The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-23
THE HARLEM PESTS.

THE AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING FOR 'sFIRsT,
CAUSES '-THE BOARD OF HEALTH BEGIN.
MING TO FILL IN THE PLAGUE SPOTS.
HERALD reporter early yesterday morning
paid another visit to the high stone wall which,
beginning near Ninety eighth street, runs along
Third avenue for sc veral blocks, with the view Of
ascertaining, II possible, whence the water Dub-
bling out OF it proceeded, and whether such
water was pure or foul. 1t has been asserted
that the water was not unwholesome, out that II
came from springs which, it Is said, exist here
ana there on the western side OF the avenue.
The morning Is the best time TO test this question,
for 1t is then that the water lows from different
sections OF the stone abutments in the largest
quantities.
Arriving at the ground long before any OF ths
workmen were on hand the writer had ample
opportunity OF studying the situation, and gives
the following as his conclusions. Were the water
from the few springs beyond, and did 1t pass all
the way through tho sand and stone and gravel
OF which the broad avenue is made up, 1t would
certainly be perfectly pure when 1t came out on
the eastern side; foul water, even, could not now
under ground over beds OF sand and stone for
such a distance without being perfectly purified.
Hence the water not only must be of the foulest
nature when deposited In the avenue under
ground, but must necessarily now only short
distance before running down upon the hats.
Hence 1t can only proceed from defective sewer.
THE QUALITY OF THE WATER.
The water seen 0OZlng from the wall In
numerous places Yesterday morning. the longer
II Moved the fouer became the atmosphe 0, until
az last the locally for blocks and blocks around,
even at that early hour, became noxlous almost
beyond belief 1t Is not necessary TO make any
a. 0 se tS No % "a Tvs Or
down toward the hats from hundreds OF private
ane public dwellings; II Is liquid alike disgust:
lug TO see or smell the sliminess and Il thiness OF
which is calculated TO breed all sorts OF poisonous
insects, as well as develop the most dangerous
diseases.
AS stated before, the Workmen are digging alarg6
drain TO carry OF this water, but they fe W
In numoer to make rapid progress and some
doubt exists whether the drain VIII prove Itself
able to perfectly fun the purpose for whlcn IL iS
INSPECTOR DAYS OPINION
After making note OF the above the writer
called upon Sanitary Inspector Day, at his rest.
deHce in Thirty-iourth street. The reporter In
formed DR.. Day what he had seen, and asked his
opinion 10 relation TO II. The Doctor satu -
Though the pubic In great measure has been
entirely unaware Of 1t the Board OF Health have
had the Harlem mats under consideration for Iwo
years past ana nave steadily been emo eavoring to
improve them. They nave had many disad-
yantages to contend against and thei. progress
much, and mean TO DO much more, Though the
public may nave been In ignorance concerning
the former fact they Will soon be wiling to admit
the truth OF the latter AS far as am wa ranted
In speaking for the Board, whicR In an humble
way represent, must say tnat the NEW YORK
THE HEARrIEsT PRAISE
LOT OrlnBluR the nuisance INTO huCn popular mo-
tice ana censure; for it has aroused the dinerent
departments to action and thus endDled the
Board OF Health 10 better lun IFS dulles than
ever before. Tne Board has already taken the
matter partially In It's own hands, and has con-
tracted for an immense amount OF fresh and rich
earth. This earth VIII be secured ana dumped at
a less cost than that stipulated In any former
tract. When the Board has done ITS work you
viii see ali the iats from along Tooth street, be-
tween Madison and Fourth avenues, well as
between Fourth aud Fifth avenues, thoroughly
nketed with ricn soil"
THE DAMAGED SEWERS.
UWhat about the ruptured sewers along Third
avenue ~ asked the reporter.
"They are already being attended tor was the
Doctors answer. Gan investigation Is even now
beinR made. Workmen have dug clean TO the
sewer in the neighborhood OF Ninety second
street and have already proceeded some distance.
they will continue until all the points needing
repair along this line OF the sewer are found, and
viii, OF course, readJuat them In the possible
manner"
"wHAT THE FOLKS sAYu
The people OF Harlem, while they rejoice at any
thing calculated to remedy the evils OF the local.
ity, are not wholly satisfied with what is being
done. They claim that on the 1eds which require
q Thousand workmen to cleanse only lOrty or
fifty are engaged. rney also claim that as work
Is scarce and lab n literally begging Tor employ
ment, there could be no letter opportunity i0r
completely disnfecting the hats than nov. what
has the Department OF Public Works ia say 10
thls'