New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-07


FILLING OF THE HABLEM FLATS INVESTIGATED
-LABoRs OF TIE STRENGTHENING DEPART
MENT.
The Board of Police Commissioners met on
SATURDAY Police Surgeon Fetter appeared before them
to explain his that he had been induced by the
other Police Surgeons sign untrue report relative
to the filling in of the Harlem Flats Dr. Fetter told
Commissioner smith the morning when the surgeons
report was handed in, that the material used for filing
in on the Harlem Flats dangerous 10 health and
emitted On offensive odor. Nevertheless, the after
noon of the same day Dr. Feter signed report by the
Board Of Surgeons in which statements made that
contradiced this assertion. Following is the substance
of DIR. Fetter's explanation
On Friday Nav %, 1875. committee Of surgeons,
consisting OF Henry. SatteFlce, Phelps Cook Wade
Varian. and myself. were asked 10 view the ground
being filed at Harlem. Drs Phelps Cook Wade. and
myself examined the block between Third and Fourth
ayes and One-hundrcdand-eighth and Onehundrcddnd-
ninth SITS on TINS IN the middle portion .loIc ''.Oa
One hundrcdand-sixth and one hundreds nd--even--ts
the sc0ws. and the aborers were spreading II. eX-
amined IL carefully. and found q large quantity OF
voretabe matter mixed r.: with the ashes and believe
thai there was least 20 per cent OF IL matter
As fast as il s',ad ont 10 WIS covered over Win
fln laver OF srcct-sweepings. and the top Of this
three or four inches earth. There load the
filling not scattered. which looked Ike manure. We then
examined the block of FOUrth-ayC, between one
hundred and one hundred 1ndsevcntlsts. and
found the work well done There percoptbic
stencil as there at least TWO two and Oneha feet
OF earth on top. 1 was informed that this a
private contract. On the east side at second ave
the block in "a very offensive and unhealthy cond-
IL extended down as far as Ninety SeNentst We
und nasty, black decaycd matter out IN places
This and all the ground filled in, should have at least
p feet o good earth upon H. To absorb the gases
from the organic matter. ON Saturday, at nOOn the
Board Of surgeons met 10 hX report. DT. Henry,
President OF the Board presented report prepared bv
him. He asked IL al 10 sign H. az me COMMISSIONERS
must have 10 immediately asked II 10 was not open Tor
discussion and was Informed IL was not. "a could
not sign the report ~ thar form and desired 10 state be-
fore the Board what saw There was no statement Of
what IN th report Tor We had no opportunity 10
inform Dr. Henry OF what saw, and / signed the
statement Of Dr Henry ami sateree accepting their
report. signed IL not 10 create INV lslOn although
ms better Judgment told not to do H. because DID
not consider 4 report Of facts warranted by what
Police surgeon Henry then said that the report made
by the Board Surgeons had been prepared ia accord
ance with opinions OF the members OF the Board
expressed him AT the meeting Of the Board Of sur
geons continued Or. Henry each member urged not
to sign the report unless the statements made IN IL
his full unqualified approval In this statement Dr.
Henry was corroborated fully by DIS satteree Cook
Varan. Walker, Phelps, and wade. They also stated
That the report made Trustworthy in every parcH-
lar After some discussion Commissioner Voor-
his offered resolution, which adopted
"gvng invitation to any member OF the Board Of Po-
lice Surgeons submit further additional report
truly aud fully stating his views and conclusions 10 the
nature and character Of the material from the
STRENGTHENING Bureau ami deposited upon the low and
OF Harlem Mats, and the probable
thereof upon the health of the residents the nifty"
The official records OF the strectcleanng Bureau state
that for six months from May 20 October 1s7i 3O2
$50 Oads OF ashes, Ii93O7 loads OF sweepings
and 1872 loads Of garbage collected this city
In the ak months from November, 1874 To April 1873
inclusive 42 725 loads Of ashes 36i loads
sweepngs and 194 loads OF ghrDhge were collected Tn
the ashes and garbage coll
Iected together The Board OF Health finding that the
mixture ashes and garbage made the whole UNIT to 10