The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-08-11
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Our Washington Letter.
ROM RrounAR EErrEn.l

lOUR REGULAR LETTER.
wAsHINGroN, D. O., August 6. 1883.
There is something Of a yellow fever
scare in Washington and means Of pre-
caution and prevention are being dis
cussed and adopted. II is perhaps in
correct to ssy that there is any actual
''soare," but with infected vessels lyirg
10 quarantine at the mouth OF our river.
II is no more than common prudence that
every possible precaution should be TAX
en-. When vessel with several cases on
bolrd runs past the marine outposts,
right into the port Of Baltimore, 1t Is
time TO assume the defensive. A few
such occurrences might give us the d.
90 .se in earnest 1t is not thought TINT
Washington is in any real danger of be-
ing visited by the epidemic, yet in ccm-
mon with all tide-water cities it enjoys
no immunity from attack. Disinfecting
and cleaning up foul places is going on
in many cities, yet it is question II the
'cleaning up" process is desirable now.
1t has been the experience OF Charleston.
Savannah, Mobile and New Orleans, cities
peculiarly open TO attack from the fever,
that a provoking cause of the epidemic
has been found in disturbances Of the
earth's surface during the heats Of sum-
mer. In 1867 Charleston was visited by
the disease, and its outbreak was proved
to have been simultaneous with tho clean
ing of the great drain of the city, The
throwing up of an emoankment in Mo-
bile on one occasion resulted similarly.
At Hilton Head in 1862 the excavation
for fortiication produced local epi-
demic of yellow fever, which, il the other
conditions had been present, would baYe
cost US the loss of the Tenth army corps,
then encsmped on the island. As il was
there were forty or fifty deaths. Onr
District commissioners have therefore
been warned against allowing sewers or
gas bitches, ETC., to be dug up at this
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II is apparent that the lottery compap-
les are not going to die without II struggle,
aud there is promise Of lively war be-
tween them and the Postmaster General,
who means to stop their use of the msils
if possible /, The Louisiana company il
a powerful 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 20
potent that no politician who wishes 10
live politically dares oppose it. In 1877
it saved the Nlchols government from
destruction by Interfering at critic 4
moment and assisting Mr.. Hayes com
mission to disband the Packard |, gisla.
ture. "A member Of the last ConRressiop-
al delegation made himself obj ctionable
to it and be was promptly shelved. The
capital stock of the concern is now worth
atout Eve times its par value. and its
dividends have been enormous Last
year j: divided seventy per cent. among
it stockholders. It's stock il all in the
hands of a very few persons. The lare-
est owner is Mr. Charles T. Howard, who
has 81 900 shares, their par value being
5000. 900. His diyidepd last. year was
$420, 900. Mr.. John A. Morris is the
next largest owner. He has 900 g ares,
and last year he received $780, The
man who created and has managed this
institution so successfully is Mr.. Howard.
He is n Marylander, mt has lived in
New Orleans a great many years. He
commenced life as bookseller, and was
in that business until after the war. IL
1868 Mr.. Howard got this lottery charter
from the Lruisiaps legislature. 1t was
modelled after the old lottery charter OF
the State of Maryland, which system lie
carefully studied and brought to Louisi-
ana and there planted it. What Mr..
Howard's fortune is now no one knows,
but it is far up in the millions. He is in
wretched health, and has for years tried
to get well, but without success.
There is desrth OF smusements for the
summer residents Of the capital. The
theatres are all closed. and have been for
weeks. On Saturday afternoons the Ma
rine band plays on the lawn behind the
White House, and when they are not in
terrupted by showers and compelled to
hastily retreat into the White House eel
lar, their bright red coats and white he'll
NETS make gay centre-piece and their
programmes are heard with pleasure. On
Wednesdays they play in front of The
capitol and on Mondays III the parade
grounds at the Marine barracks. In tie
evenings they disintegTate, a part Of tLs
band going TO Drivers, an avenue garden
where music, acrobatic, dancing, sword.
swallowing. and singing exhibitions are
given; part to a variety theatre of dimmel
lus,re, and. another part to Abner's, 9
garden something after the style of The
old Central Park garden, New York, in
The Thomas. Concert days. In all thess
places there is beer and smoke, and tC
these is added, in Drivers, a sort OF cir
Gus zest, contributed by the smell Of saw
dust with which the floor is thickly Gag
peted. -- =. DON PEDAo.
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