Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1878-09-06
THEORETICALLY SEALED
DR.. Rutherford Querantines Galveston.
The Cause That Led to the Action
and Order In Regard
Thereto.

tOi 1e'e ram hS\bS iio SN k'idhd-
ton. Some of our best physi-
clans oppose quarantine in toto:
others think it good thing.
Until we hear from the Calves
ton papers We shall be compell-
ed to look upon Houston's quar-
antiae as a mercenary matter.
Having always entertained a
good opinion of Houston and
her citizens the BANNER regrets
the necessity of this conclusion;
For the past two days much
talk has been INDUCED in in re-
gard to the proposed action of
DR.. Rutherford in establishing
quarantine against Galveston.
Many persons thought that as
there was no yellow fever in
Galveston there could certainly
be no cause for stopping COM
munication with that city. If
the matter was only one of
the danger from Galveston alone
no quarantine would be order
ed, but often times circumstan-
ces necessitate the adoption of
harsh measures to accomplish
any desired object. Thore cir
cumstances have presented
themselves to our Health Off
Ger, and he has "grasped the
nettle firmly" and will certainly
not get pricked.
Houston standing as the great
gateway of Texas, no matter
from what quarter it is entered,
has been entrusted with the
most responsible duties of
guardianship over the health of
the people as far as the possible
Importation of yellow fever is
concerned. 1t is to Houston
that everybody looks and the
responsibilities of the situation
she has nobly assumed and faith
fully carried out. In doing so
she has up to the present trus-
ted the quarantine of her coast
communications to Galveston
under the belief that Galveston
was honestly and faithfully dis
charging the duty without favor
or prejudice. Whether or not
this is so let the facts testify.
There are two lines of steam
ers running between New York
and Galveston. One. the Nal
lory line have all their steamers
touch at Key West, both going
and coming. Key West is at
this time and long has been au
infected port, and except in the
middle of winter is seldom free
from the presence of yellow fe-
yer. The other ships, those of
the morgan line, do not touch
anywhere. By an agreement of
the two lines the Malloroy ships
get all the ocean freights bound
for Galveston proper and GER
tain points in the interior. and
the Morgan line gets all Hous-
ton freights proper and those for
other certain points up the coun-
try. Now, Galveston proposes to
stopthe Morgan steamerbecause
it is dangerous, but will not stop
the Mallory steamer when, it
comes from the same port and
in addition stops" at Key
West.
The Mallory steamer now ly-
ing at Galveston wharf touched
at this infected port on the last
trip, but nevertheless she is adj
mitted to the most unrestrained
communication with the city,
while the Morgan steamer,
which does not approach within
FIVE miles. of Galveston and is
loaded exclusively for Houston
and points beyond, is to be rig
idly excluded by the Galveston
quarantine. Let us examine
this business a little. These
Morgan steamers, up to the
breaking out of the epidemic,
piled between New york and
New Orleans. On the breaking
out of the plague these ships, |
a requirement from the Calves
ton health authorities were for
ced to be fumigated.- re6tted |
and furnished and manned by |
crews who were not liable to in
lection and were then transfer |
red to a irregular trade between
New York and Bolivar channel |
in Galveston Bay. Several of
these ships were permitted to
make these trips unchallenged
by the Galveston board. but
that tribunal has suddenly
awakened to the fact that be-
cause these ships did formerly |
run to New Orleans, but are
now running to Houston from
New York, they are therefore
dangerous, if not to the physical
health. at least to the financial
health of our sister city, and
hence they must be shut out by
a quarantine. The steamship
New York is the vessel that
Galveston has chosen to COM
operations on. She had
previously complied with the
demand of the health authori-
ties, is a new ship, has never had
any sickness aboard, has been
throughly disinfected, all her