New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-26
PARI LAKES as CESSPOOLS.
RECEIVING ALL THE SURFACE DRAINAGE AND
GREAT QUANTITIES or FILTH.

RECEIVING ALL THE SURFACE DRAINAGE AND
GREAT QUANTITIES or FILTH.
The foliage and the lawns of the Central
Park are putting on their spring attire On the COM
mons spots OF vivid green appear and the trees are
Tered with fuzzy little dwellings that look rs II the
branches tied up In cotton few days more or
pleasant weather aud rain Will bring out the
buds in ali the exuberance OF May. The lakes OF the
Park not attractive as the other features Dur
ing the winter as q preparation for skating. they
drained 10 nearly onehaf their summer depth and they
have not yet been filed to the proper height on the
shores The banks are bare and unsightly, and the
water IA far having tho crystal clearness that ought
to be associated with park lakes The bottoms are
covered with mad and decayng leaves which the pass
age OF the small rowboats dlsturbs keeping the water
thick and brown with the sediment In some places
workmen have been engaged several day In efforts to
clean tho lakes but although they have taken out much
filth their methods do not appear thorough Some com
plants have been made about the lakes by people living
in tho neighborhood of tho lark. Instead OF being
attraction these bodies OF water they say are becoming
nuisances.
Tho attention OF President Crimmins, Of the Park
Board WAS called to the matter. lie said: IL cannot
soc how tho tronbe Is to he remedied at present The
winter has drawn down. and as much OF the aoounu-
ltion removed could reach. The water Is much
lower now than In previous years from TINS cause ana
from the do not get any water now from the
reservoir 1t will require several days yet Tor the pohds
to MI up" .., ..,.,,
Entirely from surface drainage so That In case OF
dron;h tho ponds will be likely TO got low Under the
not able 10 Keep the water running
although IL allowed to of at intervals to prevent
from Lecomng stagnant, but necessarily II Is not as
pure and clear as we should Ike IL. -
!" What is the remedy Tor this state OF tllnRsi
I" Ia the first place abundant supply ot pure water;
but the trouble goes back or that ana Is Tue lack OF
proper sewerage The present system Of sewerage IN
Central Park was designed long before that III tho
vicinity aud does not harmOnize with IT, Tnere OuSnt
In be sewer under each OF the ponds, ana they VIII
have to be built some time. The bottom or the ower
lake Fifth-aye. and Fifty -nnth ST seteIn eet
lower than the sewer IL should De hled cup tha ucu
with concrete bottom. The only direct dilh from ne
Park side, which carries the surplus Water
10 the sewers there and into the East Rlyei'
" DO the road washings now run into the lakes. ,,
Yes all the surface water Is drained INTO tne
great horses that now pass over tne ark
drives makes this evil still worse. In addition 70 tnht
most OF the closets are also drained into the popus.
There certainly should be taken 10 correct TINS
abuse Complaints are made Of IL from time 10 Time ana
with the growth OF tho population about the frk tney
becoming moro frequent Inc occupants vi 'no
Dakota flats very much annoyed Dy IT,. l., . ,,
Do you think the condition OF tne ponus 10 h"Aino
the Park neghhOrhOod unnealtbyf' -.
:" I do not believe that the evil has yet become greas
enough TO bad sanitary conditions ny hOuso -
directly OF the centre OF the PARK ana nave not
noticed any bad result yet But the conditions arc
there, aud every year makes them very much worse;
think that 10 would he well II they were fenedleu AZ
and certainly they should DO before another year
passes."
beautiful recognition of the cathoeity OF the Onaren