The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-27
MOUNTAINS OF MUCK.
How They Grow and of What
They Are Composed.
THE DREADED FUTURE.
Important Medical Testimony ON
the Universal Dirt.
SMALLPOX AND SCARLET FEVER.

In the history OF uncleanliness, II such o thing
exists, nothing like the present condition OF the
streets OF New York has ever been reached. Miles
OF the most prominent thOroughfares are covered
with mountains OF lltn, anu this, instead OF de-
Creaslng or being removed by the proper authors
ties goes on augmentng until Its present proportions
are creating an alarm in the minds OF the people
such as has never before existed. To the ordinary
pedestrian who SIMPLY travels up and down Broad.
way this statement may seem exaggerated, but If
the Broadway promenader will step aside for
moment from
THE BEATEN TRACK
OF his choice and migrate among the streets on both
sides OF that thoroughfare, an entirely different
state Of things will be discovered. The great
danger to the public health from the existing condi
sion OF affairs Ii not, perhaps entirely understood
by that portion OF the population most IN
peril, for the reasons that first Of all,
they have become so accustomed to the
presence OF dirt which has been allowed to &C.
Cumuate IN the streets since the beginning OF the
winter that the dreadful disasters that might
arise from an early approach OF warm weather
never seem to strike their minds; aud, secondly
because people stop TO think OF the character
OF the fifth lying before their DOORS In many Of
the streets IN which the poorest Inhabitants Of this
city live the vast mounts Of death In the thorough.
fares are composed OF the most destructive ele-
Ments Of flth In the early winter, when, perhaps,
the first snow has fallen, some ashes are thrown
into the gutter opposite huge tenement barracks
by one OF the residents on the ground floor. or
course this Is not taken away,.as
ALL STREET CLEANING STOPS
at the first approach or inclement weather. and being
allowed to remain this spot at once becomes the
filthy point OF attraction for the population OF the
entire house. Right on top OF the ashes another
man filings some moist, ffenslve garbage, that alb
eolutey reeks with pestllence, then little more
ashes may come, or, perhaps the dead body OF a
Cat or dog is nung upon the ple this may be again
covered with ashes. the district may be for the
moment purified by fall of snow, which, covering
up the sickening mass, the same process OF heaping
on the various kinds OF filth goes on just as before
uEti the mound obtains that is useful to the
children OF the nel ghborhOOd to rOmp upon. Here
Is one OF the very first dangers OF
THESE PYRAMIDS or DESTRUCTION,
and thousands OF deaths the result OF their pre-
sence every winter. Besides the ash, garbage
cats and dogs, rats and mice. fishes entralls and
household Oifal OF the most disgusting kinds are
flung upon these heaps OF dirt to putrefy and faint
the air, Many Of the poorer classes, VINO live or
lodge III tenement houses, exc out an-existence by
hanging around the large slaughter houses Of the
city, where they beg such portions OF the animals
as are considered worthless In this way they pick
up entralls, hearts, hoos, horns, tails blood and
1af, the BEST pOruOuS OF WHICH are USED ana Tile
refuse thrown into the streets. The blood and fat
are generally got III buckets held under the waste
cutters that conduct this fifth OF the slaughter
houses out OF the building. and 1t can easily be
Imagined what the rejected parts OF these materials
are that are lung into the streets. These odds and
ends of animals are boiled into soups, with such
bits OF vegetables be picked up by the cnii-
ilren In the ash and garbage boxes OF the wealthy
but when the weather Is severe, and
SCRAPS AND VEGETABLES SCARCE,
the other ingredients are boiled down until sort
Of geatlnous or gluey compound Is obtained. Into
this the family dip hunks Of black Dread some
times given them by charitable Institution and not
nnirequently bought aud In this way they live #.
ing the entire OF winter. 1t Is not dlcult
matter to suppose what the household refuse OF O
family living IN this way must be- what It's effects
upon the general health must be when the filth IL
flung into the gutter with the onal OF the adjoining
houses One OF the worst features OF these heaps Of
disease is that they up about every twenty five
thirty along the length or the street, III
front Of about every third fourth house In block.
The result Of this IS that between each hill a mass
OF thick stagnant liquid collects made up OF the
dirty soap water and such other scourings OF the
nelghborhood are thrown upon the heaps When
CLEAN oil sunshine comes upon this fostering muck
evaporation sets IN and poisonous gases are driven
tuto The homes Of the people that
RUSH THEM INTO THEIR GRAVES
In q tenement house III the Fourteenth ward o
reporter Oh the HERALD found q fanny OF six per.
Sons huddled together in one room, who had lived
Tor five months on calves brains, Obtained at q
slaughter house Tor nothing aud scraps OF pork got
In Toe same way at pork packing tcsta bshnent ON
the west Oh the island The room In which THIS
iamiy, one can scarcely say lived, was not large
one ny any means. The walls were oozIng damp,
the Dour was ana thick with crusied art, and
the only pretence at bedding was quantity OF hu-
mld straw In the corner Immediately inside the
door. The only furniture IN the place was very
much worn stove, upon which stood a huge iron
pot and the body OF bottle mat rested on the win.
Oh the days light as could struggle into the den,
representatlve heads Of this family were ike hun.
dreds OF their nelghbors, what Is known among this
To be at ali successful IN this profession good deal
oil skill Is required. Cant, hypocrisy, Impotence
iutels necessary. Men ana women both 20 to make
THE SOCIETY OF "cHARITY BuMMERsD
and very often husband aud wife ..work the same
route knowledge Q, tho 70 wn is the first requl
where charitable institutions belonging TO different
persuasiOns are located. Almost all these lnstitu.
lions give outdoor relief 10 the poor staed hours
every day, and at any one OF them oozens Of lam
isned-looklng wretchos might be seen watiaR Tor
among The crowd OF anxious ''waltersv there are
many deserving poor Dut there Is also large nu.
grlest ana most abjectiooklng OF the crowd. lie
ChoUCHEs, CRINGES, CRAwLS
and snivels more Than any Of the rest Is he dirtes
alter the manner OF the denomination IN which ne
nnds himself placed Tor the moment, he Is always
lOOklug du opportunity W otcdl soiuS
past or MS partner. 70 md TWO houses belonging
TO different persuasons close together Is always tne
Rm Oi the "cnarity bum.n Then he has an 0ppor.
tunity OF getting heavy feed at once tnat VIII
save him further trouble for the day. lie VIII
be sure TO be the first on the ground or the
one he intends To visit 1rst, and the moment
Tue door Is opened he rusDes Ia, dashes through
Inc customary prayer with all the flourish OF
finished practitioner, aud then finging the food into
Ms capacl0us nav, lie makes for the nclghDorlng
Institution, where he finishes up the meal winding
UP iu and contented. In many OF the Institutions
lhe ,bums" are not allowed inside the walls oil the
bonding, but the food is gwen 10 them outside gen.
slally III the area. IL Is positive piece OF good
iucK lOr the "DumN 10 strike house Of That lie =
hcrpuon, for no Is not troubled with any forma-
LI.r4-.