The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-18
WANT A NEW STATION.
Why the City Wants It's Quarantine at
Cockspur Island.

The health and cemetery committee Of
the city council is desirous of getting the
quarantine station changed to Cockspur
Island in the near future, ami the impr owe
ments of the present station are temporary
in the hope of the committee being able to
successfully carry out its plans. Alderman
Harris said yesterday that he is working
with all his main, as are the rest of the
committee, with this idea in view, and thew
VIII not give up until their
labors have materialized, and the
station has tbeen changed The alderman
favors the locating of the station on the
north side Of Cuckspur Island. Tee disad-
vantages arising from the present location
Of the station on Long Island are such as to
almost necessitate change The present
location is on a marsh. The ground is low,
and will not admit of the building
of quarters for the employees
At present the quarantine physician
has his quarters at the old Quarantine
station, mils and half distant from the
station. His quarters should be at the
station. Incase the city desires to build
hospital on the ground the same drawback
will prevent it from doing so. At G ckspur
Island, on the north side, about 800 yards
from the present station is natural loca-
ton, said DR.. Harris. A pocket Of 16 feet
draught, capable of berthing not less than
a u3Aoh N6oseIS az a IlIle, Is available, ana
there is hardly a possibility of ever
experiencing the least difficulty from sholl-
ing. The state owns forty acres of land on
the south side Of the island, but the round
about way Of getting there would itself
cause delay, besides the ietty, which is
being constructed out in the sound on the
north side of the channel, will, in all proba-
bility, wash sand into the mouth of the
south channel, and thus prevent vessels
from using it,
DR.. Harris thought that the state will
give any part of the forty acres of land or
all OF it to the government for about ten
acres on the north side. On this tract can
be built the physicians quarters, and, if
the city chooses, a quarantine hospital.
The site is a most excellent one, aud he
thought, once the station is located there
the gigantic quarantine monster with
which the authorities have been tussling
will be conquered and the solution of
difficult problem will have been solved.
DIR. Harris says that the old quarantine
station was seriously interfered with when
the government constructed jetty extend
ing out from the west SIDE causing the
channel to Grange its course. A shoaling
followed and the result led ultimately to
the changing of the station to its present
location. luasmuch as the government has
destroyed that station, with great detriment
to commerce, Dr.. Harris is Of the opinion
that the government Will reimburse the
city and allow it to establish the
station on C5ckspur. Dr.. Harris said
t3at $35, 900 would be small reimburse
ment, still, he thought no more will be
claimed. This sum, in addition to the $15,-
600 realized on the stone from the old quar-
antine station, would be ample means
toward the accomplishment of the purposes
desired. He introduced a bill some time
ago in council that the proceeds from the
stone of the old station, which
was purchased by the government
at a cost of from $4,000 to S15, 900,
with which to construct a jetty, should be
reserved and set aside, to be applied toward
improving the quarantine station. The
bill was killed, buC it is likely that at some
time in the future it will again he brought
up and passed. 1t is considered an i'm
portant bill, and when presented before the
body again will no DOUBT become an ordi-
nance. The committee is striving to ac-
complish the most good for the city.