The New York Herald Newspaper, December 16, 1872, Page 4

GOTHAM'S UNDERFLOW. The Seething Sewers of the City’s Slums. Defective Construction Making the Sewers Vast Receptacles for Tons of Decayed Matter that Gives Out Deadly Gases, SOME OF THE RELICS OF THE RING. Feeders and Breeders for Smallpox, Chol- era, Yellow Fever, Diphtheria and Twelve Other Diseases, Contractors’ Efforts to Make Water Run Up Hill. WHAT SEWER SURVEYS sHow. How Three Hundred Poople in Thirty-ninth Street are Exposed to Death—Waste Water _ and Solids Removed Through the Cellar Floors—Manure Vaults in a Washing- ton Street Tenement House Cellar. GREED IN CONFLIOT WITH HEALTH, Startling Pictures To Be Studied and Abuses To Be Corrected! We live in an age of cheap construction, specu- lation, competition and greed having joined in the race to get rich, an¢, consequently, honesty and safety get pushed to the wall. We witness this in every department of industry and manufactures, One of the results of this greedy competition is the Introduction and acceptance of inferior work- manship, not only on the part of and by the pri- vate individual, but by the departments of the city government, in dealing with contractors. It is ad enough when this affects only the value of private property; but whea it creates ditions Which are directly injurious to the healtff, comfort and even the lives of the community, and when it is likely to affect not only the present community, ‘Dut to descend asa legacy to future generations, it becomes a grave question for consideration by our civic authorities. These remarks are sug- gested by certain facts that are now being cul- lated as to the irregularities and criminal careless- nessa of workmen 1n the ( CONSTRUCTION OF OUR PUBLIC SEWERS, the sewer connections with houses and the plumb- ing necessary te secure health and proper ventila- tion for our earthly tabernacies, While we are yearly spending hundreds of thou- sands of dollars in street cleaning and other sani- tary work to protect health and life our sanitary savans in the past seem to have almost entirely forgotten the public sewers and the FOUL AIR AND GASES that they engender and force out into oti bed- rooms, kitchens and parlors to poison the blood and create disease of the most malignant type? Clean streets, the removal of animal and vegetable matter from yards and houses, the disinfection of closets, &c., are sanitary precautions that it is well should not be neglected; but all medical authorities agree that the sewer gases are the most virulent poisons. The sewers of the city being under the control of the Department of Public Works the Board of Health have been unable to devote much attention to them and the effect of baa workmanship in their construction upon the public health, Yet at various times during the past ten years reports have been made looking to areform in their construction. Among the gen- tlemen who have carefully investigated the subject from a sanitary point of view are Dr. Henry R. Stiles, Mspector, and James Ingram, Assistant En- gineer ofthe Board of Health. These gentlomon Aor years have studied the entire subjects of STREET AND HOUSE SEWERS, plumbing and house construction, and are now en- gaged in the conipilation of their voluminous re- port, covering the whole ground. In it will be made some startling revelations, that cannot fai! to have & good ifect, more especially in the construction of Bewers, waste pipes, privy vaults, cesspoois, hy- rants, bathtubs, slop sinks and cellars. A reporter of the HERALD was permitted a lew days ago to peruse the report of these gentlemen and make ex- tracts that will be perused by every reader of the HERALD who is interested in the scientific con- struction of houses, and a perfect sewer system that will do away with the poisonous odors that are now exhaled from many of them, even in the more aristocratic neighborhoo!s, ON THE OBJECT AND PRINCIPLES OF SEWERAGE the inspectors devote considerable space. The tol- lowing, however, are brief extracts :— Now the object of sewerage being not the reception of excremental matter, but its prompt reimoval before dan- gerous decomposition sets in and sets tree its hurtiul ele- ments, it will be seen that sewers which, from an; cause, do not provide this “Immediate conveyance” wit “ceaseless motion” become simply recepticles of deposits, in which during dry seasons it remains decomposing for ‘weeks and months, giving forth its most pernicious gases into the drains and water closets ot dwellings and through the sewer openings into the streets of the city. This, of course, is no improvement upon the privy ‘system, if, indeed, it be not worse. But that this unfortunate state’ or things can and Goes happen, and that with a frequency and with a lamentable results which almost seem tity the, opinion of those who utterly | con- demn the “water-carriage system,” is patent to every city resident. — It becomes @ pertinent question, therefore, How these evils arise—in what way aud through what detects our sewers become inopera- tive? Accumulated deposits of soil in a sewer, ob- structing it and perverting its intended sunetion of pas. sage tuto that of a mero receptacle of sewage, may arise from the following causes :—First, from the want of acomprehensive and well-arranged system of general jsecond, from an insufficient gradient or decliv- g fewer or its tributary branches; third, from tle inswiliciency either in quantity or force of the’ water or other artificial ageut used to drive or carry forward the contents of the sewers; fourth, from an impertect form of the sewer or some of its connections; fifth, from detects of construction, either in workmanship or mate - rials; sixth, from an insufficient outtall. CONDITION OF SEWERS IN A CITY. We should find them of great variety—some circular, fomo oval; and, we fear, ware. of most ‘of should At the Bottom find a thick, blackish, tenacious mud, and flowing over It a dirty, slucgiah stream, slowly, allently. continual, out sewer gas This t its truthfulness may be proved strect man-hole of one of our public sewers and peeping within. The water received Irom houses, sewers, and, by culverts, from occasional rain storms or meliihy show, is by no means sufficient to keep them thoroughly washed out, even it they all had the proper descent and were entirély free froin too greas conditions which too ave beneath our street a otten do not obtain. Then, we pavements AN ELONGATED PRIVY VAULT, —a constant source of divease and annoy- 6s dreadful or active because it is hidden the Summer season the peculiar ly discernible in our thoroughiares e ‘smelling powers. SEWER GAS, The decomposition of the organic matters which com- Pose the “thick, blackish and tenacious mud” of sewers, Grains, privy vaults and cesspools is o ntly going on, tail seasons, but more freely in hot weather. Itgives and (ops gas, which bubbles uw water on the surface of the sewage mud, ani lighter and frequently hotter than’ the .. These gaseous bubbles are inflam- i _easily Mghted with # match, sewer gas, Being lighter mn _ordi- y, and Frequent. in a at of tension, it natarally ascends, and, if possible, will escape at the Righe point And when it does so escape into an out side atmosphere of much lower temperature we can eattly see that watery vapor condensed like steam. This is much more perceptible at sewer openings or at outside in inside of houses, where a higher temperatare prov The amount of th: given off into the ex- vernal air is immense in the a sewerage, &c., to which The detects of house drainage, these deplorable results are due, are not always apparent to the smell, Indeed, the foul gases . them- tly so little noticed at the time searcher who lias been exposed to them for so brief & erlod that itis almost impossible for bim or his friends o believe that they can really have been the cause of the trouble. Yet medical literature is full of examples showing how the briefest exposure to these delete. vious iufucuces May result in the most serigus disease, DEPECTIVE SEWERS, The facts collected by these gentlemen show that many of the street sewers of the city are so imperfectly constructed that for a distance of many blocks the fow ef water is either completely ob- structed and forced back into the house sewers gounecting therewith, or so much so that the fow tofles in len; ance, none from our sight, In sewer odors are by any one of ave off an offen: to the eye nor selves are freq of water ts very sluggish and utterly incapable of carrying off the heavy matter with it, which con- quently settles on the bottom of the sewers. The report reviews the history of our sewer construc- tion, In the beginning of the century it ts shown thatfully a tenth part of the bullt ap portion of the city was occupied by earth pit privies and thirty burial places, with no sewerage and no water sup- ply. The first sewer was constructed in Oak atrect, about 1621, followed by others in Oanal street and West Broadway soon after. The bottoms of these were flat stones, sloping toward the centre, with brick perpendicular sides, four feet high, anda low arch thrown across, These old sewers still remain. These were followed by others similarly shaped, but more ourvea, and by barrel-shaped and circular ones. Perpetual motion for the water and suMctent outlet are the grand principles of good sewerage, for heavily tadened water will not turn sharp corners nor run up hull, 88 some of the sewers are constructed higher at the outlet than at the points of recetving the water and contents of closets. They quote in support of this charge from a report made @ few years ago by Dr. Jones, of the Police Department, who declares that a very great proportion ol the sewers are in & very imperiect condition and many inadequate to ‘carry of the refuse contemplated, y of them, he says, open into the buik- heads and even open lots, instead of tide ways. The sewer, he says, in Thirty-fourth street, between Madison and Fourth avenues, has a descending grade of only four inches in 706 feet, which is equivalent to stagnation. In Twenty- sixth street, between Second and Third avenues, there is ap asconding: grade of three feet two inches to be overcome by accumulated deposits before any flow can occur, In Madison avenue, be- tween irty-third and Thirty-second streets, the sewer risos inst its grade eleven inches in every 200 feet; in East Kighty-third street it rises eight inches in 200 feet against its grade; in Thirty-fourth gtrect, between Fifth and Madison avenues, it rises two feet in every 260 feet. These examples, Dr. Jones . declares, are by no means exceptional, and Judges Stiles and Ingraham declare that their investigations show the same defective ‘fall, up and down Sixth avenue, through Fourteenth street and past Union square. The consequence of these defective sewers is that the waste water and foul refuse from the houses, intended to be emptied into the sewers, are forced back into the sewers connect- ing the buildings with the street sewer, and there || they remain—the former to become putrid, and the latter decomposed, to give out their vile aad deadly smells through leaks and imperfect traps to the occupants. Beside the escape inside the street line, these sickly gases find exit through the street manholes, and impregnate the air we breathe. The investigations of these officers show that there are miles of sewers in the city filled with these reeking deposits from a depth of six inches to two and a half or three feet. It ta startling to contemplate that the exhalations from these deadly deposits enter into every breath of air we breathe—sleeping or waking, moving along the busy streets or at rest within the privacy of our boudoirs or parlors, The best medical authorities in Europe trace every form of disease from blood oisoning to sewer gas, and especially the follow- ing :—Smalipox, measles, scarlet fever, peso typhus fever, typhoid fever, erysipelas, hospital fever, puerperal fever, cholera, yellow fever, ague, gianders, boil and carbuncle and infectious op- thalmia, EXAMPLES OF THE DEADLY DEPOSITS, There are many minor matters connected with the sewers—sucli as imperfect closing of the con- nections and seams, that are treated of by these officials, which cannot in a brief article be fully detailed. Their personal investigations are sus- tained by surveys made some time ago of the sew- ers by the Vroton Aqueduct Department. Some of these surveys are illustrated below, the better to explain the condition of the sewers. FIGURE L—SEWER IN THIRTEENTH STREET, TWEEN SIXTH AND SEVENTH AVENUES, This sewer {s so imperfectly constructed that points near the outlet are higher than at Sixth avenue, Tae flow of water was so slow. that the refuse matter has settled on the bottom as repre- sented by the blank space in the illustration, At Seventh avenue the deposits nearly fill the sewer, but & small flow, represented by the wave line, passes over it. The samo faulty, unhealthy de- posits extend east of Sixth avenue, FIGURE I1L—VARIOUS SEWER ENTRANCES, add The above is an end view of jour sewers, show- ing the gradual accumulation of refuse animal and vegetable matter, over which the water flows in siow movements, No, 1isin Canal street, east of Eldridge; No. 2in Eldridge street, north of Canal; No, 3 in Division street, east of Eldridge, and No, 4 in Division street, north of Eldridge street. The cause of this accumulation is directly traceable to imperfect grade in the sewer, that prevents a rapid flow of the water and the discharge of the solid matter into the East River. FIGURE 111.—NINETEENTH STREET SEWER. This cut represents the sewer in West Nine- teenth street, between Sixth and Seventh ave- nues. The sudden bend in the centre is where two contractors, working from opposite directions, joined their work and supplied an obstruction that as resulted in very large deposits of sewer mud and decomposed matter. FIGURE 1V. ER IN CENTRE STREET, BETWEEN FRANKLIN AND LEONARD, The first represents the end of the sewer as originally constructed; the second its condition when inspected. It will be seen that it has been broken, and the sewer entirely closed, with the exception of a few square inches, through which the sluggish water meanders to its outlet. The following is a diagram of this sewer broken down, showing the accumplation of solid matter that in- tercepts the flow of water:— FIGURE V.