The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-21
voud he no,ua rroupds and II lsas the number reach

yond the hospital grounds and In l84s the number reach
ed high $50, Of which many terminated fatally
legislative relief in several Of which the dsntsr s.sd
citizens Of New York and Brooklyn joined The Lsxtsa
ss ~ sss Ss sSs 20 With ss
Vessel Smith at It's head, To give the subject Vt the fit
ness Of the present Quarantine station FOR te protection
OF New York Brooklyn and Staten Island, thorough and
impartial investigation and to report at the session
Curing the Of the Legislature that committee
question They examined tho Health Oaccr and numer-
Gus physicians, shipping merchants, sea captains
and other citizens OF New York, Kings and Richmond
who were conversant with the subject nearly all OF
whom testimony the entire unness Of the present
srounos LOT - s result s s was anani
Quarantine could no longer be continued Staten Island
with safety; that IL Afforded no protection to New
York or Brooklyn; that had long been
grievous and uDusthabe burden upon Richmond county
and the committee, in conclusion, unhesitangy recon
mend its immediate removal.n Between the appoint
anu report OF this committee the yellow fever broke
out Staten Island and ragged with unprecedented VIC
once. Sporadic occurred in the neghboring cities
In consequence the legislature notwithstanding the deter
mined opposition OF certain shipping interests the city
Of New York passed, on the 10Th Of April, lsl9 SAC
for the establishment Of hospitals at Sandy Hook and
appointed officers and appropriated money 10 carry int
eject Unfortunately the measure continued to
the steady hostility OF these interests after well be-
FORE its enactment The officers charged with the duty Of
removal took definite action and thus the expressed
will of the Legislature was defeated From that time TO
the present the law has remained dead letter upon the
statute book.
by this rutess result no further steps of
importance taken by citizens towards the
val Of the Quarantine until the fearful visitation yellow
fever on Long Island, Governors Island and Sta
ten Island in the summer Of 1856. The ravages of
that ghtiu pesence too fresh in the recollection of
all TO require particular mention here. The rapid and
unchecked spread Of the disease the remains OF its
TINS lying in almost every house the Narrows from
Coney Island into the city OF Brooklyn and the impend
ing danger TO New York itself, aroused the people
renewed application for legislative relief On the 9Th day
Of March, 1857 an act was passed almost unanimously
for the removal Of the Quarantine station from Staten
Island and commissioners named and funds appro-
priaed To carry out ts provisions general feeling Of
relief and satisfaction pervaded the counties which
to be especially benefited by this act The citizens Of
Richmond congratulated themselves that they had at
length got rid Of deadly nuisance But they doomed
to speedy disappointment No had the commits
for to the State Of New Jersey
for the purpose, and as they alleged, with fair pros
pect OF securing Sandy Hook for Quarantine station than
they openly met by the rcmonsrances and secretly
by the influences Of the parties, who had once be-
fore been successful in battling the action Of our Legs
wise the Of the Health Occr
Board of Underwriters Of New York, and the Comms-
s0ners Ssss :, shs hs,o1w n the result Known :
were foled IN their application, our opponents once
more triumphed and the Quarantine remained at our
very doors the same nolerablc and hopeless nuisance
notwithstanding the twice expressed will OF the law
making power of the county.
In the meantime the institution had, either by corrupt
or reckless mIsmanagement become alarming evil
than ever before. Soon after II placed under the
management Of the present Health Oficcr series Of
Legislative enacments procured designed centre
in that person more power than had been delegated
anyone individual in this State The ofths
BILE control He vested with authority stop all ves
sells entering the harbor say how long they should re-
main At Quarantine TO require cargoes 10 be ghtered
boats and by persons selected by himself and ne assumed
10 fix tariff Of charges without limit control. The
conscquencesare well known The institution was magcd
quite much with view 10 the increase the prnccy
venue OF the Health 0cer TO the Of the pub
ic health Coasting vessels coming from south Of Cape
HeBopen we'll as all vessels from foreign ports some
times numbering between hundred and hundred
a day, were subjected to visitation at enormous ex.
