The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-06-11

Vne QUARANTINE NJ So8unneo POINT
The steps taken by the Health Commits
sionen to appropriate the old Quarantine
grounds at Seguine's Point for the treatment
OF the cholera patients who arrive at this port
appear to create considerable dissatisfaction
among the residents Of that locality. Nor Is it
likely to entirely remove the danger of the
disease being transmitted to this city. In the
first place the location Is mot suitable for quar-
antine purposes. A considerable portion Of
the Point il low, marshy land; tho very worst
place for that disease. The railroad runs sufi-
GENTLY near for the Infection from those ct the
Point to be communicated to those travelling
over the road, and thus the disease will be
brought to this city. The indignation Of the
residents in that locality over. the seizure Of
the Point is not, therefore, wholly without
cause, But the public, and especially the
residents Of that portion Of Staten Island,
must bear in mind that the Health Commits
sioners were compelled under the pressure
upon them to do something for the relief Of
the sick on the cholera ships. They we're over
run with cholera patients; mon and women
were dying every hour simply from the want
Of accommodations for their medical and sani-
tary treatment They knew not 1t what hour
another vessel might arrive from Europe with
the cholera raging ct IN alarming rate. Under
these circumstances the Commissioners would
have been dsrelict in their duties II they had
not in some way provided additional fhcili
ties for the treatment Of the sick. Humanity
demanded something better for this purpose
than the old hulks in which the sick and dying
are now being huddlsd together.
The Health Board found II necessary to se-
cure some point on shore where the patients
could be taken and treated - their several
cases demanded. In looking over the whole
field the only point which they could seizs un-
der the color Of law was Seguine's Point, the
old Quarantine grounds and the property Of
the State. The fault il not with the Health
Board, but with the State authorities, for not
long before this providing suitable grounds for
quarantine purposes on some Of the islands
far enough from the main land to have re-
moved all possibility Of the infection being
communicated to the settlements ct the sea-
side. But we have no idea that IL Is intended
to retain the Quarantine at this point perma-
nently. The Board have taken possession for
the purpose Of meeting the present emer-
gency and only to be used for that purpose
until permanent Quarantine can be estab-
lished elsewhere-either on Barren Island or
by the formation Of a new island among the
shoals between Seguine's Point and Sandy
Hook. Either can be done in short time II
the proper authorities will move at once. In
the meantime we advise the residents Of Staten
Island to abstain from all forcible demonstra-
tons and leave their cause in the hands Of the
general public This, in the end, they win 6nd
will serve them better and secure the removal
Of the Quarantine from that section much
sooner than in any other way. The fact that
the swampy grounds form no small portion Of
the grounds now seized, - well a. the danger
Of communicating the pestilence TO this city, il
Sufficient To awaken An interest here which will
zee that other grounds are secured - soon ~
possible.