—THE SAMB SEWER, SHOWING How IT 1S NOW BROKEN. a Striking as these illustrations are to show the accumulation of solids in the street sewers, the following represents a still more dangerous ob- struction of more recent construction :— SEWER IN WEST FORTY-SEVENTH STREET. When building the sewer in this street from Seventh avenue to the North River it was found that the rock in the street west of Tenth avenue revented a sewer being run through to the river, ‘he contractor in this dilemma constructed a small sewer down Tenth avenue to the Forty-second street connection to drain Forty-seventh street. This Tenth avenue sewer runs against grade too much to properly carry off the water and refuse, which causes @ backing up of the water and solid Matter, so that the bottom o/ the cellars of several residences near the corner of Forty-seventh street and Seventh avenue are affected by it. HORRIBLE CONDITION OF HOUSE SEWERS. Bad as are many of the public sewers of the city, those connecting the waste pipes of residences and tenements with the main street sewers are shown by these officials te be much worse. Contractors for the construction of houses have been too intent upon making a large profit upon their contracts to stone and wood, A common mode of construction ts stone top and bottom and brick sides, with little or no mortar in the crevices. The conse- oe is that the impure water filters through the crevices and permeates the soil under cellar floors, and rats and odors pass through at will. The square shape given to the sewer causes fric- tion and impedes the flow of water, and sediment collects on the bottom. Inspectors of some houses have shown the sewers to be of square wooden boxes, through which the water leaks and which in become so rotten that more filthy water enters the ground than is carried off on the slug. gish flow. In Washington street one of these wooden sewers, lined with tin, was found go de- cayed that the contents permeated the under soil, and the odors filled the en- tre edifice. Contractors and house owners are often 80 utterly oblivious of the health of their tenants tl they supply but one sewer connection to as Many ps twelve tenements, This sewer is run into the @etpre of the block, and the water from the waste pipéa uid closets conveyed to it by Open trougis situated under the cellar Doors, In the event of obstructions occufring by an aécumu- lation of solids in these troughs, or by back water from fue street sewer, the sickening odors must regard sanitary Atfairs, and in most cases construct | these connecting sewers on the ‘Cheap Jehn”’ Pinole All Kinds of material are employed, he chief ones being brick, iron, lead, clay, rT find or the toe a either rhe he ee In East atreet te, inch earthenware with toungoted” the’ - other, 'saeee bree bottom oc the st ay bel possible for water : tents. Hi the closets and waste pipes ment aa the ab: there to and Sues ere wast re, was found that will show the di . these imperfect house connect four it houses but one covered was 6\ with the btreet sewer, w had been cut off and emptied into open basement, which trenches comm! ap open hole in the common sewer pil No portion of these trenches wag cove! Hy ® floor above, and the odors ascended through all the houses. Thia will be better understood by the iollowing diagram :— oa a—The covered sewer pipe. '—Opon Rolestnto which wi creas tat, Sete eee ahah inder ove he col wi fall dows intovhe trenches.” eParly MAN AND BEAST IN FRIENDLY COMMUNION. The following extract shows the criminal manner in which rapacious landlords disregard ali sani- tary lawa:— No. — Washington oooh three story tenement house, the yard of which was built over and occupied as a 4s & manure vault, in the lower entry or hallway, were each without any frap; and each having « which opened directly into an open cellar. The only water supply. to pa" thrown into them by the re Wi . ‘ag also a sink on r, the wat pipe of cach discharging into the open dralts without traps. Thus man and beast lived under the same roof, inhaling the same foul exhalations and gases from water closets, open drain, stable and manuro vault. But the abuses of the system do not stop here. From @ number of cases that have cone under the observation of these oflicers the following is se- lected as a striking illustration of the expedients resorted to by tenement owners to avoid expendi- ture of money:—In West Thirty-ninth street are four tenements owned by one man, each of which contains sixteen families, or nearly three hun- dred souls. Under each house is a sewer, connect- stable, while the cellar was usc Under the at two hoppers, sheet-iron soll pipe, brick ty drain it ing with the street, As they were clogsed by back water their connection with the waste pipes was cut and holes about three feet deep dug in the earth to receive the solid deposits, The cellar floors were ripped up to dig these holes and then covered over with boards that can be removed at will, Of course, when the contents of this hole ac- cumulate to a suMcient height the more fluid part runs 0.7 to the sewer, but the rest remains. The following is an illustration of it:— FIGURE VIL—A TENEMENT PROPERTY IN WEST THIRTY-NINTH STREET. (a) reprecents tho holes cut in the flooring and (), thé sink dug in the earth to receive the contents of the closets, There in these sinks of the waste pipes and cipse full as to oyertiow the cell moved and the sinks emptied by hand. " HOW CELLAR SEWERS ARF GLOGGRD, Tho Hion ie iulustration will show how cellars arc stenched by deposits driven back from the main street sewer. It is notorious that many house sewers are butlt with the end entering. the street higher than the poimt into which the waste pipe discharges :— é FIGURE VILL, House Sewer Under Gellar Sewer Tho rules of the Roard of Public Works compel plumbers to connect house sewers with those on the street at a point below the centre of the latter. Consequently when the street sewer becomes half filled up the deposits and water are forced back against the waste pipe under the house. It is proper to remark here that this condition of street sewers is a legacy of the Ring, and all or nearly all the sewers erected since 1870 conform to sanitary demands, The above, it is to be hoped, will be sufficient to draw the attention of the authorities and property owners to the necessity of devising sonie means to remove the dangers that threaten public healtn. It can only be accomplished by energetic action on the part of the Health authorities and the reconstruction of our sewers to give them a grade sufficient to carry off the tons of reeking, sickly deposits that slumber and decay under our streets and houses. An article of this character, however, would not be complete without reference to the subjects of defective traps, cellar construc- tion, spring