The New York herald., 1876-02-11
STREET ABUSES.
NEW YoKE, Feb 10, lsT6

To TIE EDITOR THE HERALD
paper has made itself so prominent in attack
ing the more fragrant OF the numberlcss abuses ex-
isting this city that confident you viii not re-
fuse to call public attention 70 several
which have yet been thoroughly discussed as
Is desirable. moment has arrived when general
reawakening 10 our duties and our labors seems az
hand. AT the Hippodrome ten thousand hearts are
stirred daily by great revivallsts Your pa
per has brought forciby to notice the npostoDs
practised upon daily by the street railway comra-
MES and, again, the distractions placed Illegally upon
our streets and sidewalks have been dwet upon san,
a strange letnargy parayzes the people Not only does
business stagnate but refuse 10 III our hands 70
right the grievances daily depressing US little united
action would remedy many Of those-as Mr. Moody
quotes, 'One shall overcome thousand, and two
shall put ten thousand fight" Is il not strange
that the midst OF the active journalism In the
world and in the most enierprising " cities
the people should submit to ouuagcs which
European would endure for a nomentf
The spirit that animates citizens is an unworthy
one. few evenings since visited prominent busi-
who received me as he sat before hs Ere "a
his easy chair Speaking Of abuses he said they eK'
ist but we too busy 10 attempt TO remedy them
He then sadly lighted third cigar and drew nearer me
fire. This gentleman's business hours are from Twelve
O'Clock NJ till halfpast four O'Clock p NJ. II any such
he would devote hour week in the evening aud
earnestly, the good work, New York would be iar
agreeable place TO 1--we in within year. Lei me
recapituate what may happen IN the course Of mof-
ings walk from Twenty eighth street 60 Wall street
have long given up the attempt TO hnd seat in
the street stages, and now foot II down town
and back Broadway ~ so crowded that often take
the until driven back 70 she main throng
by boxes piled upon the sidewalks, ash barrels or NTH
occasionally call The attention OF policeman 20 some
fragrant violation OF the law, but rarely get satisfaction
On the morning following the late heavy ial or snow
had 10 pass from University place 10 Broad
way along Tenth street From the roof Of one Of tho
houses a throw ng huge shOveliuls OF snow
upon the sidewalk. | narrowly escaped being
Knocked over, and called to hun 20 stop; neither
he nor the proprietor of the house paid any
beed 10 nv cries ON Broadway 1 directed
polcemans attention TO this, but he said he could
do nothing as it was not his beat nor could he suggest
any help l assured him that some one would be
killed. but no could do nothing Again, on Fulton
street a workman throwing heavy coils OF rope
from the top Of unfinished building into the middle
OF the street soiZing the interval between two rapidly
succeeding vehicles for the purpose In crossing the
street l narrowly missed being struck. A policeman
passing the side of the street had left assured me
he could do nothing his beat not on that side
OF the street once more, as passed a lew evenings
since along Fourth avenue, between twentieth and
Twenty-frst streets, woman threw open window m
the second story and deuged me with basin of dirty
water saw policeman again on the opposite side,
and complaining to him, received the invariabe
answer, my beat is on the other side OF the way"
All this is very wrong and should be remedied How
much influence upon the police force would not few
remonstrances from prominent men havel But there
is no interest no combination OF rghting the
evils from which suffer. Our police force is said TO
be the finest in the world If their appearance is meant
they the best fed but beyond that have
learn how they surpass those OF London or Vienna
in polteness or efficiency
But continuing the morning walk down town see at
last half empty stage approaching, and wadng
through the mud, l hail the driver but he passes
without noticing again appeal to an officer and
he calls my attention TO minute placard on the rear
of the vehicle marked "private" Now, merely put
this question to your readers, Have private indi-
viduals right to make use of public vehicle ex-
clusively without changing its appearance sufficiently
to make easily noticeable? flag placed by the side
OF the driver would be sufficient But this is but ono
of many Instances OF our pronenes TO hall do things
and be obivious to the comfort of all but ourselves
personally. Driven again from Broadway 10 back
street By the impossible throng come TO sidewalk
where the boxes, ash receivers bales, &C, so piled
that detour through the muddy gutter Is necessity
take it out in threatening the proprietor with the
police and he smiles pleasantly as pass on. Soon a
ragged fellow pushes hand wagon along the sidewalk
which again drives me to the gutter, and porter
tearing around the corner with wheelbarrow
covered with goods, making me spring rapidly into
the mud again. In Europe al such vehicles as well as
porter's carrying trunks heavy baskets, &c, are
banshed 10 the roadway, and moreover IN Germany all
forbidden TO cross parks and public gardens
Here It that all equal that If one man
must suffer from carrying the burden second more
fortunate must yield him the sidewak-thus we
distribute the blessings OF liberty
On approaching Canal street or some Of the more
prominent crossings delay OF ave minutes often
occurs from block OF teams or the throng coming
from the ferries The act Of crossing itse IS further
mpeded by the OF mud which follows the slightest
rain; Is there much to please the eye upon this
route nor indeed gratty the other senses. Your at
tenton is taken up in lodging every second man, who
is preparing spt and the view all directions is
rendered hdeous by the outrageous masts set up by
the Western Union Telegraph Company This COM
pany say they have been great trouble In transport
ing these trees from California How many OF us
wish they had been left there Nor is their build
ing at all ornament 20 the street. with its mereri
cous display OF varegated stripes and abnormal roof
II may do advertisement, but It is not work of
art However il is very credtably hreproof and that
is a great merit Now what should at IL
me in the far future, is utilization Of the
experience Of Paris and London. Tunnels should be
constructed Broadway and some OF the avenues,
IN which the should be propelled by steam
Hung to the root OF the tunnel the gas pipes,
the water pipes and the telegraph wires should pass
along within easy access for repairs Another conduit
below should carry OF the sewage. Then the street
above could be paved with asphalt which would
have to be torn up, and mud would no longer be so
abundant Foot passages could also be contrived be-
low ground and the miserable and ridiculous idea OF
the elevated railway dishgurng our none too beauti
full streets would pass from our minds. trust,
Mt Editor that my remarks have not been too long,
but wish TO impress upon those OF as who can find
nothing better do than sit at home every evening,
that their assistance called for that everybody has
lots of time the evening II he be busy all day,
and that abuses numerous that II we all put
shoulders the wheel shall have enough to do for
a long time vet We need awakening we need 20 feel
that eternas vigilance Is the price of liberty" and
that the of eternal vigilance is the which the
Almighty intended TO remain in until the lethargy Of
death should come upon NELSON l. DERBY.