pensc The exclusive privilege OF lghterng given
n
tic ports unnecessarily quarantned for COM
PEELED 10 pay large sums for board and the most rug ac
commodaons In many instances, is alleged, persons
anu vessels so quarantned for pecuniary consdc
ration, permitted 70 leave their anchorage and proceed
the city Of New York. The Quarantine grounds fire.
quenty overcrowded the sick and well placed in
dangerous proximity TO each other and promiscuous in
tercourse permitted between those inside and out
side the walls Sevcdorcs and other employees suf
fered TO mnge indiscrminatey with citizens and 70
pass at pleasure ON the ferries 70 and from their families
in the cities Of New York and Brooklyn All this time
there were published In the daily papers and In the reports
of the Health Ohcer to the Board Of Health OF New
York, the exaggerated OF the rigid
forcenent Of the quarantine regulations II repeat
main within the Quarantine grounds vc days
ing infected vessels yet was proved and the Health
0cer has admitted that the 7h day q August last
when the yellow fever extensively raging, q
large body Of them passed out Of the grounds
20 mnglc in and control crowded political meetings Of
citizens Of Caseton and other towns, and few evenings
after many others suffered be present politi-
cal convention at Richmond shortly after this
of yellow fever broke out At New Brighton, where Of
these meetings had been held.
when the yellow fever was committing frightfal havoc
on Staten Island in the summer Of 1856 the Board sf
Health Of Casteton In order 70 protect the lives Of their
fellow citizens, made regulations and erected structures
prevent intercourse between those inside and outside tho
Quarantine enclosure The Health 0ccr instead Of aiding
their audabe efforts, and Notwithstanding similar regu.
ation Of his own, permitted band of men from the inside
an example which has been but TOO sarfaiy imtsied
when the rioters arrested for infracton II the
law, he procured -. counsel 70 sue out wrs q
boring Judge, by whom they were discharged. From
that time 70 the present the action Of the Board Of
discharge OF their duties, has been systematically
resisted and the members held up 70 ridcue
grounds Every effort q these auhori.ics for the preser
Of the health of the town thwarted and they
found themselves unable 70 enforce their regulations
restrain the officials and their employees within the Quar-
antnc walls Infected clothing, notwithstanding their
monstranocs, almost daily burned in iron scow,
rounding villages on board The crowded ferry boats
The Rather, infected vessel, which had been suffered
fever occurred on board and which vessel the Mayor had
threatened 70 scue and sink 81 her dock unless removed
was brought down 70 the island and moored wharf in
the midst of densely populated neshborhood and close
70 the ferry landing The Board traced Of
yellow fever 70 the mismanAsement cf the Quarantine
occurred, although yet early the season. Day
after day they their fellow citizens sckening and
protection Notwithstanding ample provisions of The law
At length these grievances became ntocrabe that
the Board q Health were compelled, aner taking
legal advice, 70 pass resolution declaring
the institution, under ns groes msrnanascment,
nsuerabs nuisance and calling upon 'she czcns of
the county 70 abate without delay This Is believed
by your committee the spark which, falling upon an
already excited and outraged community, brought about
The events Of the nights OF the 1st and ID of September
Such of the facts connected with the recent
disturbances In this county, which have felt duty
10 submit 10 the candid consideration OF the public We
might multiply instances Of the criminal misconduct Of
the Quarantine authorities such carelcssness dis
posing Of the dead dischagng infected vessels near
densey populated shores and ferry landings and other
acts evncng utter disregard of the health of the
island all Of which contributed work up tho minds OF
citizens 70 high pitch of excitement While your
committee feel the great importance of preserving the
peace and profess the most profound for the laws
Of The country they respectfully submit that mind
of every rejecting citizen these circumstances go
far 10 paste not 20 Justify, the OF the LIST
and I'd of September When u IL remembered that the
Quarantine buildings we're located on ISLAND IN spite