Old Restrictions...Why can't we Boil Bones!!

I came across this map that explains quite a bit. How many times have we in the title business seen restrictions in deeds that prohibit "bone boiling, blast furnaces, vitriol, soap making, turpentine, dynamite and tanning."  It might occur that "Why would anyone ever want to do that?" and "Why do they have to specifically prohibit it?"  Well the map above and others found online in places like the New York Public Library (digitalcollections.nypl.org) provide a unique insight into life a century ago.  These maps show where the stables, fat melting, slaughter houses, gut cleaning, hide curing and Brewing took place. What would be considered "nuisances" by anyone.  Interestingly they appear to have been closer to the East and Hudson Rivers  and further from the Reservoir.  Thank God!  Although it probably didn't do much good for the rivers and the general health of the citizens.  On a map entitled Sanitary and Social Chart of the Fourth Ward of the City of New York in 1864, there are designated the locations of Shanties, Privies, Privies in extremely offensive condition, Liquor stores or Drinking Places, Typhus & Small Pox, Sewers (Open) and the thoroughly offensive "Sailors Boarding House!"  These "Nuisances" were the result of American entrepreneurship, the cottage industries conducted in the back yard by Mom and the children, while Dad was off working 14 hours days in the factory, six days a week.  And small businesses which were established to serve the local citizenry.  In an age before refrigeration, you didn't want to live too far from the slaughter house. Not if you wanted fresh meat. These maps and those restrictions operate as a window into our past.  Giving us all an opportunity to gauge our current existence against our ancestors.