The New York herald., 1879-07-14
FILTHY THOROUGHFARES.

NEGLECTED PORTIONS OF THE THIRTEENTH
wARD-DEAD ANIMALS NOT REMOVED.
From different localities in the Thirteenth ward
complaints have recently been made concerning the
negligence of the Street Cleaning Department and
also the Department Of Public Works. In the "Com-
paint Book" of last Saturdays HERALD article
appeared calling particular attention to nuisance
existing for long time in Ridge street. between
Grand and Division streets. Yesterday reporter
made tour through certain portions Of the above
ward for the purpose of investigating the reports.
The block alluded to In Ridge street was
found to be in q deploraple condition. It
is seventy-hve feet In length. The pavement
which is OF cobbc stones. is nlled with deprossons
Near the of Grand street, in front OF liquor
store. barrel half filed with decayed garbage and
other refuse. over which a swarm Of flies hold
ing high carnival, threw of most offensive odor.
On the same side of the street were two pools Of
stagnant water in which old shoes and hats rode ut
anchor while in the opposite gutter several pailfus
of brine were struggling for entrance to the
sewer. Other holes in the pavement were filed with
water, and when the thermometer stands ut ninety
in the shade the stencil is represented sickening
Oilcloth and carpoing are strewn about the street.
'How long has this state of affairs existed?" tho
reporter asked OF old man who was enjoying his
pipe in the shade of an awning
.Ever since Columbus was . boy" he replied.
taking the pipe from his mouth. ''why, what IL it
hasY
''Oh nothing. only 1t looks bad -"
Eyes, an smells bad"
''was any thing done about itY'
"well. now. l should remark that there Wasn't
sent from one party to another for about two
weeksw
'.You complained about it thenY"
Certainly did. First went { tn Health Board,
then tn Street Cleaning Department. an from there
the divil himself knows where went TOO much
rcd tape altogether, he remarked. replacing the pipe
between his teeth.
The reporter turned into Division street in the
hope OF getting few breaths Of pure air. but only to
find himself confronted by miniature lakes of
greasy liquid, FROM which, under the scorching heat
OF the sun. foul gases and poisoned the atmo-
sphere III front of Nos 237 and 242 there small
ponds with apparent inlet or tlet in which rogs
might navigate comfortably and grow fat on the
scum. No. 222 is a two story frame dwelling, and
the windows are not twenty feet from the gutter.
Here most sickoning sight was presented and the
nostrils were RECALLED with an obnoxious odor Near
tho sidewalk surrounded by all kinds of garbage and
filth, lay dead cat cut up in n frightful manner.
A small boy, who few moments previous had ven.
turcd to turn the dead animal with long pole,
effect while another urchin was still poking IL.
ANOTHER THoRouGHFARE.
Attorney street. between Division and Delaney
streets. IL also In bad condition. There seemed to
be no attempt at cleanliness. Garbage and ashes
were thrown about promiscuously. large hole in
the pavement In front OF No. CO was filed to over.
flowing with muddy water. in which youngster
was sailing an old straw hat. dead dove lay Ia the
gutter on the corner of Delancey street
Captain Copeland in whose precinct these nui-
sanccs were. said 1T is no fault of the police. We
do our best to have the streets cleaned properly.
iho carts ie"'e hcrc W nau-past nvo O'Clock
every morning and supposed to clean their
route before stopping. The dead cat was reported
last Friday. You SEQ tho men who collect
the garbage are not allowed to take any dead ami
mails whatever. Mr. Swift, who has the contract for
their removal, is responsible. No matter If II is
only dead rat. always notify him and he should
remove 1t. In regard to tho stagnant water we are
not ut fault either. II the Department OF Public
Works does not Keep the pavements In proper con-
dition II is almost impossible to keep them coan.
The water Will collect and remain there in spite Of
us. ] remember that block in Ridge street. The
10 1.a1
ported. don't think the streets were ever kept
cleaner than they are 1T the present time"