The New York Herald Newspaper, July 10, 1875, Page 3

TM. WISE ALDERMEN. Why the Proposal to Fill the Harlem Lois Was Rejected. WRETCHED SHOW OF PARTY SPIRIT Republicans in Contempt Made Contemptible. PRESENT DANGER OF PLAGUE Views of Professor Chandler and Fitz John Porter. THE FLATS YESTERDAY. Veneering the Reeking Mass with an Inch of Earth, The action of the republican members of the Board of Ajdermen in defeating the ordinances Aesigned to empower the Commissioner of Public Works to fill in tho sunken lots in Harlem created & widespread Jeeling of indignation yesterday in the city. Ii there be peril to the healtn of the peo- ple irom any quarter it is assurediy from this. Balt a dozen sbips lying wt the Battery, and fresh from plague-infected ports, would mot be more perilous than the existence under ‘he oroilicg July sun of the score or more of sunken areas of territory in Harlem filled with ‘the filitiest slime that was ever allowed to ac- sumuiate under the nostrils of a civilized com- munity, Only those who live in Harlem or who Dave occasion to pass through that afflicted region 0) Manhattan Island can adequately appreciate the danger to which not alone Harlem is aub- jected, but the entire city south of it, For months past the air in the upper quarter of the island nas been heavy with the loathsome vapors artsing from the putrid pools that extend Jor blocks along the line of Second, Third and Pourth avenues, Combined with the smell from the filing stu@ that the ingenious Disbecker Invented and now seeks a patent for, there never was, since the destruction of Jerusalem, such a foul pollution oi the air of heaven, A PLAIN COURSE FOR THE ALDERMEN. Corporation Counsel Delaflelad Smith had his wepinion asked for by the honorable Board of Al- fermen as to tue power of said Board to pass cer- sain proposed ordinances tor the filling of the Hariem lots, Counsel replied that under the law the Common Council was authorized to pass such ordinances as it might from time to time deem aecessary for filliagup and regulating any grounds within the city of New York that may be “sunken, damp or unwholesome,” or which the Common Douncil might deem proper to Ml up or regulate, The laws governing tnis subject, he further said, were now in full force, and he saw nq reason to @oubt that the Common Council could at onee go ahead and order the work to be performed, while & valid assessment for tae expense of such filling Ban be laid upon tue lots benefited. Nothing coula de plainer than this. If the Aldermen Knew the Quly toey owed to tae citizens of New York at a orisis like the present they would have sunk their PALTRY DIFFERENGBS, and voted unanimously to let the Commissioner of Pubiic Works proceed immediately with the work, But it seems the repubditcan members who have been recently in contempt found it impossi- ble to return ia good humor to the discharge of the public business, and rather chan vete fora proper and timely resolution offered by a demo- erat, resoived to let the vital interests of the whole community go by the board, even though tae pen- alty of pestilence warned them of thelr infutuated And moat unjustifiable conduct, WASTE OF TIME. ‘The project of filling ‘hese Harlem lots nasnow een peiore the Board for over taree weeks, and foar ordinances, all bearing on the various quar- ters of Hariem where the nuisances exist, were rawn up at diferent times, The Board ef Healtn red the scheme, the carrying out of whicn iv was unable to exact. It was Clearly the task the Board of Aldermen should immedtately push to a successful conclusion. They nave failed to do it, and that element in the body that offered the op- Struction and defeated 4 wise and salutary measure must be hell to @ rigid account ability. Aa will be seen by one of the interviews appended the reason advanced by one republican Alderman jor the course he took Was technical propriety in one way and political Suspicion in another. He wanted to act up to the letter of the charter and lave the work done by vomtract, as if che SPECTRE OF PLAGUE would wait upon technicalities; and he was also afraid (ne Gemocrais might win & little capitai by being flistin the field with the proposition, and that they might take advantage of the option given Oommissioner Porter and crowd tke job with an- sold numbers of laboring voters. {t 18 ciear to the commonest mind that the Com- missioner, if fettered by the resolution this virtu- ous Alderman demandei—namely, that the work should be done by contract ana the job adver. ‘ised, a8 the law requires, thirty days anend, the filing of tae Hariem lots would not begin until tne summer was over. Now is the time ti should be done, for now the danger existe, Next month (August) is even a more trying part of the summer than tue present. Should the city escape pestil- Suce it will have no thanks to give tie Aldermen, ON THE FLATS, between First and Second avenues, and Liye ‘hota from Ninety-third to 102d street, & Herarp re- porter yesterday found some twenty-five men and five or siX Wagons at work spreading a thin layer of earth over the mass Oj fetid, festering filth with won the low ground has been flea. On walking from Second avenue over to the place where the men were engaged, which was nearer to Third avenue, the reporter had an opporvunity of eXamtning the work already performed and @iscovering whether tne thin layer of earth which had been iaid om had done ‘anything toward smothering the offensive and Uawnolesome smell. The ground had the appearance of a bog or marsh which had veen tally drained and then covered over with a him strattm of mould or earth, The foot sunk iu waiking aod the ground underneath had a springy, spongy feeling, that conveyed the im- pression of waiking on a quagmire. The smell, too, was only smothered, and every time the foot sunk a jittle deeper than usani a iiithy, sick- oaor Was emitted, resembitng somewhat ‘the smeii sent forth from a dead cat or dog, when stirred, r being allowed to become aimest de- com po The depth of th rth covering which kept tho sun’s rays from ing directiy upon ‘She fllihy mass beneath was not wore than three ‘or four inches, and as it was only shaken on loosely it must gradually diminish to at most half She cepth, The passage of the wagons and the trampling of the men who are Workiug upon it, sided by an occasional shower Of rain, will soon fteduce the thickness of the layer of earth and toa great extent mix it with tne foul stuf undernea 30 that this covering is oniy @ mere tempor: expedient to save appearances ior the present and lessen the smell. om @ sanitary point of view its effects must rifling and insignificant. shower of rain or continueus G Would leave almost no trace of the coy- gs = weat! ‘ring behing, and it is 100 THIN ven that of making the is any real desire to ap- ply an esectual remedy to the horribl Tous nuisance, alr of the locality must produce Ly deleterious effect on the hui em. Even the chikiren Cy ing sround, though ap- ly strong, lack the ruddy color Oo! those Who jurvher removed from toe pestiferons region, ence of that boisterous spirit whicn be- thy child may be noticed at the © pale, dirty and squalid look. fect of many of them hav » Odor is mot of the most the hens, ducks and geese ept by the poor people who dwellin ti ties have an unheatiny, starved jook, cannot help thinking that the eggs brought She city from this region of fil:h avg garbage can- Not be of tne most Wholesome Kind nor of the Most inviting Mavor, On arr.ving at the spot where the men were Parmng | NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1875.