The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-10-24
Mobile Register. October

PENSACOLA.
Reply of tie Board of Health 70 Dr. HamsltSn.
To the Register
PENSACOLA, October 5--The day that Surgeon
General HsmiltOn's dispatch, refeciing upon
the Board of Health, was published, our Board
prepared an answer, and up to this time have
not been able to get satisfactory reply from
The agent of the Associated Press, Mr.. Huesion,
at New York. He was telegraphed, asking If he
would grant the Board the same privilege as ac-
corded Dr. Hamilton. No answer was received,
but instead dispatch to the agent here. who
authorized the sending Of the message To-day
the New York agent sent dispatch that the
answer of the Board must be paid for. The
Board Immediately telegraphed TO ascertain the
cost, and as yet have heard nothing save that the
sending of the answer was unauthorized. These
facts speak for themselves, and look as though
the Associated Press, after having allowed itself
to be made channel for the publicity Of slam
ders, will not give the parties aggrieved an op-
portuniiy to reply. What the Board demands is
that the Board OF Health should be extended the
same courtesy as granted DR.. Hamilton. 1t is
not probable that Dr. Hamilton paid for the pub
lication of his dispatch. Mr.. HeusionN course
is open for explanation, and in the mesntime !
herewith send you the reply of the Board as fol-
lows 1t will be sent TO the New Orleans Times
DemOcrat and Pscdywns tomorrow. Arrange
ments will be made TO publish it in the New
York Herald and Washington paper:
OFFICE BOARD OF HEALTH,
PENSACOLA, FLA, October 3, 1881
The statement OF SurgeOn-General Hamilton,
of the Marine Hospital Service, propagated
throughout the country yesterday by means of
the Associated Press, and received here late last
notice at our hands. We are not responsible for
what is said in telegraphc correspondence or
newspaper editorials but although the Surgeon
Generals statement is prefaced by complaint
against these, yet before closing the whole force
of his tirade is against Governor BlOxham and
the Pensacola Board Of Health, especially the
latter. 1t is not true that we have made any al
tack upon the National Board Of Health Some
disappointment was felt at first al the answer Of
that body to our appeal for aid, but this was
owing entirely 10 misapprehension OF the facts.
As soon IS these were understood entire conf
dence and good feeling was restored. and the
most cordial and harmonious relations have COZ
tinued To prevail between that body and our
selves. Dr. Hamilton has made gross missfate-
ments of other facts, when he asserts that the
Pensacola Board of Health wanted money, not
assistance, or if assistance were furnished they
wished the Government TO take sides with them
in their quarrel with the Mayor. He makes
charges which, If we could condescend 20 adopt
his own digni6ed and courteous language. would
be pronounced infam0usly false, bur as 20 which
We shall only say that he has been pitiably mis-
informed. II is true We wanted money. but il
was money for the relief OF the sick, suffering,
and desiitute-not for the maintenance Of san
itary Gordon through the piney woods Of Florida
or what possible bene6l to the sick and suffer
ing of this community, or 70 the healthy else-
where, would be string Of idle and gswky sen
iinels, doing and lOunging among the cattle
ranges and turpentine plantations Of lhese woodsf
The people who live among them are more e.
fectually protected. II protection Is needed. By
the precautions prompted by their own leaH,
than they would be BY score Of sanitary cor
dons with an army OF seniineis 70 man them.
Nobody can pass from Pe1sscola In any direc-
tion through this already existing voluntary and
yigilant Gordon. Even our mails ere not per
mitsed 70 pass unl6ss subjected % inspecti0n and
fnmigati0n, sometimes not even thea This
Board has not and never has bad, any quarrel
with Mayor Tsrble. He is ex-olicio usmber
of the Board, but fnr reasons best known 70 him
self has never thought proper % laka his saai 20
10 sct with ~ IN any ysy. We have nevef in-
tefftred, nr sought 70 interfere, In any way with
bis civic functions - Mayer Of lh6 CITY, a -
Collector og iis port, which oeHcs be slD hsldA