National Republican., 1878-10-11
THE YELLOW FEVER.
Tho situation In New Orleans.

The situation In New Orleans.
The following letter was received by Secre-
tary shermen yesterday, being supplemental
to tho telegraphic dispatch sent on the 4th
instant:
Custom HOUSE,, NEw LEANS, oct. 5, 1873.
Non John S'ermdn, Secroidry Of he Treasury, Wash
SIR In reply to your telegram Of yesterday
n daie requesting report OF suffering and want from
suilcicncy, &c, I have tho honor to say:
The suffering and want directly resulting from
yellOW fever is very great Tho suhJect.mattcr Of
on Monday last by representatives Of the thirty re-
liei aud charitable associations, constituents OF the
Orleans Relief Committee"
II was agreed by them that the dcstitntion result.
ing directly from yellow fever and indirectly from
Is presence here affected not much less than my
eide The majority Of the rclicf associations repre-
sented reported their means Of relief exhausted
the remainder reported means oil hand adequate
To- the needs OF a very few days. The Young Mems
Christian Association tho one bcs. provided csti.
mated It's means equal to the demands o! eight or
have no knowledge Of what means Of relief the
HowgTds have on hand. The meeting above nj.
lndcd TO was without dissent Of the opinion that
the means OF the HoNards had teen o;crestl.
mated aud IN this also agree with them.
II is the best opinion that when the HownrdS
gave notice that their funds were ample for their
fever, then rapidly declining would by this date
have spent its force in which case their funds
would, perhaps. have been ample.
The fever has again increased in mortality and
violence. Is not now believed that the funds OF
the HownrdS are ample oven for the requirements
Of thcir, special work Whether this opinion be
well or illOundcd II Is sevldcnt that the association
docs not intend to divert their funds from the care
and medication Of the sick, and that the people OF
| the city do not expect that they will do so.
The weather gives no promise Of an early frost
| and consequent close of tho epidemic. The raw
ages of the disease 1t is nearly certain, will con.
| thine for weeks to come AMER the close Of the
endemic still weeks must clapse before the buSi.
ness aud industries Of the city can be completely
rcorganizcd. The famine, which not only threat,
ems us, hut actually exists Is largely due TO the
want OF employment consequent upon the suspen.
sion of traffic and manufactures and seriously ag
grayated by 'he sysicm OF Quarantine put in force
| against New Orleans throughout the country. by
which she Is prevented from doing the littl. bulsi
ness -lic might otherwise do.
| The meeting to which I have alluded herein wa,
| composed Of those whose experience uI the prcser
| epidemic and distress has been the grcatust-o
| business men Of the city. cool and careful In In
ye.llsation and Judgment. They reached the con
| resources IN hand and available half million o
| ratlons would be necessary TO carry tho people .
| New Orleans through the epidemic and until sucl
time as the industries and trade Of the city can b.
| rclrgnniZed.
| irg 10 add that among the ncc,ssnrIcS require,
| i q supply Of blRukCtS. The most essential fratur
! OF yellow fever treatment j. the keeping up Of per
| spratiun by external warmth. Great numbers o
| persons here ,lp without blankets winter and sum
mrr. a necessity usually forced upon them by pOv
| erty. Many even 0f the ChGI institutions hav
not Il sufficient supply. Cooler weather ought to b.
| expected shortly, wherein the life Of yellow revc
| patients will depend upon warm aud sulhrien
| covering. Oight TO ndd the Orleans Relief tom
miuce have acquired experience in the branch o
| relief work now under confederation. Their ma
chinery iS organized and efficient They hav
economically distributed the means Of relief here
| tofOre committed to them, aud can doultlc's serv
| the Government as the almonGr OF its future con
rihutiOns as we'll, If not better, than any other O
| new organization. have the honor to b(
very respectfully, your 9hcdleut servant,