The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-04
human nature, and more profanity passed unre-
buked yesterday than ever before.
ruR

human nature, and more profanity passed unre-
buked yesterday than ever before.
had hard time OF 1t. Going to their labors In the
morning before the lateral crossings on Broadway
the miseries they endured were great. Most Of
them were without the luxury OF rubber overshoes,
ana had to suffer from wet feet In consequence.
Going home In the evening they suffered, too, but
those Of them who had comfortable homes togo to
were re- cpesEea y the prospect q having chance
THE COAL-H0LE TRAPS.
One source or universal disquiet for the past few
days. but more particularly yesterday, was
on the sidewalks. This has caused many q
sprained leg within week and brought
more people down ON their marrowbones than all
the Ice combined. Hundreds OF falls occurred
throughout the day, by reason OF people stepping
thoughtlessly on this most unreliable footing. A
Corporation ordinance should decree that none OF
these trapc covers should be made otherwise than
OF corrugated metal
The Broadway police who are par excellence the
finest civic force OF officers in the world performed
something yesterday that excited universal ad-
ing with giant action the sush-laden street-crosS-
ings was an uncommon sight, and brought tears OF
10y to the eyes Of all the ladies' in whose 6enooi
the strength of Hercules. They did as much In
few brief hours as whole army OF the ordinary
streetsweepers and they deserve the thanks OF all
OUR SEWER CAPACITY.
There was considerable anxiety evinced among
business men down town lest the rapid thaw and
impending rain might gorge the sewers and cause
the flooding OF cellars and Easements. A reporter
called at the Office OF the Engineer In charge OF tho
Bureau OF Sewers to learn whether there was any
reasonable likelihood OF such catastrophe. Mr..
Mr. overwhelmingly metcorologist OF the Croton
Board.was present, and courteously gave the in
In answer to questions he said .sThe present
capacity and condition Of the sewers OF the whole
city are such that they are capable OF standing
any strain that may result from the present thaw.
Of the street suriacs. We have charge Of ali the
what are known as the ''rcceiving .basinsh at the
corners Of the street. Should these basins become
foul or ch0ked by rubbish, snow or other matter
WE PROMPTLY SEND wORKMEN
to clear the distractions. We have men whose
duty it Is to inspect them and they report all OBJ
structlons as soon as discovered, and in the event
OF notification of such obstruction being sent to
either by the Police Department or citizens we at
HAS the Bureau lately done ps' much to improve
the sewer system of the cityY' asked the reporter
Eyes" replied Mr.. Myers, "thc present Bureau
many OF the practical as well as theoretical defects
and errors Of the old Bureau. All
THE WORK NOW DONE
by this Bureau is done upon scientific engineer
ing basis, having all due reference to the topO-
graphy OF the city, probable and emergent requi-
site capacity OF sewers and so iOrth.n
''But Is not the present thaw and threatened
rain calculated to throw an extraordinary volume
'.Oh, nothing very extraordinary. We have had
as heavy volumes OF water from rains and snow
before. There Is only one thing requisite TO prove
the efficiency OF the present sewerage system, and
that's that the cutters should be kept clear. 1t Is
to the interest OF every man to keep the
cutters open In front OF his place of business
or residence, and this would not be difficult mat
ter 1t Is the business OF the Street Cleaning De-
partment to keep the surface OF the streets clean,
but don't think that any one would expect that
that Department could go over the
HUNDREDS OF MILES
OF streets In this city and clean them or in day
or two. But If the cutters are kept open people
will find that the sewers will carry of the water as
last as 1T flows. We have frequently had as heavy
snow falls as this In New York, but the snow very
rarely lasts so long, and that Is why people think
there Is so very much OF it. Then again, there is
not so much
WATER PRODUCED BY DISSOLVED SNOW
as people are likely to suppose. In my experience
with the CrOtOn Board, as meteorological, l found
that 1t was fair average estimate to expect that
loot OF snow packed as 1t falls would produce
from One-siXth to One-tenth OF its own depth Of
water-say, from two inches to an inch and a quar-
ter. In rare cases, where the snow, owing to its
moisture ~ the time OF falling, has been packed
very hard 1t produced about fourth Of its depth
or three inches OF water.
In conclusion Mr.. Myers reiterated his entire
confidence In the capacity and condition OF the
sewers. as ample to carry off all the surface water
II tile water is afforded the chance to run through
the CUTTERS as to reach the sewers and the only
way that could be effected was by opening the
cutters in every street. People would then be sur
prised and gratified to see how fast the present
ocean Of slush would disappear from the streets.