The New York herald., 1868-01-08

trust Owing however n the probsbls changes affect
INK this Glass OF Interests Though the VI
thorough p,e,,,rsl,on or possipo abuses. nor com
peted The plans they are engaged IN maturing Tor the
PURPOSE OF 10 orm'og existing dsfecs aud nsuring bet
Yer discipline IN these cuaritabe agonces IL - never
theess true that much valuable Information has been
ehcited aud their will have interest commsn-
surale with the importance OF the suuJsct.
II WIN DO conceded thata system involving 90 large an
expenditure Of public money, embracing all clesses OF
the destitute, tue afflicted ami the DEPRIVED should bo
perfected as far ~ possibe and believed that the
laoors of commission Intelligent aud competent,
win iead 70 reforms which viii dinnsh the exponsrs 2,
maina nlng tbeae Institutions and render tsm Sill
more elective as agencies OF public charity
Your attention Is invited the Interesting report or
hr john Jay tue special commissioner appointed by ME
to rel the state 10 he Board Of Inc Anlietam
Cemetery The cemetery was orr nally founded by tue
Legislature OF Maryland State enterprise for tDe in
terinent OF all who Tell In the battle OF AuIietam
during the first INVASION OF Lee BY a subsequent
Law Of Maryland u WAS converted q national Genes
terry or the same purpose 20 be by board OF
trustees representing the States whose should be
IN erred therein aud who should join in establish
ment
Besides New York the States OF New Jersey. Mime
sofa Maine, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin,
West Virginia, Massachusetts, Ohio Indiana Vermont
and Michigan have Joined the association and sp
propriaons Tor its support. New York larger
terest Than any OF these States In this cemetery
the greaer proportion Of her who fell in he bat
dred and six.y-two private soldiers whose re-
mains had been identned and inferred up
TO tho 2sd Of May last, nine officers and
seven hundred and thirty SIX soldiers from
New YORK, aud this numDer has since been Increased,
the toai bUrals in November last being reported at
four thousand six huuored aud seventy i've A very
clear and satisfactory account 10 given by tho
Of the with which ineTments have been
conducted, with v 10 the Identification Of each par
tcuar grave, and OF ths substantial character of the
improvements on the cemstery grounds. and the
prudence aud judgment with which the funds have
been applied Tho appropriation by this State Of
$40 600 viii its share OF the entire Of
plslng the cemetery and ali the proposed improve
ments Hyct remains TO provide tor headstones, with
u oref inscription for tho gave Of zach soldier, and
pro rata contr button toward tho monumental statue Of
Union soldier keeping guard over the dead wh ch tho
trustees propose to erect ai an expense OF $3O,OOO
appears from tho report OF tue inspectors that there
were 1870 nmaies IN the Sta prisons ON the S0h OF
September last The management OF the prisons has
gwen general satisfaction and the financial results
favorable than had At one lime spprehended 1t
is that expenditures have been about 10000
the recepts but The causes which have produced
this result clearly and explained the
annual statement Of tho Inspectors While IL desirable
that the receipts should be ~ least the
this cannot properly be regarded NJ the primary object
OF the most essential requirements OF
these institutions The regu alton OF the mode and degree
OF punishment the sale keeping OF the convicts tho
maintenance OF prison discipline and the adaptation Of
the means employed for the reformation OF the cr,mi-
nails, matters Of even greater Importance than q
fiscal balance our favor on tho prison ledger II
seems possible, however TO promote this end without
drawing, under ordinary circumstances upon the pub
lie treasury. The most favorable results from the IN
dusry OF convcts have been attained at tho Dannemora
prison, where the employed directly by the
agents 0i the state. IT. the judgment or the nspec-
tors, in which inclined 10 concur that the cxten
sion of this system to olher prisons would be
attended with advantage to the conyicls and profit 10
the State.
lhe records Of the prisons an improved state OF
discipline, resulting, doubtless, from more strict adj
mnisraliOn, and tue Incentives 10 good conduct held
the cOuvcts under the authority OF
of the Legislature, allowing them to certain de-
ducons from the period OF imprisonment By the care
full observance OF prison regulations.
