Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-21
ondence of Tux EVENING srA,.

'ASEsS ANO DsSAfINo oAkbA0k.
Correspondence of TEE EVENING srA,.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. sept II, 1855.
THIS plague-stricken city Is situated on the con-
cave bank, north ii ie. OF elbow OF the St. John
River. about 90 niles from its mouth and 200 miles
directly south, from It's source. From JACKSONVILLE
TO the mouth OF the river the course Is nearly east
II is a sluggish stream and the tide nows up over
100 miles. The city extends about mile along On
the marshy bank of the river At the westerly END
OF the city C eek flows into the river, along the
banks OF which creek the railroads enter. These
roads have lied up the marshy banks OF the creek
W tn slabs covered with sand for nearly mile.
On the eastern side OF the city another creek enters
the river. This stream runs nortneIly, perhaps
half a mile, then westerly along the northern side
OF the city and has wide, marshy banks These
marshy places have likewise been filled with slabs
and city garbage covered with sand. On the river
waters edge This thoroughfare IL now mostly
lined with blocks or stately buildings which ap-
pear TO have been erected on solid foundations;
but a person conversdnt with the city, as have
been since 1879 knows that great portion OF this
'front.' Is made or slabs, city O1al, and a sand COW
er1ng. o. wharves there can hardly Do said to be
any. The shipping interest Is comparatively small
II Is well known that the floors TO many OF these
aforementioned buildings have to be frequently
relaid. Three years since Bay street was lad with
a wooden pavement nearly its entire length.
NORTHERN CUSTOMS NOT SUITED 10 SOUTHERN con-
DITi0Ns.
The city Is Inhabited mainly by Northern people,
and they have brought with them many customs
which were all right In their former homes in
colder climate, but are il-suited to Southern hot
climate. 1he prevailing custom North for many
years has been, in the cities especially, to have
the water closet In the house and this custom
many cases. The soil here is u pure sand and all
liquids are readily absorbed. The attempt to have
tight boxes can be considered failure. Under
THESE conditions and Others OF similar character,
out less prominent, this city, OF about 10000 In
naoitants, has grown up, and while this has been
going on the u ound has become saturated with
decaylng vegetable and animal matter.
WHERE YELLOW JACK rHRIvEa
In view OF this it Is We'll to inquire, What Is the
habitat OF the yellow fever? THAT which pro-
duces yellow fever must In some way be connected
Win animal matters; for IL is generated, or at
rast only enectve, where men con ,regate. Hence
It's origin In cities, gdrr1sOns, and occasionally on
ships In all these situations we have animal ef.
nuSla or excrelnent, often mingled with vegeta able
ueeay. Along wharves, and In docks into when
common sewers empty, We have these conditions
Ia an eminent degree, ready to be called intO &C
ued above 500 Far. Conclusions from the above
causes are inevitable.
CONCLUSION A FAILURE
Conclusion As a remedy seems futile IL was
thoroughly tried In Jacksonville The result
seems TO be similar to conclusion In all cases II
there be yellow fever germs It scatters them and
extends their influence. III IL be an Invisible mi-
aslna conclusion difuses IL precisely the same as
striking MUSK bag Will distribute the odors.
Conclusion must inevitably spread the disease.
NO DANGER IN CLEAN CITIES.
The weight OF evidence is by far In favor OF the
conclusion that the disease will not spread in a
clean city. Parties having the disease may die at
distant points, but spread the disease unless
In habitat OF yellow fever. In 1858 sixIy-one
cases were Carried through Memphis In open We
nlcIes aho placed prom Scuou>ly In the hospitals,
ana not citz-n or a single person OF the many
patients already In the hospital took the fever.
many from Fernandina In n died at distant points,
Yet The disease did not spread In a single instance
Inc panic all over the country seems b. ground
less. The action OF Atlanta, Macon, and Columbia
seeIIls 10 De the only sensible view taken In the
NnOle county. They invite all refugees without
lever or with IL to come To them. Jacksonville has
had about ZOO cases and $50 deaths up to sept
IA The disease has not yet reached It's maximum.
ne cases and deaths will continue TO Increase Till
ABOUT the 10th OIL october. With all that money
or help can do the city has yet TO go through a
needs the aid OF every citIZen. L