Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-09-12
ASHINGTON
AN UNHEALTHY CAPITAL,

W ashlngtOn state that the capitol !,
overrun with an ugly malaria that i
very severe upon strangers unused II
the climate. The board of health has
just made a report upon the subject
and finds the great source of troubIa i,
the marsh lands near the Potomac
They say: "The waters of the cities ~
Washington and Georgetown. falling
gradually from the hills north of us n
the Potomac river, 1t follows that MANI
miles of sewers, the receptacles of III
the filth of the capital, are directed ia
ward the river, and debouch in the very
marshes in question. The quantity If
such pernlcious material constantly
flowing to the river is almost incalcl.
liable, but certainly amounts to thou.
sands of tons annually. The putrescent
matter enter into these marshes to no
stirred by the tides and imperfectlv
carried off on account of the immense
masses of rank vegetation which oh.
struct its course. The tidal currents he
ing unable to bear away effectively the
sedimentary matters against the power
of the returning waters, this half dis
solved putrld matter with the foul adj
ditions gathered in its course is brought
back by the eddies we these flats only
to ferment at the relux of every tide,
communicating the surrounding atmos-
phere far and wide its offensive
and pesiferous %eflluvia. The char
acter of these deposits is such
as to favor the development
of Il rank vegetation, becoming the re-
ccptacle for an endless organic growth
subject to incessant p~utrefaction. This
unseen laboratory of life and death af-
fords birth and burial to myriads of
plants aud animalculp. The surface of
these marshes covered by water or ey-
posed to the rays Of a ~scorching SUI.
presents u green carpet covered with
contirva and infusoria. Whatever its
condition, whether submerged or hid
den under a luyuriant vegetation, the
collections on these areas form a indus
for fermentation and decay, which
should not escape the attention of SAM
tarians."
The records of the registrar of vital
statistics of our board of health rave
the following percentage of the mortali-
ty from symotic or preventable dis
eases: 1875, 95S, or q .99 of the total
number of deaths; 1876, $50, or 22.01
of the total number of deaths; 1877, 91S
or 22.03 Of the total number of deaths.
The white house, war, navy, and treas
ury departments, are the nearest to
these marshes, and are in danger from
them every day that the prevailing
south wind blows. 1t is proposed that
congress shall take this matter in hand
and put IL few millions Of dollars into
the marshes as disinfectants, so hat the
people of the government and capital
may live.
THE A%NJUTANT GENERAL.
A rumor is aaoat among the army
officers stationed here that the president
intends to place Adjutant General +. d.
Townsend on the retired list. 1t has
been understood for several years that
it was the ruling opinion of Il majority
of the officers of the army that change
in the adjutant generals office would
be of great advantage to the service,
and many ~conjectures have been made
as to which officer of the corps would
succeed to the place. Generals Drum. of
Sheridan's staff, and Fry, of Hancocks
staff. are next in rank, but Gen. Vincent,
senior major, who has been on duty
for fifteen years in the office here, and
who virtually runs it, has aspirations
for the succession, and would probably
have been appointed if a vacancy had
occurred during Grants reign. Many
officers of the service have strongly eX-
pressed themselves in favor OF the APP
pointmento of Gen. w. ID. Whipple, and
de camp to Gen. Sherman, who Is Il
lieutenant colonel i'll the adiutant gen
erals corps.
OF COURsE NOT.
A law of congress passed on March .,
1875, provided that states had received
arms from the government from Jan
uary, 1860, to January, 1866, Whlch
arms had been used and lost or destroy
ed in the service Of the United States
government during the war for the pre-
servation of the union, should be cred-
tied therefor ON the preservation OF tle
facts to the proper authorities. a CIT
cular letter was addressed pro torn1d to
the governors of all the states, ana an
answer has been received from the
governor of North Carolina, III when
the governor says: "This state makes no
claim under the act referred to"
MORTON.
DR.. Bliss expressed the opinion that
Senator Morton will be able to attenu
the regular session of congress.