New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-12-20
SOME PHASES or HEALIH BOARD WORK.
NOTICES TO PRoPERTY-OwNERs-rH TENEMENT
HOUSE I.w-REMovAL or NUIsANCEs.

NOTICES TO PROPERTY-OwSERs-T ihNh"HNf
HOUSE LAw-REMovAL or NUIsAScEs.
About Z, 900 notices are sent by the attorney
OF tho Health Board every year property CALI
ms upon them abate nusances. to make needed re-
pairs or TO comply with various provisions OF the sani'
tary Code IN conversation with TRIBUNE reporter
Yesterday Colonel W. +. Prentice. the attorney Of the
Board, said
"Of the entire number Of notices sent ont about 5000
are complied with before Is necessary to bring suits
In about 1900 cases. suits begun In the dstrfes
courts hut n the defendants show willingness to com
ply with the orders they not pressed unduly Hisa
wisc policy to give ample time and opportunity to all
citizens to comply with tho health laws IN eases where
no serious harm will result from delay There are about
500 more cnses which have 10 he prosecuted
The dcfcndcnis make Tor delay raise cchni
cal objections until n necessary TO their arrest"
"Can YOU not proceed against many offender, upon
criminal comrlantst" ,he reporter inquired.
ives Persons who ainliepie tiods air guilty ~ mite
trmranop Violations ~ the icnenent house Law canhc
Furnishes, by criminal prosecution. WHOM the keeper ofs
lnisns house permits " ~ tccohp e,vs,towdu' rto
ce.dnas may he heaun afainst hin m eilmind
court We often nnd combination ~
tho tenement honae aud hedging hoasn Nheh
offer. iineult prnhlcm, A building which Ia q ,e"a'
mcnt house IN the day time IN transformed into lodging
hoaAo ~ nieh,, apparently without authority 81 tho
owner The only keep su,h place FREQ from Ia
nightly throng dodgers h TO station policeman ~ tho
door"
lis II easy to enforce the present ,enement'houas
Awt"
There defects In the law which ought TO he RENE
died. One great ditculty Is ia reard 10 ownership The
titles t. some houses change with such surprs
ing rapdty that IL Is next to impossible 10 keep trace OF
them. We have to prove ownership In proceed
ings for the removal OF nuisance In house.
There are eases when ownership IN dispute where
houses belong estate which cannot be settled dur
Ing minority OF OF the heirs The legn detni
tiOn OF tenement house needs enlargement IL oughs
to be impossible for property Owncr To erect dwell
house his family and two other families ana
build another house for three families directly IN
the rear the entire lot some owners OF
old tenement houses insist building large additions
pretending the does not apply to houses which
were erected before the passage OF the act"
Has proper legislation On the subject been asked Tor
lately !" -
There bill last winter known Senate bill No.
292. which met most Of the requirements IL was noe
passed The enforcement OF the sanitary Code would &c
simplihcd II tho stubborn maintenance OF nuisance
detrimental to health dangerous To life, IN any house,
sufficient In law for an order 20 vaeate tho
house There ought to be contingent fund ont ot which
the Board of Health could pay tor the re-
doubt responsibility The Board OF
Estimate has refused 10 make appropriations for such
special work and the Board OF Health has been unable for
lack of funds to nsances for which neither
citizens the city departments could be held rcspon
sibe n has been suggested that the fines resulting from
prosecutions by the Health Department, amounting 10
about $4,000 each year. be Turned into such fund