots appear to be raised to the street level by filing
them win the most disgusting materials rae
streets are in some Instances graded with CON-
pound OF decaying animal and vegetable matter,
mixed with OLD bricks, shingles, plaster, old boots
tIcle OF clothing, which NAV include the Inc yitable
heopskrt OF the period and cnignons that saw bet
and pieces Of ocloth piled by the road side after
being tax en- OUT OF Anew loads OF filing brought
Street where they have Been able to p sHe
cure this internal compost Is hey 0nd our knowledge.
the deicacy OF the perfume IRON the streets aud
wnit from The slaughter houses lying near the Nor
ana Essex Railroad, and this, combined with the
0dOrs OF the piggeres close by and the everpresent
stencil from The iou swamp that lies unframed for
hundreds Of acres around the cities OF Jersey and
Hoboken, form bouquet that is SIMPLY beyond the
reach OF description. The fresh AIR Dreathed for Il
few minutes while crossing the ferry only as
kind of wad over the horrible limitations OF Jer-
sey. which seem to stick TO person internally as
well rs externally like mucage; for on arriving at
to inhale second dose OF nastlness from the COM
pound OF Nth in West street.
We have heard of cholera mixtures. but to our
mind they have never reached perfection except in
tile shape OF the black pasy mud of West street aud
the locality around Washington Market. Rotten
stands and meat on the eve of being gifted with
powers OF locomoton dead dogs and cats and all the
which is unrlvalled rs u disease-bleediny nuisance
are there in profusion. 1t seems absurd
that there are no means at The disposal
Of the authorities for the abatement of such dan
gerOus nusances. The seldshness Of the private
individual or the carelessness OF the public Official
sticks out everywhere III this business. The centre
OF pOpulous city is no fit place for slaughter
houses Hog pens should not be permitted to Inject
the air breathed by a large population: plague
breeding swamps should be dralned even though
the rich and selfish corporations owning them do
not feel inclined TO do Streets he Thoroughly
washed while there IS water enough in the Hudson;
the Accommodations OF filth common 10 all great
markets should be promptly removed cutters can
be dsinfected and sewers flushed by simply taking
the proper steps Tor so doing.
There Is no excuse whatever for the present con-
ditiOn OF the approaches the ferries and taking
INTO consideration the TACT that thousands or per.
sons pass through these PAGES morning and even.
Ing especially during the latter tine Of tine day,
when the stomach Is aipty and the system in con.
sequence more suscep tibe OF disease than wnen
alter hearty meal, IL amounts criminal careless
ness the part Of the sanitary OH cias to risk the
heath Of this community by heglecting duty they
owe TO the people. The old saying that -" stlch in
time saves niue" should be remembered, and un-
less the broom Is used by us we Will find that Old
JACK Morbus will use 1t on us with vengeance.