Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-08-04
WASHINGTON LETTER

Special Correspondence Independent.
There is something of yellow
fever scare in Washington and means
of precaution and prevention are
being discussed and adopted 1t is
perhaps incorrect to say that there
is any actual scare" but with in
fected vessels lying in quarantine at
the mouth ofour river, it is no more
than common prudence that every
possible precaution should be taken.
When vessel with several cases on
board runs past the marine outposts,
right into the port Of Baltimore, it
is time TO assume the defensive. A
few such occurrences might give us
the disease in earnest. 1t is not
thought that Washington is in any
real danger of being visited by the
epidemic, yet in common with all
tide water cities it enjoys no i'm
munity from attack. Disinfecting
and cleaning up foul places is going
on in many cities, yet it is question
if the cleaning up" process is desir.
able now. 1t has been the exper-
fence of Charleston, Savannah,
Mobile and New Orleans, cities
peculiarly open to attack from the
fever, that provoking cause of the
epidemic has been found in disturb.
ances of the earth's surface during
the heats of summer. In 1867
Charleston was visited by the disease
and its outbreak was proved to have
been simultaneous with the cleaning
of the great drain of the city. The
throwing up of an embankment in
Mobile on one occasion resulted sim.
ilarly. AT Hilton Head in 1862 the
excavation for a fort ification produ-
ced local epidemic of yellow fever,
which, if the other conditions had
been present, would have cost us the
loss of the Tenth army corps, then
sncamped on the island AS it was
there were forty or fifty deaths. Our
District commissioners have there
fore been warned against allowing
sewers or gas bitches. ETC., to be dug
up at this time.
1t is apparent that the lottery COM
panies are not going to die without
a struggle, and there is promise of
lively war between them and the
Postmaster General, who means to
stop their use of the mails if possible.
The Louisiana company is power
full institution, and for fifteen years
has welded great influence in the
politics Of that State. 1t has MADE
and unmade men in Congress and
out of it. Its influence in the State
has been so potent that no politician
who wishes to live politically dares
oppose it. In 1877 it saved the
Nichols government from destruc.
tion by interfering at critical
moment and assisting Mr.. Hayes
commission to disband the Packard
legislat ure. "A member of the last
Congressional delegation made him
sci Objectionable to it and he was
promptly shelved. The capital stock
OF the concern is now worth about
five times its par value, and its
dividends have Eeen enormous
Last year it divided SEVENTY per
| cent among It's stockholders. It's
stock is all in the hands of y.-ry
few persons. The largest owner is
Nj. Charles II. Howard, who has
5000 shares, their par value being
$4,000 900 His dividend last year
WAS 100000. MIR. John \. Morris
is tie, next largest owner, He has
1900 >harts, and last year he rtcriv-
ed $3.50 600. The man who created
and has managed this institution 80
successfully is Mr.. Howard He is
"a Mdrylander, but has lived IN NV
Orleans a great many years. lie
commenced life as IA bookseller, aud
was in that business until after the
war. In 1868 Mr.. Howard got this
lottery charter from the Louisiana
legislature. 1t WAS modelled after
the old lottery charter of the State