New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-30
CLEAN THE CITY.

This town is not menaccd by pes,ilence Let
us be exact in our Use of language Not men
aced. But with both hands-nay, with all the
hands Of Brareus and hundreds morc-this
island of Manhattan bccEons to-day cholera
and typhuS, plague and pcstilence, all the
fevcrs that follow filth, all the deadly diseases
contagious and infectious, that the outraged
laws of nature. cleanliness, health and dccency
send as penalties upon communities that breathe
putrcscence and walk in founcss. The main
arteries, Broadway and some of the avenues,
are on the surface comparatively free from
filth, reasonably wholesome in appearance, I'M
tainted with foul odorS except as they rcck
up from the sodden accumuationS on either
side Thousands Of citizens who class thCm
selves as good citizens, Whc would resent the
imputation CT any lack of public spirit, pass
up and down these thoroughfarcs every day
and congratulate themselves that, so far as
their own personal comfort is concerned, they
have no serious cause for complaint. They
have comparative freedom of movement
through unobstructed streets the sidewalks
are clear the crossings can be effected without
fc,riagc or swimming and much of the time
without very deep wading the eye is not Of
fcndCd by accumulations of refuse matter nor
the sense sickcncd by the cxhalatons of decay
ing garbage. From north to south on the ridge
of this blessed island they can ride or walk -
if they turn neither to the right nor lcft-with
out seeing or smelling anything especially re-
pulsivc unsantary or unWhOcsOmc. And they
may eddie their complacency with the rank
GeluSion that, whoever else may be inhaling
poison, they at least are breathing wholesome
ntn, &c no
You'd reach Of infection.
1t is a false security, good citizen. Look east
and west from the high central thorough
fares, which a sleek and smooth but thoroughly
and criminally incompetent municipal depart
ment keeps Just venccrcd with cleanliness. down
the streets to the rivers on either side. Streets
hub deep with mingled snow and slush and
offal, through which the loaded teams struggle
and plash churnns and mixing the horrd
Sidewalks lined with neglected ash |
barrels, overnowing with garbage and all the
animal and vegetable matter poured from
kitchens, barroOms. shops and factories, the
OF crowded tcncmcnt-houSeS the |
rCtting refuse of SHAMELESS markets and stalls |
Get sight of it, Catch the smell Of il. The |
low Temperatures of the last month in which |
these hideous heaps have been arcumulatng |
have under a mercful diSpcnSation of Prov
idence for which we cannot be too grateful, |
kept the germs of pestilence in them in some |
degree torpid under congclation. That blessed |
has ceased Yesterdays rain put |
all the filth afoat and looscncd all the germs. |
the microbes, the bacilli. the seeds of pcs'i-
lcnce, into deadly activity. No part of this |
island is high enough or salubriouS enough. no |
avenue or thorOu2hiare 50 clean no house or |
home so sweet and pure to escape the in
nucnce Of this poisoned atmosphere
We do not need await the coming Of cholera |
from Hamburg or yellow fever from Southern
ports or typhus black death or any other
scourge through quarantine. What need Of |
quarantine or any barrier against con
aSons, infections or plaques at the water gate
when behind il we arc poisoning our own at
nOSphere, piling up hotbeds Of filth to gen
crate the most Of them ourselves? Are the
citizens of this town aware of the conditions
hat surround them to-day? Do they ever
ool over their shoulders into the side streets?
Do they care for their own health or that Of
heir families? Or do they console themselves
with the reflection that when the warm months
,omc, in which the pcstence now breeding will
DC doing its most deadly work. they will be
'afe in the country or at the seaside elsewhere? |
This may explain, but it cannot Justify their
upneness. We say to them that under the
present administration of the Street Cleaning
Department of this city, its health, the lives
If its citizens. all its interests, are placed in
leadly peril. Will they awake to this in time?
II is not question of politics We care not
Who cleans this town so long as it is cleaned
{ is not a question of money. A sum amply
efficient has already been appropriated to make
his town wholesome and fit to live in. Let
he cry be taken up at once by all citizens,
Clean the city ~