New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-21
PRESENT CONDITION or HIR1En Flats

TIE DOORS LESS PUNGRNT BUT by NO MEANS DE-
sTRoYED-sLow PROGRESS or WORK OF
FILLING IN PATCHES-LIfTIE BENEFIT ASSERTED
TO HAVE BEEN DERIVED FROM THE HEALTH
BOARDS DIsINFECTANTs.
The cxhalatiOns from the Harlem Flats have
not been obnoxious to the residents along lhrdave
and recently they several weeks ago,
but the stencil plainly perceptible yesterday. A
TRIBUNE reporter examined the district and CON
versed with the wOrkmen sent by tho Board
Of Health to ILL up of the worst holes.
4 few mon-not over twenty. including the Transfers
were at work filling the space between Madison and
Thr1avss. aud Observation-Disclosures and One-hundred-
and-eighh-sts. The central portion Of this IL coy
cred with water seven or eight feet IN depth.
The decompOsng substances Mt the bottom exh0e the
fetd gas which ia num5erlcss bubbles to the sur
face. The heat OF tho suns rays in ills depresson
nhero breath OF wind hardly finds lis way. AMI the
stencil which Ills the air make it almost ilto rabe to
stay there for any considerable length OF time The u.s.
inecants used by orders Of the Health Board nave
changed color of the wafer to bright red and ef
behind "a slight smell OF petroleum IN addition To Tue
other odors. The who sent to work there by
the Board Health last week say that these vile odors
sicken them and they would not work on those Hats
II employment not 50 hard to obtain Inc
number Of aborers is So small that it would take them
many months ill that part OF the ato ht the pres
Cnt rate work The other section on the east sle OF
Thrave il covered with water at high tide, and does
not give much trouble the residents, the water does
not become stagnant.
Mr. Mcouade who IL filing the fats between Third and
second-aves. and observation-disclosures and one
Observation-Disclosures IA present engaged in construct
ing a drain in the land along the Third-aye, and about
2 feet below the surface. The bottom OF the drain IL
made OF boards and the sides ~ stone which are 10 DC
covered with cement. 1t was not advisable MI
McQuade said, to build hero n drain OF heaVy
masonry parts OF il would sink in the yielding soil or
he Displaced There - another ultlh NUS %
The middle the land. and both connect with the man
~ much ~ % feet OF earth. The southern portion was
much improved ia comparison WIN me ies' Oh ht t,.
The northern and middle portions OF Oh, tho MI
are still in backward condition. ihe Snltl'
which was hardly percopthlc from Thrd-aVe., pc
came much stronger descended upon the
fat land, ard several small holes ~heie the water was
se.n presented the appearance OF patches on SENT
nGh inaiet IA Al this Mr. Mrouadc intend. -oon
r. nave llrd up lie wishes that ,he Board Of Aldermen
would make nm appropriation 20 cover TINS nat lnl WIN
nobr over OF AZ least three OF earth above the
level of the highest part OF me Nat Ihat WOuu IhOi-
ougly the Land and free 1t from tue poisonous
sIsiIg Of the disin'ectants poured on the Mats by
IN, Board Of Health, Dir. McQuade rather riculed the
!ea. The Health Board and Aldermen werS 80 iSsnu ,
thr. concluded they do something to quiet
mlc onin,n: so they spiead the sOclc Gsinfectints
r Il.il1r;ints have afforded. in tact No RELIEF at al,
but only increased the unpleasant smells me only Way
~ remedy the evil is to MI up ali theow lands.
Charlie. Knkel, engineer AMI archllect, VINO MAJ Tie
snervislon OF the hlin up Of the itti between tr
aud -scund-ycs aud Nine y-ecOud anu ohe-huhhItl-
and sxthsrs pointed several lois tlat Apparently
,d neon coyrted h earth, fOI the surface oOhtd dFy
aud no patches O water could DC seen MT knket -ld
that great deal had been done since Last spring. anu the
obnos ous odcrs lad abated. IN great part between
lime II and July Il, average OF 500 cubic yAId,
h,inr med no by Mr.. Moo iade The nulnOer ~
,ynrlmen. which was 400, his been reduced Eheis 20
abuuf 100. The flats upon Wrch WORK iad Dr.h uOhe
yer irsnicrntiy covered with rarth ana an adltohu
LAYER o, AZ least tyO feet OF STONES ana EARN over Tue
LI,lest level Of the improved Hats was necessary 10
,.ndcr them permanently healthy. y great nuisance
70. tho u.gu.-soil which the scaYenStrs Drought
in their scows aud emptIed &C the loot OF
Nincty-nltii-st: In"re were TWO
or three scows lying there at the TINE. me sVehcn
rom the night soil was supposed by many or the resi-
dent. q, arise from the flats. Mr.: kmkcl strongly
condemned the dsinf, Giants us'd py me BDtid
OF Health. Instead OF doing any good nc s,uu'
tho refuse Of the OIL, like al Othcr organic nAttci
- soon "a IL came IN contact WIN. Pulru
snhaucea and water and exposed To the ar Dcg'
tt.,lf To desurnpDse and added It's share OF s1ois
T., thc over-ihnniant pOis lnOus eAhald,ious Ii"n
tbe fats Had quichllmo or ashts peen
nod instead temporary rcIcf might Lave
been elected Tor lime would have absorbed iirge pot-
inn of tu, ;ses for time stopped hriI uc, ON
nsitl0u Tie only way however, 10 redeem tlo Nus
was by filling them mp with eattn, stones, ana ish''
~ vn.lt he very desirable n oil the clhtols
from steamers. factories. and houses were sent up ah
nmned ON ;he Hats, ashes are an excellent dIsilccl-
MT b, Ipprouration the Board 81 Health was very
ssn,u Inc said and would 60 very little way toward
rinL up the loW land between Madison ana 4Hrullts
and one huuGrcdaDd-sXth and Observation-Disclosures