The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-12-26
Sanitary Fairs and the United states
Sanitary Com mtssIon-What Have
They Accom- ~ ishede


Sanitary Fairs and the United states
saaisary Coma tssIOn-What Have
They Accomplished
1t appears from recent official report of the
financial committee that the aggregate OF dona
tons, including money and appraised value of
goods received by the United States Sanitary
Commission as contributions for the soldiers,
from June, 1861, to October l, 1864, amounts
to thirteen millions and q half Of dollars, and
that Of this vast sum there remained in the
hands Of the treasurer, on the LIST Of Decem-
Der, 1864, the meagre amount of about three
hundred and fifty thousand dollars, with some
sixty thousand dollars appraised value of
property on hand.
The sum Of three millions and little over
is all that is reported as having been received
In money during the three years and half
embraced in this financial exhibit. Now it is
known that some two millions in cash were
raised at the sanitary fairs in New York and
Brooklyn alone, while the amount realized in
other cities-Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
St. Louis, Albany, Buffalo. Chicago, Cleveland,
and throughout the whole loyal portion OF the
country-will swell the aggregate to sum
that would astonish the public, and probably
none more than the contributors themselves.
We have no doubt that at least twenty mil
lions of dollars in money have been raised by
sanitary fairs and by private contributions to
aid our suffering soldiers, and placed in the
hands Of the United States Sanitary Commis-
sion or their agents within the period named
The real destination of the bulk of this vast
amount of money will probably never be
known; but sufficient is divulged to establish
che fact that much of it has been squandersd by
spectators in a manner entirely foreign to the
designs Of the donators.
One Of the Pittsburg papers lately con-
tanned paragraph calling the attention
OF the. Sanitary Commission to the fact
that 1t was understood and stipulated at
the time of the Sanitary Fair in that
city, that q portion of the proceeds
should be devoted to founding hospital for
sick and disabled soldiers. A great display
was made and u large amount of funds realized
but what has become of the money no one ap-
pears to know. 1t is certain, however, that no
hospital for sick and wounded soldiers, one OF
Its prime and ostensible objects, has been
established in Pittsburg. We believe, too, that
the managers of tue Metropolitan Fair were to
have appropriated quarter or million OF
dollars toward, soldiers hospital In New
York; but we do not low hear Of such an
Institution. These are o couple Of incidents
among the many already presented to the pub
lie, showing that so far from being benefit to
our soldiers, commensurate with the amount OF
money and supplies contributed, these sanitary
fairs all over the country, through their legion
OF managers and employees, have proved fail
ures and humDugs. Tncy have resulted IN
hlling the pockets Of some Of the greedy shoddy
contractors and partisan favoritcs ut home,
who have thus been enabled to supply substi-
tutes for themselves and relatives whenever
draft occurs, without actual expense to them
selves. While there can be no question about
The integrity and honor of the chief members OF
the United States Sanitary Commission such
distinguished gentlemen, for instance, as DR..
Bellows, DR.. Agnew and Mr.. Strong. of this
c;ty-there is much reason to believe that the
humane intentions OF those who have contr,-
buted to the munifcent fund OF money and goods
raised Tor the use Of the Commission have been,
In many instances, grossly perverted, and the
donations used for the benefit of al army OF
spectators, styled the agents and employees OF
the Commission. There is reason to believe
that . part of the proceeds of one of the Fairs
went toward defraying the expenses Of the pro-
ductlon of certain opera and supplying mem
bers Of the Committee OF Arrangements with
lorgnates and kid gloves. Aud an amusing case
Is reported of the lady chairman Of one Of the
sanitary concerns out W.s', who, in response
to q call for two thousand pairs of soldiers
drawers, sent that number Of the article of the
feminine gender.
The truth is the government supplies the Med
Zeal Department Of our armies aud our hospitals
with abundance of material for the use OF the
sick and wounded. Taking tho admirably
conducted De Camp military hospital on
David's Island, at the mouth Of Long Island
Sound, as an example, we there find medicines
of every kind, lint bandages, instruments, &c,
IN such quantities and in such excellent con-
dition as to render any further supply an entire
superluity a waste, and their purchase entail
ing an unnecessary AMI useless tax upon bur
already heavily taxed citizens. Ga Davds
Island there are accommodations for four
thousand patients, aud in other military
hospitals in this vicinity, with capacity to &C
commodate large number Of patients, there
is the same abundance OF everything calculated
to cure the sick, mitigate the sufferngs Of the
wounded, and, by wholesome, strengthening
and well cooked food, restore the GONZALES
cents to perfect health and efficient duty. II is
mistake to suppose that the government is
chary of its money in supplying the Military
Medical Department with ample material
wherever such material may be needed or ca n
DC sent. IT the government cannot reach a
given point 10 replenish an exhausted medical