—WITH SUPPLEMENT. 7 Most of the space had been streney covered, and were engaged on an area of about twenty are yards of wet, fetid mud, Here and there were small pools of liquid that could scarcely bo called water, of man; jora—ied, greem and urple—and having @ fil' + gery froth or scum that showed the lepgsh of it must have been allowed (o fester in the sun Délore any attempt was made to cover it, As the wagons came near to these pools the grows, became so/ter and tLe wheels suak oaep ly, leaving ruts that soon be- came filied with the Mithy liquid, that ome oi the workmen jocosely designated the JUICE OF DEAD CATS AND DoGs. Frequentiy the wheels stuck fast in these ruts and @ pair of horses had to be taken from one of the wagons and kept en the ground for the pur- pose Of extricating those which could not get out unaided, The stench emitted as the horrible stuff was thus stirred up was the worst the reporter has ever experienced, Asa loa of earth would be let down two or three men with shovels Weuld commence to spread is over the wet spots. They seemed determined to ECONOMIZE THE PRECIOUS CLAY and to make the layer as thin as possible. Their maauer 0! working woul: remind one of turning a floor of malt. They took a shovel ull of earth ana jerked it ligntiy over, snowing remarkable dexterity in making the stuf go as far as possi- ble; 10 fact the earth is laid on so sparingly that it 18 only 4 thin veil, a hypooritical make believe of @ covering that can serve no purpose but that of allaving the publte discontent for @ short season, lnguiries made of the workmen elicited the in- formation that the earth brou, 1 the wagons ‘Was taken from some cellars which *e being dug out in kignty-sixta and Kighty-se th streets and Second avevue and from other 3b places, It was also ascertained that Jonea & McQuade are the soie employers of the men, “How much are you paid for this work?” asked the reporter of one 01 the men, “Fourteen shilliaga a day,” replied the man, and then added, as he surveyed bis interlocutor quietly from head to ieot, “Why, do you want to ge. Work here? 1’ advise you to nayo nothing to do with it, unless You can get a w nowhere else. it’s horrid werk, You'll neve: & the sinell out of your nose, and maybe you'll get sick. Times are bad, or I'd have nothing to do wiih it.” in helping to get @ wagon out of @ gully one of the men teil into the flitay quagmire and all his clothes were covered over with the filth. Havin no means of cleaning bimsell, and being oblige to continue his Work, be presented @ most ludicrous spectacle and became the butt for the jokes of his companio: “Begor, the divil a man the country Would Know you, Mick,” said one, “an’ Id advise you to get @ wash before you go home or the ould woman ’li_ turn you out. She’ll think you’re the wrong man. You'll scent the house for the next three months.”? “tell ride home in the palace car this even- ing,’’ said another, ‘and give the ladies a sniff of Lhe new Hariem perfume, It’s tue purtiest smell im the country.” “He’s takin’ pis wages out in real estate,” said a third, ‘and 1 wish him joy of his sweet bar- gain.” ‘The man Was really In a sorry plurnt, cov- éred over from bead to foot with fli and looking suilen and discontented at tke necessity of hav~ ing to do sacn disgusting work. THE FEELING OF TUE PEOPLE in the immediate vicinity of the Hats at the refnsal oj the city authorities to appropriate ine neces- sary funds for the filling in o! the unhealthy regi.n is very strong; but taney have become 80 accuse tomed to negiect and mismanagement tat It does hot surprise them much, Many would like to re- move from the locality, but, Baving bought prop- erly or started in business, would incur serious loss by leaving. With the poorer classes the gfeat inducement to remain in tue neighvorneod 1s the cheapness of rents, and they will put up with @ thousand inconven- jences in order to secure that boo: old Wo- man of great intelligence, who has idea many years i tee neighboriioed, informed the re- porter that it 18 peculiarly destructive of the health of children, ana that ihe probiem of bring- ing them up, always difficult with poor people in a & < large city, rendered tenfoid more arduous by the pestiferous vapors of tne Harlem flats. doctor, residing in the same locality, confirmed tis opinion, and says the mortality among young children during ti m- mer mMontus 18 unusually great, though some por- tion Of it 1s due to the food given them by foolish parents, who supply them with food that ts on Hit for aduits, But the chiet cause of tie mor ity, he says, 1s certainly the UNWHOLESOME AND POISONED ATR they breathe; and even among full grown people and those who have resided many years in the meighborkood and become accustomed to it, the deain rate is greater than in the most crowded of the down town districts, IN THE CARS while passtng the infected district the passen- gers gave vent te their indignation vy some hard swearing, but some waga only saw in it the opportunity for cracking some small jokes, “A Dida gets used to everydings,” said the German conductor; “f have dravelied deess road vife year, and I minds it no more, I wisn I owned dat broveray, und I goes no more mit a pell boonch.” He them proceeded to tell the reporter in bis teusontzed English sow he would fill up the hollows with ashes and all kinds of stud that could be got for Atte or nothing, and weut 1nto evatacies over the idea ef the amount they would teicu when ready for building pur- poses, In fact he showed that he was A DISBECKER IN EMBRYO, and if properly developed might work wonders tn the dumping line, Ou the whole the impression conveyed by @ visit to the flats, amd a personal eXamination of thelr horrivle’ contents, 1s that they will be tae cause of dreadful moriality some oy a a@ Speedy and effectual remedy be uot apple sh FITZ JOHN PORTER INTERVIEWED, The reporter next called on the’ Commissioner, Fiiz Join Porter, and having asked him if he deemed the question of filling the flats set at reat by the action of tie Aldermen was handed the following letter, which the Commissioner ad- dressed to the Mayor: — Orrick OF ComMissioneR OF Pustic Nh aad] 3 July 7, go Wirtiam B. Wickuam, Mayor of teelly of New ‘ork :— bin—I1 beg leave to call your attention to the orders ot the Board of Health directing the Department of Public Works to drain certain iands. as foliows:— at, seek ee 1ioth and 108th streets, Third avenue and ariein River, 2. Between Ninety-sixth and 106th streets, Fourth and Fifth avenues, 3. Between 105th and 109%h streets, Third and Fifth avenues. 