The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-09

i
The committee adjourned until ten A. M. to-day.
DRAINAGE AND VENTILATION.
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Defects Of the New York Systems Pointed Out
The Remedies Required Interesting Report
Of General Vlele to the Board Of Health.
The annual report OF the Board OF Health con-
tains. among other important matters, report on
| sanitary engineering by General Egbert L. Viee,
| which, in view Of the removed interest recently
awakened on this subject by the illness Of the Prince
of Wales and the causes to which It attributed.
Is worthy OF marked attention, illustrating the &C
ton of similar causes which In active operation
| In our midst
The reckless and ignorant manner In which our
so-caed city improvements have been conducted In
years past have been productive OF many serious
evils and these evils are OF such nature that time
only adds to them.
This report points out the difficulties which have
accumulated and the remedies to be applied.
In view OF the facts clearly set FORTH 1t IS mat
ter OF great surprise that there should still ex-
lat 80 much lstlessness in the community upon this
important subject. Take for instance the folio wing
Observation-Disclosures Is an institution located in the
upper part OF the city which is an example Of the
two important SUBJECTS OF drainage and ventilation
The buildings OF this institution have all the ap-
pearance externally of correct architectural struc-
ture, spacious In extent commanding In appear
ance, occupying an elevated site overlooking the
Hudson the grounds soping towards the river ana
ringed with natural growth OF forest trees. 1t con
Quoted by gentlemen Of intelligence and cultivation
whese philanthropy ana zeal cannot be questionel,
and under the superintendent OF board OF direc
tors, among the names Of whom are those OF the
most estimable aud worthy citizens Of New York
men OF wealth and refinement Yet the entire nstl-
tuition from attic TO &c lar and the grounds the
whole extent OF twenty-five or more acres. so lar as
regards ventilation and drainage exhibit an absence
OF proper Information remarkable IN an institution
| OF this kind.
and every room IS deficient in this particular. The
entire sewage OF this Institution has been SUI.
empty itself into Slough Of about an acre in ex-
tent at the loot OF the ravlne which, although 0cca
q Ss Sc D Of Sy sa
and O black fetid mass OF dec0mp0sing matter
necessarily malarIous gases whien have
mates with typhus fever. 1t Is believed that no
more efectaai method coald possibly Pc conceived
Lefty given to this matter VIII have the effect TO
cause the managers OF similar institutions to exam
Inc more closely these Important subjects and sup
ply the omissions winch they also may be suffering
"Even public hygienic institution like the Lu.
natic Asylum, located at 10th street, has not only
initiated wnaL might be regarded as Ignorance IN
Q reckless disregard OF every law OF neath and
every principle OF sanitary science, exceeding IN
their culpabe conduct the worst effects which Q
hundred snanties might produce.
"Ths institution, which is situated on high ground
between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, near the Hud-
son River. aud with rapid descent directly 70 the
river, instead OF taxing advantage OF It's favorable
made use or stream, originating near the nstltu-
tton as receptacle for all It's liquid refuse. This
han foil n traat
where 1t meets with low swampy ground ana
se enS 1o al Ie o% VI i3Sa
another pond between 124th and l26th streets,
stagnant deposit Of water, extending from 124th 70
| l22d street, between Eighth and Ninth avenues.
Along e oI as a ana
ana levers are constantly prevalent the Inhabitants
| complaining most bitterly Of the scourge they are
"As before Stated, simple conauit to the river
| would have saved all this. The brewery at Ninth
avenue and 1O7th street Is similar instance in
| which a large area OF ground Is saturated with
| liquid refuse, emitting the most offensive doors.
From these two causes alone the whole section OF
the city from 10th street to 125th street anu
Seventh to Tenth avenue is really UNIT for
reside there would be exposed to malarous disease
These two instances out OF many which exhibit
the condition or things IN that portion OF the city
embraced within the limits laid down on the accom-.
panying map The same general result obtains IN
ssIhe remedy to be applied should be searching
and comprehensive, and should be applied IN this
cavated ana cleaned out to irm bottom. and
careful examination made as to the precise locality
OF all springs 1y Wacn iney are ns,r ea rnen there
we'll built dry stone drain, with nat stone covering
allowing the water to percoa;te freely INTO i:
springs exist until sewer Is found which Is low
| enough to receive their contents. II q sewer Is
on the Completion Of the sewer system On the line
OF the before 1t reaches the river then the
stream should be headed on 1T a point sufficiently
high TO admit OF Its being turned from that point
into the sewer s This Is the n, simplest and
cases, and the sooner it is done the
better; delay is fatal. AS an example Of the
permanent source OF disease, will cite the instance
OF one which rises near Fourth avenue, between
runs under row Of houses Ninety first street,
where 1t is converted into receptacle OF sewage;
the consequence Is that IN all these houses typhus
cupied at ALL Nearly all OF them have been vacated.
Near Lexington avenue this stream crosses Ninety
the the contents of drains emptyine into It from
Crossing Third avenue, 1t under brewery, ana
Afterwards becomes an open filthy drain in the rear
Ing under Ninety second. street. u has maae
| an exceedingly OFFENSIVE and maarous de-
third streets At this point an oDstructed culvert
prevents following It's natural course to the river
ono possible method could he adopted to make this
| natural stream . more prolific source OF disease
and no better Illustration could be found OF the con-
sequence arising lrOm neBleCC W pIOViue properly
for the want OF drainage in the outset Nothing but
| q thorough and general system OF drainage Will
save large portion OF the city from permanent and
| irremedable injury.
] the number OF individual instances which have
been brought TO my notice, where disease and death
nave been traced directly to Imperfect drainage ana
| neglected water courses Is very large In one In.
stance an entire family, including the servants, re-
| eiding in q very expensivey built house on Filth
| avenue, died OF dphtheria The house was located
| over an old water course
A well known citizen OF large wealth told me his
only daughter had died Of disease contracted from
malaria in his house, which he discovered was
| neglected water course.
Maify persons have told me that their families
were always sickly until. having ascertalned that