The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-09-02

whole number Of deaths from yellow fever
since July rs has been twenty-seven. Of these
two were colored persons. The rest were
whites.
The Mayor and Major Willis.
The misunderstanding which occurred on
Thursday, arising from the conflict between
the claims Of the city inspector and the duties
which, as executive officer of the board Of
health, Major Willis understood he was autho-
rized to perform, remained yesterday In state
of allegiance. The written instructions defining
his position and power, which Major Willis had
requested Of the Mayor, were SLOW In coming,
and with his hands thus practically tied the
major could do nothing but wait. The impor-
tant document, 1t seems, was an affair requir-
ing great deliberalion, and the Mayor, Alder
man Collins and Mr.. Thomas Jefferson Mackey
put theiT wise heads together in preparing 1t
at the Mayors Office. Late in the after
noon Major Willis received the missive
OF the triumvirate, signed by the Mayor. 1t
was copious in Its thanks 10 the major for his
past services in cleaning the cellars and low
places in the city Of water, and authorized him
to continue pumping, and to inspect the pre-
mises that might be reported. Whatever
nuisaaces he found, it authorized him to re-
pert to the city inspector and registrar, who
would take steps to abate the same, and the
cooperation of the authorities in the preserva-
tion of the work was promised. While the
document purported to give him some power,
1t was 80 full of limitations and restrictions,
that 1t was hard TO make out what was really
intended. Major Willis did not have time last
night to respond to this complimentary eps-
tie, but will do so to-day. A few cellars in
which the water was sprlnglng were pumped
out by the engines, and beyond this nothing
more was done.
On the other hand, the Mayor on Thursday
afternoon wrote 10 Alderman Collins accept
ing his offer to act gratuitously as city inspec-
tor In the place OF jerks, and authorizing him
to enter at once upon the duties of the office.
The new inspector is too we'll known to need
an introduction to our readers, and yesterday
he took charge Of the duties of his office. The
carts were at once set to work to aid the scav-
engers in removing the extra rubbish. BY
order Of the registrar, the inspector also tele-
graphed TO New York for twelve thousand
pounds OF chloride of lime, which will be ship
ped to-day, the present supply being reported
as almost exhausted. Orders have also been
issued 10 the assistants to compel the faithful
discharge Of their duties BY the scavengers.
Our Merchants and the Fever.
A prominent jobbing merchant Of our city
writes to The NEWS as follows:
The manner in which country newspapers
are attempting to divert trade from Charleston
is, to say the least Of 1t, contemplate. The
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel tells us that
several Charleston merchants expect to do
business there during the fall. The Columbia
Phoenix says several Of our merchants are
making arrangements to 60 there. A religious
paper, published In Atlanta, Ca, stated short
lime since that no less than seven Of our busi-
ness houses were coming to that town. There
is not particle OF truth In these statements
There are central points in the Interior where
some of our merchants might send samples OF
their stocks, but none OF our jobbers would
think of going either TO Augusta or Columbia
with even samples. One Of our jobbing houses
proposes to try the experiment of opening
branch of ,neir business at Atlanta, Ga. No
more nor no less.
Our jo5bers never had better stocks than
they have now, and, Notwithstanding the eX-
oSSCioteu Iuu1OrS III Tue COuulIy duOuI Tue
prevalence of fever during the last month, the
Trade during the month was much larger than
the corresponding month last year. In fact,
we know that some of our jobbing houses
sales were double those of same month last
year. There are here merchants from the in
terror every day making their purchases. 1t
is fact well known 10 our oldest merchants,
that never has there been aa instance of q
country merchant who came to Charleston to
purchase goods, remaining one day or two
days, that caught tever. But our object is not
to induce merchants to come 10 Charleston
against their Judgment; it is to correct the
erroneous stories that are being circulated by
interested parties TO divert trade from our
market. Country clerks who run at the mere
whisper OF fever, and it!nerant peddlers who
carry their stocks on their backs, are not
Charleston merchants. Our merchants are
here. ready to wait upon their customers, or
supply them by order.
Howard Association.
The regular meeting Of the association was
.ield yesterday at IL NJ, at Market Hall. Sew
eral new members were added to the roll of
the association, and Mr.. Wilmot G. DeSaus-
cure WAC elected second ricp-nresident vice