4& Ketween 103d and 104th streets, Third and Fourth avenues. Por which plans and specifications have been prepared, and the work advertised to be let by contract on the 19th inst. Prelimanary to the execution of the work of draining @ large amount of earth filling will pe required whieh is not specially call these orders, a1 resolutions now bet Hoard of Aldermen, published in the Ci thts i a Aecord, depart: or of June 18, shoald be passed go as to, ment the authority to carry out ie Hourd of Health for the relief of the tarlem:‘t work is not to be pald for out of a spec y tal appropri Dut out of the proceeds of Aseasment. Fund bonds the issue of Which is not limited to amy particular amount, and for which the city wili be retmbursed by assessment upon the property benefited. ‘The cost of the work will be dotermmed, BY the Dids received therefor, and, if authorized, wi 48 LOW a8 possible. rally, FISZ JOUN PORTER ee Commissioner of Public Works, Sra aie ate, how do you stand in this matter General PorTEn—The bids for draining the flats are due on the 19th, If there be no hitch in the Comptroiler’s omice, Ishall be ready immediateiy aiter thas date to go On With the work oi draining, The places drained m earth, and bui that 18 only half the job, snould be at onee filled {a with for that purpose I addressed the calling his beige mod ae i EPORTER—Lf the ordinance ts passed do you a] prehend any fartner obstruction i r; General PorteR—I am only fearful now of the draming contract. The Cemptrolier has the power to reject the bids if he thinks fit, and so delay the work. Ofcourse I hope no embarrass- ment will be turown in the way of the department proceeding immediately with the operations, nd if we were only assured of the co-operation of the Board of Aldermen tt would be all th ter. With these lots drained and filed in—ana the whole enterprise Would occupy ho more tnan two months, though three or four weeks would suffice to place them in @ Barmiess condition—there need never be any apprehension of plague in Hariem arising from the stagnant cesspools, Men have come to me and offered (o pay for having the earth nauled away to fill these lows, The actuai expense to the city would be trifling, andl am firmi: rsuaded if these sunken places on the line of ‘hh avenue, above 102d street, were regularly filled in the Value of the property would be increased 1,000 per cent. All the property around these plague spota would increase in value, while the entire ci.y would be relieved Of @ constant source of danger. PROFESSOR CHANDLER, The Board of Heaith are much annoyed at the delay in removing tve nulsanee from the tilen- tial Hariem flats, especially now that there are Teaily no ovsiacies to Prevent the work being car- ried out, Every da@y’s deiay during this heatea term adds to the sickness in the city, and unless some move in the right direction be made forth- With the mortality iM the neighboring districts Wul be largely increased. A Hanaup reporter paid a visit: yesterJay to Projessor Chandler, the President of the Board of Heaita, and found bim very anxious for some action on partof the Board of Apportionment shat would enabie them to get to Work and remedy some portion of the evil. President Cnandler’s views were expressed a8 follows :— Rerorrsn—What action fs the Board of Heaith going to (ake, now that the Board of Aldermen have declined to pags the ordinance enabling the ee of Rublic Works to dill up the Har- jem fa Professor CHANDLER—We are perfectly helpless and can do nothing unless the B of Apportion- men’ come to our Sesistance, © can do tue Work ourselves if we @ mi without hejp from the Board of Aldermen, ew REPORTER-—W hat i th@ assistance that you re- quire from the Board of Apportionment? Projessor CHaNvLBR—We Oniy ask what really belongs to us, For a former estimate we asked for $50,000, but aa we now find that we c: only have the carting to do egos mai of eight thoa of Apportionment will only give us that wae get to work immediately, Reporter—What do you refer to when you apeak of the city work ? Projessor OHANDLER—I mean that wo wonid fill up the holes on Lexington avenue, between 103d and lodta streets; Lexington avenue, between 106th and 108th streeis; 106th street, ween Fourthand Madison avenues; 107th street, be- Simoll became Dosively Miekening, | tween Four.a and hexuncven, avenues; 107i Street, between Second and Third avenues, and | states he bas earth offered to him free to fill up 107th street, between First and Second avenues. Toat would be a great help, and toe other bai Places should be attended to by those interested, ReroxTeR—Who are the parties you refer to? Professor CUANDLER—Several private property- holders; for stance, the norta side of lo7ta street, between Fourth aud Lexington avenues, belonging to P. A. Jackson: north side of 107th street, between Lexington and third ave Bues, belonging to the Thomas Watt estate; 106th and 107th sireets, between Second and Taird avenues, belonging to P, N, Spofford; south side of 108th street, between Second and Third ave- nues, belonying to the Thomas Watt estate; north side of 107th strect, between First and Second avenues, Owner unknown; south side of 108th street, betwoen First and Second avenues, be.ong- Ing to the Thomas Watt estate; north side of 108t street, between First and Second avenues, belong- ine to Peter Cassidy, and 107th and 108th streets, between Fourth end Madison avenues, belonging to W. fH. Gebhardt, Reporrer—Oun nothing be done to compel a a atdeal owners to do their share of the wor! Professor CHanpter—We have done all in our porary by havipg them notified, through our at- orney, of the nuisance, fo that (hey may take immediate steps to have it remedied. Rerorrer—W hat is being done about the other portions of the pestilential district ¢ Professor CHANDLER—I| Suppose you refer to the blocks from Ninety-third to 102d street, between Second and Third avenues, and the biocks irom Ninety-second street to 104th street, between Firat and Second avenues. They are covered by the Jones-McQuade contract; but the work is be- img done very siowly. They have filled up as yet with pothing but ashes, and if they would