The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-25

DUMPING NIGHT SOIL IN THE EAST RIVERA
COMPLAINT AGAINST CONTRACTOR SWIFT
About two months ago the Board Of Police Com
mssioners complained TO the Health Board that the
employees OF Frank swift, night soil contractor had
dumped largo quantity Of filth into the East River.
the moorng foot OF Ninety fifth street. Mr. Frank
Swift receives 200 yearly for removing night soil
out TO sea, thought that such proce eding
would be but poor way Of fulfilling his contract be-
sides mperilling the public health. The complaint Of
the Police Board based on the affidavit OF two
patrolmen duly forwarded to the Health
Board on tho Both March. Two days the latter
Board ordered Investigation by the Sanitary Super
lntendent the latter reported the 9th OF April
that the charge denied by the man and woman
living on tho boat Their alidavits and other docu-
men,s were annexed 10 the report ThOre tho matter
rested.
The patromen, George A.. Hsss and Edward Cash.
man, swore that the 9th OF March, between nine
and hai-past nine O'Clock p. NJ, they saw q boat.
supposed to be boatNo. 8, belonging TO Frank Swift
used as q ceptacle Tor night soil, lying At the
foot OF Ninety nth street, East River that they got
small boat sho foot of Ninety second street and
Towed alongside the night soil boat and saw man
her deck unloading the boat by means OF crank,
allowing night soil TO through the bottom OF
the boat and could plainly tho boat rise out Of
stencil almost unbearable for = considerable dis
tance the boat, that they could the fifth
the surface OF the water, which was being carried
down the stream past that portion Of the city; the
tide running quite fast at the time
On the strength OF these afHdavits the Police Board
sent the following letter TO the Board OF Health -
POLICE DEpARTxREr. NEW YORK March 80 1878
Dr. CHARLES \. CHANDLER President OF tho Health De-
partment:-
containing iacts which indicate thai the for re-
out the city required by his actually dis
portion .f BY running into the Eat nvsr n
Il is assumed that such disposition Of the inter
is violation Of law and the contract TIE Board Of
Police has often been to The Board %
unelcnny condition. and feel bound by principles Of
the Board Health and .6a.nx nuisance
so s 81 Il
On tho I'd OF April the communication from the Po-
lice Board was referred BY the Board OF Health to tho
Sanitary Superintendent for investigation. On the
9th OF April he returned it Endorsed with tho follow
SANITARY BUREAU. April Q, 1873.
Respectfully returned The man and woman living on
make that no such dumping took place beg 70
night so dock East Ninety MN street. The date, sss
p cen s s mar ~ ss and SssS 10
after tho alleged dumping during which week our
TO nns ss al
is February is shryosr permits rom FsDa.s
10 to March 10. twenty-ioar permits ~ :,
Sanitary Superintendent
Accompanying this report werc several anidavita
The first was by William Acker, captain OF the scow
TO the effect neither he any person by his d.
any OF the contents Of the scow into tbs
river Maggie Acxer corroborates her husbands afn
davt says that such thing could have occurred
without their knowledge. William A. Pascal. captain
OF the propeller Niagara, testhcs 10 having lowed the
to tho dumping grounds IN about ms full cond-
tol usual. Peter Flanagan swore that he sleeps IN
a stable. foot Of Niney-nl.h street, ana II
any night soil had been dumped there
the OH Of March he would have known it, On
May IL William and Maggie Acker gave fuller afiida
Wis rcat rming their innocence To these afdavits
The towing bills OF the propeller Niagara,
Tor $40, dated December ; Of steamboat Rather,
SO, February 10, and propeller Niagara $50 March
IL. The scow lies at The loot OF Ninety nith street
until nearly iul aud Is then towed out 10 The dump
ing ground where her cargo Is let out, and thcn
returned. Tho health authorities argue that as she
was lowed away the l6sb, as iuli as usual, she
could DOT have been emptcd or partially empiied, on
the night OF the 9th.