The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-10

oe ~ our mldsl with the approach OF warm wee "ue
nese precautionary measures have led 10 the deten NO
quarantine OF an unusual number OF vessels for pu
posss OF puridcation. The number finally increased
sucE "a extent tna the usual anchorage was nsuficien
Tor Their accommodation without exposing vessels upor
ncn no sickness existed, to dagger, by contact with
those upon which contagion prevailed Under these
ouhsancss deemed II necessary TO remove such yes
es us were dangerous 10 the public heath do wn the bay
beyond the Quarantine buoys In doEy dir cted them
shre that there could not be cuy possible DANCE OF the
spfeaa Of coLiagon except from unlawfd inter pourse
OF the statute 1he 18th section q the quar- .ne Of
1905 provides thM among other things the Health OFFICER
shall have power 'to remsve roa the Quarantine an.
chorase ground any vessel he may deem dangerous 10
the public health. - any place south the Qssrant ,e
buoys and inside Of candy Hook THIS language ciea
ahu explicit and assume that isAa sound proposition
that when public oacer Is authorized TO do
the public protection and he omits 10 exercise the
power, he is properly charged with neglect Of tuty.
! regarded these vessels az dangerous to the pub
nc health Il allowed TO remain within the Qua
maass, raaars anchorage ard in tha. light they ws
resolutions. When came to that conclusion my duy
was plain Had omitted 20 remove them should have
oeen Justly chargeable with official neglect Yet by per
forming duty thus explicitly imposed cy law, have
aen under the censure OF respectable body Of public
zed the act as one Which Justly csusos preat alarm
among the inhabitants" of their county. am aware
that some OF the censure implied in the resolutions
founded upon the assumption that the vessels have been
sehored in closer proximity to the shore than necess
~ required. But | submit that this assumption is
wholly unwarraned and that any who will take the
trouble TO examine the harbor will concede tat no other
locality could have been selected which would have been
safe for incoming outgoing vessels ana less liable
communicate the disease to the shore while n would
have afforded safe anchorage for the shipping And
assert that any cases Of infectious diseases have
Cured ON either Shore the origin of which be traced
TO these vessels they have been the direct result Of
wfui nfracono Of quarantine laws aud regulations either
by persons under quarantine those Shore for which
the statute has provded heavy penalties and punish
ments. In every instance where violation OF the health
laws has tfen under my observation come TO my
tice have caused complaint TO be entered before the
proper authorities. Indictments have been found upon
several of these complaints which still pending II
any OF the gentlemen comprising the honorable body
to which have referred will specify the parties
who have been guilty Of the acts which have
led to the alarm alleged in the preamble, shall be
prompt placing the matter before the proper tribunal
Embraced in the resolution in regard to these vessels
is request Of an extraordinary character to which de
sire specially TO direct your attention. requested
TO place guard around the vessels which anchored
,ne lower bay TO prevent intercourse with the neigh
authorized and have the power and means to comply
with such request am at oss to determine unless il
"it shall be the special duty of all magistrates and
civil officers, and OF all Citizens Of tho state
to aid to the utmost Of their power the Board Of Health
and all the Health Ocer mentioned in this ac., in the
performance Of their respective duties II the Honorable
Board OF Supervisors had reference to this son of
law respectfully call upon them as part of the civ
cfIlcers' and ''ctizens of the Sate to aid in per-
forming duty by guarding these vessels and forming
the proper authorities Of any violation OF isw committed
by persons board of them, having intercourse with
the neghboring shore. l have too many official
duties TO perform TO render II possible for me
TO witness personally any infractioa OF law
mltted within ,the extended limits OF Quarantine and
must therefore look the civil officers magistrates and
citizens Of the State 10 lend that aid which the law
makeg II their imperative duty 10 render. II thcy viii all
co operate with me 10 the extent OF their power in
ishing offenders against the public health the people will
have to fear the spread Of contagion among
There Is another ground OF complaint agans, spcci
The Board say that Il Is reprcsented to nm hs vessels
from infected ports anchored outside OF the Duran
tine buoys designating the Quarantine anchorage,
the Marine Hospital in violation OF law. In reference to
this Il Is sufficient TO say that the arrival OF these
sells at Quarantine the anchorage ground found al
ready occupied by as many vessels as could be ac
cornmoj lated, and no room could be found for them
esewhere, except at too great distance to
permitted remain there from the necessity OF the case
but the vessels thus detained not classed in.
fcoted, but those OF " observation"
have deemed proper to say thus much TO you In
gard to these resolutions because they rease 10 acts
which have been sanctoned by you S branch Of the
sanitary authority Of this port submit them for your
consideration, and for such action as you may deem
proper. X. II. THOMPSON, Health 0incer.
