The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-24
MILD WEATHER.

EFFECTS OF THE CHANGE UPON THE STREETS
DECREASE IN THE MORTALITY OF THE CITY
THE ICE RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING.
That nature delights In those contrasts which
enable man to appreciate the happiness or misery
OF hts condition has been demonstrated within the
past Jew days. during when time We have passed
from temperature below freezing point, with all
its attendant discomfort and SUFFERING through
dismal rain storm and into that ETHEREAL mildness
which the poets and other anclfui people have
been wont to regard as the accompaniment OF
spring. The immediate effect has been TO de-
velop an almost tusunerable amount OF slush, mud
and dirt In the streets and avenues, which Is, per-
haps, the necessary result OF the long con.
tinued and severe cold weather and the
unusual ian OF snow which has char
acterized the winter. Broad way and some oil the
other more prominent avenues have, through the
exertions OF the Street Cleaning Bureau, been
kept comparatively clear, and IN condition to
meet the sudden changes IRON freezing to q
thawlng temperature, without any very disagree
able result. But outside OF these, and In the mar
row tnoroughIares OF the city, tne heaped up snow
and Ice which have been thrown from the SIDE
walks, the cutters, and, in many instances, from
the railroad tracks, combined with the recent
ram, have brought ABOUT condition OF affairs not
only causing great annoyance but nKely to become
detrm entail to the public health.
An agreeable effect OF the recent change in tenn
perature IL found In the immediate decrease OF
mortality among those directly affected by cold
ana hunger. The Stats les furnished by the
Board OF Health snow that the average mortality
among this class has been greater during the past
winter than at any other time since 1865. The
evil OF crowdng large NUMBER Of persons under
one roof, and 0ltentimeS IN one room. ma
turaly maniests Itself to greater extent in
cold weather There IT, In this country, no law
against the crowding OF people either Ia tenement
houses. boarding houses or ho.els, ana In conse
quence there Is developed wnat Is known among
the medical fraternity as ''tne crowding poison"
whIcn, Ia lis turn, develops those diseases to
wncn the system IS peculiarly subject, and, gen.
orally, with fatal effect The number vi the poorer
classes which during the past two days have
crowded the streets In the vicinity OF the large
tenement houses snow now eagerly they break
away rom the rooms whose poisonous atmos-
phere Is 80 deleterious TO them.
THE ICE IN THE RIVERS.
Under the genla, rays OF tne sun the floating Ice
which has 50 long encunbered our rivers IS
siderable quantities came down the hudson,
but 1t was OF that character that scarcely
affords any lmpediment even to sailing
vessel. The East RIVER was almost clear Tor tue
greater part oil the day. The ice In the sound
ABOUT Hell Gate Is rapidly go ng away aud vessels
are beginning 10 come through. The steamers OF
the New haven line are again running. but the
sailing craft are sun dependent on the tugs,
though tney vii probaDl, DC able to make their
own way very soon. rne Long Branch steamboats,
resumed their trips yesterday Tor the inst time In
three wees. The ice extending from sandy Hook
10 south Annoy Is rapidly weakening, ana should
Il heavy raiu set IN or the present mid weather
continue, II kcy to be carried out 10 sea at any
moment.
TUE STATEN ISLAND ICE BLOCKADE
Is now apparently pretty nearly broken up, and
the Jerry DUats are running much more regularly
Than or some time past, I'll ON fhe Eas; and the
North shores. Tue kiil Won kuli rs nearly Gear oil
Ice as Jar as Porl Richmond, ana the thaw o. yes
terday has weak ned the Ice 10 staten IS and sound
To such an extent that II Is now becoming danger
Gus 10 cross on DOT or On Iceoodis. On MONDAY
some o. the lceboats broke thorough ana several
persons got ducking. Many OF tue streets and
crossings IN Stapeton ana vicinity, yesterday, were
almost overlooked with water RON the NILS above,
ana In many PAGES the village lubUrers were EN-
poyed III Cleaning the street CUTTERS so that the
water could escape.
THE SIGNAL OFFICE
reports show that The thawinR weather prevailed
throughout the " est south OF tue ONO River. The
temperature yesterday was above The freezing
point IN the Eastern and Middle states. the ONO
Valley aud III the regions south OF those sections
An area OF iIeezlng temperature appeared IN the
Northwest, preceded by llgnt rain OF snow.