New-York tribune., 1899-07-30
HEALTH RECORDS IN DANGER
MOVED BY CROKER's ORDER FROM FIRE
PROOF CITY BUILDING TO A NON-FIRE-
PROOF PRIVATE STRUCTURE


In order 10 carry out corrupt job. the removal
OF the valuable records Of the Health Department
from 4 building which Is hreproof to that Is
not. was nearly completed yesterday Their former
home was I'm the Criminal Courts building in Cen
tre-st where they not only safely housed
but were conveniently situated for those who have
to refer to them They have been moved into the
old home of the New-York Athletic Club at Sixth
ave- and Fifty-ffth-st.. which is generally looked
upon as a hretrap and Is most inconveniently
placed, at distance from all other city Offices
simply because It a matter Of pecuniary profit
to Richard Croker to have 1t so.
This incident furnishes one of the most instruc-
tive examples on record OF the manner In which
the Boss of Tammany uses his political power for
his own private ends. After Croker assumed ful
charge of the greater city In 1898 he decided that
he wanted a club The New-York Athletic Clubs
house was for sale just then. and he bought II In
an offhand way, without thinking much about Its
location. When the fact was brought home 10 him
that II inconvenienty situated he ordered the
old home of the Democratic Club to be enlarged
and reftted for him instead. Some persons thought
that Croker had been caught with white ele-
phant on his hands, for which he would not be
able to find purchaser This would have been the
case with almost any other man. but not so with
Croker.
The clubhouse was sold without any trouble 10
Henry J. Braker. People wondered how Braker
Braker is fool. In a few days the announce
ment made that the city had leased his newly
acquired building for ten years at a profitable
rental and Croker ordered the Department Of
Health to occupy IT, In vain did Commissioner
Murphy and the other Department officials plead
and protest In vain did they enlarge upon the
danger from fire to their records which In
valuable. not duplicated and could never be
replaced What were such considerations to Croker?
II the King could sell his clubhouse by promising
turn for his money In the way of rent, should one
OF his creatures like Murphy object? Non
sense" said the Boss. Get n move on you" and
Murphy moved
These records in hourly danger OF being
wiped out OF existence include the marriage
thcates. which back to 1853. and upon which the
title 20 real estate Of great value frequently de-
pends; birth certificates, which go back to the
same year. and without which American child
be educated in public private school of Ger
many, France or Italy, lacking which no American
certificates which go back to 1898 without which
money can be drawn from r bank by the heirs OF
a dead person. without which no insurance COM
pany pays policy and which essential docu-
these records contain all complaints made to and
orders issued by the Department archaeological
and chemical Investigations since 1899. minutes OF
Coroners inquests since 1857, and many subsidiary
documents.
Aside from their practical uses these records
of great value historical statistical and sociolog
alone there were l0,S9i searches made for death
certificates 2626 for marriage certificates and 1,925
for birth certificates. This puts their value in
light which II would seem that even a Tammany
heeler might appreciate, and yet, because Croker
says so. they are being stored in building which
has wooden floors. lath and plaster walls. wooden
cross beams thin brick walls and is guiltless OF
once got started.