Tes defective building, &c., and, consequently, the following extracts from experts are given:— DEFECTS OF TRAPS. How little consideration has been given to the real sa {tai y,object of a trap in some of these various forms evident froin the fact that traps are daily found by in- srectors which have so little dip. that the water is not re- tained in them, thus leaving a eeenitie for the very sewer gas which they were designed to intercept, Others, again, with practically nodip at al id. sometimes we find that a plumber, having miscalculated the space into which he is to place the trap, or nothaving room enough, will gain it by setting the trap at such an angle as to enable him to make the desired connection without any care as towhether the requisite degree of dip is pre- served or not. Indeed, both manufacturers and mechan: ics seem too fi ently to think that contrivances have se except to be sold. So long only as eine "and so long as it isattached to the closet it rs little whether itis a proper one or properly set. Ignorant as to whether it isa proper and well set trap and trusting to the statements of a plumber whom he supposes to be competent, the houseeowner pays the bill And setties himself amid his home comforts, while death and diseas> arise from water closet, wash basin, &c., and hover around him like impalpable spirits ot air, SPRING VALVES AND OTHER PA‘ iT CONTRIVANCES. Of late years the use of supply cistern service-box, cranks, wires, &c. has been mostly discontinued on the alleged grounds of their taking up too much space, their expense and liability to get out of osder, &c. Closets now, of any form, are generally “flushed” direct trom he ' service pipe by means of (single or double) spring valves and cocks, acted upon through pressure on 8 lever ‘fixed to the side of the receiver, or hopper. It 's claimed for these valves that the amount of supply or flush water can be more accurately adjusted; that they prevent an unne- cossary wasto of water and give a more certain and suflicient washing to the basin; that they are easier re- palred and less expensive, both in frst cost and repair; that they are better adapted to the various requirements ot location, &c. Theoretically this appears plausi- ble; practically, however, they give “no end” of di conifort to rouse occupants, of expense to property owners, and of complaints fo the Health Board, An sanitary inspector, in the course of one day’s routine in- sbection, sees numbers of cases where the forth to’ defend the use of these contrivances are flay contradicted by the conditions which come under his observation, CELLAR CONSTRUCTION, And in this connection itis proper that we should say something about the manner in which many cellars and basements are constructed at the present day, for this has considerable to do with the evil ef which we speak. Many cellars and basements, both in dwellings and busi- ness buildings (especially the jatiens are extended under the street sidewalk, and the additional room thus ob- tained is considered as “so much elear gain” in a city where real estate is so valuable asin New York. These extensions are vaulted and covered with flag stones, and lighted with “patent lights” set in iron frames, which are very carefully fitted, caulked and asphalted into the aik, or into’ the front of the building, so to exclude air and water the outside, Thus the basement {s practically an air tight box. Underneath the floor of those basements are Inid the sewer connections, frequently constructed on the cheap plan elsewhere described and connected with ithe soll pipe, having in many cases but one trap for irom two to eight water closets and urinals, whic nominally flushed with water by means of spring valves and stop fawcets, And these closets and urinals, be it re membered, are generally placed under the sidewalks, in the closest ventilation then? Only by the door leading to the tloor above, by the halls and passages, and frequently tnrough the loosely laid flooring of the first floor overhead, UNSUITABLE LOCATION OF CLOSETS. The most gene alt about water closets, whatever the condition of the apparatus itse The only consideration which seems point is the Pi th ast TOOT, jallways, under staircases, on stair landings, in corners of bathrooms, between bedrooms, in corners of offices, in dark celiars, under s! ral and we have seen them on house roois; but that is preferable to most of the loca- tions above named. In every conceivable improper and inconvenient nook and corner which can suggest itself to the builder we find these important adjuncts of ite and comin ers with little provision for light and esh air. Thousands of these closets are lit only by @ feeble gas jet, and many are cells ot stygian darkness, only by the occasional flash of @ lucifer match inthe hand of an inquiring and dubious visitor. We recollect one of these dark closets in a damp cellar, which was accurately fitted into a corner between two walls, and was twenty-six inches wide in front, the sides mecting at an acute angle at rear of seat. It dould only ¢ entered by “backing into,” for turning around was impossible. Even in private dwellings those conven. iences are not allowed the room which they requir: the acme of thly economy of space has been reached vy the invention, ostensibly for prison an pe tontiar; ofa “combined hoppe® and washbow!,” the two being hinged together, 60 that when the latter is raised the former can be used, and vice versa when shut. ‘This de- lighuul contrivance for “making both ends meet” ap- pears in the catalogue and stock of @ well known man. ulacturing rm, aud is @ fair specimen of that kiud of quite as from | Hi rt of this a ret extension. Where is the | lighted | firetar cones sows combination as the ne plus and seeki 7, irecly throughout the for were these terrible orampiee of defective sewerage condned to the tene: 6 r city. se reg in & rivate itect pipe connection with the wi ver, in 8 ventilat ug oF thevescape of sewer gases directly he same house was found an soil: ‘ipe from the water cl in the, Tourich saw id -halt inch a, ns wn stone dw. mt i &.. -inch iron sewer pipe, | hav! i main was diameter ‘imply Pe ating big rvithoat honing, ene Joint In this house a chill died last. week, aged three years, after three weeks’ illness, of spotted fever. In many stances, in mrpey stores or public bulldings, only a trap fs provided for two, four, or even six water close thus allowing fou! ase of an ‘uction, yoke. is very probable—to pass from one closet to another, DEFECTS OF BUILDINGS, street complaint was made frot edly bad odor guised. the res repeatedly, okamined’ for the iDead rats had the credit of ro the mises by col the rear parlor, im? was Kd corer of intel nearest the ON the ad- Joining house. (N = HY wan” found lust on the pei aoe was @ In in @ closet, aa e waste pipe along try. Wi ind @ servants’ water ol below, and into. the cellar, where hasntsent floor, to, the cella re This waste Ke from the in, weit "as the soll-pipe e water closet, was of lead, and the Jolnt of the latter with the, tron