The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-17
LETTER FROM CINCINNATI.


the Vest.
CINCINNATI, august 5, 1854.
To the Editor of the National Era.
Considering the extreme heat of this sum-
mer, the health Of our city has been very good.
1t Is true, q number of deaths by cholera are
reported by our health officer, for the month of
July, bat Of some of these cases it may be said
that the disease was not strictly Asatic chol-
era; and of those which were, the report makes
1t evident that the deaths were mostly among
the foreign population. The whole number of
deaths for the month Of July was SAL of these,
SO were natives Of Ireland and 1873 of Ger
many and of 1913, the nativity and cause of
death were not reported. This was owing to
the lnterments being made by hackmen and
others, where regular undertakers were not
employed. These must have been almost all
among the foreign population, and, after
making allowance for considerable number
of deaths of children under five years of age,
an average Of SO deaths week, in the warm
est season of the year, cannot be considered q
large mortality in 3 population of 1870 600.
The cholera is not among us as an epidemic
tho general health Of our citizens is good, and
even better than we had reason to expect, con-
sidering the unusually oppressive heat and the
prevalence of the cholera in other places of the
West.
At Chicago, Toledo, st. Louis and other
points, the cholera has certainly been much
more destructive this season than in this sec
ton Of country. At these places, however, it
has prevailed chiefly among the foreign immi-
grants, who have been coming to the West
through the spring and GUNNER in large num-
bers, crowded together in second and third
class cars on the railroads with little chance
Tor pure air, and destitute of most of the com.
forts Of travelling After a long sea voyage in
crowded packet ship long journey 10 this
way by land, and tho oppressive heat Of sum-
MGR to which they have not been accustomed
it is not strange that many Of these immigrants
should die. With the comforts which wealth
could procure, the journey and change of eli
mate would be attended with many risks of
health and life; and under the unlavorabc cir
cumstances in which most Of these persons
come to the West, these risks arc greatly in
creased
The anniversary Of West India Emancira-
ton was celebrated on the Ist Of August, at
Dayton by the colored people of this and neigh.
boring cities. Ten car loads went up by rail
road from this place; and Xenia Hamilton,
Troy, and Plqua, were well represented. The
United COlored Americans, Sons OF Liberty,
and other organizations of our colored friends
from this place, were present in full regalia,
and made very creditable appearance. After
the procession had moved through the princi-
pal streets, accompanied by three bands Of
music, they repaired to grove west of the
city, where a dinner was provided, around
which ], 100 persons were seated, and num-
Der Of speeches were made, suitable to the oc-
casion. A grand ball was given in the evening,
at the City Hall, and everything passed off
and pleasantly. No little enthu-
siasm was manifested, but no intempcrance, no
riOting, or anything offending against law or
good order. The appearance and conduct of
the delegates attracted the general admiration
Of the citizens Of Dayton.
! must take this occasion to say that the col
Ored people, as class in this and other cities
north of the Ohio, give the lie, by their con-
duct, their intelligence, and their general mo-
rallty, TO the SANDERS that have been propaga-
ted by tho Southern press and politicians as to
the social condition Of the free colored popula-
ton of tie North. They have their churches,
schools, and benevolent associations, in as large
o proportion to their numbers, to say the least,
as any class in the community There are
some bad men among them, it is true; so there
are In every community; but the statistics Of
our police and other courts will show the COM
By the colored population to be as small as
those Of any other class and ss to the extent
of both crime and pauperism among them, the
records show most conclusivoly that it cannot
compare with that of the Irish, nearly all of
whom are commandments in the Roman Church,
but few of whom can read or write. The col
ored people of this State ought to have the
right OF suffrage, and in the good time com
log" will get it.
The Ohio river, as usual at this season, is at
q very low stage; none but boats of the light
est draught can run, even to Louisville, and the
small stern-wheel boats are seen al our wharves,
making the most Of tho dull times, while the
large New Orleans and ST. Louis steamers are
laid up for the summer. At such time as this,
the Ohio and Mississippi railroad, when finished,
will do an immense business, both in the pas
senger and freight departments. A month or
SO since, it was completed from this place to
Seymour, on the Jacksonville and Indianapolis
and thus railroad connection form
ed, As you may cay, between Cincinnati and
Louisville, the Ohio river only separating it
from the latter place, which is crossed in few
minutes by steam ferry. This connection,
though not as direct as the CovingtOn and Louis
vile railroad will be when constructed, makes
the time between the cities one half that made
by the steamers and as the cost is bnt little more,
the railroad, though having commenced its
regular trains but a week or two since, has been
very well patronized. The company have not
yet put up their depot in the city, but, having
from the City Council the privilege OF
laying track through the western part OF Front
street, will proceed this fall to erect suitable
and run an increased number both OF
passenger and freight trains. The grounds OBJ
tanned Tor the depot 60, ere 800 feet IN length,
and there Is every reason to believe that this
road will transact large business with Louis
vile and the towns in Indiana, even before the
line is completed to ST. Louis. The fact Is, no
railroad leading from this city was more need
cd than this. The time to st. Louis by steam
ers is from four to five days; and, owing to low
water IN summer and ice in winter, large
part OF the year freight in large amounts can
not be sent. The railroad will make the dis
tance but twelve hours, and transport freight
and passengers at all seasons.
The farmers are busy harvesting their crops.
There has been much complaint in the north
ern part of Ohio of the destruction made by the
: weevil in the wheat, and in some OF the
heaviest grain counties it is said there will be
not more than one half of the usual yield. In
some OF the northwestern counties, it is said,
the crop will be almost entirely destroyed. In
the southern counties 1t is much better, and on
the whole the wheat crop will not fall much
below the average. In the middle and north
ern sections Of the State the corn crop will be
light, but in all the State south of the National
road, it will be very large. la the little Mi
ami valley, the wheat and corn crops both will
be large and good. In Indiana, the crops will
not be as good on the whole as IN Ohio, but IN