The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-22

md most densey populated OF the class, scat
sered all over the city. 1t is mistake to sup
3ose as many do, That these foul homes OF the
great unwashed" are all located In the more no.
torlous downtown wards. They pervade and de-
die all parts OF the city, east and west. from
Harlem to the Battery, and can be found in the
nelghborhood OF Tenth avenue as we'll rs OF ave.
nue. c.
The greatest difaculty is constantly found in the
Item OF sinks and closets. These are often foul
beyond words, and the tenant and the landlords
alike seem to disregard every provision Of decency
as well as the positive instructions OF the Board OF
Health.
HOW RICH MEN IAPERIL THE HEALTH OF THE CITY.
man. tenement house owner, reputed to be
worth over 100000, has time and time again re-
fused to comply with some sanitary regulations,
Involving only trintng expense. Another tene-
ment house owner evades the acquisitions OF the
Board on the ground that his property is all in
his wie's name, and his wife being In Europe OF
course personal service OF the orders or the Board
cannot be made upon her. A third man. who
Owns several basement dens, lodging houses, &C..
has several aliases, and, when he Is served with
notice In one name, TAILS back upon his other
titles. A fourth owner or several tenemcnts, &C.,
who Is his own agent, has no recognized place or
abode himself where he can be found when he Is
wanted by the sanitary authorities.
Some owners OF tenement houses, &C., when
even go so far as to deny their own landlordshlp.
and spite OF books papers, accounts, DC, deny
question; and ali this to save few dollars, for the
lake OF which they do not hesitate to sacrifice the
Generally land this is fact disgracefu to many
rich mem more trouble Is experienced with the
owners OF tenement houses, from sanitary point
are more willing to avail themselves OF any oppOr
tunity for fresh air or cleanliness than the former
ae to grant them, at trinng expense, these OPP
DOrtuQltleS And some OF the worst instances
this are Afforded IN the cases OF women, rich wO-
% e 81 Of n Se% os
while some OF the viiest dens in our downtown
wards were owned and kept persistently vile by
sions.
vENrIIATING SHAFTS.
Special EFFORTS are now being made by the au-
thoritles to introduce in all cases where the
sinks, are too near the tenement houses ven
tilating shafts, which run along or under
and then along and up the sides, opening In
large tunnel above the ROOT. This is intended to
create constant draught, which viii take away
all loui odors.
These ventilators are put up as rapidly as pos
sible in all cases where they are needed. Four
hundred and tfty have oeen put up recently, but
the numDer, though slowly increasing, still far
too small, and the matter calls for renewed atten
ton, energetic action. and at once. In regard to
the carrying on OF ashes and garbage some DIM
Guilty has lately arisen between the police oclals
ashes and garbage must be deposited In separate
and distinct boxes. The latter allow the ashes and
fusion has arisen nom complicating orders on this
subject, winch trinlng as It may seem, Is OF con-
siderable sanitary Importance.
LODGING HOUSES AND CELLARS.
Most OF the so-called lodging houses in the
downtown wards are dirty and poorly ventilated.
Many OF the emigrant boarding houses are also in
q filthy condition. But TINS is the normal con-
dition OF these places and the Board OF Health is
cong ~ IT can to lessen the cyl or a. Least to
ans o. co.ing the worst dsns almost as often as
hat ninth rnx1,n
mum proportions an evil which they cannot cure.
the very worst .s lodging, house cellars
sa ase there are enoS and daily kept nd nss
open in the Fourth ward alone to cause what
Erapnic writer has recently STYLED "a herd OF
humanity" or late, since the closing OF the cellar
odging houses. the wretched inmates have be-
taken themselves to the attics. These are
location, they are easily accessible 20 sunlight and
fresh air, though the poor people mostly prefer
habited IN the Fourth ward and eight in the sixth
ward, which are pernicious and have been soon
demned," but the people still persist IN 'livlng'
ln them.
For some time past several cellars In James
been taken possession OF by ragpicEers, who make
them receptaces OF their refuse rags. These rag
cellars are highly Prelndical to the health OF the
rags are gathered from all sorts OF places and per
sous, and are often impregnated with the seeds OF
noxious diseases. The decent people In the vcln-
ity OF these rag cellars complain bitverly about
them but so far their circumstances seem to have
produced no effect. The rag men are in full tide
Of success ~, and, to make matters more delight
full they sometimes sleep on and with their rags.
OUR STREETS.
AS for our streets themselves the police assert
that they cleaner at present than ever before.
The Board OF Health on the contrary, disclaiming
oil responsiblt for the condition Of our thorough
fares, assert that the streets are Tar behind the
average OF their former cleanliness. The facts OF
the case appear To be that while the leading ousi-
Kept really clean, the streets in the more thronged
though less prominent quarters OF the metropolis
Ire many OF them. dlsgraceiuiiy ana dangerously
dirty. The streets OF che Eighth ward, Sixth
average Many OF the streets running near the
borth anu East rivers are dirty, and there are
some portions OF the city which are almost wholly
neglected. Portions OF Baxter street, Mulberry
street and Worth street-r;Qht In me heart Of our
crowded district-are disgracefu1y foul. Rose
street. batavia street and kindred localities reek
Win corrnption. sections OF Cherry street are in
disgraceful condition. Sections OF Thompson
street, south Filth avenue and sullivan street are
in similar state Even some OF the down town
business streets. such as Ann street. yesey street,
firty. In TACT, our whole street cleaning system
needs complete remodellng before 10 will come up
to the sanitary requirements OF the time
MARKETS, SLAUGHTER HOUSES
As rule the markets OF the metropolis are in
fair sanitary condition. The slaughter houses are
likewise, regarded as being so managed at present
as to give no grounds Tor uneasiness. They are
kept comparatively clean and in good order. ana
are reduced to % minimum OF danger to the public
health. sun, the system OF isolated slaughter
houses when now prevails does not admit OF such
constant care beng taken or OF such cleanliness
being attained 10 as II the system OF large central
The abattoir at Jersey city.
MANUFACTURES.
The large manufactures In the neighborhood or