The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-09
How TO Treat Public Nuisances-A
Little Good Advice.

There never was city SO beridden with its
officials as the city of New York Those
whose business it is TO see that the public
service is tree from abuses are generally the
first to introduce them, and when the people
are awakened to any one of the evils an
official denial Of the existence of the wrong is
the first result OF the discovery. This was
notably the case in regard to the filling Of the
Harlem flats. When the HERALD pointed out
this terrible abuse Commissioner Disbecker
fatty contradicted us Evidently he expected
his bold words to be accepted as the truth
and that his shameless conduct would go I'M
challenged. He and one OF two Of his asso-
ciates even went so far as to hold the fear Of
dismissal over the whole body Of police sur
geons to coerce them into making a report to
sustain his position, though it was subversive
of the fact. This document, so disgraceful in
itself, was published rs on official denial
of all the charges, and but for the
exertions and courage Of Gonenl Smith it
might have been accepted as a proof Of Dis
becker's rectitude. The new Commissioners
was not man to cover over a great wrong,
even when Ii was perpetrated with the con-
sent or under the direction Of bis associates
in the Board, and he hrst induced DIR. Fetter
to tell the whole truth in regard to the matter
In q report to the Police Department, which
we print this morning pr Fctter reiterates
the facts to which General Smith first gavo
publicity. These facts not only demonstrate
all that we have said in regard to the filling
used and its danger, but clearly prove that the
Street Cleaning Bureau was systematically
engaged in planting pest bed almost in the
heart Of the city. The conclusion seems
inevitable that this work, 50 heartless and SO
iniquitous was done for the profit OF other
persoas besides the contractors; and this
much at least seems certain, that not more
than one report Of the money received for
street dirt was ever made to the Comptroller
We also print reports from Dr. Francis A.
Thomas, DR.. Hamilton Walker and others,
some OF them going even further than DR..
Fetter in denunciation Of the wrongs COM
mitted upon tho people Of Harlem. DR..
Walker declares that, whether countenanced
by the Police Board or not, the manner in
rage on tho community, and DR.. Thomas,
who has been police surgeon for many
years and wko is a man Of much practical
knowledge also sustains this view. DR..
Thomas lives in the neighborhood OF which
he writes, 50 that by personal observation, as
we'll as professional skill, be is especially well
qualified to express an opinion on this sub
ject. Many Of the police surgeons who con-
CURED in the report Of the special committee
did 50 without making any personal examina-
ton, and it will be seen that most of these
now take entirely different ground. Neither
the Police Commissioners nor the Board OF
Health can any longer have an excuse Tor not
dealing sternly and effectively with tho nui-
sance, and, though Dr. Walker doubts whether
distinction is possible, it has become
necessity.
The noxious g,ses and noisome vapors
which have resulted from the foul matter used
as filing impregnato the air to such an extent
as 70 make an epidemic not only possible, but
probable, unless speedy efforts arc adopted to