Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-08-25
INTERSTATE QUARANTINE
Health Officers Confer on an
Important Question.
.PENNSYL VANlA'S PEST HOUSE
Shall Chester'S Menace Be
Brought to Delaware



city and State Boards of Health anC
others respecting the erection of an inter
state quarantine station in Delaware
which was held in this city Thursday
was decidedly interesting. II was al.
tended by J. t. Budd and L. X. Coch,
ran, Delaware commissioners, Andrew
Osborne, Pennsylvania commissioner
Ward L. Bliss, a member of Pennsyl
vania's general assembly, Mayor J. r.
Il. Coates and ex-Mayor j. l.. Forwood
of Chester, Drs. Albert Whiteley, E.
w. Cooper, Alex Lowber, w. Il. Skin
ner, Irving S. Vallandigham and Robert
u. Ellegood and Secretary Il. b. Frazer
of the State Board of Health, Drs. +.
q. Shortlidge and A. Il. Frantz and Sec.
rotary w. q. r. Colquhoun of the city
Board of Health, Port Physician Willard
Springer and City Engineer Harry
Palmer. As previously stated DIR.
Cooper, president of the State Board OF
Health, presided.
After Mr.. Budd had announced the
object OF the meeting Mr.. Osborne in
PRODUCED Mr.. Bliss, who was the first to
discuss the question. He said the re.
moyal of Pennsylvanias quarantine
station was agitatcd in the legislature at
It's last session and as q result of that
agitation commissioners to select site
1of another station were appointed. The
people of Delaware county had been
agltating the question for go years.
The commissioners were appointed with
the idea OF procuring station which
VIII protect the entire Delaware river
and bay. 1t is desired to establish a
more modern station. lie hoped Della.
ware would permit Pennsylvania to
establish quarantine which will pro-
tect both states.
DR. Forwood said the agitation of the
removal began in 1879, Immediately
after the outbreak OF yellow fever. The
purpose was to have the station located
somewhere remote from built up Sec
tons. Now it is in q populous locality.
1t is reasonable to all minds tina. the
people should protest against the station
as it is now located Officers are bound
to inspect vessels coming in but they are
not restricted as to time and manner.
The present station is in the midst of a
growing district, is inadequate, is not
properly fumigated and is no place for
patients or suspects. The people of
Delaware county are Interested in the
removal Of the pest house from their
midst The people of Delaware and
Chester counties unanimously favor its
removal. The station in Delaware
county is on piece of ground obtained
by the state 100 years ago. Then it was
isolated. The ward island in its appli-
cation to the place is a misnomer. At
present it is not an island.
Mr.. Coates said the people of Chester
do not desire to thrust their pest on
others. He was thankful they had an
invitation to relieve themselves of their
bugbear. Steamers from Wilmington
pass in channel within 100 Yards of
vessels at the Pennsylvania quarantine.
The station is inadequate. Patients
easily escape from it and Chester has
no security. He always was in favor of
a national quarantine. Something has
to be done for Pennsylvania. Whining
ton and Chester are reaching out and
soon will be one. Of necessity Chester
must form channel to carry epidemics
into Delaware.
A MENACE TO CHESTER.
Mr., Budd said the quarantine is a
menace to Chester. While driving in
that town and vicinity he saw from
every hill the yellow flag floating on the
Delaware. He spoke of trip down the
river and bay in search of site for a
new station. Deep water point was
pointed out to the commissioners as an
excellent anchorage and a good quaran-
tine. They had not notified anybody in
New Jersey and did not stop. They
went to Fort Delaware but it was not
acceptable, it being too near Delaware
City, They went to Reedy Island, a
good location, but it is not far enough
from the state" of st. Georges and the
city" Of Port Penn. The people would
destroy at night anything put on the
island. Collins Beach and Liston
Point were visited, but the people there
protested against the use of those places
as quarantine station. The commits
sioners went to Bombay Hook Island,
on the northeast coast OF Kent county.
IL is Isolated from the main land by two
miles of marsh. 1t is accessible from
the main land by the Baltimore & Della
ware Bay railroad and two causeways.
1t is a strip of marsh land about 10
miles in length. 1t is on Delaware bay,
which at that point is four miles wide.
1t gives good anchorage. 1t is midway
between the capes and Philadelphia.
opposite is the terminus of
the southern New Jersey railroad. 1t
is accessible at all times. No decision
was reached and there was no approval
Of sites. The Delaware commissioners
can conscientiously recommend this
island as a site. 1t is the only place,
the people of Delaware think, which is
on parallel with other states. It is
convenient and has all the qualities
essential for u quarantine. IL belongs
to four people and is for sale.
DIR. Vallandingham believed it to be
Of the utmost Importance to establish Il
general quarantine for Delaware river
and bay.
AN ANNOYANCE TO DELAwAREANS.
DIR. Springer said the matter had Just
been brought TO his attention and he
had not had time to look into it. The
port physician has very little to do. lie
was not called aboard vessel last year
nor has he been this year He was called
lboard only one vessel year before last.
Y essels are responsible for bringing con.
agious sickness. The iine is $500. His
lee for boarding vessel is $40. Some
captains kicked. lie has had less to do
since the government established ma
-ine hospital at the Brcakwater. His posi-
ion us port physician does not pay him
more than Sl0a year. If q quarantine
station is an annoyance to the citizens
If Pennsylvania why would it not be
IN annoyance TO the citizens of Della
ware? That is a question for the Della
ware commissioners to look after.
DR.. Forwood said Al vessels from
'holera-infected ports came to Chester
asst year. All persons agree that the
Lazarette station is unfit for protecting
Philadelphia. 1t would be nonsense for