The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1878-08-31
Our Washington Letter.

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EDITOR CHIEF:
This certainly is not an " off year
in storms and cyclones, tornadoes,
freshets and floods. just what is the
cause of these extraordinary vista
tions aud their alarming frequency,
in all sections of the country, is a
question worthy of examination by
scholars and scientists. The long
continued hot wave that has burned
up the very breezes that usually come
to the help of sweltering humanity
throughout the country, forebodes Ill,
if this mundane sphere is really near
ing it's final destruction. Various
theories have been brought forward
to account for the real cause of the
change in the elements from their
normal, to this wonderful disturbed
condition. Some affirm that the ex-
treme heat is caused by the unusual
lack of spots on the sun. Others sug-
gest that President Hayes sometime
ago visited "Old Prob.n at the signal
office, and infinitely examined the in
struments, and went away satisfied
that all was working we'll. Others
affirm that Potter's committee has dis
turbed the solar system more than
all other things aud storms and
cyclones may be expected. Some
believe that these scorching days
are but fuint foretaste of the great
heat that will be experienced by all
who help to elect Ben Butler Presi-
dent in 1880. These suggestions are
given for what they are worth.
Washington has just been visited
by two unparalleled floods. The city
with concrete streets is one great
water shed, or roof, and the sewer
capacity is insufficient to carry off
the water accumulation. The Tiber
sewer under the Botanic Gardens
ten feet In diameter-with IA inch
brick walls and supporting power
of 800 pounds of water to the cubic
foot, was hurst during the late storm
by the power of the water and Sec
tiOn of 1870 feet was lifted out intact
and laid over on either side a score of
yards away, and the great rushing
mass of water flooded garden green
/ houses, and oil that section of the
city. Scarce u cellar either on high
or low land but that has been twice
flooded the past week while at least
$50 houses have been unroofed or
blown down.
Little attempt at show in matters
of dress is made here during the
heated term. We suffer, but not as
severely as would seem inevitable,
with the thermometer at 1000 for
| weeks in succession. More system
4 attic preparations are made here for
the hot weather than in many other
places, both as to clothing and house
| furnishing. About tho first of June
houses are stripped of their wooden
carpets and clean white mating SUBJ
stituted. Heavy curtains and lam
blequins are removed and their
| places filled by light shades and airy
laces. Furniture is covered with Guff
/ or white linen and cane or willow
chairs, divans and stands are brought
into use. This is not only the case in
| private dwellings but in the multitu-
tlinous rooms of the Government De-
partments, where each desk is fur
nished with palm leaf fan and each
room with tank of ice water. Gen.
| tlemen are now in linen aud seer
sucker and ladies in lawns and mus
lin. In street cars and carriages you
will see bareheaded men with hats in
hand, while for ladies the broadcast
hats obtainable are the favorites.
Most pite0us reports are daily
reaching this city concerning the
dreaded scourge of yellow fever that
is now raging through the South. 1t
appears that, although the terrible
disease is making sad ravages in some
of the Southern cities, it has by no
means reached the height to which il
attained one summer seveial years
ago, but people are frightened, as
well they may be, and undoubtedly
much intense suffering both of mind
and body is endured. Last Friday
the Secretary of War received the
following dispatch from Memphis
Death is making rapid strides
through our streets. Towns have
guarantined against us. Can you
not order 1000 tents, into which tx
remove the poor" This was signet
by the Internal Revenue Collector
aud Postmaster of Memphis, and wal
shortly followed by another Telegram
asking for rations and some othe
necessaries. Secretary McCragy com
piled with the request and at ono,
sent food, tents, stretchers, medicine
and other useful appliances for tn,
sick, although, as he said, there is II,
law authorizing him to employ Gov
ernment property for such purpose
save the law of humanity. But sure
ly that law is all powerful in such Al
extremity as is now upon thos
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