sewer-pipe in the cellar ‘was open on the side next the wall, a little mortar having been ine itup. Consequentiy the sewer lied up. fr rf rfect joint, passin, along the casi One reread te the ped found escape directly through the wall and lo. —- through « (oka left open by the builder near the “trimmer " which supported the parlor mantelpiece of the r dwelling. ‘bis case loads us to remark also that the manner in which brick walls are often laid, espe those poing where beams enter or rest upon quently gives rise to complaints of sewer gas and offences coming through from adjoining premises. The HERALD reporter was assured by Messrs, Stiles and Ingram, that the above instances do not cover half the abuses, and that even greater and more startling ones can be found in various parts of the city, ABOUT AFRICA. Lecture by the Rev. J. B. Pinney—Discov- erles of Mungo Park and Other Travel- lors—Tho Suppression of Slavery—Liv- ingstone and Stanley. By réquest of a number of influential citizens the Rev. J. B. Pinney, of African missionary fame, last evening reiterated his lecture of last Sabbath upon “Africa.” The travelled divine is an extemporary speaker, and one who utterly ignores all those little arts and devices which belong to sclolists, He plunged at once in media res on being intro- duced to his audience, which he held enthralled until the echo of the Anal word of his discourse died upon the quivering air. Dr. Pinney commenced by asserting that it is customary among Caucassians to regard the negro more in the light of a chattel and a slave than as a human being. There seems to be an innate disposition among the American peaple to believe that the negro is very much lower than the white, yet history proves that the negro race in the past was most noble, Thirty years ago, continued the lecturer, Ethiopia was marked on the maps as an unknown region, It was supposed to contain the TRIBUTARIES OF THE NILE, and also the districts from which the Congo and Niger derived their sources. Africa was known to the Greeks and Romans, but the English- speaking nations knew nothing of it until the Portuguese discovered gold—that auriferous metal which excites interest everywhere— on the banks of the Senegal. England was at that epoch but a second-rate power among nations, yet she suppiied a Wilber- force and a Clarkson, who, hearing of the iniqui- tous slave trade and wishing to spread the Gospel among heathen tribes, went out into the dark un- known region and discovered territories which hitherto had been, as it were, hermetically sealed from civilization. Looking back into history the missionaries of the British Colonial government found that the coun try was reported to be rich in gold. So Mungo Park, an adventurous and brave traveller, wag despatched to find the sources of the rivers which debouched on the western coast. He suffered slavery, but God’s hand guided him out of bondage, and on his arrival at Sego, a city of 60,000 inhabitants, he thought he had found the El Dorado he coveted. He roturned to England, and again set out under tne auspices of the British government, with a force at his com- mand. When he struck the river Gambia all but four of his original force had suc;umbed to THE MORBIFIC CLIMATE. This was in the year 1301. He was not heard of for twenty-five years, and then the government sent an expedition from Tripoli to determine his fate, This force learned the story of Park’s death, and also that the river Niger from that starting point ran south instead of west. The chief and most important information obtained was that the natives were not barbarous, and even inclined to be friendly. There were schools in existence for the propagation of knowledge, and the Arabic language was universally taught. faving described his personal expericnces in Af- rica sans egotism, the speaker next drew atten- tion to the condition o: Liberia, argued that suc- cess must ultimately result from the present method of government pursued in that Repubilc, and stated that the English Ministry was well aware of this fact, as it had increased threefold its commerce with THE GOLD COAST during the past decade. Dr. Pinney then de- scribed the courses of the rivera whicu irrigate North Guinea and Soudan, as far as yet ascer- tained, and elucidated his own theories on the subject. He then gree the western portion of Africa and directed his pliant pointer to the east- ern coast, He spoke of travels; how that great but misjudged explorer had fancied he had _ discovered the sources of the Nile, as referred to by Hero- dotus—the Blue Nile, a8 it was most generally termed. Bruce was the victim of doubting ‘Thomas!. Much time elapsed before merchants in search of ivory sent out expeditions, and it was not until the Germans and the American Metho- dist and Roman Catholic missionary societies sent servants in the fleld that there was any hope of obtaining @ lucid explanation of the mystery of the interior of Africa, The slave trade was at its height, with all its horrors. Tiese were so strongly depicted by the survivors of the holy mission that Protestant England was aroused and strenuous measures were taken for the suppression of the evil. Dr. Pinney then touched upon the journey of the two Teutons, Palk and Kautl, who claimed to have discovered ‘the hizhest mohntains inter- vening between the East coast of Africa and the Lake District, Then BURTON AND SPRKE started on their tour of discovery, found Lake Tan- gnyike, on the route they struck aiter leaving Jjiji, and ascended to the highest altitude. From the natives they learned there was no outlet. Ihey returned to Europe and were despatched again by the government of England. Speke was taken Bruce and his sick at Unyanyembe, but Burton went ahead and discovered a large lake, the existence of which Speke doubted. Then Burton and Grant, after another visit to England on the part of the former, were sent out and they fained much information, which they thought re- jable, and they suffered much privation. They were believed by geographical savans to be right, but * eed ae iscoveries prove them to have erred, The lecturer then sketched briefly but pithily the career of Dr, Livingstone, mentioned his long life sacrifices, his devotion to the cause of science and his steadfast longing to redeem Africa from the ter- rible weight of woe which heathenism inflicted upon it. Me described “the brave old man’’ pass- ing through DANGERS AND PRIVATIONS, spoke of the noble devotion which ur to the completion of his laudable project and drew attention to the fact that the British «government, with all its asserted love for its children, had deserted the old man in his worst hour of neea on the mere representation of @ few Johanna scoundre!s that their commander had becn assassinated, and lett it to private enterprise to discover the true facts of the case—to find that Livingstone was alive and to bring to this country the record of his travels and a description of the country which has been sought for without avail by generations. To ater the HBRALD emissary, the lecturer accorded the highest praise. He de- scribed the journey of the young travelier and journalist from wibar to Ujiji, mentioned the perils through which he passed, nis BATTLES WITH MIRAMRO and the diMiculties he encountered at every step, lauded the action of the proprictor of the Hkratp in inaugurating the expedition which bad been so successful #8 to set at rest many long disputed points, and concivded hia lecture with an eloquent appeal to all tree-born citizens to assist in the greatand good work of suppressing slavery in every part of the inhabited world, a him on NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 16. 