New-York tribune., 1873-06-20
PLAGUE SPOTS TOUCHED.

,,,,o1,,r,oc THE rrSwUoLFso CELLARS IN THE
LOWER wARDs-wHERE DISEASE LUiks
The new Board of Health has at last thor
oughly organized for the Summer campaign against us
case and gone work in earnest 10 clean OUT huOoi
~ tho AIthv basements and cellars where contagon Is
90 readily bred In the lower wards or the city argo
nunhers OF these are occupied by miserable tenants OF
the lowest class who are buddled together in small,
damn rooms reeking with lth with little or no venta-
tom and In an atmosphere most FOUL huhueus VI pour
wrecbes dwell TO the danger OF their own Ves ana INC
health OF the whole community One OF the nrst acts o
the Board was TO determine on removing theSe
from their unwholesome quarters. Accordingly on
Tuesday morning. Assistant Sanitary Inspector styIes
occomnanied by a s1uad sc Of tho Sanitary Police
force under command Of Capt Yulc and sergeants LEI
ferts and Tafo, made raid on various places OF tLl'
character in the Fourth Ward removing furniture, beos
and bedding and everything loose from each' Inc
occupants being generally surprised by these operations
but lttlo opposition was experienced and very niue
time was spent in setting the movable effects upon the
sidewalks where they were carefully protected nntll
taken away by the owners. Tho first places visited
were the low dens at Nos u.s. 81, S2 lO5' lO9'
g. CO. and ca Cherry-st, whence the ohicerS pro
ceeded 10 Nos. 90 u, and 10 North Wilam'stp Whch
Uere mostly used as sailor boariinGhouses, dancehas,
&C., then to Nos. c. 65 TO- aud rs Jamess' ana NO os
Newt Chambersst. The sights revealed by ms un-
wonted intrusion were OF character to surprise even
that such filthy wretched holes could exist and be in
habited by human beings. In some cases rooms werc
two stories underground sid 30 small that person
could hardly move about even though the furniture
Uas most scanty OF course there was chance for
yentiatng hem and the air was most fou ana s'ning
In many Of these places the inmates both are and slept
tho heat OF the stove and the odOr OF tie food thus
serving 70 add TO the dsagreeabeDess OF tho holes The
work was completed by Alp M, when IS places In all
had been purged. These operations OF the officials
were witnessed by crowds OF people, who looked on Ia
wonderment at tins unwonted movement OF the police
The war was continued on Wednesday morning. Three
places in Hesterst ten in Canal, two in ,ionroe one In
Ludlow, one in Norfolk, and about thirty in other
streets visited and tho work OF dispossesson was
carried out. A number OF the occupants, however,
having received notice OF the contemplated raid, bad
already removed their things, and the dens In many
Instances were found vacant. Wherever, though they
had not taken this precauon, the officers promptly set
TO work and quickly cleared the places OF everything
novahlt while the dcnzens bcO0k themselves o. other
abodes Some OF these novels. Ike those visited on te
day previous presented a most wreched appearance.
with Their Low ceilings. small, dark rooms, ana sulO-
eating atmos Yet Of them used as ofg
ghty by many persons who were otcntimcs
slowed away these miserable holes as close as was
possibe 20 pack human beings. Even, IN some cases
little children won and weak were lonuu III % tnsSe ul
dergrOund dens, showing III Their pale, acnuteu faces
the deathincss OF their surroundings, and cry OF JOY
would escape them on being taken out INTO thc pure ar
and bright suns1lnc NO fS mulberry WIS III slI-
plc OF wretched lOdRng-hOuses Its ceiling was
below the level OF the sidewalk, preventing the adms-
sion OF air aud the atmosphere consequently eA-
ceedingy foul Bcrths erected IN every available
bit OF space those the front being arranged
lee raised during tie Day We others were paced
in small apartments that the occupant had
barely room to crawl These mods were found 70 he
ygOst miserable the clothing beng rotten hardly 20
hold together when handled. In this place upward OF
30 persons Of both sexes were won't 70 lodge nghtly
Other piaces visited were OF similar character.
The work OF removing tenants from cellars which
were deemed unhealthy for their occupants, and likely
to bo breeding places OF contagious q'casc was DegHh
again. Yesterday. by health authorities, under hc
direction of Drs Hayes ana Hamilton WHO were sisted
bV detachment Of the SANITARY Police, under command
OF Cam, Yule. Only places visited In al-NSs.
Ss5 4C3 Al and $40 Canast., No. 200 HudsOn-st aud
No Hubert-st. Most OF these Of the lower order
OF dauce-houses and sailor boarding houses, aud wore
wretched dens, comparatively clean aud decent by the
the Fourth aud Sixth Wards. One, d" The New Idea"
dance house, at No. 4uJ Canalst. had already
been vacated when tho officers arrived; 40
No. 3s5 the furniture, &C., carried out upon
the walk and the fastened The proprietor
Of No succeeded in obtaining permission 10 remain
until Ococg saturday morning. and bis effects wero
not dsturted little mutteTtng was INDUCED In here
the cellar OF No 5O Canalst. jewish family, consisting
father and mother aud several children resided
that ceiling very low and the air foul, while the
water from tho river said To back up the 1oOr
at high tide. The basement No. 200 HudsOust.
also found closed The work accomplished with
excitement caused by II than the unusual presence
OF "A body OF police would raise at any time. The whole
was finished BY 1880 D. and tho men returned To
headquarters. This completed the removals for the
present, and more will now be made until after
July L