The record-union., 1896-04-26
new YORK'S QUAINT LAWS.
Many Municipal EnactmentS Of an Anus.
Ing Character.
Remarkable Stories Told by Traveller
Who Visited New York City
in 1748.

Old New York is always interesting.
1t is full of amusing and instructive IN
cidents, but, while a great deal is heard
from time to time about the peculiar
manners of it's early inhabitants, the So
Cial customs, old houses, taverns, meth
DDS of travel, and other features of mu-
nicipal life, very little is heard about its
early laws. Some of these laws, enacted
by the various Mayors and Boards of
Aldermen, are decidedly amusing. if
not ludicrous, when viewed through the
glass of our present-day progress and
remarkable advancement in everything
pertaining to the so-called higher civ
ilization.
Among the old newspapers lately ac-
CURED by the Lenox Library are several
files of Zeneger's famous New York
Journal" the paper which was started
as a rival to VIM. Bradford's New York
Weekly" the first paper published in
the city. The year 1873, judging by the
old files, seems to have been a particu-
larry active one in tn enactment of laws
by the City Fathers. 1t looks very
much as if these old worthless were ac-
tuated by a strong desire to reform
things generally, for nearly everything
was touched upon. Zeneger faithfully
published in his Journal all of these new
laws, SO that all might read them and
not be amenable to the fines imposed
for non-obedience.
1t will be a pleasure, undoubtedly.
to hundreds of citizens to-day to know
that as far back as 1873 the condition
OF the streets was regarded with care
full consideration. There was no De-
partment of Street Cleaning at that
time, the Mayor and Aldermen COM
bined with their other burdens of office
the duties nowadays of the Street Clean
ing Department. By the laws enacted
in 1873 we can reasonably imagine
that there had been loud grumblings
about the miserable and filthy condi-
ton of the public thoroughfares. That
these complaints We're largely based on
truth is practically admitted IN the
curious preamble to a law demanding
all land owners in the city precincts to
keep the streets in front of their prop
erty we'll paved or be fined twenty shil-
lings. This curious and interesting law
as published in 1888 in Zenger's Jour
nal,' is as follows:
this city made for paving the streets
within the same have been much neg
Iected, whereby the citizens and So
journers within the said city are much
annoyed, and the intercourse of trade
among the inhabitants much lessened.
For regulating whereof, be it ordained
by the Mayor Recorder, Aldermen and
Assistants of the city of New York, con-
in, ic
hereby ordained by the authority of the
same, that all and every, the citizens,
freeholders, and inhabitants that dwell
in the respective streets, lanes and
alleys Of this city, or are or shall be in
possession of any lot or lots of ground
fronting any Of them, shall, from and
after the publication hereof cat the
charge of the landlord, well and suffi-
GENTLY to pave, or cause to be well and
sufficiently paved, with good and suffi-
cient pebble stones suitable for paving
all, or so much of the streets, lanes and
alleys within the said city, as shall
front the respective buildings and lots
of ground that belong to them, respect
lively, as aforesaid, and keep and main
tain the same in good repair, at such
time or times and in such manner and
quantity and proportion as shall from
time to time be unto them respectively
directed and appointed by the Aldermen
and Assistant of each respective ward
aforesaid.
Then follows very interesting series
of laws. setting forth at much detail
what articles must not be thrown into
the streets, each enactment closing with
Sc ,hcf<a 10 nn ar
neglect to keep the street clean and I'M
incumbered These laws are:
Be it ordained, that all and every, the
citizens, freeholders, housekeepers and
inhabitants living within the six wards
on the south side of the Fresh-water,
shall, on every Friday, weekday, either
by themself or servants, rake and sweep
together all the dirt filth and soil lying
in the streets before their respective
dwelling-houses, upon heaps, and on the
same day, or on the Saturday following.
shall cause the same to be carried away
and thrown into the river, or some other
convenient place, under the penalty of
six shillings for each neglect, refusal or
default.
And be it further ordained, that if any
person or persons whomsoever shall at
any time hereafter cast into, throw or
lay in any of the streets, lanes or alleys
of this city, or in the dock OF any of the
sims thereof, any carrion, CUTS, garbage,
oyster shells, ashes, dung, rubbish,
grams. beasts entrails, or any other
kind of filth or dirt whatsoever, that
may be noisome to any OF the 1nhabl-
tants of this city, such person or per-
sons so offending shall forfeit and pay
for every such offense the sum of six
shillings current money of New York.
And in case any such offense shall be
committed by any servant or slave, the
master or owner of such servant or
slave shall pay the said forfeit.
And be it further ordained, that no
person whatsoever shall cucumber the
streets with timber, beams. planks,
boards, stones, bricks or any other lum-
Der or pyle, or leave the sac in any of
the streets or highways within the city.
without leave from the Mayor of the
said city, for the time being, under the
penalty of six shillings for each offense,
one-half to the informer and the other
half to the Treasurer of this city, for
the use of this corporation.
And be it further ordained, that if any
person or persons within this city shall
hereafter in the time Of rain or floods,
sweep the soil or dirt Of the streets into
or near the channel of any of the streets
of this city, so as the same may be car
ried away by the stream thereof, such
person or persons so offending shall for
every such offense forfeit and pay the
sum of six shillings current money of
New York; and if such offense shall be
committed by any servant or slave,
-al forfo;f,1ro shall ha maid NV bo