New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-24
LAY DISEASE TO DIRT.
Dispensary officials Complain OF
Danger in FOrfysecOnd-st.

According TO DR.. Stevenson'F. Serftner, assoc
ciste professor Of chiIdren's diseases at the
West Side German Dispenssry in Forty-sccond-
ct the parents and guardians OF the hundreds
OF sick children who apply daily for treatment
q. the dispensa-y vitality Interested IN tAe
abatement Of the public nuisances arising ont
Of the preparations for asphalting. certain Sec
ton OF the street.
In conversation with Tribune reporter yes
ferday DR. Senesner declared that not Oily CID
germ laden particles of dust and refuse 6wiri
In through the windows but that the ciatter
OF vehicles crossing the cobbled centre OF the
street 10 a-oid the manholes on either sice Was
such as seriously to interiors with the clinics
The hot weather" said Dr.. Senftner, makes
n impossible 20 keep the windows up, ana with
the clatter and rumble without have found It
often impossible TO test child's lungs or heart
Further the choking dust that swirls In gives
us the choice OF two eviIs-either OF permitting
dozens OF strange children. only few
DAYS Old 10 swelter in the hot room or else
leave themselves open TO the dust and noise.
In certain cases in times Of dysentery. cholera
rnorbus nux and so on. the least noise at
q critical moment may effect the small patient.
II only as one OF many physicians. must pro-
test against the present condition of this sec
ton"
DR. Senftner wished TO know why II WAS
necessary TO tear up the street wholesale, instead
OF preparing the bed for the asphalt In sec
tions as he said done elsewhere.
A. Y. Mentz superintendent OF the dispen-
sary declared that ne was visited daily Dy
patients who asked for relief from dust or
grit that had lodged in their eyes while passing
along the section OF the street between Seventh
and Ninth ayes Many who complained or
throat or nose trouble. he added. also attributed
the inception OF their ailrnent 10 dust from
this section of the street.
throughout this section residents. merchants
and professional who subscribed to the
pe.,t.on TO me Commissioner OF Highways.
which was published exclusively in yesterdays
Tribune added their complaint to the general
chorus representative of the Amsterdam
Piano Company. Of No 38l West Forty-second-
st. declared that the constant dancing clouds
OF dust had caused considerable injury TO the
trade or stock in trade OF the firm.
we have had TO buy more than dozen new
piano covers" said this representative, ana
blanket each instrument in the store Even so
we have had TO revarnsh and overhaul the
mechanism of several instruments, so thick
and penetrating is the dust. even with the ran
light closed. Let this dust once settle on an
instrument turning the surface BLUSH and IT
is hard 10 convince the customer that 1t is
new piano"
damage TO their stock in trade ACCORDING 10
A r. Spae OF No. 344. and others. the mer-
chants are being taxed so much week Tor
the sprinkling OF This section OF the street.
In other words" said physician in the same
block we are being taxed for trying to onset
the nuisance caused by the relaying II seems
10 that If any one ought to pay IL Is the city
or the asphalt company. That the payment
should fall seems 10 me the last straw
of Injustice
According TO Henry Goodman, OF NO $50, the
sprinkling is of little service, because OF the
thickness of the dust along the street. Mr..
Goodman suggested the complete clearance or
the dust 10y the Commissioner. When told that
George r. Olney. chief engineer OF highways
had promised that the work Of asphalting would
begin tomorrow and probably be completed by
the end OF the week. Mr.. Goodman was sksp-
tical-
The nuisance has been going on for more
than a month already said he, and / shall
not be surprised II il continues all summer. AS
/ understand the situation, the asphalting COM
pany is now I'm litigation with the city on the
contention that the original contract. many
years ago, gives the company ten hours a day,
whereas the men may now only work eight, and
the work will therefore take longer"