The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-05-11
g ARBAG E.
Reeaking Manure Heaps
Piled Upon the Lafay-
cite Meadows.
cIoLERA THREATENS THE CITY
An Atrocious Outrage on the Public
by the Lehigh Valley
Railroad.
cIoLERA THREATENS THE CITY

There seems to be good ground for the
complaint made by the Lafayette Tax
Payers Association 20 the County Board
Of Health few days ago IN reference to
the dumping Of garbage on the lot upon
which the Lehlgh Valley has recently
erected its freight house at Grand street
and Pacific avenue. Thousands OF cart
loads of refuse matter have been thrown
upon the meadow land previously drained
BY both the Morris Canal and Mill Creek.
The company has covered with a dress
ing Of einders only SO much Of this as it
found necessary for bedding the recently
constructed tracks leading to the freight
house. and it has thus far shown an in
elination TO leave the balance in lts pres-
emit noisome condition. This inclination
is apparent because already there is grass
growing from the tops Of the fertile mAn-
ure heaps.
ELUSIVE PROMISES
The committee of the association.
Messrs. John Heck. George r. Hitler.
Henry StaHens, John A. Bowker aud
Lawrence Broderiek, first requested the
company TO remedy the evil AIr. barnes,
Of Staten Island, the agent Of the COM
pany. called upon Mr.. Heck aud in-
formed him that the matter would be
locked into Immediately That was
some weeks ago. MIR. Barnes has not
since been heard from and the nuisance
is still undated.
In the meantime thestrip of land be-
tween the tracks and the avenue, some
fifty or one hundred or more fact, de-
privea of what natural drainage it pre-
ViouslT possessed has partially flied with
q deep puddle OF sragnant water, over
which a green slime has already COM
uienced to gather.
Pacific avenue IS the main approach
to Lafayette, said Mr.. John Heck the
chairman Of the committee, TO reporter
of TEE SUNDAY MORNING NEWS. 1t is
true there are but few dwellings IN The
immediate vicinity OF this cesspool; but
thousands OF cur citizens must pass this
spot daily. You may go and take a look
for yourself; smell for yourself Then
imagine what it viii be when in few
weeks from now the hot summer sun
pours its rays upon this manure heap,
and consequent corruption attracts the
swarming lies. independent Of the am
noyance of the stencil, it VIII be pref udic-
ial TO the health Of our citizens. If the
garbage were properly covered over with
4 dressing Of cinders il might not be Alto
gether 50 bad; but the company seems
only to be dressing the track beds ana
such parts OF the yard as will be used for
rate 1t is acting TOO slowly for our assc-
citation and for the urgent necessities Of
the cause, and SO our committees was in
strucbed to refer the matter TO the Board
OF Health
An INJURY TO PROPERTY.
<sIn this connection it might also be
stated, = continued Mr.. Heck, that such
a nuisance right at our gates. as il were.
has tendency to depreciate the value Of
property. People looking for homes ara
not likely to settle in place where they
must daily Whit the stencil of such u
fostering cesspool as this promises-to be
in warm weather. understand, though
perhaps 1 may be incorrectly informed.
that Contractor Byrne is still dumping
garbage beyond the tracks. presume
he is paid SO much per load, and it is
probably the intention Of the company
to I'LL out the meadow to Mill creek Ii
SO, the company should be compelled to
dress it with ciuders' or some proper
dressing as fast as it is dumped
HOW 1T LOOKS AND SMELLS.
A visit 20 the scene revealed TO the re-
porter pretty much the state of affairs
Mr. Heck had pictured. The filing in
beyond the tracks to Mill Creek seemed
to be progressing slowly. A strip OF this
ground, Immediately adjoining the depot,
had been dressed and rolled as though
for q wagon or truck drive. The ground
was still soft and gave way beneath the
tread OF feet. 1t Is probable, however,
the sun will bake this into a substance as
hard as cement. Out beyond, heterogen-
Gus mass of fifth from which old rags,
broken demijohns, cast-away boots, tin
cans and refuse of every description.
vegetable or otherwise, was being raked
over by the picks OF an army Of Italian
scavengers.
The big pool OF slime covered stagnant
water between the tracks and the sssenue
was even worse than MI. Heck had de-
scrtbed.
The smell was horrible.
It was not an emphatic, aggressive,
knoek-down odor, but 3 sickish, penetrat-
Ing, nauseating aroma.
It WAS such a smell as might lnger
about a teyer hospital or a charnel
house.
1t foated over the meadows and rolled
over the neighboring streets. There was
no getting away from it. IL filed the air
for blocks, and it stuck to the reporters
clothes long after he had left the foul
spot.
Ii was learned that passengers on the
Greenville and Lafayette cars constantly
complained of it.
In July it win breed cholera unless
something is DONE
But what matters
The rich corporation is increasing its
millions Let the jersey citizens die