go to work and put in about two fee. of good earth everything would be ail right. Rerorrkn—is there nothing else necessary to bring the Harlem flats in a healchy condition ? Professor ONANDLER—ON, Yes; the whole section requires a comprehensive system of drainage and sewers. Tne Board of Public Works will attend to that as soon as the other work of Milling in 1s completed, RerPorreR—What ts the matter with the Board of Apportionment that they should pot such a check upon a work necessary to the health of the clty Professor CHANDLER—I cannot comprehend, be- cruse, even if we did not nave wu balance of $20,000 standing to our credit, they have the power to grant us (unis belonging to other de- ariments In an emergency of this nature aud Importance. EPORTER—Well, then, without their action you are perfectly helpless? ‘olessor CHANDLER—Certainly; because with- out mouey we can do nothing, and we have to look to them for the necessary sinews of war, If they intend to do anything for us it is to be hoped that they willdo it promptly, before the miasma that exudes irom that district Oils our hospitals With patients suffering Irom its i)urious and noxious vapors. ONE OF THE OBSTRUCTIONIATS, Alderman Howland wus 1ound at bis office, No, 60 Wall street, and on the question beiug put to him wiy he voted against the passage oO! the reso- lution giving the Commmlseioner ef Pubilc Works discretionary power in regard to filling the Har- lent jote, repiie: 1 voted against the reselution for quite suMctent reason. it authorized the Commissioner to ex- ecute tae work of filling in the lots “by contract or in such mauner as be small deem best.” I was willing tu vote for the resolution to have the work done by contract, Tobjected and still object to Jeave it at ihe option of the Commissioner. Had the resolution passed he could, if he chose, have it done by day’s work; Out the opject of the new charter was to do away with all work paid ior by the day, 1t was that method of doing tuings that enabied the Ring iu one way to rod the city and carry the elections, Just before an election touk place 8,000 or 4,000 men would be put on the bou'e- Yards and paid by we day, and when the eleciton was over all of em would be dis- charged, The whole spirit of the city charter 18 opposed to this __principie of employing men on the pubiie works by the day, Then, agaim, General Fitz John Porter, in his iet~ ter to the Mayor, said he was promised by resi. dents of Harlem the filing material tree of charge; but I know well he would never get any- thing like the quantity required for the job, and after he had gone On for @ little while with the work he wouid suddenly find bimsel! compelled to purchase the necessary material of whica he is now promised a few cart loads, REPORTER—It 18 sald you republicans voted aginst the resoluiiog in order to sustain Dis- becker ? DISREOKER OF NO ACCOUNT. Alderman HowLaNp—A great mistake, Tdon’t Know Whetner Disbecker Knew of the matter or not. Certamly, | never took Disvecker into ac. count, and i don’t Know if he was worth cousider- ing one Way or the other. I suppose he may be a republican; but that is of litue account to any- body. Reronren—Was there no political motive what- ever in your action ? Alderman HOwLAND—None; there could be none. ll vote to-morrow for the resolution if they Wiil allow us to amend it In conformity wiih the purpose of the charter to have all such work | done by contract and in no ovner way. CRYSTALLIZING DEMOCRATS. RerorTER—Did you suspect the democrats had any bidden motive in drawing up the resolution In the shape itstood? Aidermaa HowLAND—Well, the way they carry on is curious, Let one of the thirteen aemocrats hold up bis hand and intimate he wante tois thing or that tug done, and the whole of them vote the way he does, They crystalize immediately—aii falling together as one man. it was natural enough for us to suspect there was something wrong irom the tactics of the other side; bul right or wrong I want \o see the city work done by contract, Still, as I believe General Porter to be @ gentleman, fam willing, if he will only bave the goodness to let me know what way he would rather have the work done ana why he prefers, 11 he does, day work to contract work, to Vote tor @ resolution based on the Commissioner's opinion. A SENSIBLE ALDERMAN. Alderman Lewis, Pr ent of the Board of Al- dermen, informed the HeRaLD reporter, who Was anxiously looking up in the dark and musty chambers of the City Hall the republicans who biocked the proposition to rid Harlem of its pes- tilential flats, that he too was looking for some of the same trive, REPORTER—What do you think, Alderman, of the action of the republicans? Alderman Lewis—Don’t Know what to say, very queer—very queer indeed. Ivs AS he uttered these words the Alderman shook his head wita | great solemnity, ana fliled the reporter’s mind with dreadful suspictons of something bein, nif! wrong androtten in the state of Oily olitics. Pr EroRTER—Is there any hope left, Alderman, that the Harlom fats will be filled im and disposed of this season? Alderwan Lewis—I am afraid not. would tak to fill in, and really vefore tne men got to work the sumr Would be clean over, and fot that maiter, if @ plague set in, every man, Woman aud culld in farlem might be dead. KEPORTER—Suppose the Commisstoner was lets the option, how would it be? Alderman Lewis—Why, the men might be at work in @ few days. és. Alderman, “How are the flats” one of hem answered, “It’s @ perfect outrage. I wish Uhese republican Aldermen cowid be made to spend a few nights over the fints, and then they Might know how itis themselves.” Later tn the day the be pty! Inet Alderman Lewis again and inquired of him if he bad met any of the repuoli- can Aldermen, ‘‘Nary one,” replhed the yenial head of the Board. ‘Morris is at Roanoke, or some such place in the country; Bowland was for the it time esperar. since the ruction, binson may be found generally KNocking about here, but Lang the one Oi tuem | see to-aay,” - ALDERMAN PURROY. The democratic members of the Board of Al men were Sacarally very indignant at the narrow ES that induced the repupl members of the joard to vote agains: the ordinance empowering the Commissioner of Public Works to proceea at Once and abate the nuisauce at the Harlem fa! Alderman Purroy, speaking to & HERALD reporter, said:—“‘it 1s not ‘ike any ordinary measure io which party feeling might crop out, but it isan oe necessary for the good health of tue ye KEPORTER—Why 4id you object to the substitute to the ordinance offered by Alderman Simonson? Alderman PoRROY—Simpiy on account of the delay; the ordimance reads—‘‘Be fillea in by con- tract or in such mauner aa the Commissioner of Puolic Works shail deem best for the interests of the city,” and Alderman