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

filth were dumped. Tne percentage or soiia mat
ter in the loads must be very small, for most ~
the load noated when thrown In. aud each man on
the dump whose duty IL Is to spread the failing ~
the carts used q manure fork instead " a shovel
for that purpose, which Will convey an idea o. the
character OF the "nillng" used. Here. as on "the
Flats,u the smell was awful. The very air seemed
palpablY filled with IL, ana the sense or risk o.
sickness became momentarily stronger while m
haling the dreadful poison with the air ana u
was not until the other occupations OF the
day diverted the writer's attention from the
subject that he could get rid OF the
ciingng horror OF It's apparent presence wherever
he went Primary school No. 10 Is within nall q
block OF whore this filth is being deposited, and
every load OF It Is carried past the entrance on
Third avenue IL the poison distilled from this
"nlling' was so strong during a season when the
average temperature Is only 55 degrees, what
may Harlem and, indeed, New York expect when
the thermometer records the 'ninetles 7"
Samuel Lord-the owner-If he il aware OF
the filing OF his property IN this manner, either
forms a very low estimate OF the value OF human
life, does not know the risk be runs in permit
ting IL. The contractors may save quite big
sum OF money by the use OF garbage, but must
find IL hard TO slime their conscIences, II they
possess any, while the Board OF Health that tole.
rates the nuisance needs the immediate attention
OF the Executive.
THE CHARACTER OF THE "FILLIEGv
The noxlous stpn used for filing "the Flats,n and
caited In broad day through the public streets
and avenues of this city TO grade sunken lots on
Third avenue. the principal business thorough
fare OF the upper part OF New YORK, cannot be de
scrlbed. To 40 1t would exhaust the writer's
memory OF the names OF things and the readers
patience. Ii Is an onlnitrn gdtlefum IN the
truest meaning OF that slang term. We know
there was certain percentage OF vegetable re
mains in the mixture, for what else could the
starved looking cows that explored the heaps OF
dirty matter ind therein TO eatY And, Judging bY
the skilu manner IN which the wretched animals
conducted the search after putrid cabbage
stumps and other ike refuse, as wen as their
style OF architecture, which was OF the most
severe Gothic type, they must have been
rendered expert By long practice. Then,
again. as each scow was unloaded
number OF beings retaining slight
resemblance 70 women burrowed into the horrible
mass or sprawed over 1t like great lizards and
collected from it all kinds of things, such filthy
looking rags, glance at which was enough
TO make ones hesn creep-chlgnons ana hair
switches that certainly we're mockeries OF female
vanity old shoes, bits OF harness, pieces OF rope,
bottles, tinware battered out OF all shape scraps
OF iron and bones that even the hungry dogs that
prowled about would not dare 70 smell or Be-
side these could be seen rotten straw and hay old
wall paper, tarpaulin, old mattresses suggestive
OF all the horrors OF contagon, mating reeking
with filth pieces % wood, decayed fruit and veg
etables, all mixed together aud with ashes dust
ara DIRT rom the streets. the whole emitting a
stencil that was positively overpowering, and
when disturbed In the filing of carts or unloading
OF scows flling the air with minute particles OF
lth, which are inhaled by the unfortunate resi-
dents OF Harlem and those whom necessity com
pels TO visit that part OF the city.
THE OBJECT OF USING ''cITY GARBAGE.n
Apart from the question OF cost to the con
tractor, 1t is important ito ntml that his filing
for marshy ground, such as 1.-THE Harlem Flats,n
should be easily and regularly procured, and that
IL should be as night possible, Tor It's bulk. In
Ghng yielding soil 1t is very difficult 10 est-
mate the quantity Of material required, because
when the SKIN or upper crust OF the marsh IL
broken through by the superincumbcnt weight
the filing, II composed OF earth or stone. forces It's
way through and under the soft subsoil or mud, In
all directions until IL meets some obstacle 10
check It. IL often happens that the surface OF the
marsh at each side OF the space lled Is raised up
10 a considerable height ever Its natural
level, by the wedge-like operation Of nlling
and instances are common where hun
dreds OF thousands of yards OF filling
limited space without making any difference In its
level, ;ne nnng being swallowed by the surround
ing territory as fast as deposited. In tins way
contractors md IL q losing game TO MI to grade
on an approximate estimate for a stated sum, and
n they 10 be paid per cubic yard, measured In
the work, they risk the loss OF large quantity OF
filing that inevitably escapes beyond the limits or
their work. and consequently the price with it. II
q contractor can procure regular supply Of light
nlIing sucn as that being used In Harlem, he can
raise his work o grade very rapidly, and by COW
ering the surface with foot or so Of earth, give
the whole an appearance OF soidity at very
small cost. on this plan he Is safe as 60 the imam
caf result and can AFFORD TO take Job on any rea-
sonable terms, being certain OF profit. HIS work
done and paid Tor, the after troubles, sanitary or
otherwise are not any affaIr OF ms.
THE QUESTIONS INVOLVED
In the discussion OF this subject may be said 20
present themselves under two distinct FORMS
sanitary and economic. OF the former it il only
necessary 20 point out mat dlling mainly COM
posed OF decaying organic matter Is productive OF
disease and that IL l. q constant menace 10 the
sanitary welfare OF the surrounding district, be-
cause the process OF generation or the poisonous
gases goes on Continuously, and, II anything, be.
comes more active with time. The ground, being
both the generator ana receiver or reservoir or
the noisome gases, gives out continuous supply
into the air and doubly so when broken up by ex-
cayations. What then, can be said for building
erected on sach a foundation and what
will be the fate OF its occupantsS An
other important fact in TINS connection
Is the dificuty Of completely draining such MADE
ground" for ordinary sewers can have but little
effect on matter that from its nature, Will hold
water like sponge. The operation OF capillary
eftracriop % sfrnnsast
In Harlem, the nni2R becomes saturn; % asd
keeps so, the decomposition Of the vegetable
matter evolves heat, which in turn causes an ex-
pansion and dispersion OF the poisonous gas into
the atmosphere. The "nngi and the site ofits
deposit supply all the material and conditions
needed for tue creation OF terrible cpl
demic during the coming warm weather In