The New York herald., 1875-12-20
M A l. A r [ A.
Whence and from What
1t Arises.
DEFECTIVE DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE
The Poisonous Elements that Come Ont Of
House Pipes
TENEMENT HOUSE HORRORS

An examination into the sanitary condition OF this
city reveals tho important and startling that there
is present existing in midst and in continual op
Grafton influences the fatal health and life and
which the health authorities OF the city have
control II Is clearly proved by examination OF the
sanitary statistics relating to this subject that notwh
standing the yearly expenditure large sums OF money
in efforts TO improve the public health there Is largo
and important class OF diseases steadily the increase
which exist and dependent serious defects In our
sanitary system. Unfortunately for the community,
what Professor Houghton, distinguished physioogist
has apty termed the twill OF God theory OF disease Is
too often accepted by the majority of people as sum-
cient explanation OF the unhealthy condition Of the
city But an investigation into the facts OF the
proves beyond question doubt that the epidemics of
late years are and that the constant high death Is
dependent, to very great extent the absence of
proper drainage in the upper portion OF the city grave
defects In entire system OF street and house
age and the shocking sanitary condition resulting from
overcrowdng the dwellings OF the poorer classes Of
our community
LANDS.
Occupying an extensive portion of she upper part OF
tho city extensive tracts OF marsh and overnowed
lands, constantly developing and sending forth mala.
rial poison pollutng the air breathe and spreading
disease and death among the residents OF the affected
district The question the exact nature OF this
poison has been tho subject of great deal OF nvsst
CATION and although there at present exists considera
bic difference OF opinion tho subject, the fact that
this poison is endemic, locally atmospheric and de-
pendent on vegetable decomposition, Is placed beyond
doubt. The minute bodies developed by the decompo-
son of organic matter are dinused through the at
mosphere by evaporation from tho surface of the land
Carried the winds TO every quarter these particles
again deposited the earths surface by the lorma
ton OF dew and the falling ofran. Although the pres
ence OF swamp undrained lands is necessary for
the production OF malaral poison, still in all countries
these lands the most fruitful OF this enemy
10 human ifo The attention OF the health authorities
has been repeatedly directed for the past few years
10 the injurious effects exercised by these tidal
lands on the health OF the city, but as yet plan has
been settled on or action taken that will relieve the
public from this present and active source Of dis
ease; although the health officials frankly admit that
as long as these lands remain in their present condi
tion the sanitary condition Of considerable portion
OF the city will remain at ts usual low state. The
present attempt to nll in certain portions OF this
district has proved decidedly unsatisfactory the do
posting OF filling largely composed OF organic matter .
soil saturated with water is but making, upon the
most improved principles, additional sources OF con-
tagion and disease.
To secure the proper and complete reclamation of
projected from the of tho by the construc
iion OF dykes and the carrying out of proper system
OF drainage deep enough to relieve the springs and
that intersect the land BY the adoption
Of this plan the large quantity Of water with which the
entire section is saturated is removed II facilitates
the carrying out OF perfec. and thorough sys
ten OF drainage preventing In the future any great
accumulation of wasex and saturaton OF the soil This
once accomplished the raising of the land by OF
filling be carried out with far
LESS DAMAGE HBALTH
The importance or this subject fully and fatally
illustrated during the epidemic OF erebro.spinaI
meningitis during 1872 In the early months OF tho
epidemic and before the disease spread the denscy
populated portions OF the CITY, It found that in the
majority of instances the affection generally followed
the course of the old watercourses and lines Of soil
saturaton that had long before been hled In and for
gotten clearly showing that tho 1llng up Of natural
springs and watercourses, without providing proper
sewerage for tho relief OF after accumulation OF water
dangerous TO public health and is bad sanitary engi-
ncerng The importance Of this question OF drainage
in the upper portion of the city cannot be
estimated, it not alone Influences the general health
the city but also affects tho OF that particular
portion OF New York. The proper drainage of the ex-
OF vacant lots, forming large, stagnant
ponds filled with every variety OF refuse matter is
sanitary consideration OF the first importance THIS
work should be rapidly pushed forward during the |
winter months, as u is only during this season that
danger to the public health. In considering |
the Improvements necessary to placing the |
upper portion or New York In proper
sanitary condition important question presents It.
self TOR considcratonnancly the present condition OF
the Harlem RIVER and spuytcn Duyyil Creek This |
waterway, connecting the Hudson River with Long |
Island Sound, rapidly filling up except in the chan
mel where the water is of sufficient depth 10 keep tho
bed clear. During the low stages or the tide consd-
cradle extent of It's bed exposed TO the heat OF the
and the action Of the atmosphere which draw out
OF the rank weed growth and mud great deal of
mala iaI
is Of very great importance and best be accom-
pshed BY the dredging and deepening OF the channel
ana the construction OF such dy kes may be neces
sary prevent tho now OF water the low lands along
the course Of the river In this way may be obtained
a free and unobstructed flow OF water from the Hud-
son River 70 the sound ana good deal OF now waste
bu valuable land secured for cultivation The changes
New York to healthiu condition are numerous, and
unless they carried on; In q radical manner this
section will continue to prove
DANGEROUS SANITARY CONDITION
the future as II has been during The past The yearly
work OF draining and clearing few lots aud tho
hliing or small portion Of swamp sufcicn and
but small beneficial influence the public
health.
The next question that presents itself for examina
ton influencing The sanitary condition Of the city is
that Of sewerage Even the most superficial study OF
present system of street and house drainage viii
convince the most unobscrving that the present de-
fcctvc sewerage system tins CITY . OF ep
denic disease This chiefly be noticed In the
lower portions OF the island, aud particularly in dis
ritts bordering on tue rvcr fronts, where, owing TO
these locations beng IN many made ground ana
consequently but little above the level Of the water,
high tdcs frequently torce the contents back
through The streets, doodng cellars and causing vast
amount Of misery and disease. Another trouble with
our present system of sewerage the constant
deposit OF sewage along almost the entire water
front o the city. THIS great source OF
danger health is caused by the running !
between bukhcsds aud under piers where
there sufficient 0f the water 10 wash away
their deposits That the present system OF sewerage IS
incomplete and insufficient for the thorough drainage
Of the lower portion the city one who has exam.
ned the subject viii deny and y = only oy the adoption
OF sufficient capacity admit or easy cleansing and
ventilation that expect 10 remedy this great |
source of conagon and disease The poisonous cxhah.
Ins ~ sewer gas, dependent on aud caused by the
want of proper ventilation " house sewers and soil
pipes are important In considering the of
discase occasionng, MS they undoubtedly do, cOnsd-
erablc amount Of the malignant forms OF levers In
many the fatal vtsatons o diseasc that this
CITY has suffered from within The past years I've
directly traced Ia this cause r Morris OF Tho Board