The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-28
THE HARLEM PLAGUE SPOTS.
EFFECT OF THE RECENT RAINS UPON THE
FLArs-THEIR TERRIBLE CoNDITIoN-Tm
WORST SPOT OF ALL YET UNTOUCHED-THl

EFFECT OF THE RECENT RAINS UPON THE
FLArs-THEIR TERRIBLE CoNDITIoN-Tm
WORST SPOT OF ALL YET UNToUcHED-Tm
FLOODS ALONG THIRD AVENUE.
A more loathsome and disgusting sight thaI
that anorded yesterday morning by the Harlem
nats could not be imagined. THE HERALD re-
porter reached them st very early hour, auo
made careful survey of the grounds-or rather
the holes and pitfas-in order to ascertain how
much they had been affected by the recent heavy
rains. II one can imagine the Harlem
River to have risen over Its banks aud
overnowed the entire neighborhood for blockI
around he can form q pretty accurate idea OF how
the hats appeared this morning. From dis,
lance the whole area of territory between Second
and Third avenues In the neighborhood OF Ninety
eighth street resembled
VAST LAKE.
its surface being almost entirely covered with
water, while the ground stretching from second
avenue down TO the river was also hidden from
view by the HOOD.
Standing on the high stone abutment betl. cen
Ninety.eighth ana Ninety-nInIh Streets Oh.
HERALD reporter saw before him q most painful
and sickening sight. The water when it fell was
pure and fresh and had lain there less than
twenty-lour hours, but The place 1t covered was
itself so foul that the water was dead, dlScolored
The thin layer OF pure soil that has recently
been scattered over this particular portion Of the
marsh, while IL may have suodued Tor a time the
obnoxious doors exuding tnerefrom, is mani
that pervade the air. This is easily understood
when we consider that these gases proceed from
the mud and slime below, which, according to tue
statement OF an overSter, Is
FORTY FEET IN DEPTH.
II Is also readily seen from this fact that fresh
without becoming poisoned Whether the disin-
fectanls previously deposited on the nats. or
themselves have changed the nature OF the
water, the reporter could not determine,
Sp6 IN was nnrts that os the water
or different colors. In some places It was green,
In others blue and some tlmes 1t was OF faint yel
The other day. when the writer visited the bats
he was shown drain. nearly completed, which
leave the fats clean and sweet. But glance 40
the 1ats yesterday showed how foolish the state
ment was and how insufficient are the provisions
made by the authorities for necessary drainage.
prominent citizen OF Harlem yesterday said =
a1oat and the gentle rain to US who live here
instead OF being blessing Is really curse, be-
cause lying out over these foul beds 1t becomes
stale and rank and the evening wind passing
over carries the odOrs TO our parlors and the
chambers where our little ones are asleep. How
long the water Will be there don't know. We
never pray for rain in Harlem any more.n
THE GREAT SLOUGH.
Thus far the Board OF Health has apparently
taken no notice OF the worst hole In tile many
near Harlem ana which the HERALD has before
pointed out as exceedingly I0ul and dangerous.
1t is located at the corner OF Second avenue and
I06th street. IL is covered, not with water, bat
with something which, though once water, Is now
so thoroughly mixed with slime and nltn that 10
has about the same consistency as mush. A thick
coating OF greenish film rests over It, and nies and
mosquitoes exist about IL in millions. There
is no telling how many diseases have been gener-
ated by this pool, nor how IL will In future AFFECT
the mortality OF the residents OF the nelghbornoOd
unless al once attended to.
THIRD AVENUE FLOODS.
visit made to the neighborhood lying along
Third avenue, between Fortieth and Forty With
streets, SHOWS that the damage done there by the
recent showers has been very much exaggerated.
The rain came in such torrents that
the sewers, being blocked by che refuse
lying in the cutters, could not carry the
water on. Besides the ground on the east side
from Second avenue, ana on the west side from
Lexington avenue, slopes down toward Third,
and hence 10 was that the sidewalks were over
nowed, cellars deuged, ana the people consider
ably alarmed. The condition Of the district was
IN itself sufficient TO prevent any serious damage,
lot many OF the cellars had no occupants a. all,
ana those which had were tenanted by
shoemakers, painters, barbers &C., who had
but little stock 10 be destroyed. The total dam
age will not exceed $1,000, and this takes in the
entire district Hooded by the water. The sewers
In this neighoorhood need to be attended 20 lm-
medatey. They are very mucn cogged and un-
less repaired another shower Will be attended by
tho ma roo