The following arc the resolutions referred to in the
previous commune alton copy Of ~hich was submitted in
connection with the by the Health oaceS The pre-
amblc and resolutions unanimously adopted at n
meeting held the 9Th nst Of the Board Of Supervisors
OF Kings County
Whereas II has been represented TO this Board that n
number OF vessels have been anchored and continue TO
anchored in the waters OF ths county between Long
Island and Fort Hamiit,n Objected with m,xnan, aud
Infectious diseases TO the great danger OF the pubic
heah by order OF the Heath ocer OF the port Of New
York and whereas Il has been represented that large
number Of vessels arriving from infected ports,
chored outside Of the bGoys designating the anchorage
ground at the Quarantine where the Marine Hospital
s OF which anchored within the waters OF
this county IA violation of the provis,ns of the ls sec
ton OF the Act entitled IN Act relative 10 tho public
health aud ousrantine and regulations IN the nature Of
Quarantine at the port Of New York and nj the Marine
Hospital passed April 1850 20 the great danger Of the
public health OF tho citizens OF this county and whereas
the above rectcd measures OF the Health oncor OF the
port OF New York have not only Justly excited great alarm
among the inab this county but hAve compelled
.ne "a au.nores 70 2, & t,p Pre
Of this county thus subjectipg the Inhabitants OF this
county to considerable EXPENSE therefore
Resolved That the Health Oficer o. the port Of New
York be requested 10 pace guard around the vessels
which are anchored IN the lower bay W prevent inter
with the ncghbong shores aud tha, he all
vessels anchored there TO be placed at such distance
from the shore A. will prevent any danger of conagon
from them so as to quiet the minds Of the Inhabitants
Resolved That said Health Ofs be requested not TO
anchor any vessel opposite the Marine Hospital and Quar-
antne grounds, in the county Of Richmond, within The
waters of said county, AMI that be all vessels 10
said location Immediately bc anchored within the Guar
A. II. OSBORN, Clerk.
Considerable discussion epsued to the take
uron the communication an q resolutions submitted.
Alderman BaRgxR {actng Mayor said there could be
no doubt Of the law n the case. The Interpretation
placed upon The law by the Health oniccr was 10 his
view, correct In cases Ike the present greatly
desirable however, TO prevent any Misunderstanding
when the question Of the public ht ah concerned
Ard Il was especially desirable TO prevent any unjust
ears IN any quarter. He believed that unjust fears cx
ed srone the people Of Kings county and he had no
doubt they would aay themselves naturally, As was
they had mainly directed the Health Officer in the
be bad taken. and their duty 70 pass approval
uron his acts long themselves and this occr
acirg In accordance with the provisions of the sta lte
specially lsd down in the case
The Hsarm UHcKs stated that the vessels anchored
soath 81 the Quarartln buoys, now mile and half
from shore. lie had given directions and seen 70 the
iac hat tucy were Kept Of this distance In the case
short srce of one of the vessels breaking ioose o
her anchor ard then being driven " the shore he dcpu
tied gang n men tc 20 10 where the vessel lay and
lrevent such thing happening He added TIA, while the
Kings county people we're ntcnsed ~ the proximity o.
The yesseis - their shore pilots seafng because
they we're anchored at - great distance out The true
tiae o the 50 far from there beng any ground Of
alarm, wss every Gay growing moro favorable In
cng vessels bad loss II disease and there was less of
n.tcudn amCng sevcdores and lighters. with preven-
ton q communication between the shore and vessels
there vas not the slightest danger Of the disease spread
rg 70 the isand.
Dir. CnrmH Of Kings county insisted that there was
great cause q alarm among THE residents Of Long Island
a whc tpw&r uD nj