The evening world., 1888-01-03
OUR USELESS QUARANTINE.
MR. PLATT SAYS THE COMMISSIONERS ARE
NOT TO BLAME.
They Will Have Something to Say 10 the
Legislature Later Is no Doubt
About the Dreadful State of Things Down
the Bay-The Evils MS Pointed Out In the
Mayors Committee's Report.

Mayors Committee's Report.
The office of the Quarantine Commission,
at II Broadway, was deserted when an EVEN
ING WORLD reporter called there this morn
ing. Commissioner Nichols was in Albany,
his partner, Mr.. Bacon, said, Secretary Mel
len was detained ut home by illness in his
family.
President Thomas G. Plat was found at
the office of the United States Express Com
pany, 80 Broadway.
When asked if he had read the report on
the Quarantine establishment prepared by
Mayor Hewitt's Medical Committee, MIR.
Plat said
"No, and until I have read it I cannot dis
cuss it. | am informed, however, that the
eminent physicians who made the report do
not reflect on the Commissioners.
We shall have something to say on the
subject when our report to the Legislature is
ready. 1t is now i'll preparation.
There is no question about the dreadful
state of things down the bay. The Commits
sioners know how inadequate the arrange
ments there are. They have repeatedly asked
the Legislature for relief, but never got it,.
" An expert sanitary engineer employed by
the Commissioner has made an examination
of Hoffman and %Swinburne islands. His
report will be embodied in the one we send
to Albany"
The Mayors committee consisted of Drs.
G. II. Agnew. Z. G.. Janeway, Stephen Smith,
Richard II. Derby. Hermann N. Biggs, 7;
if cholera broke out in this city, an incalcu-
liable injury would be sustained by trade.
The revenue of the hotels is estimated at
500, 600 a day. and this income would cease
The time required for a journey
to San Francisco is about the maximum
period of cholera incubation. Thus the
germs of the plague could be conveyed from
NJ. - A. Al.n .n@EA 81 ,an,-Aa ~f A.
Union
Every citizen of the United States and the
British provinces, says the report, is person.
ally interested in the quarantine at New
York.
After pointing ont this dangert to
if the inland States establish a quarantine
against this city, the committee go en- to
point out some of the gravest faults in the
present institutions on Hoffman and Swim
bIune Islands,.
The establishment is controlled by the
Quarantine Commissioners. the Health Of
ticer's powers being limited to police regula-
ton. The buildings on Hoffman Island
afford no means of separating the
sexes, nor of isolating suspected groups.
People able to pay for the comforts of life
cannot get them. and the water supply is in
sufficient. hot water being an almost unob-
tainahle luxury. There is no proper cleans
ing and disinfecting plan.
III advise, among other things,
q better sea wall at Hoffman Island, and
think that the surface should be ~cemented
and properly Trained. Walls should divide
the different classes of persons de-
tanned, and new buildings, fire-proof and
filth proof. are sadly needed. Separate
kitchens should be provided and an isolated
building for the disintecting appliances.
At S%winburne Island the condition of
things is also very bad. Radical changes in
the hospitals are urged, or, better still, new
buildings should be erected.
The committee suggest the appointment of
acommission, to consist of the State En-
Eneer, the Superintendent of Public
Works, the Mayors of New York
aid Brooklyn, a member of the New
Ybrk Health Board, the Health Officer of the
Ibrt and the Quarantine Commissioners
This body should estimate the expenses of
tie necessary alterations.
In sending this report to the Governor Mr..
levitt says that it discloses a condition of
aEairs which calls for the imme-
Jlate action of the Legislature. HI
assures the Governor that if a commits
on should be formed to bring the Quaran-
ne establishment up to the highest standard
scientific and medical knowledge, the CO.
liberation of the city authorities will not be
'hnting,