New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-18
THE GROUND had GROIN FRUITFUL
INSPECTOR SPRINGER FOUND A MARKET GARDEN
ON RIKERs ISLAND.

INSPECTOR SPRINGER FOUND MARKET GARDEN
ON RIKERs ISLAND.
Some of the citizens Of Morrisana believe 1t to be
the bounden duty of the Health Department to
temper the winds to the shorn lambs in their neigh
borhood. The complainant states that the breezes
which ought comfort and soothe the Morrisanians
in this hot weather had, in some way or other.
picked up some vile doors while dailyng about the
shores of Riker's Island. These the compliments
wished removed that the breezes might once
more perform their grateful services without offence
Last summer the Department had dumped thousands
of scowoads Of garbage on the shores OF Rikers
Island No one seemed to object to this proceeding.
as the island Is unnhabited and the Department Of
Charities and Correction, to which 1t belongs.
seem delighted think that their real estate
holdings gaining in acreage The Health De-
parment on account of the isolated position OF the
place. decided TO cast their bread upon the waters
Tor the shore) trusting that 1t would not come back
after many days or even years. But there were
other things mixed with the bread and the mixture
got tangled I'D with the winds. and the inhabitants
OF the mainland complained of the resulting odors.
The Board decided that the breezes should be kept
out of the garbage and they sent some scowoads OF
earth with which to cover H. This went on FOR some
time. and all went WEI until the disinfectng plant
that had erected there at large expense proved
inefficient or defective. Then the enterprise was
abandoned and the Board forced to look for
other waters and other shores. They forgot Rikers
Island and the refuse that had been cast there and
trusted that they had heard the last of It, But their
confidence had been misplaced
When the complaints OF the citizens OF Nor
risania went to the Board. Sanitary Inspector
Springer was requested to HE himself to Rikers
Island and report to the Board whether the fault
lay primarily with the breezes or whether Rikers
Island was an accessory before the fact. Inspector
Springer betook himself to the Island yesterday,
and when he came back he was carrying sus-
aria ,iin th,f
fairly illumlned the Criminal Court Building. Sap
ping the satchel down the presidents desk he
exclaimed triumphantiy: There is my report"
President Wilson and Genera. Clark were decidedly
startled and for the moment were puzzled as 10
how the report was to be entered upon the books OF
the Department but they hnai.y decided to examine
It. The va,se was opened when out rolled batch
Of farm produce that would have made a set Of
East Side matrons mouths water. There were fine
cltrons that some one thought were muskme.ons:
great red. juicy tomatoes. golden squash. water
melon that would have delighted the heart of
Southern darky fine yellow pumpkins that suggested
ME and host OF other vegetables that no there
knew the names OF.
The bread had come back. but in changed
form that no one would have believed 1t without
the affidavit OF Inspector Springer who insisted that
ne did not possesses hypnotic powers the evil eye
Then he explained that the formerly desert island
had blossomed hardly like a rose. but like first
rate market garden. There was no particular pan;
the vegetables considerably jumb.ed up. but
they grew with a uxuriance TO which Is specimens
amply testified. The earth which had been paced
over the garbage In TO the demands OF the
aesthetic inhabitants OF the mainland had given the
seeds "A chance. and nature had done the rest. The
result Is a huge market garden. growing vegetables
enough to feed al the wards OF the Charities Com
missoners I'm their various asylum5 and Institutions
When the inspector had finished his story the
Board b.nked their eyes plnched themselves to see
N they awake. and then stared at the heap ~
vegetables again. There was the substantial proof
they were awake. and here was evidently subject
for their serious consideration That the vegetables
were as fine any TO be found In the city was
evident and the samples VIII probably be offered
the compliments OF the Board OF Health. II this Is
not done II might be inferred that the Island had
heen appropriated by the Heath Board as private
"snap" for the supply OF market produce.