The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-10

have the most benefcent results If they resul'
in the bringing of the sections into closer
union There are two sentiments which
should never be forgotten during this GEN.
tennal season. The first is respect tor the
memory of the loyal and gallant men who
fought SO bravely for their king during the
Revolution, and whose name of british
soldier" should be banished from our
hearts as an epithet OF reproach. The
second is the hope that Northern and Southern
men will alike feel that the Revolution was
national, not sectional; that the blood Of New
England and the Carolinas darkened the
same fields, and that we can best appreciate
what our fathers did and strove to do by re-
membering only their patriotism and obeymg
their precept; that this Union is our strength
and the bulwark OF our freedom, and that It
must last forever, one and inseparable.
80 Time for Words, Gentlemen.
The Board OF Health IS making a great
mistake in the resolution allowing clean coal
ashes to be used as filing for the Harlem flats.
III IL was certain that coal ashes only would be
employed there would be no objection to their
use and we would not complain Of the resolu-
ton Of the Health Commissioners; but expe-
rience has proved that to allow the use Of
sweepings, garbage and tho other deleterious
matter which now threatens the health of the
whole community. All the contractors de-
sire is an excuse for the use Of garbage, and
they are sure 10 use it. This always has been
the case, and it will continue to be while the
Board of Health sanctions the employment Of
ashes as fit for filling the salt marshes and
low lands on the upper part Of the island.
The contracts Of McQuade and the others
could not have been violated so easily
but for the clause permitting the use
Of clean ashes, and the Health Com
missioners knew or ought TO have
known, that much of the garbage which
now infects a large part OF the city was
dumped into the flats as the result Of this con-
cession by the Department Of Public Works.
What is required is good loan, sand or gravel.
These are in themselves dsintectant, and
with them il is not 50 easy to practise fraud.
Fresh earth is needed to prevent an epidemic,
and it is needed Immediately. The Board Of
Health must see to it that there is no delay.
The Commissioners have the power to move
in this matter, and ii they fail to meet the
emergency they win be held responsible by
the entire community.
Only the late spring and the unusually cool
weather Of the present season have prevented
the most serious results. The danger is not
past however, and with every day of summer
it will be increased. In such an emergency
we can only rely upon the Board Of Health.
To The gentlemen who compose tho Board we
have only to say, You have the power to meet
this emergency and there is no time for words.
Red tape is not allowable while great calam-
ity is impending. Your action must not
only be immediate, but vigorous. Employ
q thousand men and as many carts
as can be obtained, and see to it
that the pest beds are buried under
thick layer of clean earth. Nothing else will
suffice and the whole work can be completed
within q week. A thousand soldiers who
throw down the musket and take up the pick
and shovel are able to transform the face of
nature in a few hours A thousand workmen,
if their labor is well directed, can accomplish
wonders in few days and make the impend-
ing epidemic impossible. In this emergency
the public looks 10 the Board Of Health to
avert the danger, and We shall expect the
Board to perform its whole duty with great
yipor and without delay.