The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-23
Mcauatd,s Graveyard.

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1t seems almost incredible that so large a
tract Of low land as that known as ''lhe Har-
lem fats the extent of which is exhibited by
the map we present to the readers OF the
HERALD this morning, should have been filled
in with garbage almost in the condition OF
compost under the very eyes and apparently
with the connivance Of the authorities. Yet
such is the fact, as is clearly demonstrated by
the article we print in another column.
The region is one formerly traversed by
watercourses, and, until recently, frequently
overfowed by the tide at high water. That
the flats should be filed in was work Of
necessity, required as much from considera-
tons OF the public health as by the growth Of
the city 1t is only of the manner in which the
work was performed that we have reason 10
complain. Instead of using only such filling
as that contemplated by law, in which there
should be an entire absence Of disease-breed-
ing substances, organic matter has been prin-
cipally employed by the contractors in accom-
plishing their work. This matter is Of kind
that could be best handled with fork, a
shovel being an inconvenient implement in
the hands Of the workmen. Naturally enough
this method of making graveyard in the
heart Of great city gave rise to complaints
and protests 20 the Board Of Health but these
were not only disregarded by that body, but
semi-offcial sanction was given to the out
rageous action Of the contractors bya require
ment that the terrible compost employed by
them should be covered with three feet OF
earth. 1t is plain, even to the meanest
understanding, that this provision could
only result in prolonging for years the
evil OF which the people Of Yorkville and
Harlem had SO much reason to complain.
Every time the earth is opened contagion and
disease will spring forth like the plaques from
Pandora box. The whole region will thus
become one vast district Of insecurity i'm
prisoned death Already the deadly effects Of
this public crime have been felt in the COM
nlunities subject to its influences and the evil
can only increase with years Unless
remedy is found, and that speedily, the whole
OF the upper part OF the island, on the east
side, viii become a plague-stricken district,
and all because Of the selhshness and greed Of
a few contractors and the criminal neglect Of
duty on the part Of the officers charged with
caring for the public health.
We have repeatedly spoken Of the complete
want Of any feeling Of official responsibility
on the part OF the officers composing the
different departments Of the municipal gov
ernment So far as the public interests are
concerned this is especially the case IN the
Police and Health departments. Under no
other authority in the world, we believe,
could such a barefaced CRIME against the
people have been perpetrated as the filling in
OF these fats on the East River. No other
community in the world, we believe, would
have submitted, even for day, to the deliber-
ale creation Of vast hotbed Of disease under
the very noses OF a million Of people. But
neither the Health nor the Police Commission
ers must suppose that this thing can 60 on
without punishment reaching them in the
end Tor permitting it. The time will come
when each one Of them will be called to
terrible reckoning for this outrage upon the
people OF New York, and that time cannot
be tar distant, either for the Police Commits
sioners or the Board Of Health if McQuaids
graveyard is allowed much longer to send
forth its death-spreading exhalations.