The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-27
THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
A PETITION FOR THE ABOLITION OF
THE NoN-INTERCoURSE PLAN.
Chief Davis Offers Resolution for q
Modification of the Existing Quaran-
tine-Dr. Thornton Opposes 1t and is
Sustained by Majority of the Board

sustained Dy Meuorlty OF Cue board
The board of health met at o'clock last
night Present. G. b. Thornton, d. p.
MADDEN, w. c. Davis, Il. A. Williamson and
D. #. Jackson,
Chief W. C. Davis offered the following
resolution:
Resolved, That the present non-intcrcoursc
quarantine restrictions be 50 modified that
accommodation trains on all the railroads
and all the local packets are herewith
given permission TO run under the following
conditions: Trains on the c., o. Il s. w, to
Ripley, Tenn, and return; on the l. a N, TO
Brunswick, Tenn, and return; on the Mem
phis and Birmingham, 10 Byhala and re-.
turn; ON the Illinois Central, to Sardis, Miss
and return; on the Mississippi Valley road
TO Clarksdale, Miss, and return on the
Tennessee Midland, b. Somerille, Tenn,
and return.
Passengers coming into the city on any of
these trains must be provided with sworn
certificates OF their residence In the town or
near the line of railroad which runs close by.
Said certificates must state that the holder
has not been in'or near any infected district
Inspectors OF the Memphis board OF health,
who will be on all these trains, will examine
all such certificates and take the necessary
preCaution TO guard against those illegally
issued or held by any person who is not en-
titled " such under the provisions OF this
law. Passengers on local packets will be re-
quired To provide themselves with health
certificates, which must be sworn To and re-
stricted to the same conditions Us govern
travel over the accommodation trains OF the
railroads.
Mr.. L. u. Mcfarland presented petition
of railroads centcring in Memphis, rcciting
| that the present quarantine restricts trade
and Is unjustificd by the existing danger,
and asking quarantine modification so as TO
apply only TO infected districts, etc, etc.
The petition is printed in full in another
| column.
In support Of the petition Mr.. Mcfarland
made a brief address stating similar re-
! quests would be presented by the Mcr-
chants and Cotton exchanges and the banks
Of Memphis. The speaker argued that in
| ordering non-intcrcOursc the beard had at
tempted too much, and that such n measure
was harshcr than the danger justilicd that
| il was much more difficult 10 carry on
quarantine against the world than against a
| few infected districts, and that the board
had undertaken more than IL could carry
| out lie thought that the vast Interests at
stake demanded u modification Of the pres
| ent policy.
Mr.. MADDEN thought the Davis resolution
| would involve too much trouble for others,
| that the small towns named had no health
/ officers and no machinery for issuing passes.
/ lie thought the re-cStablishmont Of through
/ traffic OF much more importance. lie had
| received two kilograms from Nashville and
! two from Louisville asking whether passcu-
| gers could enter the city or pass through.
! He had answered nilirmatiycly by wire and
| in two or three hours was besicgcd 10y lcle-
| gram inquiries from railroad officials asking
| that similar privileges bo extended To them.
! Mr.. MADDEN continued and used the follow
| ing liguagc, which is rs near as can be
remembered exactly what be said: we
| had as good "a quarantine over these roads
as was ever enforced in a city OF this
size. When the people heard the
news from Jackson. Miss, Of course II
hurt vs.. our people advised non
intercourse and we have accomplished a.
Now they are getting tired Of IL. II II q good
deal like the barber shops aud whisky ~
looms. Two years ago they wanted them
closed and ccmcnted on Sunday. We tried
| il for about six weeks and had them her
medically sealed. AMI then there was u hue
and cry against 10. admit they are closed
now. tIaughter.l VI v the same with the
| quarantine. They wouldn't rest until Il VIZ,
established, and now It's established they
want u done away with
Chief Davis spoke briefly In behalf Of his
resolution. making the point that IL only
]
In local relation 90 " and that the rc,uu-
ton would restore confidence and rryiyc
trade That there was no danger Of contact
with through trains and that the present
system worked hardship not only 10 our.
selves but to ncighboring towns.
! ID. L. Jackson, health officer, thought the
people had hrd enough OF quarantine aud
that We hal better go back % the Inspection
system. IL vAa very good, good enough ior
the purpose. Tho people didn't want The
non-intcrcour.e system, neither did the rail-
roads
Dr. Thornton said. every thing Il calm
now, and you want the non.intercourso sys-
TEN abolished. Last night everybody was
| Ia "A condition 81 the greatest excitement
never saw ANYTHING like H. We have not
passed the period 81 danger. Another
manic could H. created tonight. ! am OPP
poscd 60 any change. Let Us ~ on ~ now.
A few DAYS ago I made the same argument
now made by Mr. Mcfarland, but u hal no
influence. l told the people what non.
| intercourse meant but they would have ".
.aid would execute any order my govern
mcnt gave me. not with military precision,
but as near ~ n possible. think Il Is time
| this community were taught lesson.
We have been told Me ); his can not
afford 90 take any risk, IL Is silly
thing. q foolish thing IN nay. My purpo,o
was 10 secure the greatest amount ~ soour-
! ity, consistent with the public convenience,
and without disturbing tho course Of trade.
The community WIS Ia n furorc. Men oi
intelligence and high social standing came
here clamOring for nonintcrcourse. Now
they SEQ the effect u IL and come again with
, a pctition for q return 10 the inspection
systnm. I nm not prepared 10 he made
fool OF every day. Let this thing
20 on. They will all come here gradually.
Noboly IL morc interested In the welfare VI
A Memphis than am. | have been here forty
: wears. and oil I have IL invested here. had
10 siand tho brunt 81 this thing, and aln
| unwilling 10 change now large meeting
Of merchants made the Original suggestion
\ | Of non-intrrnourse, how do We know they
= NAV not come here ngaini The inspection
/. | system was successful; not n single case cnme
into Memphis, and had case occurred felt
confident n could have been Isolated bat
noboly believed me and hal 10 yield.
now suggest that VIC hold this matter up fol
further consideration. "
Mr. ]. T. Randlc then begged % make .
few remarks, lie zid he was satisfied that
slx.tnnths of the people wanted the inspec
ton system back aud the non-intefcours,
resolution rcscindcsl. There u n olaH ol
men IN this tOwn-wsge- workers, men VII,
labor ia factories aud mlls-vhom tat
policy will throw on the streets u IL u con
ilnucd ten days. Your Inspection rcfyic'
was good, why not como back ~ ~ lo'
have the power, execute a. The entire cltl
\ government will back you up In ~
! Capt James lcc. IT,, said mo man M
} prociaios more than I do the delicnoy o
% YOUR position. 1 think YOU have stood
i, we'll. aud when hear you say your inspec
1 ton service was . good one, ! am surprise