New-York tribune., 1874-11-17
PLAGUE SPOTS UNDERGROUND.

INSPECTION OF THE NoIsOME CELLARS IN THE
FOURTH wARD-LURKING PLACES OF DISEASE
TIE HEALTH ORDINANCES TO BE ENFORCED.
Assistant Sanitary Superintendent James and
Sanitary Inspector Lockwood inspected the cellars In
the Fourth Ward yesterday, with view TO concluding
what further action may be necessary to compel tie
dweers in underground Easements to remove from
their unhealthy lodgings All OF the places visited yes
terday have cleaned out time and time again by
the Board OF Health The tenants insist upon returning,
however and an appeal has been made TO the police.
President Matse has promised that the orders OF the
Board of Health enforced, and has said that no
would hold the captains III the different precincts re-
sponsble for carrying out the health ordinances.
At Nos 20 and % Cdtharine-s after descending into
the basement, the Inspector reached room that was
amo,, as dark as night. All the light that entered
by the hafwindows the doors and they covered
Dy curtains. After striking a match series OF small
rooms discovered each partitoncd from the other
and each containing double bunk. the front room
had bar ranged across the end and passageways just
wide enough for pass along wound around past
the entrances the bedrooms. The pipe at the sink
had been ed, and the whole contents OF the
o,t tnJw pipe discharged upon the basement door
Tue stencil horrible and a sickening Odor per
vaded the entire establishment
After making u minute OF the condition Of this den
lie Inspector went and entered No. James-st. This
is one OF the largest underground lodging houses in the
email bedrooms and room that would hardly afford
breathing space occupied by sixteen
double beds The whole cellar bottom underneat th the
Il oIiug was covered with water 70 depth OF from
entire apartment and all the inmates looked pale and
sicy These roglodytes have been elected several times
ny INSPECTOR Lockwood bat though the eStaOiS Sninent
beea broken up yet IN lew days the occupants
have moved back.
was closet Capt Williams arrested tie proprietor and
seven girls on Sunday night. Al through me ward
Every keeper of dsreputaUe house the proprietor
of illicit business OF any kind afraid OF descent
Al n. 2J8 waterst; very badly kept lodginghouse
was iuuld. The whole apartment partiiiOnci off
ike the Others some OF the beeh
the last desceut 10y the Inspector Ia No 3iz
Water-, was another vile deu 1tted Ike thc Utuel.
aad an Overpcwcrn Od0r from The sewerage under
flooring filled the atmosphere The Ou, ~ pipe has
the year around. At the back grog-
ceres what are termed velvet rooms. Several OF
Tncie benches about the room, BAT the dodgers sleep
upOu floor. In these small roOns eight
often pack fro 20 TO 80 persons OF boIn sexes The
atmosphere thes- velvet roOhs sail Inspector Lock
wood, becomes stniug, and II IS wonder that Of
tae dodgers not suhJcat"d during the night.
Nos u aud 20 NOrh Wlllam-st. there what are
c4lcu Not WItn ocCuUyiug the
dni t. nOsoc basement. VITA rows of beds, tDey nave
also lifted up the space the suDcclar In the same
manner narrow night 0i stairs winds dOwl into thls
dan, and at the bottom 1t Is dark nisnt 1t was
only after striking The Inspector could look
around Then IL was seen that the sdbcclar was
cr0wqed with beds partitioned from one anotnrr nv
tlin wall OF dih and paper. Hui-nakad forms hted
her and tllitGcr anu scene sickening as well
"a thc OdOr. Al Ne. 81 Chathan-st the women had
all been ceced by Capt Williams, aud the Proprietor Is
locked up in the TOin0s TAc APARTMENTS presented
tue Appearance the Others. Ilspacior Lock
wood also pointed out as he went along tIe grave
Of the rule OF iIr StfeetCe ining Bureau Which
allows the collectors OF asnes and garbage take day
Sunday. Tue consequence Vf not collecting the
refuse OF the great teuencAis Sundays Is such an
ACCUMULATION that the recsptacles everywhere over
nOAlng ana the streets and sidewalks presented n
abJlniIaDly hlthy appearance. In or the blocks
there il sewer IsspoeOUT lockwood Is now Drep,r
lu,, the necessary plans for Meanwhile AN the
ltn crowded district is thrown into the streets
cutters clog cd with the refuse wn,c sends
forth foul. FEVER Uree ing eXnalatOns.
Capt. Williams III ide another descent last nigbt upon
the disrepdtaDle deus in the Fourth Ward Charles
Slnlth. the proprietor or the dance house at No yI
CaathaInst., arrested, aud Blk Inmates vino
Iid been held IN bondage worse than slavery" AS
Otk street Police SsatlOn Capt Williams said mat he
should continue the work OF breaking I'D dsre ,uable
houses until ne had fulfilled the declaration wnrh he
made when he was transferred tO the Fourth Precinc
lie tuel SAID that II lie we're SUPPORTED by tnase in
Authority him he would clear the Fourth prectnct
OF every household n winch Illicit business was carried
on"
a large number OF letters received by Copt
Williams yesterday, urging bn " for G. DDS saxe 10 20
with the good work. Tue Fourth Ward If a nor joJk
like itself ast night. The dancehonses and utner dis
rcput.i pe places all closed Either the prupric
afraid that they would De arrested or tney
TIe Police Commissioners highly pleased with the
les Iit Will Oe what they have hoped for.