New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-09
STREETS IN A VILE STATE.
INCREASE OF PULMONARY TROUBLES IN
THE CITY.
THE STREET CLEANING DEPARTMENT CoNFESsEs
IT'S I.T'Tt,p rITI J-ss<rcs

| THE STREET CLEANING DEPARTMENT CoNFESsEs
IT'S UTTER HEIrIEssNEss.
The streets OF the city were N a uisgraceu COM
dition Yesterday, and tho efforts OF the Street
! Cleaning Department seemed 20 he directed 10
make the condition worsr instead Of better. Mud
end s.ush and snow in evidence IN every
street. and the mir heavy with pesteniiai
odors Wherever empoyc OF the Streci-cean-
| Ing Department, couli he ~ work lie was
brushing or ahoveling heaps or ridges OF melting
snow from the gutter 10 the middle o. tho street.
In order TO hasten the process OF melting. No
attempts wcr, being made TO remove snow In carts.
In many streets the melting snow was black with
the accumulated Hlh OF a week ASHES and gar
hapc lay thick mounds OF Ice. and I'm countless
places there fostering masses o. decayins
matter where Stops from tenement-bouses mad
been poured into convenient hol.ows. Every SIDE
walk had Its layer OF black. sticky mud.
officials OF the Health Department said the con-
ditions were such greatly TO increase the cpl
demc OF Influenza In the city. and that the moist
ness and founess OF the air would doubtless
have a serious effect In aGgrava.ing all zy-
motto diseases. The returns at the bureau or VI
tai Statistics showed that there was an increase
In the general death rate. and that there was
abundant evidence OF an increased mortality from
influenza. pneumonia and other pulmonary troubles
President Wilson, OF the Health Board. after re-
ceiving reports from several OF his subordinates
said THE frightful condition o. the streets
doubtless. is responsible for much o, the sickness
at this time. The grip is likely 10 increase WINE
there Is so much melting snow and so much u'-
caylng matter in the streets. | wish the streets
were cleaner but do not see what can be dohe
under the circumstances"
Reports In several OF the city departments sho"
that an unusually large number OF men N me
employ OF the city government are IL WIN TN rhe
amount of sickness in the Police l)epaI mem lbs Us
greater than II was just before the o!ofr
OF the Lexow Committees invest!2ation captain
Meakim IL still suffering from the throat trouble
which kept him from the witness stand ana yes
reported to be sick with the grip -, 40,
Mayor Strong said yesterday tnat ne nla ira mos
know what was being done to make r ,ne GreaS
cleaner but he knew that he streets wern na'e
fully dirty IL have given the stree, Oeah,'s L.
parlmen one infusion. he SAID, WIN dd AMI
l guess III have TO give another dose.
Of Street cieaning at the beginning Of next week;
Rad q talk with the Mayor yesterday: but ne WyniI
had arv for improving the condition Of The streets
He also declined to say what changes ne h'Sn'
make In the Street Cleaning Department.
officials in the department said yesterday thai
the bad condition Of the streets was unayoidanle'
ro'sib, Ws,h tbe mony al III" disposal OF tho de-
partmcnt 10 clean away all the snow from al %
the streets The best that can be don' ~ 10 r.
move the snow from the PRINCIPAL lh9r2usni3Trs
after storm This asst snowsiorin Wa Iv,l"N't nH
was hard frost which turned the vet snow 10
Ice and bound II 70 the paNemeniS 81 ma. t"' ~"
impossible To- keep the streets clean Hni"' we CIV
cunsances . -, oA.,,s,i H..
said tina; his workm.n during the n'Rn haI 30
Flrh-aVe. and that the bo"ri} wa allHD.. - -.
ilev.d OF us rob, 81 mud. All the main streets
and streets leading TO the ferrie- were also quite
cran he declared lie said ~ was hiring all coni.
SgSntiv The t~o great drawbacks 10 the depart
m.nt Commissioner Andrews SAID, we're IN" i' ,
Ie,1rs rhcjr doors ami The present law which for-
blis the department from hifng aliens