The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-25
A Street Nine Months Without Clean
ing-What Must Be Expected in
tho Warm Months.

ready for the other extreme without delay, and be
prepared to accept lengthy and blistering sum-
Mer. Tomorrow or the day after may see the Their
mometer 70 mp with bounce. The change came
appreciably yesterday, and before people have
time to count the number OF excelsior degrees per
Fahrenheit or Centigrade they may find them
yelves In something ike the atmosphere OF Turk
lsh bath.
It's because Of all this that the condition OF the
streets becomes matter OF vital consideration. II
the thermometer stood at eighty to-morrow-and
there is no telling what changes may mark the
pulse Of the weather in these sensational days
THE FIVE POINTS
ls in q at condition, with the proper generating
heat at hand, to start an epidemic. Some people
may suppose that SO long as the greater part Of
the city II in clean c0nditi0n-s0 long as Fifth
avenue and all the lateral streets are odoress and
free from dirt-that the health OF the city is safe
cut intelligent folks need hardly be told that .
chain s no stronger than its weakest link and that
In an urban community like ours, swarming with
life, and the focal point OF emigration from the
world at large, If any part be in diseased SAM
lary state the whole is In peril. Just as the Five
Points is disposed to be bad and dirty, so
much the more need does 1t stand in need
Of moral and physical supervision. The Stree
Cleaning Department takes contrary view. As
the Five Points is naturally filthy spot, and the
people who love to live there incorrigibly un-
clean In their habits. let them remain as they are.
We cannot waste our precious time and labor
where we are not appreciated This would seem
TO be the conclusion OF
THE STREET CLEANING DEPARTMENT.
'Where we are not appreciated we will send no
br0oms" should be the motto Of the Department.
There resides in Yorkville population Of modest,
who manage to feel grateful In quiet way for any
favors extended them. The Street Department
:sn s% Sc s ne sy and
10 not unreasonably late coming this quartet OF
scavengers and their accompanying cart will con-
Yesterday reporter OF the HERALD started for the
plague spots OF the city. He charged from Pearl
q way that excited the admiration OF policeman
In the neighborhood. This charge was no joke. In
DonOvan'6 lane there Is always o powerful bat
csive character cutting into the oliactories with
keenness and force that leave no room to doubt
formed this heroic feat OF plunging through
THE SMELLS OF DONOvAN's IxNE
viii hardly be at to 60 to church for Some weeks,
ie hung over q clOtheslne in an easterly wind.
Donovans lane Is consistent introduction to
OF alleys peculiar to the sixth ward. They are
from two to four feet wide, and they act as vent.
lating shafts to the tenement houses In the rear OF
the street proper Few strangers care to stand In
the way Of the ventilation, ano consequently these
alleys or James are seldom explored except by the
stood badly in need Of an epidemic that would thin
out the population Of New York ssme few hundred
Thousand, so as to give elbow room to the remain
der, we could have 1t made to order here
ut any time. The manure heap in the passageway,
which the reporter successfully lodged only to
carom OF Chinaman, who was hunting Tor mice
through his wardrobe, and pop against an Italian
brgand engaged in his annual washing, was SUI.
nciently decomposed to start combination move
GUS additions to the pile were made while the re.
porter was contemplating the picturesque coup
calico and canvas being out and every inch OF rope
covered. The oderous additions were SO alb
normally rank that all the stationary smells, the
Shang- Fi-Kian, just come from making his cabbage
cigars, was made aware OF their presence,
nna rn to street to get the
retreat soon after, in consequence OF colered
thoughtlessy emptying pail Of domestic Stops
on his head. Emerging from Donovan's alley the
reporter found himself face to face with the river
Styx moving along Baxter street. Soundings had
been taken by the shovels OF the Street Cleaning
Department. There were ten shovels at work on
what S e The now e pre IN
served IN boiled cabbage, egg shells and the gene
raj refuse Of the Baxter street kitchens and bed
RIVER OF EBONY MUD
In the middle was stil untouched, out OF regard it
10 to be supposed, to the feelings Of the Baxter
street people, who are strongly attached to old as
sociatiens. This mud has been with them since
June q and es M HSs they
the people win hardly miss it: Baxter street was
reached worse condition OF fllthiness than 1t ia in
ct the present moment. The people Of New YORK
could wen afford to allow hundred private streets
uptown 10 go unswept for month that the Five
could asiss 'as' p asssss0e q
for cartng outside the City limits as their honses
have no drainage conveniences. Perfect sewerage
fault Of the inhabitants. Should we have an epi.
demc arising from the unclean state OF the Streets
4 s not from Madison or Fifth avenue Il will spring
Mott and Baxter streets In justice to the depart.
ment, 1t should be stated that the
PRIVATE STREETS Up TOWN
are kept.in excellent order. Fourteenth, Twenty.
third Tktrty-fourth Forty-second and manv others
are In unexceptionable trim. and it is hardly pos.
happen In such localities. But these pure places
have no immunity from an epidemic starting out
mere the department must exercise all its vigilance
and not 30 much In the region above Union square.
SOLID MERCHANTS OF BAXTER STREET
In the junk and old clothes trade were not par
ticuiarly pressed with business yesterday, 80 they
tiently watch the progress Of operations by the
shovel brigade. There was much curiosity ex.
saem ~ the s6s ~ Se
One jnnk dealer kept his eye steadily fixed on
three shoyels engaged in scooping out the black
binkc Vppo9t0 MS OOOIs nc was TeW8Tueu IOT Ills
watehfufness BY several valuable treasures, in
cluding tne carcass Of Q dog with whole skin,
being brought to light. A rumor spread along the
street that an Italian and his barrel organ were
dug ont Of one enormous mountain Of mud, along
with Two Cinnamon and q fnll length tobacco sign.
There was no foundation for this, Dut the people
under the vast embankments Of mud and garbage.
Al che corner OF Worth and Baxter the scene
was more picturesque than anywhere else within
the charming precincts Of the FIVE Points. The legs
81 On ice cream stand, presided over by q son or
sunny italy, were here planted in the mud, and q
host OF dirty ragged, happy little children crowded
aSOund ike bees about sugar cask. The female
clement Of the neighbofhOod was abroad In force,