The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-05

YELLOW FEVER AT New ORt4ANs-HEALTH
OF NEW York AND OF our OTHER SEABoRD |
CIrEs.-It is estimated that the victims OF yell
lew fever in New Orleans. for the last week,
amounted to the frightful aggregate of five
hundred. The same rattle upon the whole popu-
lation would amount in New York city to
twenty-five hundred or, perhaps, even to three
Thousand per week. This eclipses the cholera
at its maximum mortality in 1882.
The annual fever mortality Of New Orleans,
however. one year with another, for any period
Of ten years is quite sufficient to raise doubt
regarding it's future prosperity. It may, N
SPITE of its pestilential climate, become = great
ely; but it can hardly be adopted as
s.he commercial emporium Of the South by the
Memphis Convention. unless the ravages Of
the yellow fever are materially diminished.
1 But why cannot this be done? The act of
Congress ceding the public swamp lands' to
the States in which they lie, embraces prince
| ~ gift to Louisiana. if she will but turn it
| to practical account Doubtless an immense
portion of the swamp country around New
Orleans, and all over the State, may be re-
claimed and turned over to the sugar and
cotton planters. But the improved climate of
the Crescent City and the State, would be
worth incidentally more than thousand times
the value Of the lands reclaimed. However. as
the people of New Orleans may be supposed to
know something Of their own interests we leave
the subject of dykes and canals in their hands.
We have locality to consider in more
northerly latitude.
How great and important the paramount
advantage which New York enjoys as the
healthest site for continental commercial en-
porium of the whole Atlantic coast from Labra-
dor to Cape Horn. And yet how strangely the
first duty of consulting the health Of our popu-
lation has been neglected. We have the flthiest
streets in the United States, the lowest sinks
of accumulated depravity. wretchedness, and
fermenting garbass. the most crowded docks
with shipping. and a1so with the rubbish of the
| sewers, the most numerous and extensive
butcheries, distilleries and bone boiling estab-
| lishments and the smallest allowance of open
spaces for fresh air, with the emigration of all
! Europe pouring in upon us, and yet we are ex-
| empt from the cholera and from the yellow
fever. The great Creator has done every thing
to make New York the commercial centre of
this continent, and so much for its health that
man has failed to destroy it,
But is it not incumbent upon our au-
thorities, in view of our commercial inter-
course with New Orleans, to pay at this
crisis little extra attention towards the clean
illness of our city. "An ounce of prevention is
better than pound of cure" 1t is due to our
own people. and it is due to the strangers
aocking from all quarters hitherward. that
everything possible to be done should be done
to prevent the development of an epidemic in
our midst. We earnestly call the attention of
our city Fathers to little extra exertion in
this respect. 1t is not yet too late to cart away
the DIRT.
n B.-We desire to call the attention of the
public to correspondence in another column,
relating to the sutferings of the poor in New
Orleans, in the midst of this terrible epidemic
The VIRGINIA STRICT CoNsTRUcTIoNIsTs AND
THE PACIFIC RAILRoAD.-The Richmond Wig.
IN commenting upon late article of this jour-
IA in relation to the Pacific railroad and the
-L4s--spIissing strict constructonists of Virginia
wh6 have thrown down the gauntlet to Gen.
Pierce, says -
In the meantime, the New York HERALD, the
most Influential organ Of the Pierce party takes up
the cudgels, or rather whip, and cracks over the
heads .t6 these refractory gentlemen in a very I'M
acrimonious style. The HERALD speaks 10 the tones
ofL.s master. 1t knows that the Brigader has the
Virginia democracy "upon the hip" He has the
power and the patronage-and they have nothing.
The HEaALD therefore, makes short work with them
II tells them in few words, to get out of the way and
let men Of sense pass.
We cNmnsn6 The HERALD's article to their seri.
GUS consideration ard healthful digestion.
Very good. Lei US get the constitutional
kinks and crotchets ent of the heads of our
theorizing Virginians and ell sensible men will
rejoice with exceeding great Joy. 1t will be
mighty consusumation for Old Virginia reduced
to skin and bone upon the husks and straw of
constitutional distractions while the subatau-
tial elements Of State rights have been appro-
priated by her neighbors. The Pacific railroad
offers a fair invitation to the tide-water hide
bound politician to Gene down from his high
horse and see what the earth is made Of But
if he declines. he must clear the track, and let
the locomotive pass.
While reaching for the commerce of Asia, he |
that stops to chatter upon windy distractions
must he run down. The chameleon may get fat
upon atmospheric air. but the locomotive is
different sort of animal. He is matter-offact
salamander. and luxuriates upon hot Goals and
boiling water But clear the track for him.
give him solid footing of iron, and he will
work like Titan. He is stronger than a hun
dred elephants, and feeter than the wild horse
of the desert. But he calls for money, and land,
and active enterprise. Abstractions will never
do for him. But the Pacific Railroad, it
must be built Congress must prepare the way.
The constitution is all right, the administration |
is on the track. the people want the road, and
the work must be done. We predict that the
old school of Virginia abstractionists will lie |