The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-10

tney Were engaged on An area OF about twenty
square yards OF wet fetid mud. Here ana there
were small pools Of liquid that could scarcely be
called water, OF many colors-Ted, green and
purple-and having a 1ltny white frotn or scum
allowed 10 tester In the sun before any attempt
was made TO cover 10. AS the wagons came near
TO these pools the ground became softer and tie
wheels sunk deeply, leaving RUS that soon be-
came flied with the nlthy liquid that one OF the
worKmen loosely designated the
JUICE or DEAD CATS AND DOGS.
Frequently the wheels stuck fast in these ruts
ana pair OF horses had to be taken from OF
the wagons and Kept on the ground for the pur-
pose o extricating those when could not get out
unaIded. The stencil emitted as the horrible stun
was thus stirred up was the worst the reporter
has experienced. AS loao OF earth would
be let down TWO or three men with shovels weuld
COMMENCE 10 spread IL over the wet spots. Iney
EcoNoMIzE THE PRECIOUS CLAY
and TO make the layer as thin as possible. Thelr
floor OF malt. They took shovel lull OF earth
ana jerked it lightly over. showing remarkable
bic; In fact the earth is laid on so sparlngly that
II ls only d thin veil, a hypoor1tcal make believe
OF covering that can serve no purpose but that
ofallaYng the puDlic discomfort for short
Inquiries made OF the w0rkman elected the III
5ao so ng cearS WGch me be,na n
out in Eighty-slxtn and Eighty-se th streets
and Second avenue and from other sh places.
1t was also ascertained that J0nes McQuade are
the sole employers Of the men.
GLOW much are you paid for this work." asked
the reporter OF one OF the men.
''FonrJeen shilngs u day" replied the man,
and then added. as he surveyed MS nterlocuLor
quietly from head to 1oot ''Why, do you want to
gel work hereS Td advise you TO nave nothing to
do with II, unless you can get show nowhere
ese S nge snd ro meyer gei the smell
are bad, or I'd have nothing TO do with it."
IN helping 90 get wagon out OF gully one OF
the men Tell into the filthy quagmire and all his
clothes were covered over with the filth. Having
no means Of cleaning himself and being obliged
ludicrons spectacle aud became the butt for the
jokes OF his companions. "Begor, he dtvll man
IAN ia ADVISE you TO get wash before you go
nome or the oud woman III turn you out. she'll
house for the next three months.n
"Iie'n ride home in the palace car this even
ing" SAID another, land give the LADIES snin OF
the new Harlem perfume. It's the purtIest smell
In the country"
HE'S takin' mis- wages out in real estate" said
a third, and l wish him joy OF his sweet bar
gain" The man was really in a sorry plight, COW
ered over ron mead to 1901 with MIN ana Looking
ing TO do sucn disgusting work.
THE FEELING OF TIE PEOPLE
In the vicinity OF the Cats at the refusal
OF the city authorities To appropriate The neces-
sary funos for the hing In OF the unhealthy regiJ
is very strong; but they have become accus-
not surprise them much. Many would like to re-
move from the locality, but having bought prop
serious loss by leaving. With the poorer
classes the great inducement TO remain in
and tney VIII put up with q thousand inconven-
fences in order 10 secure that boon. An old wo-
man OF great Intelligence, who has resided many
years In tRe neighborhood, informed the re-
porter that 1t Is peculiarly destructive OF the
health OF children, ana that The problem OF bring
ing them up always difficult with poor people in a
arduous by the. pessiforous vapors OF tne
Harlem mats doctor, residing in the
same locality, confirmed tins opinion, and says the
mortality among young children during the sum-
mer months is unusually great, though some por-
ton OF 1t Is due to the food given them by foolish
parents, who supply them with food that Is only
NJ for adults. But the chief cause Of the mortal
hA mo- Ia 10
UNwHoLEsoME AND POISONED AIR
they breathe; and even among full grown people
ne1ghborAooo aud become accustomed TO It, the
death rate is greater than in the most crowded Of
the down town districts.
IN THE CARS
while passing the infected district the passen
gers gave vent to their Indignation by some hard
swearing but some wags only in 1t the
opportunity for cracking some small jokes. "a
man gets used to everydings,n said the German
conductor: ~ have travelled deess road wife
year, and minds 1t no more. wish owned dat
brooerdy, nnd l goes no more init a pell
boonch." BE then proceeded to tell Lne reporter
IN his teulonized English kow he would
ill up the nollows with ashes and all kinds OF
stun that could be got for little or nothing. and
they would fetch when ready Tor building pur-
poses. In fact he showed that ne was
A DIsBECKER IN EMBRYO,
and properly developed might work wonders In
the dumping line. On the whole the impression
examination OF their horrible contents. ~ that
they viii be tne cause OF dreadful NOR allty some
LlHle II 6PSCOg dnu cAtCLudl remedy be not
applied.
The reporter next called on the Commissioner
deemed the question OF filling the lats set at rest
by the action OF the Aldermen was handed the
following letter, which the Commissioner ad-
dressed to the Mayor
OFFICE OF coIxIssroSEn OF PUBLIC -woEKs
Hon. WILLIAM u. WIcKHAM, Mayor of the city Of New
sRi beg to call your attention to the orders of
the Board of Health directing the Department OF Pubic
Between 10th and lOsth Streets Third avenue and
Between Ninetysixth and lOeth streets. Fourth and
s. between iOSth and lO9th streets Third and Fifth
between load and lO4th streetsL Third and Fourth
For when plans and specifications have been prepared
18th inst Preliminary TO the execution OF the work Of
SeaeS wat nos Pecs aJh cae aY T Pc
these orders the resolutions now before re the
Of June R should passed so as to give tbs deoSrt
of s GT he III arsS "
work Is not to be paid Tor out Of special appropriation
issue OF which Is not mitee TO any particular amount,
ppon the properly benefited zen the cost q the wil
be determnel p me BIDS received therefor, and If
iuy, " - w : FIR Jo HsSO Fok fffH respect
Commissioner of Public Works
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, how do you stand In this
matter2
General PoRTER-Tne bids for draining the rats
Comptroller's once. shall be ready immediately
after tnat date 10 30 with the work OF draining
but that Is only half the JOB. The places drained
should be at once nlled In with clean earth, and
for that purpose addressed the Mayor q letter
calling his attention to the fact.
REPoRTER-lf the ordinance Is passed do you ap-
prehend any further obstruction
General PoRTER-I am only fearful now OF the
draining contract. The Comptroller has The
power 10 reject the BIDS II he thinks 1T, and 30
delay the work. or course l hope no embarrass-
ment will be thrown In the way OF the department.
proceeding Immediately with the operations
and II we were only assured Of the cooperation OF
the Board Of Aid men nc would be all the better
With these OTIS drained and ned Inland the whole
enterprise would occupy no more tnan TWO ths,
though three or four weeks would su11ce 10 place
them IN q harmless condition-there need never be
any apprehension OF plague In Harlem arising
from the stagnant cessDoos. Men have come TO
me and offered TO pay for having the earth hauled
away to I'LL these lots. The actual expense to the
city would be tTi1ing, and am firmly persuaded
II these sunken places on the line OF Filth avenue
above 102d street. were regularly filed IN the
value OF the property would be increased 600 per
cent All the property around these plague spots
would increase in value, while the entire CITY
I'M a ant Aan,