The New York herald., 1870-05-18
THE GUARDIANS OF THE PORT.
Meeting Of the Commissioners Of Quarantine-A
Rioh. Rare and Racy Dsbats-Dr. Oarno-
chan After the Commissioners We
to be scourged With Yellow Feverl

Yesterday afternoon the Commissioners Of Quar-
antine met at their rooms, 1S5 Broadway, Mr. Wilson
G. Hunt In the chair Upon motion OF DIR. Bell It
was resolved to change the once OF the Commis-
soners nom Its present place TO II Exchange place
between Broadway and New street. After auditing
several bills amounting In all to about $3.50 or $780,
ana appointing. upon motion OF Mr.. Barton, an
auditing committee, consisting OF Messrs. Barton
and Bell to whom In the future all bills VIII be pre-
sented for examination,
DR.. Carnochan, the Health Ofacer, entered, and
after friendly shaking OF hands all around inquired
OF the Commissioners what they proposed to do in
regard to furnishing him with suitable hospital ships
upon which to place the cases Of yellow fever that
are arriving at this port very frequently at this
son. He said he had made several applications to
the Commissioners for such ships or boats, but as
yet had received no satisfaction whatever from
them
DR.. BELL said the Board had concluded to send
the Falcon down. TO be placed at the disposition of
the Health Onicer as soon as the needed repairs
could be made.
DR.. CARNocHAN said that DR.. Bell had some time
SINCE In company with several other parties compe-
tent to judge made survey or examination of the
Falcon, and reported that she was totally unfit for
the purpose required Of her. that she very rot
ten and leaked very much indeed. How the Com
mlssi0ners could determine to send such craft
down to him to place sick upon, especially after
one Of their own number had reported her to be
wholly unit for any purpose whatever more than
he could conceive. II she is, said Dr. Carnochan,
taken down there and anchored as proposed, and q
gale comes on what to become of her and those
board, too sick, OF course to help themselves.
TO this DR.. BELL remarked, that subsequent to the
examination Of the Falcon, which DR.. Carnochan
referred to, he and others had examined her again,
and had found that she was not 80 bad as they had
at first supposed. and, besides, 1t was proposed to
anchor her in water SO shallow that should she sink
any who might be on her decks would be perfectly
safe so far as drowning was concerned DR. Bell did
1 n s ssy o as 70 %s m s
Old hulk go to piecss In Storm.
DR.. CARNocHAN asked why the Commissioners I'D
not place at his disposal me Illinois, as they had at
The CHAIRMAN replied that the Illinois belonged
to the general governments and that thsy had made
application to the authorities at washington to
have her turned over to the State but as yet had not
heard any thing definite about the matter. although
they thought they would in short time She Is,
continued Mr.. Hunt now at the disposal Of the Com
mssioners but she needs repairs before she is
ut for use and wc do not feel called upon to make
them unless we are guaranteed that the govern.
ment will allow her to remain In our pos session.
Dr. CARNoCHAN thought this rather ''poor
show" for the protecnon OF the people OF New York
and vicinity from contagious diseases. One or both
o. these boats, he sald should have been down at
the West Bank at least ten days ago, several
sels had arrived OF late with number OF cases Of
yeOW leVcr anu IL ~ DW so Lato Lie sea-
son that vessels with the disease on board may ar
rive at any tine and find as wholly without the
means OF taking care OF the sick. Dr. Carno-
| chan was very earnest In his remarks, and
told the Commissioners very pla My that he would
not be 'Ons, bic for any calamity that might be-
fall the public through their neglect to furnish him,
as was their duty, with proper means and facilities
for caring Tor any AMI all the sick that should arrive
at this port In regard to repairing the Falcon and
| getting her ready ut an early day Dr. Carn0chan
sadi that at the present rate they would not have
| her ready for use inside OF two months; for the
! whole force engaged upon her consists OF one man
with paint brush.
| DIR. BELL, on behalf OF the Commissioners, said
the Health Ofcerlwas mistaken, as they have three
men, instead o. one, engaged upon her. and hope to
| have ner done and at her station IN short time
| DIR. CARNOCHAN told the Commissioners he would
I ike to have them do something In regard TO the
boathouse at the station, as IN lis present condition
1t affords neither protection tor theboats nor the
| b atmen. One boatman. said the Doctor, ls now
laid up with sickness 0ccas0ned by exposure IN the
last Storm In case Storm comes on, he continued,
| tie men have no manner Of protection at oil, and
are tn refore compelled seek shelter In the house
| OF his deputy, who, by tie way has very large
family ana therefore finds 1t exceedingly unplea-
| SAINT to have half dozen bOatmen thIusting them
| selves In upon him at any and all times.
| The Commissioners did not know exactly what to
DO in the matt r. They did think 1t best to build a
as to whether the boatmen were accustomed 20 hav.
ing shel er &C.. and finally came to the conclusion
that the had nothing at all to do with It, and that
Dr.. Carnochan should lay the case before the Con.
structlOn Committee which meets next Monday
After another urgent request by DR.. Carn0char
that the Commissioners hurry up the repairs on
either the Falcon or the Illinois, and get one of them
down to him as soon possible, the Commissioner:
adjourned, to meet again next week IN their rooms
In Exchange place.