The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-09-07
4 NOVEL SUGGESTION.

florida Banker. Discussing the Yellow
Fever Ep,dev~ic. Saggests that Fire 10
the Only Sure DEATH to the Fever Germs
The Ouestion OF Destroying Privsts
Property without Remuneration.
NEW YoRK, Aug. Sd. @. Amber,
president Of the National State Bank Of
Florida and the head of the most prOmi.
nent banking house in Jacksonville. is at
the Grand Hotel. His theory of origin Of
yellow fever epidemic and how it might
have been prevented, of moro than or.
binary interest.
'srhere have been some exaggerated
stories sent from Florida concerning the
fever" said Mr.. Amber Sunday night,
sand the statement that negroes in
organised bands are breaking into stores
and dwellings, is without foundation in
fact The white people would not tolerate
such a state of affairs for twenty -four
hours. Business is, of course, affected,
and people have been leaving the town by
secluded routes, but thus far credits
have not been affected to any
farming extent. The fever this
year I think directly traceable to
the failure to destroy all infected
clothes and infected buildings that spread
the disease in 1857. Experience has
shown that fumigation is valueless. The
germs Of the disease can not be destroyed
by that means. Whatever is infected
must be burned. thus completely de.
stroyed, and the people living in that dis
trict understood this very thoroughly.
But Just here is where the trouble comes
in. You can not destroy property, espe-
cially the property Of poor man, unless
you compensate him for his loss, and
when you do not compensate him you Of
| fer him an incentive for concealmept.
Beds and bedding, even after being used
| in his family during fever sickness.
represent a certain value, and II his FAM
| ily has recovered, he sees no reason why
this property should be destroyed. The
appropriations made thus far by Con-
gress do not contemplate such payment.
The money is used for the maintenance
of quarantine camps and kindred pur-
poses, It ia to be deplored that in the dis
cussion of the important matter partisan
feeling should have been exhibited. Sem
ators Call and Pascoe, when the appro-
priatiOn of 500, 900 came up for consider
alton the other day, were anxious to have
an amendments made to the bill prOvid.
ing for the setting aside Of specific por-
ton of this amount for the payment of
| damage arising from the destruction OF
property under the direction of the
health authorities. Surgeon General
Hamilton of the Marine corps took the
same view. and was anxious to see the
amendment pass, but it was defeated.
Although it is claimed that part OF the
money will be used for THE purpose, the
bill goes to the Secretary of the Treasury
with the record of the aye and no vote at
tached to it.
"The fever this year originated IN
small hamlet-Manatee. There are prob
ably fifteen houses in 1t. Twenty thou
sand, or perhaps ten thousand dollars
would have bought all of them and all
they contained. Had they been swept ou
of existence the fever would not have
spread over an area Of fifty miles as i
did. Placing Gordon about towr
amounts to nothing. 1t would take M
army to keep people isOla ted. They viii
not stand. it, and if you undertake t.
forcibly destroy their property and no
nav them damages, serious trouble is
bound to occur.
"As to the virulence Of the disease II
and about Jacksonville" continued Mr.
Amber, 81 want to say one thing. Peo
pie who live fairly temperate lives do no
stand IN any great danger. Out OF eighty
cases there were eight deaths, and OF
those eight four were persons
who were addicted to tho exces
sive use Of alcoholic liquor and who ex'
posed themselves injudiciOusly. We vii
have it all STAMPED out before October,
think, and If the plan OF destroying TIN
germs by fire can be carried out vigor
ously think we can prevent recurrence
Of the disease. This payment for dam
ages can not be done by the State nor b,
the county. 1t must be done by the Fed
eral Government. 1t is to be greatly re
GREETED that politics should in any wa!
have connection that affects the health
and consequent prosperity Of commun
ity."