New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-05-05
A WORD ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH.

We very much fear that amid the excitements
in political matters city authorities likely
to forget the importance OF keeping the streets
and avenues in clean and healthful condition.
At any rate the fact that the cutters filthy and
that the odor from the streets is by no means as
pleasant or healthful could be desired is patent
to ALL be the cause what 1t will to which it Is to be
credited.
The authorities should know from experience
that the weather at present prevailing is anything
but conducive to health-the hot days when the
rays Of the sun are almost as fierce as in the de-
sers of Africa, and the cold damp nights the chls
of which penetrates to the very bones-are1 both
calculated to try the human constitution, and to
strike at the foundations of health.
The authorities should also remember that the
city contains at this time greater number of un-
acclimated people than perhaps at any previous
time, and that If any of the maladies which often
become epidemic in this latitude should show
themselves we would be in danger of pestilence
which would carry thousands to an untimely grave.
We cannot understand how, with all the lights
of experience before them, and with the waters of
the Mississippi almost at their doors, they can
allow the cutters of the city to TEEN with filth as
disgusting to the senses destructive to health.
There are hundreds OF men idling in the streets
who would be but too happy in finding any en-
ployment by which their support could be earned
| and who in but few days would effect SO great
| change that yellow fever, cholera, or smallpox,
| could be set at defiance.
| But will this be done-will our authorities wait
until gaunt pestilence commences to make havoc
among the people, and to~ay low on the right and
| on the left, before they begin to take action on
| this important subject. Do they not remember
| that the greatest and most destructive epdemics
we ever had were preldded by just such weather
| as we are now having; and that while those who
were unacquainted with the dangers and peculinli-
ties of our climate were congratulatng themselves
| upon the delights of so late spring, grim death
| walked in among them as suddenly as he ever ap.
| peared on battle field.
We say again, that we fear our authorities have
been forgelful on this Important, this vital subject
and if we should appear to speak of it in man.
| per indicating alarm, we frankly confess we are
| alarmed. Were We to live thousand years, never
would the horrors witnessed during the great cpl.
! demic of '53 fade from our memory. And there
were fewer people here then, liable to fever, than
| now. Will attention be given to this matter? or
will they wait until death takes legion from our
| midst?
The MoSIToR.-We have read and published
many descriptions Of this q new wonder in naval
| warfare" and must admit that the following
| sketch was written some time ago. and may have
been read here before. But the interest attaching
I to this vessel, taken In connection with the fact
that the Virginia failed to draw her from under the
\ cover of the guns of the fortress recently, may
! compensate for second perusal. The sketch was
furnished by the correspondent of the Philadelphia
Inquirer:
l had the pleasure to-day Of accompanying
Lieut. VIM, NJ. Jeffers, when he proceeded, under
orders from Com. Goldsboreugh, to take command
| Of the Monitor, and relieve Lieut. Selfridge, of the
Cumberland, who had been appointed Temporarily
in the absence of Lieut.. Worden. AS We ap
preached this naval wonder, was struck with the
pertness of the Norfolk Day Books description Of
her as F." Yankee cheese box on q raft" 1t gives
| better idea of her appearance than any Of the
| engravings or descriptions in the New York
papers, They all fail to afford correct idea Of
| the general appearance OF the vessel, and espe
cially when she Is in motion.
She is oval shaped, l72 feet long and Al feet ir
width at the centre. Her hull rises perpendicu
lary out of the WATER as straight all round as the
sides of stone wall, and as fiat on top as table
| without any rail OF guards around her. She has
two square smoke stocks, about 7 feet in height
but in time of action these are removed, and the
| smoke and steam comes through the CRATES In tht
l deck. the iron of which is about inches thick
| Nothing remains on her deck but the pilot house
| which is square iron statue, about feet high
| about the size Of an ordinary dry goods box.
When walking her deck, Glthough anchored a
the end of Hampton bar, where the sea Is quit
rough, not the slightest motion OF the waves coul
be felt. The deck Is as firm and steady as rock
| This position, balf way between Newport New
and aewell's Point, has bsen chosen In order +
| keep watch and ward over the Merrimac, shoul
y she attempt to make another visit to the Roads