1872—TRIPLE. SHEET. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. Commissioner Van Nort’s Annual Re- port for This Year. ‘What He Has Done in the Past and Desires Done in the Future—Retrenchments Made— Abolishing Offices and $120,632 Saved—$340,950 Saved on Wages. Reference was made in general terms to the report of the Commissioner ef Public Works when it was presented early in July. _ The report is now printed, and from coptes furnished we gather the following :— Mr, Van Nort was appointed er of Works December 29, 1871, though his report, ig for the year closi April 10, 187: fe) the condition of things which ited when pe entered upou his duties, Mr, Van Nort ‘A proper and economical administration Mig ment man sxiapelve: pewees rong ening con- trol of public works w! require the expenditure of millions ee dollars annually, was indispensable success of tho. manicleel, VOI it Pl credit and confidence. ‘It has bec an endeavor to bear my share in the of ai that result. To this end retronchment in ‘expenses of the egitim aise Sp naa note absolute), charge of fan tions of nent svotsed’ and satntics es aa? Fondered wore reduced. "tuc wards ef tuo laboring lores rendei re reduced. 10 Wi f the labor re vote equatixed to correapoud with ths cates paid Ly otuer city departments, + By the abolition of the positions of Deputy Super. infendent of Repairs ties, of Rives genbral in: tore, four rodmen, ten ora, sixty” water policemen and twenty olerks, am annual saving of $120,642 has been effected, while by other adjustments $340,050 have been saved on wages, and in the expenditures connected with public Jampa there has been @ further economy ot $16 tig making a total annual saving of In treating in tarn of the several bureaus of his department Mr. Van Nort states that:— The water maini have proved of inouitolent capaclty: too mest the is. creased .consumption and to Ce supply water to all parts of the immense buildings erected for commerce! and manufacturing pul buildings contain stores oses. These of great valuc, and in case of fire a scarcity of water would result in great loss to Bropexty. ‘he new thirty- six-Inch main now being laid hambers street will ready for use during the year, and will, in addition to the maine already laid, convey a sufficient quantity of water to the low i the ol icles. part oi’ the olty to meet all emer ‘There were laid during the year 4,432 fe lovon- Inch pipe, 38481 feet of sixduch pipe; 19,404 fect of twelve: of six-inch pipe, 19,404 feet of twelve- , $867 feet of twenty-ineh pipe 5,000 feet of i. ‘inch pipe and 2,220 feet of torty-eight-inch pipe— making an aggregate 46,144 feet, or nore than twelve and half miles of pi of laid. of new stone block pavements laid sh eerste aga es alnaaeat ee tn a 149834 5 Nn pavemen n Btatford), 12140 yards, aud 110,207 squaro test oF bridge stone or street cross e beginning of the present year tho num- omen Was reduced from cighty-seven {0 thirty-five jor the whole city, the increase in the, re- coipts from water rents would indicate that their services are now performed with greater efficiency than formerly, Mr. Van Nort favors the introduction of water meters a8 a means to increase the revenue from water rents and to prevent undue waste of ae | ber of Croton water, The receipts from water rents for the year en ing April 10, 1872, were $1,239,233 67, an increase of $60,798 10 over the receipts of the previous year, ‘The receipts for penalties.during the year were $15,501 15, and for permits to tap water pipes $8,736 50, making an aggregate income from Croton water for the year of $1,263,471 32. The receipts for the first three months. under the present ad- ministration exceeded those for the corresponding period of the previous year $50,803 33, With reference to our water supply Mr. Van Nort states that the new storage reservoir will be finished in time to be filled during the wet season 01 this Fall, and will have a capacity of 3,000,000,000 gallons. ‘the capacity of all the reservoirs will then be 4,670,000, 000, or sufficient to supply the city at the present rate of consumption for fifty days; add to this the minimum quantity daily furnished by the Croton river in seasons of severe drought— 27,000,000 gallons—and the reserve supply will last seventy-six days. In addition to the new storage reservoir preparations are being made for the con- struction of one still larger, with @ capacity of 3,700,000,000 gallons. ‘The average daily consump- tion of Croton water last year was 88,000,000 gal- jons. It is remarkable that while the population of New York has little more than doubled since 1848 the quantity of water used is nearly five times as large. This would indicate a general and growing waste of water by consumers, ‘The work of altering the aqueduct from Ninety- second to 113th street 80 as to remove the barrier which so greatiy injures property in that vicinity, and the improvement he AuDDly of water Blackwell's and the other ‘tslands, are referred to. With reference to street improvements Mr. Van Nort says that— Tho grades established for the Eichth avenue in the year 182 followed the natural formation of the ground aud wore in places very steep. Tn March, 186% the Jom. missioners of tho Central Park tixed now grades, which were amendod by the Legislature Nay 3, 15/0. Under the new grades the valleys between Seventy-second and Elahiy-tourth streots and between Kighty-shxih and Ninety-second streets are filled in to a depth of ten and fifteen teet respectiveiy, while the high points at Kighty- flith and Ninet: ‘streets are reduced twelve te From 105th to street the descent is very gradual, quiring fling at 110th street toa height of about twenty. feet. On this avenue 28,225 cuble yards of rock and 7.277 cubic yards of earth were excavated and cu. bic yards of material filled in during the year. There is still required 306,784 cubic yards of fillinig, 71,189 cubic yards of rock excavation and 4,000 cubie ‘yards of earth excavation. The first grade on Fifth avenue north of Fiity-ninth street was established December 7, 1833. In Noveniber, 1867, the Commissioners of the Central Park @ltered the grade between Nincty-seventh ani 109th streets, raising it ten feet at Ninety-ninih street and re- ducing’ it fifteen feet at l0ist strect. Ninety thousand cubic yards of lling aro still required for the section be- tween Ninety-seventh and 109th streets, On Madison ave- Aue, between Eighty-sixth and