The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-21

The N0Ws.
m the Board of Aldermen last evening yer
important communication was received from tn
| Union Defence Committee, respecting the dis
bursement of the million dollars entrusted L
them for the purposes Of the war. The variou
sums expended by the Defence Committee for tn,
use of three thousand and twenty-six families de
! pendent upon volunteers connected with forty
three different regiments, amount to $34,3OO II
respect to the future requirements for the continu
ance of their action in aid of the necessar,
equipment and outfit Of the military force. the
committee say that it is nexpedient to give furthe,
aid to any regiment which is not to enlis,
for three years; and that they will re-
qure 5000, 1000, as near as they can ascertain for
future expenditures. The committee are of opi.
MON that if a general system of aid to families OF
volunteers is to be maintained and applied to the
] more permanent organization of forces from
appropriations TO be made from the city treasury,
the disbursement of such funds, involving the dis.
tributon of somewhere about two millions five hun
bred thousand dollars of public monyes, through
possible period Of several years, would be sub
ject unsuitable for continued administration by the
committee. If they continue to administer the dis
bursement to the families of the volunteers a fur
Their appropriation will be required as the balance
Of the one hundred thousand dollars not already
expended, not required for putting the fourteen
regiments in the field, would be exhausted in
few weeks at the rate Of supply to families afforded
by the committee.
The Board Of Councilmen met last evening" and
disposed of considerable routine business. com.
muncation was received from the Comptroller,
transmitting copy Of the City Inspectors GER
IoI
ley's contract for cleaning the streets copy of
the communication from the Mayor announcing
the death of Colonel yosburgh, which is published
in the proceedings of the Aldermen, was received
and placed on file. The Committee on Salaries
and Officers reported in favor Of authorizing the
heads Of departments TO employ clerks to supply
the places of the clerks who have gone to the war;
The paper was reeommitted in order that the
names and positions of the clerks might be in
serted in the report. A resolution was concurred
in to purchase steam engine for Engine Company
No q. The Board concurred with the Aldermen
in the resolutions relative to the death Of Colonel
Vosburgh.
The effect of the blockade Of Southern ports ia
very much felt in Havana, where the prices of
such articles as are usually supplied from those
sources have materially advanced Thus, hogs
lard, which in April was less than 81 the quntal
OF hundred weight, has gone up to s22. Georgia
and South Carolina rice, which was selling three
weeks ago at 81 80 the arroba of twenty-i five
pounds, cannot be had now at 50. Indian corn
has just doubled in price, having gone up from
43c. to 871sc. the arroba. The same may be said
more or less Of hams, bacon, potatoes onions and
other articles Of daily consumption. But this is
only the beginning If the civil war should
| last the worthy Habaneros viii be as badly
| of if they were inclnded in the
| blockade; for there can be no doubt that
the prices Of all those articles which constitute
the necessaries Of life will be very high 1t would
be no consolation to tell them they could have all
their provisions from New York, for they all de.
devoutly believe, as o writer in the Diario says
that some articles are better and cheaper from
the South. Lard, or instance, is purer. they say,
because lat the North the oily part is extracted
The proximity of Havana to the mouth of the
Mississippi and the Southern Atlantic ports, where
vessels can run to and fro in week Ia the princi.
pal reason why it Is cheaper, more advantageous.
and certainly more expeditions for the Havana
| people to get their supplies from the South than
from the Northern ports, from which they are by
comparison so far removed; for the less distance
vessel has to traverse the less freight will have
to be paid, and the cheaper tue goods she carries
can be sold.
Information has been received that Professor
Grant is about to leave this city in the steame,
Coatzacoalcos for Fortress Monroe, for the pur
pose of placing one Of bis largest calcium light
upon that work. The reflector Of the lamp will
have diameter Of three feet. All those who were
on the skating pond last winter and experienced
the advantage Of this kind of light, will readily
conceive how such beacon could be made usefu
to illuminate the entrance of the Chesapeake, &c.
so that no vessel could pass unobserved at night
and also az signal that the ports there are block
AIDED.
The Southern journals indulge in besiowint
some very fancy names upon some of our distin
| guished men. For instance they call the Presiden
the drunken sot who now occupies the Whit,
| House in Washington General Scott since 1
| was ascertained that tho South had been eyre
qiousy hoaxed in the rumor OF his resignation
| they call i" Butcher Scott" and Major Genera
Butler they style Picayune Butler" Will,
Twiggs il the model of patriot, Floyd ia a pat
tern Of honesty, Beauregard Is the beau ideal o
q gentleman, and JEFF Davis Is the great champi
on Of human rights and human liberty,
The Legislature Of North Carolina propose u
give FIVE millions Of dollars to carry on the war
his precisely OF tde same piece Of trsnsp areu