The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-03
CHOLERA IN SEE oRLEANs.

CHOLERA IN NE- ORLEANS.
The pestience indeed waketh al noon
day in this devoted city. \ distinguished
physician, and one Of the directors Of the
Charity Hospital wrote under date the 25th
Of December, that the mortality was fright
l,-far beyond any thing Of the kind ev-
er witnessed. When he wrote, there were
forty dead bodies. lying in the dead-house
SO much more rapidly had they accumulated
than they could be buried in the ordinary
routine Of things. DR.. Clendenen, formerly
Of, Baltimore, was in attendance at the Char
ity Hospital the whole day. The next morn
ing he was no more among men. 1t was
rumorcd that DR.. Mercer, the bosom friend
Of Mr.. Clay, and in whose house Mr.. c. is
always gacst when he visits New Orleans,
had fallen victim to the disease. II is so
virulent, that death ensues in from three to
twelve hours after the first symptoms. The
weather had been intensely hot and murky,
Indeed, the extraordinary hot weather Of
December appears to have extended over
the whole surface Of the U. States The
unclean condition of New Orleans was re-
marked by every body. No doubt, the cx-
Ehalatons from the filth that SO much aboun-
,ded tended to increase the fury Of the dis
ease. So it was in 1882; and If steps be
not Immediately taken by the Councils to
thoroughly cleanse our own city, We shall
suffer in ertremis. The last telegraphic
dates from New Orleans, we are happy to
hear, announce decided abatement in the
pcstilence, owing to the return Of winter
weather, and to diligence on the part Of fine
authorities in cleansing the city,
CONDITION OF THE. FOOT PAVE
4 MENTs.
! There is az ordinance requiring every
house-keeper and owner Of vacant lots, to
have the snow removed from the foot pave
ment Or way in front Of his premises or prop
erty, within a certain number Of hours at-
tier il shall have ceased falling, on pain Of
mourning a heavy fine. The general neg
lectof complying with the acquisitions Of this
ordinance, is only cqualled by the neglect Of
the proper officers to compel its enforcement.
! Within the last few days, the condition
Of the foot pavements, even OH Pennsylva-
MIA Avenue, has been shocking. Those Of
the other streets have been almost impassa-
bic. But, that the snow should be left 10
lie upon the pavements around the Execu-
tive Departments and the Capitol Square, is
unaccountable. The authorities in charge
of these public grounds and buildings, have
full power arr! means to remove the snow,
4 within an hour after it ceases failing. Their
neglect to do so, left the foot way on the
North front Of the Presidents Square near
| " impossible on Monday, to the great an
noyance Of the citizens and strangers, who
called to pay their respects to the Chief Mag
istrate, and who had 10 wade through the
mud, shoe-soe deep. As TO the crossings,
no attention seems ever 10 be paid to them,
though the law requires they should be kept
clean. Now, we are disposed to give eva
cry credit to the Commissioners Of the sew
eral Wards for the promptitudc with which
they attend to their duties generally, and
more especially for the rigor with which they
put the law in force against the luckless
wights who chance to leave an empty box
or barrel on the foot pavements; but we
think they are guilty Of objectionable neg
lect in not enforcing the ordinances respect
ing the removal Of snow from the sidewalks.
Our object in penning these lines, is to in
cite, il possible, those worthy officers to
! their duty in this respect and put the law,
without fear or favor, in force, against all
persons neglecting to comply with its re-
QUESTIONS. We obey the law in this re-
spect and call upon all other citizens to do
the same, or in default thereof, we insist up
on the authorities doing their duty in the
premises.
! -------D
THE OPENING OF THE YEAR,
In Washington, was marked by the usu-
al interchange of civilities between our cit