New-York tribune., 1874-09-21
OTHER HEALTH MEASURES.

COMPLAINTS OF BAD DRAINAGE IN THE UPPER
wARDs-THE DRIVING OF SHEEP THROUGH TIE
STREETS DENOUNCED AS DETRIMENTAL TO
HEALTH.
The Health Department has received many
complaints the residents OF the Twenty third aud
Twenty fourth Wards that their health and that OF their
families by the bad drainage the lack Of
drainage Almost every section OF the low lands Is
maarous that the Inhabitants have nearly all suffered
more or less from fever and aeue Examination by the
Inspectors by the Board of Health has shown
that all the complaints have been more than justified
by the true state of the case there. Consequently
1t has been decided that subsoil or blind drains
should be at once laid. These drains have been
very effective wherever ad in placing the section so
drane in good healthy condition. request to have
this work done vast sent to the Board OF Public Works
They returned an answer that surveys had been
made nor any sewers laid in the new wards, and de-
clared that they could not lay the blind drains until
this other work had been done. There are not even
courses 60 by The laying OF the sewers and making
the necessary surveys belongs to the Department Of
Parks under the charter aud they have declared
that they have no money to pay for having this i'm
portant work performed The following was received
by the Board Of Health
Health Department crthe citg Of Ess & York Since the
mittng your resolution calling my attention 20 the opin-
ion Of Assistant Corporation Counsel with reference
ID
Twenty'ourth Wards, as published In The CItv Record
OF July l6, 1874 have caused thorough nyesugauon
to be made OF the subject Of the drainage or land In the
neRhborhood OF One-hundred and-forty y-ninthst and
Robbusave. in the Twentythird Ward OF this city.
nd that the lands in question lie only Few rect below
the adjacent streets graded and can be drained
by ordinary when constructed, thus avoid
ing the expense of underground drains The proper
location OF drains would be within the street lines
occupying the lines or future sewers there being no
welEdenned water ways. IL appears, therefore, that
proper for the drainage OF the lands is the
construction OF sewers, which under the super
vision OF the Department Of Public Parks with refer
ence other resolutions OF honorable Board re-
ferrng Department for action under chapter 668
Laws several certificates OF sanitary inspectors
In relation the drainage OF lands III the lately an
nexed district, have 10 that this Department Is
wholly without surveys, or detailed information re.
specng the topography Of that section OF the CITY, and
has no knowledge Of the establishment OF any
system OF sewerage without which II is impos:
slbe TO design underground drains as required
by act referred to- In the construction OF all
drains heretofore built In this oity the Department has
system to make them as efficient possible with the
least cost Under the present laws the establishment
OF a system OF sewerage for the Twenty-thlrd and
Wards Is under the control OF the Depart
ment OF Public Parks and this Department has neither
the authority TO make the necessary
for proper and economical drainage Of the dis
tEict Or any part Of the same GEORGE NJ. VAN MORT.
Commissioner Of Public Works
The subject OF driving sheep through the streets Of the
city has been brought before the Board OF Health and
has shown ha: this practice Is very detrimental
to public health and comfort The transportation OF
meat In open wagons through the city from the siaugn
erhouses 10 the markets was also brought un and both