The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-23
SMALLPOX AND CHOLERA
The Street Contractors Little Game and the
Public Payment for II.
Filth, Garbage and Refuse in the strees-No
Chance Of Their Removal Until Summer
Startling Invitation to the Cholera
Why the Smallpox spread-The
Peoples Opinions About
tho Streets
A "RELIC" OF THE aRING."

At the close OF last summer considerable excite
ment was created this city by rapid travel of
cholera from the East TO Europe and the devas-
taiing march Of the disease through European
cities. The cholera had scarcely ever appeared In
the Old World with more certain premOnitions OF
doing most deadly work than 1t did last year, and
experience pointed In this country to at least some
share OF the dlreful calamles the dread contaQion
carries with IT,
Fortunately the winter season soon approached,
and all fears OF the approach Of the disease were al
layed; but before the cold season SET In the tocstn
OF alarm was sounded In all the principal cities OF
the UnloD and nowhere more Iorcbly or loudly
than here In New York. But, as usual IN this city
when an imminent danger passes away. the city
officials breathe moro freely and soon relapse into
forgetiulness OF duty both present and 1uture
The horrible scourge OF the smallpox though
credited to uncontro able causes. must necessarily
have been induced by the wretched hygienic in
nuences to which the greater part OF the city is
doomed The rapid increase and steady hold OF the
smallpox cannot otherwise 90 accounted Tor than
by seeking for the impure air. the filthy surroundings
and the particular noxious vapors which abound In
the lower wards OF the city. That with q fully Or
ganized corps OF surgeons the smallpox could have
been stayed and killed Off months ago the medical
prOIesSlOu lOSI ENTHUSIASTICALLY. me cause
the spread OF the disease the inability en-
ploy doctors, and this again was caused by the I'M
settled state OF municipal affairs, winch prevented
the Health Board from obtaining money In the ordl-
nary way. Hence we see the city filed with the
most 0athesome or all diseases aud compelled to
acknowledge that not so much to visitation OF
Providence IS TINS misfortune due to the corrup.
ton OF individuals who have been In charge OF the
city government.
1t Is therefore OF Importance to be prepared for
the recurrence OF an epidemic such as that with
which all this winter we have been aflicted. There
can be no doubt but that the cholera which last
year subsidized the European still fingers In
Its hidcons life ready to spread itself again when
the first sunshine OF summer warns the air. Expe-
rence has proved this, and even more. The upper
feet knowledge which medical science has OF the
causes OF this disease only renders impera-
tive the necessity OF oelnt always prepared for 1t.
Prevention becomes a duty, and this prevention
rests with the rulers OF the city In all governmental
departments, and with the people 1t becomes duty
to tnat their lives are not lett exposed pes
thence that scatters heath broadcast.
In view OF the escape OF New FORK ana the whole
OF this Con nent RON the threatened cholera OF last
year, 1t becomes now a most serious question what
should be DONE upon the approach Of the coming
summer, TO meet the Impending danger. The rec
ords or the Health Department snow that In the
great epdemics which rushed this city IN for
the death rate OF great European cities, and with
tins fact before US, may be judged what Is IN store
way next the Atlantic. the horrible details
or death from cholera In Europe were only too Ia
miliar to American readers last sumner.
the question then recurs, what IS to be done to
prepare Tor the scourge should 1t conner Naturally,
II might be answered that the Board OF Health
would be able to save the city from any impending
epdemlc. But the recent experience Of the spread
OF the smallpox proves mat such Is not the case, and
the only answer is that the people must save them
selves. The mead OF the Health Bureau Jailed hun.
dreds OF times 10 save the city In the early part Of
the WINTER lie knew how the peoples health might
he preserved; but has been SAID. politics inter-
1erel, and the result was weekly death roll appa.
ing TO think oil. Now, the natural causes which led,
TO say the least, 10 continuance OF the smallpox
are the very causes which cholera leeds upon. Fltn
IL houses, accumulated garbage and ashes In the
Streets want OF veatilation &C., &C., invatory
to cholera.
And yet there is not, perhaps, in this country or
In any great city or Europe, cy.so full OF NTH, SO
datestaUly repusive in Its poorer parts utterly
neglected Ia even an attempt 10 procure cleanliness
trlbl,ea to politics and TO corruption, even when
the very lives OF the people are at stake. There
he no excuse Tor oiicias In this particular. The
amount oil money paid TO the street contractor Is
something enormous. II would seem rs II IN pro.
cleanliness so has been the neglect OF the cily's
health. 1t does not make any difference whatever
by what species OF argument the street contrac-
tor might undertake to defend himself from the
serious charge OF leaving the city IN condition
present moment all the downtown wards are fun
OF llln, knowingly and wiliuIly allowed to remain
from tne Battery to Fourteenth street. especially on
tue east side, winch Is not full OF mounds OF
garbage, ashes and refuse OF all Sorts The street
contractor would call all this rotting matter so
many heaps OF snow. me FIRST Second Third,
Fourth, sixth. Fourteenth and part OF the Ninth
wards, ana especially the river lr0nts are particu-
ary abandoned. Most offensive odors, even In this
frosty weather. arise from the piles of filthy matter
in the streets OF these localities. 1t is wei known
In the tenement house localities that the barrels
refuse III front OF houses are lett untouched for
days; again, they are being constantly filed
during the DAY with refuse OF ali kinds. Apart, how
ever, rom domcsuc matters, II Is the right OF the
public TO have the streets properly and thoroughly
1 Il.
J oil winter the street contractor mas not had.
to clean an the Streets, and the result IS, as
has been SAID, the accumulation for months oil all
must inaly be removed. but the street contractor
| has no notion OF expending the amount OF money
required Tor the purpose until te very last moment
Most old New Workers VIII remember the time,
before the appointment OF street cleaning com.
mission, when tue street cleaning OF eacn ward
| done by some or the residents or the ward. The
cleansing OF the ward was an oficisl business ana
| any person was at liberty TO bid Tor the Job the
highest Diduer getting the office. Then came the
| era oil commissions, and oil course there was ap-
JOB OF cleaning the city three contractors
| Dav0e Brown and Knapp. The contract was made
w t bsss or zen years at 5000 per
| as TO render IL almost impossible for the city to
break IL under any circumstances. These three
gentlemen did not cent 10 secure the contract.
After while, however, they thought 1t advisable
to sell out their interest III IT, wnicn they did to
Judge Whiting, Tor $20o,0OO. Whiting, at That time,
had street cleaning con the BRAIN" ana, without
much credit Tor his pans, endcavcred to clean the
streets thoroughly. But lie, IN turn, got tired OF
the JOB, sold out his interest TO MIR. Brown, the
present contractor, Tor S3O0,o00. Davoe 20. held
1 the contract for two years; Whiting Tor about the
same time, ana Brown has now oeen ABOUT Two
years IN olce thus leaving four years more OF the
time OF the original contract yet 10 run II Is said
| that the contract Is to-day worth to the holder
nearly three quarters OF million dollars In income
! annually. IL Is only few weeks since
CITY for $4,000. and, strange to say,
| got It paid al 0nce-all except $4,000. Knowing
| how little expense the contractor Is at weekly, IN
| doing the work undertaken by him. considerable
!, comment has been accustomed by his so promptly
receiving his pay Tor supposed services Every other
| department OF the city government has been clam
| oring Tor money; cases OF almost destltut0n have
| been OF weekly occurrence among clerks and other
employees, and yet all THESE, the poorer men oi the
departments we're ignored, and In steps Contractor
Brown with his little Dll OF SllL000 and gets
100000 OF the gross amount asked for. II Is SAID