The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-08-06
NEW YORK, FRIDAY MORNING. AUGUST 6, ls47
tency and .brdy of the location of the present


New York, and from the density Of population around
the quarantine station only to be unprecedented la
lation to yellow feve-; the small pox diseare much
frequent In this latitude and Of very dangerous
and insdious character may spread its ravages among
our population by the neglect Of quarantine and
that during the three preceding s43 297
smallpox admitted into the Marine Hospital This
disease, which has been found at all times among the
crowd Of emgrants constantly arriving at the port
New York from Europe, is much to be dreaded at
present In Of the extraordinary increase Of
Another objection to the present quarantine station
arises from the narrow limits Of the grounds which for
DID the adopting OF those improvements in the building
OF hospitals the arrangement Of the burying grounds
and the economy ofthe establishment which experience
is daily suggesting The Quarantine grounds contain
about thirty present occupied by large hospital
buildings which can accommodate about 450 patients;
deputy health officer the assistant physician, and the
steward and farmer work house. six houses for barge
men, each 80 feet by 90 the Office the house. the
carpenters shop the Ice and coal house together 10
20 feet the wagon house and the barn. so by 80 feet "A
portion Of the ground Is also occupied by the United
States public stores Within the last three months
versl extensive wooden buildings have been erected
within the enclosure to the great number
of patients suffering with tho ship fever the average
number of whom has been about ZOO In the hospitals
or course this large number Of buildings and their
csssary occupy very considerable Por-
burying ground contained within the thirty acres
within the walls Of the quarantine Should another To-
land, it is believed that among other improvements
large portion Of the grounds could be
Wnere
convalescence might be employed with advantage to
themselves and to the institution until health is su
GENTLY established to make it safe for themselves and
the public to have them mnge with the Of the
pulation. With this view tract Of land of
about hundred and fifty might be Sc
cured On the bay Of New York, sufficiently removed
from the city, to prevent much possible inter-
course between the quarantine and the city of New
York. and at the same time of com easy access
from the shipping Thus would the comfort and health
of the patients, and of the great number Of emgants
who are compelled to have recourse to the quarantine
hna Ito hv nf o,vstiav 10
considerably promoted and the danger from infection
be much essened in of increase of population in
would then, certain extent be district within It.
SELF and would present the prospect Of remaining
permansnt Quarantine worthy Of the great State and
contemplation Of this change and improve ment, two
points are necessarily to be considered First the
grounds and hospitals with reference the
for the shipping As to the first it has been estimated
persons we'll acquainted the value of real estate
IN the immediate vicinity Of the present quarantine
grounds, and OF the improvements thereon that sum
certainly not less than $l50000 could be realised from
sale OF the establishment and its appur
"a sum sufficiently large to secure large tract of from
$50 to 900 acres on New York bay, and to erect all
the greater part Of the buildings required for
purposes As to the anchorage 1t cannot be expected
that all the shipping should anchor in the immediate
vicinity OF the quarantine indeed it necessary
advisable If it could be done The danger large
number of vessels being confined within a limited ex
tent is very great Frequently during the spring and
summer months very large number Of vessels may be
seen at anchor near the present quarantine This num-
ber added to that Of steamboats, and other craft
stanty passing and repassing the quarantned vessels
would greatly enhance the danger in of sickness
and infection On this subject the report Of the afore-
said committee appointed by the legislature contains
the following just remarks:
THE distance from staten Island to Long Island at
the quarantine ground, only $500 yards; and
lying anchor at quarantine Should an infected YES
sell with large number Of persons on board sick with
ger to all vessels, whether inward outward bound
would be very great we'll to those who should pass
and repass In the ferry boats This danger stri.
kngly manifested in the arrival of the war steamer
L'Eclair off the English coast In September, lS45
Had she been confined within the narrow limits OF
our present quarantine ground, and had the ship.
ping usually there in the quarantine season. been obg-
ed to lie near her, the almost certainty Is that
disease would have been persons aboard
OF them This single instance Is sufficient to urge the
granting OF power to the health officer to remove any
vessel he shall think proper to anchorage
pretended in few years In contemplation Of the grow
Ing commerce and shipping Of New York In Of in
perous law necessity demands extension Of the
chorage, and that the quarantned vessels should be
distributed In various parts Of the Bay
may require. In this view Of the oil that is re-
quired Is that the quarantine station should be within
convenient distance from the shipping and accessible
by steamboat to be employed in taking the sick from
the ships to the hospitals and the vessels could be an
chored at present. and in other suitable localities
along the Bay Several places have been suggested to
for quarantine station and sfordng good anchorage;
but this being subject which the Legislature viii
u
change the Committee Of Safety have thought proper
abstain from discussing the merits Of the different places
may be thought At present Of the proprety
few years longer the change will be rendered alb
solutey necessary, by the great increase in popua-
intercourse between the city of New York and Staten
Island Is it not prudent then to effect the requisite
removal Of the quarantine before greater OUTLAY of
money is made in buildings and other on
the present locality! Unless the public authorities will
determine to continue the quarantine in present To-
ltrak and
dictate an immediate change What would be thought
OF the wisdom Of Legislature that would permit
miles apartn the midst of which there we're
ranne station and marine hospitals containing durnga
great portion Of every year about 800 patients Such
however the picture that will be presented before the
people Of this State within comparatively small
be Of years. nay, it would be accurate assert
things
But there is thing fellow citizens of Staten Island
which more particularly YOU it s the n eat
Injury resulting to the island from the fear Of danger in
consequence OF the quarantine. This materially inter
eres with the business of the island and the sufferers
are chiefly those who gain livelihood by keeping public
houses and places OF amusement along the shore Of Sta
ten Island and the vicinity of the quarantine the re-
talers Of many articles Of owners and
drivers Of public carriages and other persons who
not afford the loss Of season, during which the num-
Dor Of patients at the hospitals and the
ectious or contagious Diseases may give rise to we'll
grounded fears. This. however, in comparison with
health Is Of minor Importance. The health and safety
Of the people should indeed be the supreme law of the
some other similar disease should be introduced into
tito midst Of US, and should decmate population
and render our homes desolate what repay for
the loss How many years must not pass our
hsads before the island could regain It's present prospe
ritz if ever! Awake, then, fellows citizens, to the dan
gir before 1t may be too lae and let your
ives In the Legislature understand unequyocay that
ts Is matter on which you expect them to do their
duty and that you are determined to know their views
an this subject, and be guided accordingly.
But 1t has been urged by some who admit the incou.
venience resulting to the population immediately around
te Quarantine grounds, that people have right to
build near the Quarantine and that If they will settle
near It, they must submit to the consequences This
certainly Is one Of the strangest arguments or rather
assertions that can be advanced against change of the
quarantine. Both reason and law are against such q
position Our Supreme Court have decided that there
Is no such thing rs prescriptve any other right to
maintain public nuisance" and reason and the plain
EFT principles OF justice would to Indicate that
counties, cities, towns villages, have right to in
crease and extend their limits in OF the
growth OF population This Is natural right and IL re-
hires no laborsd argument to Substanate IL il the
public Inconvenience or nuisance that must yield and
retire before the exgencies and requirements Of social
life.