Ninety-ninth streets, work was suspended by the contractor in ‘consequence of the Finance Department questioning the lexality of the con- tract. Under the contract for work on said avenue trom Ninety-ninth to 115th street nothing has been done, the ordinance therefor not having been properly advertised. Some idea of the magnitude of the work per- formed under the Bureau of Street Improvements may be had when it is stated that during the year four miles of streets were regulated and graded, eight and three-quarter miles of curb and gutter were set and eleven miles of sidewalks were flagged, 208,470 cubic yards of rock and 65,966 cubic yards of earth were excavated and 337,928 cubic yards of material filled in, Much more would have been accomplished had the contractors received regular ea ntine enabling them to prosecute their work during the Fall and Winter. New York city has 460 miles of streets and avenues, of which 325 miles are regulated and graded and 304 nilles are paved, In the matter of lighting the strects Mr. Van Nort statea that he ‘ound that the following rates were patd to the several gas companies for lighting the Ppnoblic lamps: Per Annum Name of Company. for Bach Lamp, Metropolitan Gas Laght Compa’ $52 8744 Manhattan Gas Light Compan 33 OU New York Gas Light Company, Harlem Gas Light Company. Average cost... The quantity of gas consumed annually by each lamp 1s 11,500 cubic feet, at the rate of three feet per hour for 8,833% hours, Private consumers are charged $3 per 1,000 cubic feet, which would make the cost of gas for each bbe including $4 60 for lighting, extinguishing and cleaning, $39, ‘On application to the compantes he procured from them an offer to reduce the price to $42 50 per lamp, thus rddeee a saving of $150,000 a year, providing their pending bilis, amounting to $166,000, were paid, which, owing to Mr. Green's constitutional aversion to parting with money, hag bgt heen donee maar ni Bh. Rh CONTE T hers Ao HS in uso 18,301 street lamps, ox- clusive of those under the jurisdiction of tie De- partment of Parks, ‘There are in front of private buildings and in- stitutions, in addition to the regular street lamps. 1,341 lamps lighted and maintained at an annual expense tothe city of $70,534. The city ordinances allow two extra lamps in front of each church edifice, but this number has been greatly exceeded by resolutions of the Common Council, not only in favor O1 religious institutions, but often in cases of private individuals, associations and clubs, Mr. Van Nort Properly says that in all cases when the fea necessity does not require the use of such lamps they should be lighted and maintained at the expense of owners or occupants of the premises in front of which they are placed, subject to the supervision of the department, r. Van Nort states tuat for assessments made for public Hapland J that the amount uncol- lected at the beginning ot the fiscal year, together with the assessments received for collection dur- ing the year, was La ge 17, of which there was coilected and p: into the city treasury $1,675,655 38; $2,390,000 46 were returned in ar- Treas; assessments fer $680,333 71 were vacated or reduced by order of the Supreme Court, and $2,809,238, representing the assessments for the opening of the Riverside Park, were recalled, the proce ines in this case having been reopened by order of the Supreme Court. Mr. Tweed fixed the compensations of Collector and pas! Collector of Assessments at the follow: ing rates: for collections received and paid into the City Treasury, two and a half per cent. For assessments trausmitted to the Comptroller for collection by the clerk of arrears, two per cent. For assessments vacated by order of the Su- preme Court, two per cent. Sinve the report was made Mr. Van Nort has en- tirely abolished fines for coliection of assessments, in leu of which he has established a stipulated Eg lomeeh gt for the Collector, and not exceeding the Deputy Collector. There are at present in New York city 288 miles and 119 fect of sewers, of which 396,129 feet, were built prior to the organization of the Croton Water Department in 1849, 1,010,909 feet were built under Vhe Croton Water Department up to the year 1870, and 145,721 feet were since added under the direo- tion of this department. ‘Twelve and one-sixth milos of sewers, 5,161 feet of underground drains and 14 receivin basins were built auring the year ending (is day, Tue (otal number gf rogeiving basins (6 3, year the contract for 8 fixed price per cart load wi tomovung faire sewer a ated, and tae days” is now by work, at am annual 6a tet 170,008, a contract om contracts made ‘aaning oe under the previsions of $3,046 47 ia under special laws pro’ ‘ing of Croton water pipe, a ing of ater metres and the regulating and grading cer- tain streets and avenues. Ountracts under laws, amounting to $22,728 83, were awar ‘out com) n. Nort thinks that greater discretion should be given the Commissioners in awarding contrac @nd gives very tavorable reasons for bia ‘The a ite number of bathers in the baths duriug the senso, oF 1871 was 168,475, o8 bie sons ore were females. To closin, re} Nor$ says:—To en- inder 2 spirit of emulation and dca to serve the city to the best of their ability I have given the conptoree of this department to understand that their employment and. tenure of.ofice ts note qneation of ex; ney. but, in the drag Place, of the public necessity for their sor' Feabective éuldons dud td Adekity with wuiee they discharge their duties. ~ INTERNATIONALS IN COUNCIL. Silk Weavers’ Strike in Paterson—Dele- gates from Paterson Present—Incen- diary Language—The Law Must Not be Violated. ‘The Federal Council of the Internationals hela their regutar weekly meeting yesterday at 129 Spring street, Citizen Oliver presiding, Kievem ‘dolegates were present. The committee recentiy appointed to arrange matters for the publishing of the International organ reported that they de- cided to publish the first number next Saturday. It will be @ weekly newspaper, and called the Striker, A communication from the Interna- tionais of Paterson stated that the silk weavers of that city are on a strike on account of the re- duction of twenty per cen‘ of their daily wages. At this stage of the proceedings two DELEGATES FROM THE SILKWEAVERS’ SOCIETY of Paterson entered the room and were intro duced by one of the members. They were heartily received, after which they stated the origin of the strike. ‘they sald that the cause of the strike ‘Was after belng notified of the proposed reduction of twenty per cent in their dally wages, the silkweavers consulted together, and, after mature deliberation, unanimously agreed that in accepting of the above reduction they woul depriving themselves, wives and children of necessaries of life, und rather than work for such ricea they would lay their case before the work- ing people ofthe United states and abide by their ecision, It seems that ten of the strikers were im- ee last week for calling names to some of hose who accepted the reduction, and the em- plovers hearing