Simonson substituted, “After due notice saaii Rave been served on all the owners of said sunken lands and if the said owners refuse to filin said lands, the same suall be flied by contract, under the direction of the Commissioner of Pabiic Works.” If Alderman Simonson’s substitute was adopted we would not nh tying the owuers and getting their answers they would then have to advertise for contracts; Whereas, if the Commissioner of Pabdlic Works i: the power, the work could be doae quick and cheap, a8 he bas the carts and men reagy aad can get the dirt for nothing. ALDERMAN VAN Areporter of the fizkaLD yeaterday called npon Alderman Vance im er to obtain from him an explanation of his vove agalust the ordinance giv- ing to the Commissioner of Public Works the power to have the work of filling the flats dono according to bia discretion. To this Mr. Vance Tepiied that he had had sufiicient experience in ofticial life to-have learned to vote to satisfy ht self, and in doing that he thought that nothing did not think that the Harlem of him. juisance that ought.to be abated, Mr. Vance said be did not seo that they were so par- ticularly, and that there had been a great deal more talk than the facts warranted, “In fact,’ said he, “I nearly every Sunday take a drive in that direction, and | cannot met with any very offe anything that could be considered detri- menial to the health of the citizen hvtug in the neignbornood or in other parts ef the city. La however, willleg to vote for an ordinance that shall provide for their being filled up by contract, but not one such as was ie on Thursday, whereby the power would be given to the Oommissioner of Public Works to have tne laber performed by day’s work. That 1d be ean endiess job in my opinion, Aud would iay the way open to any qnan- tity of jobbery, if not robbery, [t is true,” continued Mr Vance, “tags tg Ov aly id | earth there 1s or how many lo’ | You see tt | thirty Gays to advertise for contracts | Here a couple of residents | of Harlem came in, and to the question of | | the flats filled in before uext year, as after | these lote with, out who knows how much Of th's cwilldil? He is careful tO say nothing on this point. We, as a Board, are acting under @ charter, and that same charter provides that all work involving a large expenditure Of inoney shall be given out on con- tract, and that is what! hold out Jor, Iam too suflicieatiy & mechanic not to Know that that kind of work can be done cheaper by contract than in any otmer way. Auother thing wiich operated With me 1s the question of drainage. I think it is A WASTE OF LABOR AND MONEY to set to Work und fill up these iots until seme pro- Vision has been made in this regard; for, in my opinion, it 18 RO way to cover up the ground and then alterward dig down and crain it, The ques- tion also arises whetoer if a quantity of goou ary earth even were put upon these lots there would be any amelioraiion of the alleged existing nuisance. Ju my mind there 1s a grave douot about it, for the history of the city snows that where old streams and ponds have deen filled up and built upon there exists to this day a great amount of chills and lever and ague, which 1s brought about from the defective drainage. | belicve that the first thing to be done is to in- augurate a proper system of drainage and then to build up tue ground, [ should rather have pre Jerred that the property owners should nave been notified to ili in the lots themselves within a cer- tain time, and then If they falled to comply with this demand that the cliy should do tue work, This, perhaps, WOULD TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME, but Tam pot aware that there is any sneh imme- diate hurry, iid mot vote as [did for any party reasons, but simply because I cousidered my auty Tequired me to take the siand I have takea, itis true I was elected by a minority vote, yet at the same time | was elected as tae charter provides, and | therefore consider that I bave & perfect right to exercise my privilege to vote as my conscience dictates, and asi Consider the wel- Jare of Lhe citizens at large requires mete, If at any ime au ordinance is brought jorward provid- Ing that the Work suill be given out on contract to the lowest bidder I will vora for it wiltmgly, It woud ouly require about thirty days dufercace in time, While there Would be @ saving oO: money tuat would more than trebly COMPENSATE FOR THIS SHORT DELAY. My official lite is rapidly drawing to a close, and I mean, while it lasts, to go my duty aud vote only asi tuink right, independent oi any one or any party.!? Wuen it was pointed out to Mr. Vance that if bids were adveritsed for there would probably @lapse thirty days at lesst before cae contract could be awarded, and chat there might afier that be a delay of several moutas in tie approval ot the contractor's sureties, Which would thiow the matter over into the fall, the Alderman said :— “Ll suppose by that you mean to refer to. tie Comptrolier; bat 1 do vot think there is any mew- ber of the city goverament but wishes and intends to do nis duty, aad I still Bold to the coutract sys- tem.” ihe dangers to health during the heated term Were again referred to, bue Mr. Vance sala, in ree ply, that be failed to see any immediate cause for alarm, “If there 1s amy,” said he, “leo the Board of Health disiniect the lots, They have the power to do sv, and if there is the danger that people taik abou: let them exercise that power, It would cost less, and probably be more effective anc cer- tainly jess expensive than filing iu by Gay’s labor under the city.” ALDERMAN SIMONSON, Alderman Simonsvun, Who a'so opposed the pas+ sage of the ordinance, Was also Vis.led yesterday. He, like Alferman Vance, stated thathe did now believe there was sucn uosolu' Violent hurry in the matter, “for,” said le, “tnese flats have been there for years, and have not done any great barm, and do not know that they will be any worse this year. I Was in favor of giving notice to ihe property owaers to do their own flillug in: bus stili lf aa erdinauce providing for at to be done by centruct is introduced | would vote lor it, for that is the only way such an immense work as this could be properly and evouomically per- formed, The Commissioner says he has tae earth offered nim; bus he does nut say how much, lt may be twat there is only enough to spread over five or six lots, or. that atter a certain quantity tas been Used, that the owner of the airt wili tarn reand and say he will not let any more be carted away unlesd he be paid jor it. What would be tue resuit? Why, tue city would have to buy it, and then WHAT WOULD THE COST BE? No ene can tell. It would be one of the digeest placers ever known, and [ ‘or one am Hot willing to cast my vote @iving such