The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-19
THE FEVER PLAGUE.

PENSACOLA. Fla. Feb. IA. 1879.
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD
Approaching the obligations which science and hu.
manity under to your world-famed and cosmos
politan journal and its readiness to sound the alarm
signal when danger threatens the human race
therefore beg to respectfully request the HEALD to
call the attention of that honorable body. the New
York Chamber of Commerce, to the vital importance
of immediate passage of the proposed National
Quarantine act The heated term will be on us.
and unless the government is urged to take imme-
date and prompt action will beyond doubt. have
repeated this coming summer the sad experience OF
the past year. Yellow fever ship fever generated
shipboard in the tropics In this statement regard
ing its origin ! sustained by possibly
the highest living authority-namely. DR.. Gindrat,
of Jacksonville, Fla. and DR.. L. q. Duncan, of South
Carolina To preyent this plague entering the land
the national government alone bar it's entrance.
New Orleans has right TO introduce and aict the
nation with this plague. 1t is high time that this
yearly looked for carnival of death and destruction
should stop
A CURIOUS ESTIMATE.
The great OF territory over which the
yellow fever Of 1873 extendcd-500 miles north and
south by at least 100 east and west-and the heavy
percentage of deaths of those attacked warrant the
people Of the United States. and the Southwest in
particular, in seeking by every means national and
local. to prevent u of the dreadful
The loss OF life is only one of the factors in the
financial loss helping swell out the aggregate. It
has been estimated at as high figure $500 OoO
This is possibly outside figure, and is reached by
taking every item at its highest
80 900 lives, costing 81 800 to raise. $4,000 600
300.OOO persons, nonproducers for 12O
days, costing to live. ................ 36,000,0O1
800 900 persons labor for tIne... S0.O0000O
Total Sl6l, 900 900
scattered families. all of which are loss and charge
the country finally. The total productions OF
about sos 900 GEO. would require several years.
profit on this amount to equal the loss to the coun-
try. 1t certainly stands the people OF Cuba who
directly interested to take such repressve steps,
sanitary and medical. as will destroy the tendency
TO generate or prevent the spreading after genera
ton by isolation of those attacked.
COST QUARANTINE.
The restriction trade will be charge their pro.
auctions the markets of the world we'll charge
their imports. This may possibly speculi-
tive rise in price OF sugars to consumers, but not
material or lasting and any rise will enure to the
benefit OF the sugar interests in Louisiana Pensa-
cola. Natchez and Montgomery are notat le examples
OF the efficacy OF rigid and strict quarantines Sur
rounded all approaches they kept their cities
by vigilance In 1874 the fever in Barrancas and
was kept out of Warrington. which is only mile
distant, and also from Pensacola, about eight miles.
by what is called shotgun quarantine. II Congress
fails to enact such laws As will meet the exigencies OF
tine against New Orleans or any infected
point. Arbitrary. irresponsible and unthinkins
men will assume control in. in defiance of law
law supreme in all emergencies. some steps
should be taken in this matter. The stopping Of
internal communication by boat or rail, restrictions
freight passengers, should not be left to mobs
or vigilance committees, but should be done accord
ing TO law to prevent interested parties from favor
ing themselves and friends aud making hardships
grevous to bear Others.
Spain and Brazil should be required to exert them.
selves in at least the interests of humanity
II not to preserve and foster their commerce.
The Gulf and South Atlantic ports are in recep-
tive state for several months every year. and pecu-
lary liable therefore to have the fever introduced
and thence spread the country This partly
be remeded by careful sanitary measures, among
which cleanliness is pre-eminent But this requires
money and concert OF action. The terrible financial
straits OF the Southern cities initiate somewhat
against this hence this appeal to the general govern
ment. S. j. COBB. Mayor Pensacola Fla.