Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-14

The Present station Inadequate TOT the
Port-The Necessity for Increased Pa
cilItfe-The Probabilities Of q New
station
The problem Of adequate quarantine
facilities for Savannah bids fair 70 be OF
difficult solution. The city health su-
thorities have had Il under consideration
for years, and the time has now arrived
when something must b done speedily.
Relief has been afforded in 9 measure BY
the recent action Of the Sanitary Com
mission. which allows certain vessels 70
discharge ballast at the city, hut this viii
only Be temporary.
The Sanitary Commission was Organ-
lied in 1877, when Mayor Wheaton was
IN Office. A code OF quarantine regula-
tiOns was adopted, which, while they have
undergone some modification. are almost
similar 10 those now IN effect. Regula-
tons similar in requirements are being
carried out BY Charleston, sc. The regula-
ton which has caused The present trouble
Is section 9 Of the city ordinance entitled
A ordinance 70 establish a quarantine
ground. etc. II is Is follows:
80. 2. Z further 0rdaiHes Jg8e GufAo-ity
1f5-esgf5. That al vessels FROM infected or
suspected ls-itudes shall. during the entire
year. discharge all ballast at the Quarantine
station. and shall have bilges and timbers
cleaned and sweetened. and from Nov. Of
-ach year 70 Nay ! Of succeeding year, shall
b subjected 70 81 least nefumigatlon-
This regulation was the outgrowth #
the meeting Of the Georgia State Board Of
Health il Savannah in 1876, just follow
Ing the yellow fever epidemic. After Sc
curing al the information possible the
board determined that the Of the
yellow fever here was the accumulation
uf the ballast upon the wharfage front Cf
the Savannah. Florida and Western Rail-
way. which had been discharged from
vessels sailing from infected ports. On
the strength Of the decision Of the Board Of
Health the Sanitary Board incorporated
within the quarantine regulations the sec
ton quoted abOve. From that time up 70 the
present no ballast from vessels from South
America. the West Indies or the coast Of
Africa has been deposited nearer the city
than the Quarantine Station.
Il Is true that after Nov. I the only de-
teEtiOn at quarantine is the discharging
Of ballast, but. as stated, the facilities are
utterly Inadequate. Up 70 two years
ago there was but one wharf at
which 10 discharge ballast. Now there
are TWO. and Two vessels can IN
load al a time. but il is 4 slow 2
tedious task. Usually 1t takes a vessel
six DAYS 70 discharge, and as many as
nine vessels have been known 70 be lying
II anchor awaiting their turn. An engine
was procured BY the present Board OF Al
dermen for the purpose OF hosting ballast
~ steam. but difficulties which were e.
cOuntered have made this plan impracti-
cable for the present, and the old method
Of removing the stone with wheeibarTOWs
still continues.
on Saturday last. as already stated in
the MORNING NEWS, the Mayor and the
Sanitary Board paid visit 10 the QuaTan-
tine station for the purpose OF ascertain
ing what could be done. A consultation
was also had with the officers in charge Of
the river improvements. The object q
his was 70 ind out If there was any place
where the ballast could be put without
interfering with the channel. After a full
inspection and discussion the board was
convinced that there was no place where
a vessel al the present time could moor
and discharge her ballast with safety %
herself and without damage 10 naylga-
ton. Feeling satisfied that some relief
would nave e be given 10 the vessels
al quarantine. there being then seven
awaiting their turn, the board, after
holding two meetings, decided 70 allow
vessels south Of south latitude 80 degrees
10 come 70 the city and discharge their
ballast. This brought up three vessels.
and three from the Mediterranean are
still there. and Will not be allowed under
anv circumstances 70 discharge ballast
al the city. II is hoped by the authorities
that this for the present viii prevent the
detention Of q large number OF vessels.
Meantime the Sanitary Board is giving
the matter a great deal o. consideration.
The members are confronted with
the fact Iii new wharVes viii
have to be built and that the cost
Will be considerable.
Dr.. Mcfarland. Health Ohcer, stated
10 d MORNING NEWS reporter yester-
dav that the Sanitary Board feel
satisfied that a moorage can be
secured for vessels to discharge
ballast othsr than at the Quarantine
station. There is a point opposite the
present quarantine which could be used.
The building Of d wharf, however, is slow
as well as expensive work. The tact that
much time would be consumed in its con-
structi0n will prevent immediate relief.
and the matter Of finance IS a very
serious consideration. The cOnstruc-
ton OF a new Quarantine Station
would. il is estimated, involve
tae expenditure Of atleast $1,000. Hence
10 steps in that direction viii be taken
until the new Board Of Aldermen is elected
in January.
The necessity for increased wharfage
facilities is not the only argument in IA
AOF OF Lle new departure AHuACdL-u doONE-
being taken. y matter even more weighty
i likely 70 demand the attention Of the
local authorities at an early day.
There is an intimatiOn Of the
rapid shoaling Of the water where
the vessels lie at the Quarantine
station. The construction Of the govern
ment jetties in the river near that point
has had the effect OF turning the water
IN such a direction as to cause the river
20 MI up, according 70 the engineers, and
unless this is remedied il may compel in
the course Of a few years. the total aban-
Comment Of the present station for quar-
antine purposes. Then, unless new facil-
tiles are provided in the meantime. the
city. instead Of having a quarantine in
adequate TO the demands Of her commerce,
would have no quarantine at all.