vast power to any one man, It will be found the cheap. est in the end, as well as the quickest way, to let the work by contract. The deiay caat would arise in perfecting these contracts would be trifling Compared with the mterests mvolyed, Buisance as fome peopie make out. Loven go out tuat way and never find anything so very dis agreeable, aithough 1 must say there ts ove piace Whicn louks like a pool of stagnant water, wich may OCOASIONALLY GIVE OFF OFFENSIVE ODORS. Let the Board of Healta deouvrize the ground, j andeven that expease would be money saved compared with waatit would cost to do the fill. ing in by day’s Work as put egainst contracts, 1 tiuink I Gave an undoudblet right to vote in the Board a3 i think proper. [tis no reason that because I was elected by wnat is called a minorliy vote that I SHOULD BE STULTIPIZD and blindly follow the lead of a majority. sup- | posing they voted to pay outa millten or more of the city tunds among themselves; would L be do- ing my uty to support inem? No, 1 suould not. | Well, why snould | im this case vote tne way they do lil believe it wrong? I have the welfare of tae ity wt Beart and will not gu agains: my convice | tots for any owe, I always try todo rigut and im led by no one.” NEW YORK CITY. Music in Central Park this afternoon at four o'clock. Charles Judge, of No. 90 Houston street, was drownea yesterday in the surf at Coney Island. Safford Brinkarat, t{-y-two years of age, living at No, 234 East ‘inird street, was severely injured last night by failing from a truck in Stanton street. He was takea to Believue Hospital, M, A. McCielland, residing at No. 41 East 111th street, was driving in St. Nicholas aveoue inst evening When bis horses became unmanageabie and ne was (hroWM irom Lis Wagon and severely injured. Thomas Willett, @ boy fourteen years of age, residing at No. 428 Hast Eleventh street, was throwa irom a wagon at the corver of avenue B and Houston street last night, and received a se- Vere Scalp wound, Alter laving Cis wounds dressed atthe Wievench preciuct siation house he was taken to Bellevue Hospital, The new Board ol Pharmacy have commenced the examination of candidates for licenses as pharmaceutists. Of six yesterday four qualified, the other twe being rejected. There are a few phatmaceutists in tiie city WhO have not yet com. pited with the law, and trey will be reported to the District Attorney lor prosecutiou. A man lost bis hat yesterday aiternoon from the steamer Arrowsmith 98 su@ approached the pier at Coney Isiand, and a bootblack plunged into the water to recover it, The heroic polisner Was swept seaward by the current, and would have been drowned bad it not been forthe prompt action of John Connors, who jumpea into one of Mr. Seber@’s boats, fortunately at baad, aad res- cued wim, The funeral of Jonn V. Gridley, Jr., @ clerk in the office of the Corporation Counse!, who was drowned in the East River on Wednesday last, took place yesterday from the Bleecker street Universalist church, Mr. Gridiey was a promising young wan, and had been foraiong time con. nected witn the Central Police Oflve as telegraph operatur. Te funeral services, whica were very impressive, were condacted by the Rev, Mr. Sweetzer, and were largely attended, BROOKLYN. ‘There were 200 deaths in Brooklyn last week. Presitent Porter, of Yale Coilege, will preach in Plymouth church next Sun@ay, The City Treasurer bas paid in May and June $1,447,500 of the principal of the city devt, Joun Fox, a laborer, was kilied yesterday by the stamp of tree and some earth falling on him, at | the corner 01 Bergen street and Bediord avenue, J. Phillips, @ painter, fell from a scaffold of a new building at the corner of Throop avenue and Hart street, yesterday, While he was painting, and ‘was instantly killed. Twenty-five cases of smallpox in various stages were discovered in the Twellth ward on Tuura+ day. Tke inspector who visited the district had 128 persous Vaccinated. William A. Mooney, Willtam ©. Buck and Mienael McNamara, three burglars, were sentenced to the Penitentiary by Judge Moore, tn the Court of Ses- mons yesterday, to three yours amd six mouths Mary Parlane, thirty years of age, went on the roof of her residence, No, 176 Front stroet, yesterday, and, missing her footing, fell to the Sidewalk. She died from the effects of her in- Juries, The Common Council Committee who went to inspect the bridges in Chicago, are, it is aader- stood, preparing @ report in favor ef patting tun- is under Gowanus camal and doing away with the bridges, ‘Tho transfer of the children in the Kings County Nursery, at Flatbush, to the orphan asylums and other private institutions will, in accordance Wita the a assed the last session of tue New York Legislature, be shortly effected. Yesterday sfternoon George Miller, of No, 231 Atlantic avenue, fell (rom the roof a new church atthe corner of Richard and Varona streets, a distance of filty feet, His leg was broken, and it Ja polleved he Was in tormally Injured. vecessity for any | THE HERALD LIGHTNING EXPRESS, pec tind aS OLD FATHER NIAGARA STARTLED AT THE RATTLE OF THE HERALD LIGHTNING EXPRESS. [From tne Niagara Falls Register, July 7.] A NEW ERA IN JOURNALISM. ‘The arrival of the HERALD train in this place on Sunday !ast marks a new era in journalism, and Opens to us advantages not heretofore within our reach, Considering the event of more than an ordinary occurrenee, our reporter ealled on the gentlemen in charge of the train at the Interna- tlonal, who very courteously recounted the ex- Periences of the trip. 4 We learned thaé the train left the Grand Central depot exactly on time, haif-past two P, M., with quite a number of through passengers, The trip up the Hudson River road proved very annoying to the MERALD men, They steamed through the villages at an unusual pace, So frequently were the villages reached that it made it rather a lively Job to throw out the packages, which nad to be made up in the train and addressed, The Mere dropping of the packages was no great task, but owing to the speed of the train and the close proximity of the track to the river in many places, each package had to be dropped from tho rear end ofthe car. Before arriving at Spuyten Duyvil the engineer began to get mad. He had been given charge of @ new engine, mach to his regret, (ora new engine requires to be worked slow, and itsoon began to dawn on the mind of the irate engineer that something was getting very warm, At Spuyten Duyvil the connecting rods became go hot that 1t was found necessary to cool of At Poughkeepsie the engine was abandoned entirely, @ new one sub- Btituted and the loss time partialy re- gained before reaching Albany, at which place they were cieven. minutes late, At Albany another engine was hitched on, but the train Kept