The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-04
Delay in Abating tho Harlem Flats
Nuisance.

Nuisance.
After the complete exposure Of tho wrongs
perpetrated upon the community by street
spite Of the imminent danger to the health
OF tue city, the Harlem fats nuisance re-
mains undated. The Board of Health has
done nothing; the Commissioner of Public
Works has been equally inactive, and even
the Board of Aldermen, which at one time
showed so much zeal, is waiting for an
opinion which the Corporation Counsel may
take all the summer to write. In the mean
time the sickening gases are exhaled from the
foul deposits, and deadly epidemic may
sweep over the metropolis before many days
are past Should such an event occur it will
be owing TO the criminal delay of the authori-
ties, who knew their duty but Jailed to per-
form it. The nuisance is one of official
creation, and its continuance is due to official
inactivity and inefficiency. We believe no
city was ever worse governed than New York
is at this moment, and no surer evidence of it
can be found than the manner in which
the authorities have dealt with this abuse.
In this connection we wish again to refer
to the report OF Police Surgeon Waterman,
which we printed the other day. In
speaking of the odor which pervades tho af-
ficted district DR.. Waterman said:-''It
seemed to me like mephitic cloud resting
over the entire locality" In view of such
testimony coming from respectable scientific
source, and strengthened as in this case by
personal investigation, the duty which it en-
forces cannot be evaded. DR.. Waterman not
only points out the danger. but suggests the
remedy, which ia the same as the HERALD
has insisted on now these msny weeks
namely, thick layer of pure earth to bury
the disease-breeding substances. The Board
OF Health has taken the sam, view, and not
only officially declared the garbage filings a
nuisance. but pointed out the same method
for its abatement The only question that re-
mains is, How is the work to be done2 We
can see no better plan. even in the face of
the failure of the Board OF Aldermen to
take the necessary action. than for the
Commissioner of Public Works to IN
dertake the duty and perform it. Dr.
Waterman reports that tho worst part Of
the work OF filing in the fats as
already performed was tina. done under
the direction of this department. We
are aware that General Porter Is
in no way responsible for the shortcomings
Of his predecessors, but he inherits the evils
Of his department sufficiently to be- respon-
sibls in the future for the evils of the past
after they arc brought to his attention. He
cannot disregard his duty in this matter
without bearing the full weight of response
bility which belongs to his department, and if
the filings are not raised to the full level of
the streets, as suggested in tho recent report
to the Board of Aldermen, any epidemic which
may ensue will be fairly imputed to his want
Of efficiency in his Office. He may be sure
that in any action he may take in the matter
he will be upheld by the public. while further
delay will be attributed TO his own want OF
control over his department and to the gen.
eral incficiency which just now paralyzes our
municipal administration.