New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-14

many of them were Greeks, Hebrews ana ltaI.
ians. and 1t was with the greatest dimcuity tha'
they could be made to comply with or undel
stand the rules of health. 1t came out tnat Wheh
he rented O piece Of property to tenant MS re-
sponsibllity ceased in regard to what the ten
ant might erect thereon. Mr.. STatton wa3
so anxious to aid the authorities that ne onereU
to make over to the city enough grounu III hiS
own private walks to enable the AUTHORITIES 10
put in sewage and water pipes large enough
to carry off the drainage and TO supply every
building on his premises with water. 1t turned
out that Mr. Stratton and the other principal
owners have small service pipes from tne main
In Surf-ave But they insufficient. he SAID
he had built a tank for his houses, Lut he could
not oet a sufficient head OF water to I'll IT, and
therefore the sanitary condition OF the houses
was bad. ,,
why don't you put In larger pipe. thenT'
asked Mr.. Emery.
because" Mr. Strattan replied IT already pay
$500 year for water tax If should put IN
larger pipe the city would want the value OF my
entire porperty for It,.
he was willing to give space on his walks 70 the
city for pipes. In reply to that he was told that
he had better confer with City Works Commas
sioner Willis.
John A. Cook another owner agreed to comply
with the law Mr. Cook described the condition
Of Surf-ave. He said that the cutters were reek-
ing with filth and that the water extends from
the cutters far out into the street. The cutters
contain bits of garbage and refuse dropped from
the receptacles which the contractors employees
never tnOuRnt Oh plChluS ny.
"In front Of the Clarendon, continued MI.
Cook. "the water extends twenty feet out on the
street There Is no surface drainage. nave
seen the water the street green win SCUM
and the stencil has been unbcarable Ihere IL d
sewer in the street which goes to the sewage
reduction works at the west end OF the lsiaho'
but II does not drain the street water
Mr. Moore here broke in and described tne
sewage conditions. He reiterated what Mr. COOK
had said and then explained That tnere Were
manholes at various places which led 10 piiho
chambers in the sand. But the manholes mao
become choked up by garbage ana wouia n p
carry Off the water. At other times. ne SAID tne
sand became so saturated with moisture tnat IL
failed to absorb the surface accumuations, thus
throwing the foetid odors back to the street
Then Mr.. Cook, In q further explanation. saio
that many people had left the Clarendon ana
other hotels because the odor was so 1rightiuiiy
bad The proprietor of the Columbia Hotel told
the Commissioner that the garbage contractors
failed TO do their duty In removing his garbage.
They would not come every day. They generally
came on Friday, he said, but he was left from
Friday night until Monday morning without any
relief from the accumulations OF his hotel
All the owners complained when they were ap-
prsed Of the fact that they were to be made
responsible for sanitary conditions. They
seemed to think that the tenants should be MADE
responsible. but their protests awaited nothing.
If the authorities carry out their expressed in
tentions there is some hope for the future
health Of the island. But if they go on In the
same slack way as before. waiting to be prodded
before moving, grave danger menaces the com
munity. There Is every necessary condition at
the Island OF Stenches for an epidemic or most
any kind and while Brooklyn people may feel
secure from harm, there is no certainty that
they may not experience disease and sickness
even before the present season is over. Coney
Island to-day. morally and physically Is the
most unsavory spot In America.