of it caused the men to be arrested for conspiracy, Their trial takes place to-morrow. Itis but fair to say that the imprisoned strikers had been snapended from being any longer mem- bers of the silk weavers’ association, as they had violated the laws when they insulted their tellow tradesmen, who were simply working at a price that they considered right. it was announced that the strikers are receiving contributions liberal from the different trades unions, some of whi are as follows:—Painters, $25; cigar makers, $50; Green Point silk weavers, $300; Twenty-third Btreet silk weavers, $50, Citizen HaLbERT, in the conclusion of a long address relative to the above matter, said that the silk weavers should take their TYBANNICAL BMPLOYERS and hang them to the nearest lamp-post, rather than let their wives and children sutfer for the necessaries of life. Citizen WEsT said that such incendiary. ome sions as used by the preceding speaker would deo no good, but, on the contrary, bring discredit om the organization, and that workingmen’s te can be achieved by the workingmen without vio- ating the law of the land, But, continued the speaker, why do-workingmen not receive the in- terest of their labor bestowed by nature, and which ought to be guaranteed by, a np openly, constructed society, as society is organized for mutual protec- tion? Why do you produce so much wealth for others to consume? Why do you compete with one another for the privilege ef servi those who oppress you? are you suffering poverty, ain and contempt, while the non-producers enjo; luxury, ease and honor? It is easily answel Because ont gre divided and your division has made xo the éasy prey of the audacious sharperd who plunder you of your rights and despise you for your ignorance, they by hoarding up the bounties of nature and preventing its consumption by the producer, create our criminals, and, holding the reins of government, then punish them for act@ committed through necessity. How long shall this inhuman slavery exist? Our social emancipation cannot be attained against tnis organized despot- igm but by organization. Natural law demands that we organize, and our success Will be in exact proportion, to our unity. The above remarks seemed to have {mpreased the delegates from Paterson, as they wished to know what steps were necessary to be taken to be afliliated with the International Association, The Chairman explained the objects of the socl- ety, saying that it was A WORLD'S TRADES UNION, and showing the facilities that the Council have in mending or receiving news relative to the iabor question. The Secretary then stated that the name, place and address of each trades union in North America would soon be in possession of the Council, after which the ‘ship’? wifl sail more steadily, At this stage of the proceedings two delegates from a Greenpoint silk weavers’ association en- tered the room, and, after being introduced, ae- livered addresses, much in the same strain as the delegates from Paterson. Citizen McKean, on behalf of the Council, sald to them that they would notify the trades uni and other industrial associations that the Cou! would do their endeavors towar Silk Weavers to come out victorious in THE INCCMING STATE ADMINISTRATION. helping the the strike, The Personnel of the Military Staff of Governor Dix. {From the 4lbany Journal, Dec. 14.) We publish to-day, officially, the appointments Made by Governor Dix upon his military stam, The list will be recognized as composed throughout or gentlemen peculiarly fitted by personal qualif cations, past experience and social standing forthe honorable places to which they are designated. The selcction of General John F. Rathbone ag Adjutant General and Chief of Stat is espe cially felicitous. His long and deep interest in the National Guard, his distinction as the commanding ofMcer for years of the Ninth brigade, his high executive and organizing ability, his promptness and decision of action, his eminence-in business and social circles—all pointed to him as the obviously appropriate choice for thig important position, ie has long been the ardent friend of our State military organization. During the war, as the commandant of the Albany depot 01 volunteers and all the branch depots subsidiary to it, and having sometimes from twenty tu forty thousand men under his {mmediate Ratt ip he ri evinced great capacity for organization, and few men rendered such signal service in the eo atoae ‘ion of York’s quota for the war of the i Aig wey 6 cla ‘Yequirement® of his position, General Rathbone’s experience, aptitude and prac- tical sagacity will weli serve him and the State, while in the duties of @ more social nature he will be equally at home. General William H. Morris, the Inspector Gene- ral, has served upon the staif as Commissary Gene- ral of Ordnance and also in the army of the Union, He ia & good soldier and a cultured gentleman General N. Gano Dunn, the Engineer in Chief, has been prominently identified with the military in New York, where he has acquired the reputa' of a thorough and accomplished officer. The selec- tion of J. Hampden Wood as Judge Advocate Gene- ral will be warmly commended by his brethren of the bar in this city and by the public. He holds honorable rank in his guild, and this appotntmens is a fitting recognition of bis professional standing and personal worth. General John N. Knapp, who takes the place of Juartermaster Gene! is the able and efficient cretary of the Republican State Committee, and @ gentieman of high business and social position. The Paymaster Generalship fitly goes to General Rufus H. King, bearing a name and identified with a family honorably associated with the staff! in the past, and whose distinction in this connection will be worthily maintained by the cultivated & tieman who receives this compliment. The i. missary General of Subsistence, Theodore &. Smith, is @ prominent and influential citizen of Rochester, The aides are well chosen. Colonel Gilbert G. Haven is a gentleman of nigh standing in tae dnan- cial and social circles of the metropolis, Colones Chester Griswoid is the eldest son of the late Hon. John A. Griswold, and his appointment ts 3 grace- ful testimony both of the regard of Governor Dix for the memory of his lamented father and of his appreciation of the worth of the accomplished son, Colonel Robert 0. Pruyn is the son of Hon. Robert Th. Pruyn, and ts equally fitted for the position of aide by his military tastes and gentlemanly bear- ing. Colonel Harnilton Fish, Jr., inherits not only the name but the culture of the distinguished Seo retary of State, Colonel William A. W. Stewart i# the son of John A, Stewart, the well-known Presl- dent of the Trust Company. Colonel Hiram P. Hopkinga is the son of Comptroller Hopkins and worthily represents the city which is honored ia his selection. ‘The position of Surgeon General was tendered @ distinguished genticman, who felt constrained for porsonal reasons to decline and is yet to be OW The Commissary Gencral of Ordnance ig nomina! by Whe Goveruor to the Sguate,