The New York herald., 1871-09-04
WASHING ON.
The Threatened Epidemic and the Fed
eral Troops in New York.
The Secretary Of War Refuses 10 Make Them
Rcport TO The Board Of Health.
STATISTICS OF THE new CENSUS.

WASHINGTON, Sept g. 1871.
The Secretary OF War and the Sanitary Re-
ports.
The following Is the reply OF Secretary Bclknap
70 the letter of Mayor Ban, OF New York. transmit
ting certain resolutions adopted by the Board OF
that CITY,
WASHINGTON CITY August 81, 1871. {
Hon. A. Q. HALL, Mayor of New YORK city,
slR-I have the honor 10 acknowledge receipt OF
your communication Of the 2lst instant transmitting
copy OF preamble ana resolutions adopted by the
Board OF Health OF the city OF New York, requesting
sary orders requiring the commanding of1cer
or officers OF the military stations within the limits
OF the city OF New York 10 make prompt ana accu-
rate reports Of all contagious Infectious anu pest-
lentiai diseases, as described and enumerated IN sec
ton OF the code OF sanitary ordinances herewith
transmitted, now existing or hereafter occurring
among said troops III their command and also a
eucn troops IOgetner with the cause or causes OF
death IN each case and further requiring such ON.
of1cers 10 faithfully enforce such SAM ary
ordinances and regulations as lhIs Board may from
time 10 time ADOPT.
IL answer 10 THIS request have 10 state tina, the
utmost vigilance in sanitary matters has always
been exercised by the military authorities at the
posts III New York harbOr a. elsewhere, ana the ex
perience OF years has shown that 1t may safely be
left under the control OF officers responsible TO the
War Department for the proper performance OF that
duty. TO place these posts in any manner under
the direction OF the Board OF Health would deprive
ine military authorities Of tnat complete control
over 1ts officers and property which this Depart.
ment should always MAINTAIN, and would be subyer-
sivc of military discipline without advantage to The
health OF the city or the posts. Very respectfully,
W. W. BELKNAP, Secretary of War.
The New Naval Engine Of Destruction.
The torpedo boat which VIII be built al the
Washington Navy Yard, is 10 be named the Robeson.
II wll be l75 feet long, with 35 feet beam. Her hull
VIII be OF ron only three feet of which win be out
OF water This exposed part, however, win be
armor- plated with five inch-ron backed with wood.
She VIII be propelled with two screws, and her
engines are expected TO drive her at fourteen knots
per hour minimum speed. The only rigging she
Will have, which Is q far weather arrangement
altogether, will consist OF two masts schooner
rigged. According to the proportion OF the work
done in our yards now 1t will take, by a
close calculation, six hundred men one
year to build her, most OF whom Will, Of course, be
iron workers. The torpedo will contain 100 pounds
OF powder, attached 10 an iron beam, which viii
prOtrude from the bow below water line. THIS
beam win be twenty-five feet long and so adjusted
as to be forced out by hand from water tight CON-
partment through packing II will be worked by
hand instead OF steam as any unexpected Obstruc-
ton could be more easily detected that way than
otherwise. II is inten0ed, when orders are given
TO that effect, that the torpedo boat Shall make
Straght-under fun head Of steam-!or an euemy's
ship and run well under fer, and explode the same
by electrlclty, the beam being Withdrawn at the
light draught requiring only eleven and half feet
oG water.
Personal Explanation from Aleck Stephens.
A. H. Stephens in Fridays Atlanta sun indig-
nany denies the charge that he is the author OF the
pamphlet entitled, CONCESSION, or How the Lost
Cause Nav Be Regained and the Independence OF
The South Secured"
Wreck Of the German Brig Maraaretta.
The North German Union Consul at Savannah re-
ceived despatch from Jacksonville, Fla, stating
that the German brig Margaretta OF Sebbins Captain
KrOeger was wrecked On St Johns bar Oh Monday
nght and is total loss The vessel cleared from
Few York on July for Stebbins The Consul sent
6unds TO bring the captain and crew to Savannah.
Our Foreign Commerce.
Monthly report Nc. u Of the Bureau of Statistics
Just sent to press contains the statistics
etgn commerce for the fiscal year ended June 80,
1871, compared with the corresponding period OF
1870. The following comparative table shows the
mixed value OF the principal domestic products
exuOrted during these respective years:-