The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-20
MOUNTAINS OF FROZEN FILTH.
Preparations to Produce Pestence by
the Police Department
HOGS AS SCAVENGERS
Corruption, Ncpotism and Neglect the Leading
Features Of the Present System.


the citizens OF this great metropolis, and from present
appearances seems DO far from being solved as
Any disinterestcd person who will take the
trouble walk through almost any portion of the city
will at be convinced Of tho truth OF this asser-
ton Even the portions OF streets which immedl-
atey under eyes Of the police authorities with
exception of that portion Of Mulberry street from
Houston to BlcecKer) are In horrible state. The
mounds OF snow and ice mixed with ashes and decaycd
vegetable which their crests either side
OF Beecker Houston Especially opposite tho Excise
and Coroncrs' ofces), Mulberry and Mott dur
ing this comparatively warm weather excite serious
fears among those live in that and
unless they soon removed the air viii BIO poisoned
to such extent that pestilence may result during
the ensuing summer.
MOUNTAINS
In Chorry and other downtown streets tho hills Of
hardened filth dan gerous vehicles aud horses
Complaints continually made that portions OF the
streets up town are in condition which is likely 10
endanger human life, and later than Friday last,
between six and seven P. M, cur of tho avenue q
line detained in stanton street until the driver Of
p D. cart las those belonging to the department
caled) whipped his horse of these noun
tains. And why should this DO whom the amount Of
money $725 00 allowed for street cleaning, together
with the derived from other sources, is amply
sufficient. and should leave handsome margin2 The
late George Middleton who had practical experience
as superintendent under the Whiting contract, was
often heard TO say that he could give the city
streets for $500 900 per annum and still realize hand
come profit. Then why not tho Same be done with
$725 900 and $40, 900 received
from private individuals lay, and from somo
public departments such as the Department OF Public
Works and tho Department of Parksl for the
privilege Of dumping sewer dirt and rubbish on the
scows and from farmers and owners OF farms for
street manurei When the department. of which Jo-
seph c. Ebng was the head, was abolished, and the
work. by the charter Of 1857 placed with the City In
Ipector's Department. then ruled by Mr. George W.
Norton, the present President of the Excise Board,
and subsequently by his SUCCESSORS the Ato Daniel G.
Delavan and f. l. A. Boole, there sucn COM
plants as there are now And although many years
have passed since that department abolished the
streets have been cleaned In better manner $50
old residents say and the cost only about onehaf
OF the present enormous expenditure.
FIRST sCAvENGERs.
In the earlier stages of ctys history the porcire
animals were the only authorized scavengers, and
we'll known gentleman in this city says that he
members hogs being allowed to wander at large as
late 1888 Their work in removing garbage from the
streets we'll done. and no complaint was made
against them that account. Wood was then the
staple article iue and difficulty at
ashes But when coal began to come into general
the expenses OF tho Street Cleaning Departments,
which have always had the responsibility OF collecting
and disposing OF the ashes were thereby increased.
THE OLD DAYS.
About forty years ago, in the days OF 'Old Hays"
the city high constable the system Of street cleaning
(probaby the most effective of any applied)
by requiring the occupants of houses to sweep the
streets in of their respective promises twice
away under the direction of the city authorities. A
reporter speaking OF this matter to we'll known gen.
tIcman, who was born here and who
ftty-six years old had this confirmed why" SAID
she gentleman alluded to, ~ remember well how
used to sweep all refuse and dirt into the middle of the
street side, while my ncighbor ON the opp0
site side met mo with his sweepngs, and we made
large heap in the centre, which was taken away In
public carts, and you never saw the streets
so since, though probably that plan might not be
SO feasible that the city has grown 10 such
dimensions 1t has" Thoro are also persons
now living who remember Hays and bis friend
Isaacs who acted street inspector. The gar
bage was collected by person who gave notice OF his
approach by ringing bell at each and through
zach street. lsaacs would give chase to some delln
quent whom he would detect in the act Of throwing
garbage the street; no would pursue the offender
his residence and by threatening TO arrest him II
no did not comply, compel him to return aud gather
up the 9th which be had flung into tho highway.
TIL. CITY AUTHORITIES
Al latc It proposed that the city authori-
ties should have the sweepngs made and the fifth,
garbage and ashes removed but the work Qf done at
ally was done manner unsatisfactory aud costly
that the people were induced demand that should
be done by contract, and for tho last twenty-five
thirty years it naseliher the hands the city
authorities been given out by contract TO private
c,tzens The experiment OF the one plan only led to
the for the adoption OF the ether, although
already stately the work was done fairly under some
city inspectors; but both systems have totally failed
to satisfy the necessities OF the community
ASHES AND STREET swEErNGs.
There should however, be a distinction made be-
tween the work Of cleaning the streets proper
BY removing the dirt which accumulaos, and the
collection OF garbage and ashes and especially OF
the latter Ii tho collecting OF ashes be neglected
the ashes will be thrown into the highway, covering
snow delaying the process OF It's melting on causing
distractions for many weeks even into midsummer,
ana involving the expenditure OF large additional
amount OF money to effect the breaking up and re-
mova ui the 'icy mountains winch bear so Close u
resemblance to Greenland. Even at The present time
It IS and notably in the vicinity OF East Nous
ton street and slde streets adjacent, close under the
station the Eleventh precinct as wei us IN other
sections Of the city, that ashes have been ct standing
on the sidewalks least three days, until they nc
cumuated that the beapcd barrels howcd over ana
mixed with the snow aud ice Indeed me writer 81
this personally OF complaints having been mndo
again, not only OF ashes not having been
removed but OF cartncn having refused to remove
them unless they were paid Tor doing so, and money
has been pad by parties, not only to carllncn,
but TO pcrgons who were placed over them,
for such removal. One foreman acknowledged 10 nav
INK monthly contract with certain hotels Tor the re-
moval OF aches. Another WIS discovered giving
street sweeping tickets to his cartinen 'or ar, .aheh
out of a house instead OF oil Tie Streets ana when
demonstrated with by the dump Inspector toiu INC
latter he was ''danucd hog. he same man acting
in collision person ployed IN lower captcity,
u Is alleged removed lot OF Tin IRON OuiiuhS tuht
burned down and had dumped not on the scows
but behind the dunpin, boar, from whence the rl-
mer, ack nOwlc,ged by HIM, sunk II at night
HIS share OF The Spots was only ~.
CARTS.
II Is asserted in such manner as almost to insure
us certainty that some IOrrmcn are paid coria'n
amount monthly by the owners al hired carts, ior
which, OF course tncy expect equivalent IN some
way. IL rs true that The inspectors oil dumps have
orders TO that carts which come IN are properly
hlicd. Well, when an Inspector does his duly, ANA
sends back not well uicd aud reports he owners
TO headquarters the foreman OF the ward comes down