The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-04-12

with promise | send you few items con-
corning this great Southern metropolis, gath
cred in the haste Of other occupations, and
! in the intervals of the special duty which L
came here TO perform relative to an invahd
wife. The weather was quite cold when
/ arrived hatcher on the 9Th of March, and
continued raw and chilly, with frequent rains,
for several days after, so that we deemed 1t
prudent TO hasten our departure for this city,
where we hoped to have more genial at
mosphere. This hope has been realized the
weather having been mild and beautiful since
/ our arrival, and all nature is now waking
/ from that torpid state which has been main
tanned so long beyond the usual period by a
winter of unprecedented severity.
/ have taken some pains to inform myself
as to the character of the weather during the
past three months, and from every quarter
| the fact is reiterated, that nothing OF the
| kind has ever been known in the experience
of the European race in this latitude, and
that no Spanish, French or American record
Of the weather, displays 80 great, or so long
continued depression of temperature. After
ell, the expression, experience of the old
est inhabitant," conveys but vague idea,
and the records of the races which have
SUCCESSFULLY possessed the city, throw but
little additional light where they are not
known: therefore give you some figures
which have been obtained OF the Charity Hos
pital and from other sources, and which will
be more definite in their Specification. The
mean temperature during the month of Janu-
airy was 20 deg. above zero, which is II deg
below the freezing point; and the lowest point
to which the mercury sunk during that month
was 10 deg above zero, which is 20 below the
freezing degree. The mean temperature was
not so low during February, but the intensity
of cold, on two or three occasions, was the
same.
You NAV not be able to realize in this
statement the idea of cold weather, after
having suffered, in keokuk, the rigors of an
arctic winter; but to the inhabitants Of this
latitude, where through series of years the
freezing point is seldom attained, and where
perennial flowers and green trees at all times
of the year meet the sight, the idea of the
past winter is one of great severity. By the
1 by, the "aforesaid" flowers and green trees
have suffered severe nipping by the cold
and frosty breath of old Boreas, during the
past two months. Immediately before
Christmas the gardens were fresh, fragrant,
and beautful but few days after, they
looked as If sheet of fame had swept over
them, and they retained the blasted impress
sion until within q week or two. Orange
trees, Banana, Oleanders, magnollas, and q
great variety of rich and beautiful roses were
| killed BY the cold, and the branches and
stems were cut away, in order to maintain
the little vitality which was left in the roots.
This makes great change in the beautiful
grounds that abound in and about this city,
but for few weeks past the sun has come
out cheerfully, generous showers have fallen,
and an invigorating breeze-just sufficient to
counteract its induence-plays merrily over
the land and waters, and the green trees and
early spring flowers again give splendor to
the large gardens, and the hedges of roses
and flowers from every CLINE which border
the labyrinths of walks, again give out their
fragrance to the circumambient air.
Much has been said during the last two
years about the decline of New Orleans in
material prosperity. The evidence of this,
if it exist, is, of course, to be found in the
statistics Of commerce, the value of real es-
tate, and the numerical condition of the
population. Not being familiar with these
things, can say but little about it. If it is
true, however, that New Orleans is declining,
| should have no difficulty in my own mind,
In finding causes adequate to explain the
fact In the list of these cause | should
place first, the devastating cpidemlcs which
have prevailed during the last three sum
mers-epdemics which find no parallel in
the scourges of the present century, and
which, by causing thousands of the most ac-
tive business men to fee their approach, must
exercise great depressing influence upon
the commerce of the city.
1t was supposed in the spring of 1853,
that the epidemic yellow fever had finally
left the city. 1t had not been seen except in
an isolated and mild form, since lS47, and
/ the physicians were congratulating the peo-
pie, and framing many ingenious explana-
tions relating to their final, and Us it was
thought, permanent exemption from the dis
ease. But, in less than short month after
these pleasant anticipations filled the hearts
OF the population, the most awful catalogue
Of mortality known in modern days was COM
menced. The bloodiest battle fields Of mod
! ern times can scarcelv comnare with the New