The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-06-29

THREATENS THE CITY
John P. Feeney's Startling
Disclosures Concerning
the Italian Quarters.
SEWERS EMPTY INTO CELLARS
Health Board Takes Steps to
Preserve the Public Health
During the Summer.


is not only making an effort to prevent
the possibilities of an epidemic of any
contagious disease this summer. but it
is its intention to stamp out all such
eyesores as sunken lots filled with wa
ter which stagnates and breeds disease.
The members of the Board also propose
keeping watchful eye for imperfectly
drained houses. Commissioner Feeney,
at yesterdays meeting of The Board.
called attention to an alarming condition
of affairs.
'.At the head of First, Second and
Third Streets" he said, near the Penn
sylvania Railroad embankment there are
no sewers. The section of the city I re-
fer to is known as the italian quarter.
The houses occupied by the people are
not properly drained. Some of the
houses drain directly into the street and
the sewer lies there from one weeks
end to another, AMI how we have es-
capped an epidemic 1 don't know.
Draining into the street is terrible
thing. but I was Mortified upon making
an investigation of the true condition
of affairs, to find that the drain pipes
of many of the houses terminate in the
cellars. In some instances the sewage
is two and three feet deep. and the odor
is sickening. People live over that sew
age and mingle with people in all parts
Of the city. Disease breeds in such
places, and in the interests of humanity
we should take some action. 1t is our
duty to take cognizance of these facts
and deal with the owners of these houses
in a summary manner. The filth in the
street or in the cellars is a nuisance and
menace to health. and I hope that the
Inspector will be asked to abate it,
WILL ABATE THE NUISANCE.
President Abernethy and Commissioner
West were Mortified at the disclosure
and no time was lost in debate. Inspec-
tor BENJAMIN will apply such a remedy
as he deems expedient. The Inspector
informed the Board that he had had
petitions for the constructions of sewers
in the locality in question, but none OF
the property owners would put up the
necessary deposit of $3.50 to have the
work begun. Under the Improvement
laws of last winter no deposit money is
required, and Inspector Benjamin will
make another effort to have the owners
OF property in the locality agree to pay
for the much needed sewers.
A law passed last winter empowers the
Board to give property owners, on
stagnates, not less than three days and
not more than thirty days notice i'll
which to fill in such sunken lots, as
may be designated by the Board In the
event of property owner refusing to
do as directed the work is done by the
city, and after six months, ten per cent.
interest ON the outlay is charged and
placed as a lien upon the property bene-
fitted.
The Board intends taking advantage
of the law, and before cold weather sets
in sunken lots by the score will be eye
sores and disease breeding nests of the
past. The Board has a fund available
for the work. and the members propose
carrying on a determined crusade against
sunken lots.
LAFNAYETTES SUNKEN LOTS.
The first lots to be filled in are located
in the Lafayette section of the city.
There are ten in all in and about Wood
ward and Van Horne streets. Inspector
BENJAMIN recommended that they be
filled in and he was instructed to pro-
ceed according to law. Van Keuren &
Son have agreed to fill in lots designated
by the Board and take chances upon be-
ing paid promptly or waiting until one
or two cases are carried into court and
settled.
AS soon as the lots in Lafayette are
filled in all those vacant lots now. filled
with stagnant water on either side of
Grove street north of the Erie Railroad,
tracks will be attended to-, The latter
section ssaIe Of Of the city viii claim in ng far
in sunken lots for two months to come
The members of the Board believe that
Health Of the city, add to its desirability
as a place of residence and prove bene-
fetal to property valuations generally.
NO TYPHOID EPIDEMIC.
President AbprnAthV Yesterday CJ1nS-
toned all the city physicians about the
reported existence of an epidemic of ty
being informed that there is very little
typhoid in the city and that the few
cases reported are not confined to any
particular section. Mr.. Abernethy is anx-
ious to be on the safe side and he intro-
duced a resolution authorizing him to ap-
point two emergency physicians in each
stand ready at a moments notice to come
to the city's rescue in case of an out
break eE fpiddemie; Of am any X kind Of dis
not been decided upon as yet The
physicians 60 appointed will report week
& Y during July August g and
speedy spread of disease practically
impossible
result of the continued use of the Pas
sale this year. Those who remained in
the city and used the water last summer
Will probably agree that the precautions
preventative for the spread Of disease
was taken by directing Health Inspector
BENJAMIN to confer with mill, dealers
and if possible, arrange with them to
abolish The paper ticket system. The
tickets are sold and resold, and it is
argued go from houses where people
have various diseases to houses not in
tested.
MILK TICKETS CARRY DISEASE.
1t is believed that they carry disease,
and for that reason it is deemed advis-
able to get rid of them. It is suggested
that Communication tickets be sold TO con-
sumers for SO many pints or quarts, and
that the milkmen nunch them each time
he leaves milk. The Communication tick
ct would under this plan remain in one
house until used, and its destruction
would follow. There would be no chance
Of conveying diseases from house to
house
II cases and made "a visits; DIR. Wolfson,
is cases; 36 visits; DR.. Hoffman, q
visits; Or. Brinkerhoff, IS cases, 4s
visits: DR.. Everett Il cases, % visits.
Health Inspector Benjamin reported
435 nuisances complained of and 290
abated with $40 notices sent. There
were reported at his office 81 cases of
diphtheria, q of scarlet fever, 8 Of ty-
phoid 2 Of membraneous Group, 8 of
measles, and of smallpox. He licensed
during the month 333 dogs. 6. A. Erauss
~ Grand and Grove streets was an