The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-25
THE REMOVAL or QUARANTINE.


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Conference OF tho Quarantine Commissioners
with tho Governox-Plan for the Perma-
nent Establishment OF Quarantine fan tho
Lower Bay, Sc.
Albany, Sept. "a, 1858.
George Hall Of Brooklyn, Egbcrt Benson Of New York,
and Obadiah Brown Of Staten Islani Commissioners for
the removal of Quarantine here TO day for
purpose Of presenting plan for the removal Of Quarantine
Governor King the Lieutenant Governor and the Comp
troler who have supervision the selection Of site
They give up all idea Of locating the Quarantine land
and propose TO construct series of basins in the lower
bay, in which floating hospitals lay at anchor still
in the Liverpool docks. Each vessel used hospi
tai to be in separate basin, so as TO keep apart the
different diseases Tho plan is endorsed by the leading
medical men Of New York. and believed 70 be practica
bic and economical.
The basins can be constructed very speedily and bc
completed, the commissioners believe, with the funds now
hand to their credit in the Con4trollers department
They prepared with estimates Of the cost from eng
of the highest responsibility It is also proposed by
he Commissioners 60 back 10 first principles and make
quarantine simply sanitary institution separating from
all steycdoring Tightening, and other speculative bust
by which the expenses and profits OF quarantine have
been swolicd to such vast proportions and leaving all
such occupations to private enterprise and competition,
subject to proper legal restriction
Inc ioloWiuS N the report presented py the COnlmS-
for the removal Of Quarantine the Governor and
State officers to-day
OFFICE COMMISSIONERS
FOR Tux REMOVAL or r1Ig QUARANTINE STATION,
NEW York, Sept. IA, 1858
To GOVERNOR LIEUTENANT Gov EssoR CoMr-
GEsIKsfN-The occurrences of the past few weeks at
the Quarantine station at Tompkinsve call TOR action
our part which, under other circumstances, should
have poncd till the meeting Of the Legislature The port
Of New York Is without IN effective Quarantine, and
af
SEX Of imported pestlenta diseases presents itself TO us
with renewed force. We accordingly respectfully submit
the following proposition for entire removal OF the
Quarantine station TO the lower bay and ask your assent
thereto.
viii he seen by the accompanying statements Of expo
rimens Of ply scans among them ex Health Officers and
other Quarantine officials that floating hospitals are
tcnsiveiy used in Europe, wherever still water can be
found in which to anchor them II is probably known to
you that floating hospitals have received the sanction OF
many Of leading merchants. Mr.. Moses H. Grinne,
among others earnestly advised their adoption for tempo
rary purposes The popular idea Of floating hospital sup
something in the nature OF ship which all experience
shows 10 bit little better than charne house when
infected With yellow fever Such is not the charac
ter Of properly constructed floating hospitals When
built they should be, they have proved themselves
Superior 10 all others properly constructed floating
hospital differs from a well built house only in being
ao instead az on land, and has the additional advan
tage OF being entirely removed from al surrounding OBJ
jects and constantly exposed 10 free circulation OF air
The strong objection heretofore urged against them here
has been that they could not b. anchored in the lower
bay Of New York without exposure TO the swell
of the waves so frequently found there, and
that would be the excess OF inhumanty 10 submit tho
tempest tossed invalid ON his arrival in port to renewal
of his previous sulIerngs by For time this obec
ton seemed fatal but having been unable to find salts
factory site for Quarantine shore attention has
been called 10 the feasibility OF making land of the
| numerous shoals in the lower bay.
Having satisfied ourselves in the Of this nves
cation that outer frame work enclosure for such
structure can be made permanent the choice Is lett US
between filling up the space 20 enclosed or using il as
basin wherein anchor floating hospitals. The latter
hcapest ard most expeditions and advise
IL accordingly The experience II two years and the
testimony Of the Health Officer, shown
IN late report 10 the Board " Health OF
New York, sufficiently demonstrates the security
the anchorage In the bay and the practice Of the
last has proved that BY the Of steamboat
the Health Officer board vessels at distance Of miles
from the hospitals easily when Already
hulks used temporary torchouses for cargo and
the only remaining necessity, wash house, be
blished hulk anchored at safe distance from the
floating hospitals and lifted up with all the necessary a
planes for that brance Of service.
All the above proposed arrangements, together with
such other minutes Of details necessary for total
removal IL Quarantine, cheap, within the
disposal, and capable OF speedy construction. We
earnestly ask your 10 tho Immediate Of
this plan for the removal OF Quarantine from It's present
dangerous and unnecessary site.
All Of which respectfully submitted by your obeden
servants.
For tho Commissioners by order Of the Board.
GEORGE HALL, Chairman
Mr. BOVINE made argument in favor OF the views OF
the Commissioners
Governor King, at the close of Mr. Bownes remarks
stated his satisfaction the ability Of the argument and
the novelty Of the views advanced.
The officers sgnncd their intention 10 visit and
organize the proposed site and plans for floating hosp
Wednesday Of week and TO decide the
proposition.