The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-20

Antwerp formerly paving 5000 year TO get rid OF
her street refuse now receives an annual income Of
$780, 900 for the II has beea estimated that IN
nearly every city OF 100. 900 inhabitants there il an
annual waste OF full sixty tons OF phosPhoric acid,
worth about $50, 900 10 The agrculturist"
VALUE OF STREET REFUSE.
II has been estimated that The annual waste OF Ter
states would halt pay the interest upon the national
debt. This statement made by Mt Collier IN =
paper upon tins subject. may appear incredible
aud exaggerated but if the subject IS properly
examined and estimated this conclusion VIII
not prove 10 be unsupported by statistics.
According 10 the researches OF lcbig, thar manure
having an admixture OF ashes has long been recos-
nzed by acricuuriss of the greatest value, anc as
the result Of experience no $3.50 great vslu',
indeed is attached 10 ihis material IN Germany that
transported a manure from the distance oi
eighteen TO twenty -four miles. us uss WIN ne ~
perceived When It. Is considered that the ashes
having been washed with water contains slicntc o!
potash exactly the same proportion as 10 straw ana
their only other constituents are salts OF pnosphorc
acid' Manure from bones contains my
live per cent 81 the phosphates OF lime and hagnes'a;
decomposng vegetable matter OF all kinds srch in tue
clements that go 10 form good and economic Ter
tzcr and hence IL rs that in the refuse and sweopings
OF the streets OF large cities ound INC very
ana most productive quality. From consideration OF
the foregoing statements an estimate can be formed OF
tho pecuniary loss 10 the city OF New YORK by
neglect utilize the OF street swcepings
and collection OF garbage and refuse matter daily do
posted the streets, and which, instead OF being
made Of profit TO the city, Is ut present re-
moved at vast and yearly increasing expense
MALARiAL POISONING.
It's we'll known TACT that independent or the loss
TO the city of New York IN a pecunary sense, the
present system Of dsposng OF tho garbage aud clean
ings the to contractors and oihers for MI
ing purposes within The city limits is most dangerous
TO the heath Of tho community. In the upper por-
tons OF the city where THIS work Of hng has been
gong malaria diseases are epidemic, and to-day tho
physician is called upon TO treat types Of inaaral
poisoning OF a very grave character which were un
known twenty years ago in New YORK. There can DO
but little doubt that this is owing to the reckless
indifference ignorance displayed by the
authorities charged with the work OF cleaning
the More than the death rate 10 New
York is diseases OF the asmatc order and In
the light OF everyday experience such diseases arc pre-
vcntabe and depend for their origin on the pad sanl
tary condition OF a city. No more striking evidence
TO the truth Of this be witnessed than The
present condition OF London Twenty-Five years ago
tho English capital was one Of tho most unhealthy
Europe with very high death rate, subject
TO oien recurring epidcmics OF cholera and other
dread diseases Now this Of affairs Is entirely
verscd London has death rate Of only % per 1000.
thanks TO vigorous enforcement District sanitary laws
system NECESSARY.
The the present condition oil this city Is con-
dered regards the cleaning Of tho streets and pub
lie places the apparent the great and pressing
necessity exists Tor an entire and complete change IN
present plan OF street cleaning and refuse dumping
under the direction OF the Comm ssoners OF Police