loging time, HERALD men degan to growl, the enzineer cursed she bad coal, and at Palatine Bridge they came toa halt with eighty Pounds of steam on, Here they used a few large adjectives, and started om their way West again, arriving at Syracuse tiirty-one minutes benind time. At Syracuse Supermtendent Tillinghast and Assistant Superintendent Burrows boarded the train, Everybooy was cross but a few pas- semgers, who dtdn’t care a cent about riding ata faster rate, Superintendent Tilunghast kad se- lected One of the best engines In the yard, and in its caboose he took a position, remarking that “if things would hold together Buffale would be reached in time’’—a fulfilment which was thor- oughly carried out, Between Syracuse ana Roch- ester the fastest time was made—a mile a minute being the ordinary speed on some parts of the road. The train {8s ehartered by the HERALD, but the papers are controlled exclu- sively by the Union News Company. ‘The tickets are issued by the HERALD at the regulir rates, and enongh were soid.on the first trip to pay half the expenses of the train. A few of the passengers came direct to the Falls, but the mae jority went West by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad from Kast Buflaio, Passengers are not allowed to carry any baggage but hand Valises, At the stations along the line immense crowds welcomed the train with cheers as it passed, In some cases huge bouquets were thrown at the baggage car doors, woicu generally reached tbe track at the rearof the train, Tne boys re- gretted very much that their only response was to pitch packages of the Sunday HexaLp, con- taining from five to one hundred papers, directly on the heads of the wondering crowd, Next Sunday wo may expect {9 see a larger number of through passengers to this place, as it is how generally understood that HeRaLp tickets | Besides, I ao not see that there Is any stich great | C™Y Will be accepted as fare—something which several did not know at the commencement of the enterprise, THE GREATEST NEWSPAPER ACHIEVEMENT ON BECORD—WHAT NEXT? [Prom the Providence Post, July 7.] There seems to be no limit to the enterprise of the metropolitan journals, The HeRaLp recorded the greatest achievement in the distribution of ews thus far on record, by rnuning a special train Sunday (rom New York to Niagara Falls, a dis; ance of 470 m) in eleven hours, solely for distributing Its Sunday edition along the line, At the same time tts s'eam yacht delivered the paver at Long Branon at five o'clock on the morn- lng of publication, Only the mavigation of the air will enable its rivals to excel tis HERALD en- terprise, PASSENGERS ACCOMMODATED AT THE USUAL RATES, [New York correspondence Buffalo Courter.] 1 was in error last week in saying, when speak- ing of the MgRaLp’s Sunday trains to Saratoga and Niagara, that Vanderbiit would not give pers mission to carry passengers. Permission has been given, and passengers will be taken to Niagara, Chicago and some intermediate poiats, and at the ordinary rates, Auy person with a fancy for travelling fifty miles an hour can be accommo- dated on the MERALD trains, 4 MILE A MINUTH--THINK OF THAT! (From the Syracuse Courier, July 7.] THE “HERALD'S” EXPRESS. Jem Woods, with the crack engine on the New York Central soad, No, 110, drew the New York Hieratp’s special train irom this city to Buffaio last Sunday. Among the passengers trom Syra- cuso were Mr. George H. Burroughs, Super- intendent of the Western Division—whom the HeRaLp calls a ‘geod-humored, guod- looking gentleman,” Messrs, Henry Watkeys and Harry Bassett, of this city. The train was run at a rate exceeding amile a minute bevween here and Rochester, It is sald that 85,000 copies of the BeRaLp’s Sunday edition were distributed last Sunday, and that that number will be doubled next week. The receipts on the train between the metropolis and this city, from the sales of papers and fares, amounted to $1,000, the sum paid the New York Central by Bennett for the trau. ELMIRA SPEAKS ABOUT THE LIGHTNING TRAIN. {From tne Elmira Advertiser, July 7.] The Sunday HERALD's express train was in angurated last Sunday, leaving New York at half- past two A. M., and reaching Niagara Falls at a quarter to two P. M.,‘snpplying all the principal cities on the route, and branching off to Saratoga and other watering piaces by wagon, “WIDE AWAKE AND A FIT REPRESENTATIVE OF AMERICAN ENERGY.” {From the Lockport (N. Y.) Journal, July 7.) Although the HERALD folk gave Lockport quite the go by in the matter of their special Sunday train preferring to reach Buffalo via such ancient burgs Batavia, We must learn to be magnanimous, The great New York paper means well, but some- body bas evidently been gulling iton the respec. tive importance of localities out this way. But no matter about that, The HERALD Sumay train is certainly an institution, Leaving New York at 2:30 A. M., It reaches Suspension Bridgo at 1:97 P. M. All along the line great bundles of the Henanp of that day are dropped out to admiring constitu- ents, This sort of thing of course gives the HeraLp @ great advantage over all its metropolitan eon- temporaries. But tne Herato is liable to de con- stantly securing just that sors of thing. It ts wide awake and a fit representative of American energy and newspaper persistency. [Prom the Niagara Falis Register, Jaly 8.f ‘The fare trom New York to Bugalo or Niagara Falls by the New York Heratp Sunday news- paper lightning express train is but $9 25, The New York UERALD carries its Sunday edition from Schenectady to Saratoga by wagon, not deiug able to make satisfactory arrangements with the railroad, A WHEELING CONTEMPORARY WHEELS rIx7To LINE, [From the Wheeling (W. Va.) Register.) ‘The New YORK HEALD publishes a full descrip- tion of 118 Sanaay ligatning train from New York to Niagara Fails, a distance of 470 miles, in eleven hours, including several stoppages—one as lo: an twenty-three minutes. This train went at flome portions of the trip at a speed of more than B Walle & MIDI, 3 GOSSIP OF THE WATERING PLACES, It seems that General Cushing, our Minister a) Madrid, is not summering at Newburyport, ac cording to reports. The Herald of that place saya, he must have Prince Alt’s carpet to travel by telegraph and Gyzes’ ring to make himself invist bie if the news were true. Provably the report arose from the announcement that Mr. Cushing had become a resident of Newburyport and is taxed there, They are establishing anti-treating societies at some of the watering pidees, Probably the mem: bers think that the pleasur@is as great in belag treated as to treat, The annual Rhode Island clambakes on Provl- dence River are now all the rage among the denizens Of that section and them numerous guests from everywhere, The Newburyport Heratad urges that