Il il not improbablo that some notifications OF our
prison system Will be recommended by the Convention
Tor the Revision OF the Constitution and hence for
bear to moro largely upon the discussion of this
branch OF tho public interests The whole subject OF
formation OF crmnas and the exercise Of the pardon
ing power 10 worthy Of grave and thoughtful consids
ration Much has already been accomplished but
much more remains to be done In perfectng reforms
which seem to be attanabe through well guarded aud
enlightened legislation
QUARANrLNE-PUslIc HEALra-HARBoR NEW YORK.
The number Of alien immigrants who arrived a. the
port Q New York during ths past year two hundred
and fdtytwo thousand hundred and thirty eight,
being housand snree hundred and twenty In
Of last year Immigration Is ono Of tho sources Of
the wealth OF county and essential element OF
the last twenty years about four millions Of
migrants have arrived NJ the port Of New York
alone and wo may safely that these accessions
together with their natural increase amount At present
TO eight millions, or nearly ono-fourth Of our cntire
population. While s true that cheap and fertile
lands, profitable pursuits and free institutions
invite them hither t Is also true that commerce and
industry gen orally follow the march OF the grant
glance rapid Northwestern states
and Of some Of our Northern cities plain " discosss the
influence Of this cause upon our general prosperity.
Our recent civil has removed toe obstacles which
tended TO discourage the immigrant from settling In the
Southern portion OF our country, but which will now
claim to participate In this agency important to It's
early recovery from tho OF and the de-
gradaon OF labor consequent upon long prevalence Of
slavery The Commissioners Of Emigration deem II
privilege TO extend hearty welcome to the new comers
and direct their footsteps 70 those inviting fields OF in
dustry and profit II will bs regarded duty
alike 10 institutions and TO the cmgrant whom We
invite shores TO encourage aud foster wise disrt
button country Of these inowing elements Of
national wealth and progress
The fund under the control Of the Commissioners 10
created by per capita tar OF 81 90 for each aiien
whch devoted mainly to the support OF the SICK aud
INDECENT upon their arrival at the port and In maintain
OF the Law estsbshng the Board The landing depot At
Castle Garden has been improved the facilities for land
Ing purposes increased and new appliances added for
the comfort and security Of the immigrant From tho
fund thus obtained also large and beautiful hospital
build ngs have been erected Wards Island where the
unfortunate and afflicted kindly cared for and pre-.
pared for the new associations and the active Affairs OF
tho land OF their adoption.
The improved sanitary condit ion OF the Metropolitan
district during the past year. and the decrease in the
mortality Of tue cities OF Eew York aud Brooklyn, are
Important and gratifying.
From statistics furnished by the Health 0ficer II
appears ths, since January last ono hundred and
forty eight vessels have been placed under quarantine
In addition, over two hundred vessels came from pors
known be infected with yellow fever and these
required by Law, well as BY common prudence, to bo
detained sufficient time to determine whether they
freo from dseaSe Inc uanHer 10 WHltn We are
exposed aud the disaster thai would be likely TO follow
from inefficient or iucompetent Administration OF our
quarantine and health laws, are not lightly TO be est
mated.
The hospital authorized TO be erected ON West Bank
under Of 1861 has lar that its final
and successful completion Is promised early the coming
season. THIS II IL believed will meet of the great
needs Of the sanitary authorities, but they viii still be
without warehouses for injected goods proper facilities
for well passengers detained under quarantine. or
suabe landing and boarding station. The duty OF the
general government 70 provide such warehouses is
generally conceded, and l am not without hope that
Congress will yet take measures TO this end.
Provision made by the act OF April last for the
tenn poafy occupation OF Barren Island plaoo for
the detention Of well passengers under quarantine, and
for permanent station Ioocy Island. sue for the
latter selected by board OF officers charged with
that duty, but The Commissioners have been restrained
by injunction from taking possession The Law au-
tnorzed the selection OF suitable site on
the west end OF the Island IL was deemed
proper that IL should embraces sufficient area
TO secure complete isolation, and thus avoid any
possible danger from It's for quarantine purposes
but advised that the Court has decided that the
powers OF the Board limited and that they had
rynt take the question Of ISOLATION into consideration.
Tue effect OF tho decision has been 10 render that por
tion Of the ACT imperative, and your attention Is re-
whether