New-York tribune., 1879-04-01
4 pESTLLENTL1L CITY.

While the yellow fever was raging IN New
Orleans last Fall, the inhabitants formed ex-
collcnt resolutions about measures OF clcanll-
ness to prevent a recurrence of the epidemic.
They were too busy nursing the sick and
burying the dead to put them in practice
at the time, but they were determined
that rs soon az Z. the fever abated
the city should be thoroughly swept and
garnished. 1t was in a horribly filthy cOndi-
ton, and strangers not accustomed to It's foul
sights and vile OdOrs wondered that the en-
tire population did not sicken and die. A
correspondent Of THE TRIBUNE who visited
New Orleans in January found the peo-
Dlc still talking about the need of sanitary
measures, but doing nothing. They blamed
the local government, which was worthless,
corrupt and Democratic, for not under
taking the work of cleaning the reek-
ing streets and cutters. but they were
too busy with preparations for the ap-
preaching Mardi Gras festival TO organ
ize any popular movement to compel
the officials to do their duty. Yellow Jack
was dead, or at least was benumbed by the
cold and sleeping sOundly and relieved from
the terrors of his reign, the careless citizens
were subscribing thousands to hail the adj
vent of King Carnival with senseless revels
and gorgeous mummeries. Our correspondent
explored the districts of the city inhabited
by the poorer classes, and found them
reeking with all unclcanness-the road
ways canals of fctid mire and gar
bage, and the open cutters, which are the
only sewers, covered with green scum that
suggested untold horrors of putrefactlOn be-
low. Even in the cold weather of midwinter
the smell from the cutters at night, when the
inhabitants seem privileged to empty into
them any sort of filth, was so dreadful that
prudent people shut themselves up in their
houses after 10 o'clock.
Still there was hope that when the Carnival
madness subsidized Il resolute effort at purt-
cation would be made, but weeks have gone
by and nothing has been done. corre-
SpOndent of the Stats -ZeitUnJ in a letter of
recent date, describes the present condition of
the city, outside of Canal, Rampant, Espla
made and few other principal streets, as
simply abOminablc. The sensitive reader can
hardly get through his account of the appear
ance of the streets, suriace-sCwcrs and Gene
teres without holding his nose. How human
beings breathe such poisonous exhalatIons and
exist is a mystery but man is an adaptive AMI
nal, and gets used TO almost anything. The New
Orleans people were not greatly shocked at
the discovery made last Winter, that a street
contractor had been filling up holes in the
highways with oiIal and garbage brought from
the public dumping ground; and the complaints
of ply sicians quoted by this correspondent,
of the sickening condition of the potter's field,
where bodies are deposited in the wet, mry
ground, few inches below the surface, to be
rooted up by swine, will probably create no
great sensation.
If New Orleans were alone the sufferer for
her shocking neglect Of sanitary measures the
rest of the country might see her invite a new
outbreak of yellow fever with tolerablc equa-
nimity; but unfortunately she is an open door
through which the pestilencc stalks To ravage
the entire Valley of the Mississippi. A hundred
cities and towns may be desOlated through her
criminal carelessncss. While her corrupt officers
are dividing the spoils of her municipal mis-
government and her reckless citizens are
piping and dancing, thousands of people along
the banks of the great river and its tributa-
ries are looking upon her with fear and trem
bling, as a dreadful plaGue-spot from which
the dreaded yellow death will emerge as soon
rs the hot weather comes, to devastate their
homes.