place delightful summer resort at popular prices, The attractions are rather more out of the place than in it, Ibis estimated that during the months of July and August there will be every day from 2,000 ta 8,000 Americans scattered along the water irom Niagara Falls to Chicontinie, the nead of vaviga- tion of the Saguenay River, An incorrigible old Western newspaper growler having sata that the proper watering place for a woman was the washtub, nis linen appeared “ragged-edged” all the next week. Somebody recommends Washington city as & cool watering place for the summer, Bo that as it may, it is certain that during the win'er a great many people there finu it hot enough for them, The Potter Palmers, of Chicago; the Lowry Manns, of Cneshire, England; Henry Watta, of Lonaon; R. G Appleton, of New York; the M. Day Kimbails, of Boston, with the Lambs, oi Providence, are among the recent arrivals at the Ocean, Newport, The Schiosses, of New York; L. W. Tobey and wiie and 1, W. Whitney, are a: the Aquidneck, Newport. So is A, Sidney De Wohf, of Bristol, one of the family grandees of Rhode Island, Osgood Walsh, of New York, is occupying one Hall Cliff's cottages at Newport, Frederick W. Stevens and faml'y, of New York, who have been tn Europe the past two years, are expected at their Bellevue avenue villa, Newport Only two receptions have thus far been given by the summer residents at Newport, Mr. and Mrs, Joel B. Post. of New York, cele brated tno fortieth anniversary of their marriage on the 7th, in Newport Baron Shielman, Count Litta and Baron Tavera, of Washington, are stopping at tue Cataract Niagara. So 1s Baron Miedell. Dr. G. W. Parmly, of Paris, and Clarence 8. Day, of New York, are spending @ few days at the Cataract. Judge Nathan Cliford and wife, of Portland, Me., are at the International, Niagara, ‘The Henry Millers, of San Francisco, are at the International, So are the J. Lowmans, of Cin- cinnath Dr. G. W. Parmly, of Paris; the Babeocks, 0% Syracuse; the Burtises, of Buffalo, are at the Cataract, Niagara. W. H. Fiepper and G. W. Smith,. of Texas, are the only names registered as hailing from south of Mason & Dixon's line, at the principal Niagara Falls hotels, on the 7th inst. The Boston Zranscript ‘remarks that ‘what are known as excursion resorts seem destinea to take the cream of the summer business present season.” A watering place organ laments that croquet playing should be provocative of ‘“cusseduess” af summer resorts, For titled personaces Niagara Falls appears to Nave the call thus far this season over either Long Branch, Saratoga or-Newport. Vice President Wilson will apply himself strictly to liverary and not political pursuits while tarry- ing at Saratoga, A ew city has been started adjoining Cape May, employing some 500 mén, Already about 100 cottages have been erected. A letter writer from Cape May claims to have Statistics from the Chief Signal Officer, United States Army, showing Cape May to be cooler thaa any other resort along the Ailantic coast, espe- cially in winter, perbaps. The Fiemings, of New York, are cottaged at the Grand Union. A cosey family party from the Hub, 0. W. Wales and wie, Miss Wales and Miss Dow, are at Con- gress Hall. “Sweets to the Sweet.” Robert L. Stuart, the well known sugar refiner of New York and wife, are parlor suited at the States, Saratoga. Judge J. 8S. Landon, of Schenectady, combines business with vleasure by holding a special term for equity eases in tue town hall at Saratoga, The Schiesingers, of New York, are at the Clar- endon, Saratoga. The Bullards, of New York, are parlor suited atthe Grand Union, Saratoga, The Dullards may be found at almost any fashionable summer re- sort. W. A. Gregory, of New York, an habdttud of the Springs, and a genial W. A. G. be Is reported to ve, is at Congress Hail with his daughter. A detachment of the Skidmore Guards have reached Saratoga and bivouacked at the Clarendon, their usual camping ground. ‘The Pomeroys, of New York, with Mrs. H. Faile, ate elegantly parlored at the States, Saratoga, A British army officer, R. A. Hickson, by name, is tarrying at the Staves, Saratoga. It seems he ‘Was too modest to register his rank. A. Hanford has reached the Clarendon, Saratoga, from Texas, being the only Southern arrival from the far South for the day. ‘fhe drowning pbobia at the watering places has setin. There were no less than eighteen cases in New England last week. Platt Potter, of Schenectady, ex-Justice of the Supreme Court, is at Saratoga, Mr. and Mrs. George Opdyke, of New York, oc cupy 4 parlor suit at the States, Saratoga, Theodore Cuyier. of the Philadelphia Bar, 1s at Saratoga. The Emersons, of Brooklyn, cottage at the Grand Union, Saratoga, for the season. Ierael Washbarn, Jr., and daughter of Maine, are at the Grand Union, Saratoga. The Nicaolases, of New York, have a parlor sult at the Grand Union, Saratoga, THE IRVING MEMORIAL FUND. MEETING OF WESTCHESTER LADIFS AT TARRY TOWN IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PROPOSED SCHEM™ About twenty persons, three-fourths of whom were of the xeatler sex, met in the lecture room of the Second Reformed church, at Tarrytown, Westchester county, yesterday aiternoon, for the purpose of effecting & local organization to co operate with the ladies of the General Committee of the Washington Irving Memorial Associa- tion, Kev. J. Selden Spencer, who, on motion of Rev. Dr. Todd, was called to the chair, proceeded briefly to state the object of the ing, which, the speaker mcurrence, T' mg any { jusuice to the memory of 1 ceceased—nis fame 18 world-wide—buat it w intended as an act of justice to ourselves and to the age in which we live. The reverend gentle man Concluded by saying that, inasmucn as the ladies had taken charge of the project, there couid be no reasonable doubt of tts succeeding. After Mrs. William A. Wilsou had been unani- mously elected secretary, Mra, E. F, Wait, who Was recentiy olected secretary of the Irving Mo- mortal Associavion in New York, ou motion of the Rev. Dr. Todd, explatued to the meet. me the maaner in which they proposed to accomplish the desired object, and also the procress which had already been le in that direction. The laty aiso sald that vbere were already in the treasury about $1,500 and that the work executing the proposed colossal bust of Washington Irvin alotted to Mr. Wilson McDonald, 01 bad be irs. Watt also took occasion to say that the Work ta hand was not coudned to tue ladies of what the ladies of tue Whole nation Were cordially ed to join with them in the proposed tribute 6 Memory of Washington irving. The names Of several ladies, not present at the mecting, were then proposed as members of tre General Coms mit @ unanimously elocted, ine Secretary 4 to ibiorm them of ecevon, Invi tot bhelv