The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-23
HOW HARLEM FLATS ARE BEING FILLED in.
An Ounce Of Earth and a
Pound Of Filth.
MUST THIS OUTRAGE CONTINUE?
Gentlemen OF the Health and Police
Boards, Beware

Inc WOrSb features OF OHlclal neglect anu dlS-
honesty, allied with selfish disregard of the
nights OF the public receive Illustration in con-
nection with the "dling in" OF the above named
tract, which demands the severest condemnation.
The too frequent recurrence OF such instances Of
mnlaithlulness to their trust, on the part OF the
peoples servants, renders the TACT more painfully
apparent that New York Is ruled, instead OF
Served, by her paid onicials, and that her most
vital interests made the objects OF trafflc by
men who act as If public opinion was no longer
worthy OF respect. The area of marshy land
known as "tne Harlem Flats'' lies between Filth
avenue and The East River and Ninety-second and
ll6tn Streets and crossed by the several
avenues Of Firth avenue on embank-
ments formed Of earth and stone, regu-
larry graded The tract is irregular In
shape and was intersected by several creeks, some
OF which are now dlled up. The spaces between
the avenues have been, up to qlite recently, sub
Ject to tidal overflow from the creeks, and were
looked on the sources OF the malaria which has
dong troubled the Harlem district ana so injuri-
Ousy affected the prospects parts OF that section
OF New York, as can be seen rom day to day by the
absence OF buildings on the highlands fronting on
tEe marshes, while the adjoining districts are
sthicRly built on and densey populated.
PREVIOUS TO THE GRADING or FIRST AVENUE
and the filling for the cross streets from Third
avenue eastward, the tract did not differ in ap
surround the harbor, but the water frontage on
navigable channel gave considerable value to
the land Docks and landing places Tor scows and
DaTges were built and the gradual filing IN
or the marsh began. When the work
was in progress, the contractors, although
otherwise bound by their contracts and
The sanitary laws OF New York. ala not hesitate to
secure from the Street Cleaning Bureau OF the
Police Department the sWeepngs and refuse OF
"a
lowed to decompose ana poison the air for miles
around. No reasonable objection could be made
10 "city nning,n as II may be called, Tor 1t was OF
the kind prescribed by law-that is, ''ciean
ashesu ''cellar excavation the debris OF old
buildings or the natural waste Of street surface,
Tree from organic matter, known under the general
term OF ''Rarbags;' but, unfortunately for the
city of New York, the laws "made and provided
weigh but little when set in the scale against
oflcai dishonesty ana the interests Of ''smarn
contractors and all the horrible Nth OF the city
was carefully collected ana sold by the enterpris-
ing Police Department 70 the equally enterprsing
contractors who used IL without scruple
m nning In 1.-THE Harlem Fiats.u Tue
residents in the vicinity naturally COM
planned and protested against the conversion OF
an already sufficiently dangerous nuisance INTO
one OF most deadly character, ana rom which
there was absolutely no escape, except by an
nee oil business and property. The hoard oI
Health was appealed TO FOR relief and protec ton,
but IN vain. Red tape, incompetency and, above
all, onicial corruption parayzed the strong arm
OF the Jaw. ana by simulated efforts TO stop the
svi II was secretly encouraged, aud the result to-
day n that large and uensely populated section
ol the city Is rendered almost uhinhabltable, ard
the lives OF the people are imperled by the use
OF nung, which, II honest aud compe tent men
controlled the responsible departments would be
carried ont considerable distance TO sea aud
deposited where IL could DO no injury 70 the city.
THE GARBAGE UNCOVERED.
The only precaution apparently taken by the
Health Department has been 10 direct that the
horrible compost called "nltng,n now being used
In .'tne Harlem Flats should be covered with
three feet OF Iresh earth. The writer. in his ex-
animation OF the ground. did not mud single
particle OF fresh earth deposited on any part Of
Htne Flatsr where the garbage filling was used.
respectable druggist on Third avenue, on whom
the writer caIled for Information 10 the effects
on the health OF the district OF the or the city
NTH for nlnng, said that his prescription books
showed a decided increase OF intermittent lever
and Kindred diseases which can be reasonably at
tribuied TO the causes described. "fne Flats as
hlled with the city refuse ana garbage, are
familiarly known a. "McQuaid's graveyard
from the fact toat person OF that name
mas the contract for the filing and OF the loss Of
life resulting from its use. II IA also reported
that the undeftakers Of Harlem are doing SPLEEN
did spring trade, aud are making money fast but
II 1t not fearful consideration FOR those respon-
sl0le for this slaughter that tue dollars made
Of their nefarious tranc the sale and delivery aud
use OF contagion. breeding matter, should repre-
sent human lives and that this Is the trade OF
murder stripped OF every extenuation, the secret
cowardiy, selfish sacrifice Of life for money! The
writer asked q policeman OF tue precinct II the
stencil was as bad every day as 1T was at that
time. The astute onicial replied that IL was when
the wind blew on the river, but that ne ala not
know anything anout it. Tne wind was then
blowing nom the south and carried the dreadful
emuva directly over the centre OF Harlem and
80 OverpowerinG was the odor that the writer
quickened his pace 70 escape II by reaching a
point where comparatively fresh air could be
breathed.
SAMUEL LORDS lots.
These are situated al the west side or Third ave
nue. between IOeth and 10Th streets, and front
on the avenue and streets. They are marsby, ike
"lhe Flats beng, Ia iact part OF the nam
tract cut OF by the Third avenue. They are inter-
Rected BY a creek, which passes through culyerts
under the avenues. Wnile examining the nnng
on ''tne Flatsr the writer noticed a number Of
carts busy engaged IN carrying the "nIingr
from the scows TO some point apparently IN the
very heart OF Harlem ana, helng curious 70 Know
70 what use such fearful stun could be put IN the
midst Of popuous settlement, he followed a cart
20 It's destination. THIS was the property above
described, and which was actually being filed IN
with the city refuse and garbage. Mills Ambrose,
the contractors, appear TO know the value VI
time IN an operation OF this KIND, for the energy
displayed By them in cartlng and depositing the
Milling" i worthy OF more odorous job. But
fne writer did not fail TO see the object OF all the
driving q teams and shouting. IL was necessary
10 OIL 70 az great an extent as possible with the
cheap and nasty material from the Police Depart
Een' scoWs' 80 IS 70 save the cost and haulage OF
clean earth, which the Health Department required
should cover the other hlhng There were ten
loaded carts OF "scow nlnngn DUMPED for every
one Of clean earth, and instead or three feet OF
the laiter coyerinr the anhatrnanrn nf ..nrnnno