New-York tribune., 1900-09-08
SICKNESS IN THE BRONX.
OPEN TRENCHES BRING MALARIA AND
BAD SEWERS TYPHOID FEVER.

The Board OF Health in Bronx Borough has
recently received d large number OF complaints
aoout the trenches along Kingsbridge and High
bridge roads These trenches were started by con-
tractors and then abandoned They are not con-
t4nuous ditch but consist OF large holes opened
N the ground and allowed to iii with water which
Aes stagnant in them, breeding all manner OF
germs These germs have spread through the
neighborhood. and as a result great many peo-
pie have been taken Ill with malaria
As Fast as complaints are received by The Bronx
ofcials, men are sent out 10 dsinfect the partieu
lar part OF the trench complained OF. This piece
meal work has consumed all the time OF the Health
Department. and has prevented II from taking any
general action, although by this time the ground
has been almost completely covered. The Health
Department has also ordered various holes 70 be
hled up, and in several instances this has been
done The general disorganizatton OF contracts and
the inability Of the department in some cases TO
place the responsibility have greatly hindered the
work One contractor. Michael Redmond, Of Wood
lawn, who had been working on a sewer started
excavations and then abandoned them. He was
ordered TO III up the trench that he had made, and
did
The Bronx Department is watching the trenches.
and gives every complaint prompt and careful
investiga ton.
tendent Of the Manhattan Beard of Health, was
asked whsther he thought there was any danger
OF malaria in Manhattan owing to the various
trenches now lying open in the city.
about every disease under the Sun from these
trenches and I suppose they may catch malaria
too now that they've thought Of IT. According
to the latest scientific investigation, malaria germs
are carried by mosquitoes. and mosquitoes are GER
tainly as active as ever. But q matter Of fact
1 think there IS absolutely darger. Streets
have been dug up before without results TO
peoples health, and I do why there should
be any more danger than there before.
The idea of<an epidemic Of malaria in Manhattan
as result Of trenches in the streets IS absurd
The Department is still fighting the epidemic OF
typhoid fever which has existed around Williams
bridge this summer Of late there have been as
many thirteen cases in a single day. AS soon
as II realized the seriousness and proportions OF
the epidemic the Department. sent chemist 70
analyze the water Of the wells which are in use
there. These wells and all cesspoos and other
drains have been ordered 10 be cleaned out. after
rigid investigation. East Of White Plains-ave
there are sewers, and all waste water has
flowed across lots and gathered in pools, from
which Il gradually found its way into the wells,
the sources Of Williams bridges drinking water
" est CT White Platns-ave., where there are sewers
there have been comparatively few cases OF the
fever This shows that the epidemic IS due to
defective sewers. A few cases Of the fever have
been discovered at Wakefield, the northern limit
Of the city. The epidemic, however Is now Well
in hand. and The Bronx officials declare that they
have every reason TO believe that before long the
fever will have died out entirely.