New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-26
POLLUTION or THE CRGTON.

LETTER FROM CHiEF-TNCINEFR CCLYER-THE IMP
TYING oF SAVAGE $50 THE CBOTON-IIS HViL
EFFECT oN I'M HEALTH oF THf CITY LAW
To PREVENT sUCH lCKLEss ACTION NEEDED.
To the EditOr Of me TrtbHne.
SIR: Being temporary dweller IN the Gro
ton VALLEY In Summer, have long been fnniih WIN
The lakes and water-cour.es Of Weschester County.
rcsdent of New-YoTk and Brookyn nearly all my me-
AID engaged for years pursuits that have drawn
my attention to TIE subject. nave become somewhat
acquainted with the condition and needs of the "a''r
supplies of both cities In the ease OF New-fork me
supply. obviously, must continue TO come T"h hei--
bon hnods whence IL is now derived ana additional re-
sources must De obtained from OF water surface ID
portions OF the counties north OF New-Yorl which have
no vet been drawn upon The city has competent ene-
nerr fo determine th best methods OF securing these
supplies my object Icing more particularly 10 call
attention to . matter gard - Of the trst importance
aud which, it mas urred To has hitherto received
too light consideration.
refer TO the pollution of these warehouses; now
more general tlan the public have knowledge Of. Inc
population OF the smaller towns AMI villages along the
line Of the Harlem Railroad and It's vicinity IL slowly
and steadily increasing ana in its present large aggre-
itc includes many people who ignorany or VIII
fully careless aud Indifferent To thu disposal Of the
accumulate filth and refuse Incidental to donca-
tie and business life. The daily cnliection Of this
matter Is cnorir Gus ~ quantity ana large p"Illph
of the most offensive pIrt or II huHS lis way INTO
the streams and axes and other sources OF public or DO
u,stir water supply whence, solution or slispcS0n,
10 uiS a uar Of the great me al water MAJ r'aClta
nr cify reservoirs AMI brcom an uuWel'ohc CON rpl-
uoH to The already TOO Aigh deih rae OF t'tN- ~
Another cll4 II u.cless and unhealthy Accommodations
j. deposited along The margins and uprn TIE shallow sur
faces be winters referred TO- tItating tht purify LOO
Only wish ultimate evil - TIE people o. Ih' i"cII"I"
hut generating mGtii'us disease IN Toe neg '4iH'o e"
teir oa2lG, 0eteiorius public health AMI H"pI'riA,-
Iu- tl, yaiu, ot property and dsoOud-ns the accession
@. gard citizens.
! have. on repeated occasions, made examinations OF
some these streams and discovered tna they "ere
beng poliutcd u the mos, shameless manner in some
cases the h!tn in the dwellings was thrown directly INTO
tlc r,am II others rudcly constructed pryies over
hang the banks offensive both TO the sight and smell OF
person., passing ou the highways iud II to he the rule,
rather than thc c.ccpii1n, in many country nclgtor-
hoods, often auOlg tLe poorer classes, hat not entirely
I.tted 10 them, % build pryc, r the most hmsy and
superficial heT, with little fort 10 secure privacy or
even pIot con from ordinary exposure. and that is
rar 10 make amy provision TO the deposits IN
properly constructed vault 10 remove 10 In a clearly
manner at reasonable intervals, not TO speak %
Utilizing this valuable material. ON the con-
trlTr the custom prevails provide shallow
excavations under these ri'ics which are soon filed w.
IT, the villages ~ ;hc darem Valley. where the ground
generally slop some lower line, the material is per
mcd 10 run over the surface. T. leak and drain ig0
tie ground, and re carried of by percoaton into the
water courses the wells. Tn, sanitary consequences
of lch Iracti,Cs are OF course pcreuulay and most
Tro lv harmful often rc~uiiIug contagious diseases.
Death. ami general social drrinermeHt The combined
ignoraucr reckln-s'css. aud iWprosieHcr which pro-
duccs results Is not OLlv dcponbc but alarming.
While the prop municipal 'uiLorit!cS OF Ncw-fnrk are
using all proc ion, to local causes OF Uiusa,
h.Ir J., Iu>'diDus enemy, miles away, working cc'a
Ics.ly day ana uigd with power that GOES far toward
uayZug d. In efforts. But one effective remedy Tor
these evils suggests its'. To my mind
That is. t. this Winter the enactment OF Law
which shall place these winters under strict sur
VIGILANCE, not rily restrictive their harmless
use hut prohibiting the casting OF refuse The dis
charge any p0lung liquid such may be- clearly
defined. into thcuI-und adequate penalties. with
power prosecute for violations. imposing fines ard.
in fragrant cases, imprisonment If there are
existing laws to meet This cNi2cncy they should be-
Immediately enforced. II amendment IS needed 10
make their enforcement compulsory. upon com
plant Of a citizen otherwise, the general good of
lat on n tins is not done, the coming season
will bring malaria and death in train. which might
have been aycreI. The local interests uf the cURmi
water sources are, dud those Of the city,
ar. alike threatened with the nctea- evil cDnse
100 long. The enactment and partial enforcement al
laws affecting tho water supplies OF Our large citvo l. az
tine most obvious aud paramount Importance. 11cr IN
fraction swiftly puni he'd, gives them moral strength
and force that is guarantee al general protection. Ger
iauV no public interest needs more -tIIct surveillance
Dor be- ieaiOusy lu'rlci. lt> preservation IN
ncis no hardshls individual inuscr aud L. simply
Tie executive force q. intelligent pd5nc opIlOu
ETO1LlyH, Dee. 4, 1877. D. y CtiiEE.
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