New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-14
TIE HUNTERS POINT NTJS5ycES

In April last Governor Cornell proclaimed
certain factories along Newtown Creek at
hunters Point as nuisances, and directed their
owners to remove them before June l. An
parently the proprietors of the factories have
all along considered the proclamation as only
blank cartridge; they have, at least, stoutly
disregarded it. 1t is however, vertable
state paper, issued in the exercise of undoubtcd
power; as the sequel no doubt will teach
all concerned. For the present, GER
tainly, official action seems to proceed halt
ingiy. When June passed without removal of
the obnoxious establishments by their owners
the Governor wrote to the District Attorney
directing him to take proceedings. July has
passed and he has not been heard from We
believe that a kindly subordinate in his office
has suggested that his superior has been out
OF town on a vacation, and that the Governors
letter may all this while be lying in his private
letter-box, awaiting his return and attention. If
such he the usual course of business in that Office
1T would seem that Governors letters to it
should bear what the post Office authorities
call "return request: eff not delivered
Immediately, return to A. B. Cornell, Albany.
n. y" However this may be, the appropriate
red tape is, we believe, gradually being hung
in the proper festoons; the State Board of
the Governor will write again to the District
Attorney; the District Attorney will then, no
doubt write to the prOprietors-and we shall
see what we shall see.
The law underlying the Governors power in
the premises is too recent to have become
generally known. 1t was in May, 1880 that
the Legislature passed can act to establish n
State Board of Health. 1t forms chapter 800
OIL the laws OF the year. Previously there
were local boards of health in particular cities
these are not disturbed in their powers and
functions by the new law; their members are
indeed invited to a certain cooperation with
the new organization. But the State Board is
clothed with general powers covering the
whole State; such as collecting information on
the causes OF disease, especially of epidenics:
arranging statistics of public health and NOR
tally supervising the registration of births.
marriages and deaths enforcing the laws as TO
burial, and the like. And it has considerable
power to inspect and criticise the erection of
all public works
Among the provisions of this new law is one
upon which the Governors demonstration
against the Hunters Point factories is
avowedly founded. This empowers the Gov
ernOr at any time to require the State Board
of Health to examine into any nuisance or any
question affecting the security of life and
health in any locality. The Board is given all
necessary powers to make such examina-
ton. III 1T reports against the establishment
or thing complained of, the Governor is author
lied to denOunce such thing as public nuisance.
and to order it changed as he may direct, or
abated or removed. Any violation Of such an
order ls punishable as a misdemeanor. The
Governor also has broad authority of reouir-
ing the District-Attorney, the Sheriff and the
other officers of the county in which such
nuisance may be to take all necessary meas
ures for compelling obedience TO the order of
removal. This is the law under which the
Governor requested the Board of Health TO
investigate the factories; the Board reported
against them, and the Governor proclaimed
them nuisances and directed the District
Attorney to enforce their removal
1t is not surprising that some little time is
necessary for bringing this new organization
and plan into active operation. Some delay
from proceedings in the courts is no doubt to
be feared, for the lawyers have not yet been
heard from, and they have inexhaustible in
genmty In propounding constitutional and
other objections to any law such as this.
which declares property interests and invested
capital subordinate to the public life, health
and welfare. But it is to be hoped that the
lapse OF few months will witness a complete
reformation of the notorious nuisances Mt
Hunters Point.