The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-25
DELAYS AT QUARANTINE
THE I3Ne1IArR NEED FOR ADD
TIONAL FACILITIES.


The Sanitary Commission and the
Citizens Sanitary Association Look
ing into the Conduct OF the Station
More Machinery Required for the
Handling OF Vessels-Complaints of
Shipping Men in Regard to the Slow
Inspection Of Vessels and Discharge
of Ballast.
The conference committee of the Citizens
Sanitary Association met the sanitary COM
mission in the mayors Office yesterday to
discuss quarantine matters. DIR. G. G.
Hummel and Z. Klrow of the Citizens
Sanitary Association. and sanitary COM
missioners Schwarz, Bruner, Saussy and
Wheaton were present. Quarantine
Officer Lind was also present.
He was asked number of questions
and the complaints of a number of ship
captains, as well as complaints Of exporters,
of the unnecessary delay at quarantine
were brought out.
Several vessels arrived some time ago
while the quarantine officer was in Savau-
nah, and the masters complained that the
quarantine officer was not on duty and
would not inspect vessels during stormy
weather. A general complaint was made
about the lack OF proper facilities, such as
engines and fumigating machines, to accel-
crate the moving of vessels from the quar-
antine stations.
The investigation resulted in finding that
the quarantine officer was absent from his
station, according to instructions, which are
that he shall be in the city once month.
During bad weather there is not much dis
patch in inspecting vessels from the fact
that the officer is provided with no means
of getting out to them. The investigation
also developed that the lack of engines,
fumigating machines and other appliances,
naturally retards the moving of vessels.
A resolution was adopted generating DR..
Lind.
The advisability Of improving the facili-
ties OF the station was discussed at length
The health officer, in his last annual report,
recommended the appointment Of a substi-
tute officer at the quarantine, SO that in
cases of absence, by sickness or otherwise,
OF the regular quarantine officer the substi
tute would be there to look after his duties.
The matter Of placing a substitute at the
station was considered a matter of very
great Importance, and it was left In the
hands of the sanitary commission to secure,
II possible, an appropriation for that
purpose.
The committee recommended that a SUBJ
stantial boat be provided so that the officer
may be able to 60 out i'll the toughest
weather to inspect vessels.
The precticabillty of placing additional
engines at the station to facilitate the
handling of ballast and also of adding a
fumigating machine of a modern type to
facilitate inspection was a matter Of con-
siderable interest. 1t was agreed that the
facilities should be much better than they
are, and that the gro With of the port depends
largely upon an increase in these facilities.
1t was decided that the matter should re-
ceive the support Of both committees, and
the city council should be appealed to to
take speedy action. The inability to
accomplish anything just now is due to the
fact that the funds available for the inn
provement OF the quarantine are short
DR.. Hummel, chairman of the Citizens
Sanitary Association, in speaking Of the
matter, said that the repeated complaints Of
the exporters aud sh'pmastsrs have reached
the association, and when the complaints
are looked into they are found to be
mott Unreasonable or without cause.
Much smaller ports he said, have better
facilities and larger ports have less rigid
regulations.
A business man, in discussing the matter,
said that the step which the two committees
have taken in endeavoring to see, if posi-
bic, II the ports quarantine facilities can
be increased, is good one and in the right
direction. For the last year the interior
facilities, he said, have been great draw
back to Savannah's business, and they have
crippled to ala alarming extent It's COM
merce In other seasons, be said, the
number of vessels coming to this port
was very mnch greater than what it now
is, notwithstanding the natural growth of
the port. In 1SS4'S5, 202 sailing vessels
add 81 steamers, came to this port. In 1885,
'S9 only 1876 sailing vessels and 90 steamers
were reported. A steamer, reporting at
quarantine now, is detained there, if the
weather is fair, not less than four DAYS and
If it is stormy she Is detained twice
that length Of time. Sailing vessels are
detained a very much longer time. Ship
pers claim that Savannah should furnish as
good facilities as any other port no larger.
At most other ports, steamers are not de-
tanned over fortyeight hours, and sailing
vessels but very little longer.