The morning call., 1892-09-18
SHALL THE FAIR RE POSTPONED ?

The Secretary Of the Treasury is dis
cussiag with the Director General OF the
Worlds Fair the question whether in view
of the chances that the cholera may break
out n this country next year 1t would not
he wise to postpone the Worlds Fair at
Chicago till 1894 Director General Davis
is vehemently opposed to postponement.
and Ar Foster is not in favor Of such
course if it can possibly be avoided.
That the fairs prospects of success would
be damaged by deferring the opening for
twelve months goes without saying. People
are laying their plans for a visit TO Chicago
next year; if they afe to be upset, public
interest in the enterprise will to some extent
cool. But this consideration carries no
weight in comparison with the damaging
effect Of a raging epidemic breaking out
among the crowd that will gather at Chicago
to see the exposition. A catastrophe of
that nature would not only be a deadly
stab at Chicago-it would be a national
calamity.
THE CALL has mere than once given ex-
preston to the opinion of the medical
faculty that if the cholera gains a fO0thold
in the States, IL will be more likely to rage
in 1898 than this year. The summer season
in the East is over; the fall season is draw
ing to a close. and though cholera epdemics
have been known to rage in winter. they
are usually checked by the advent of cold
weather. New York is consoling itself
with the belief that its period OF suspense is
now reduced TO a few days. But as the
pestilence is not abating in Europe, but, on
the contrary. is spreading. slowly, gradually,
almost imperceptibly. but still spreading.
it is probable that the danger will revive
with the return of warm weather next
spring. and though it may be overcome,
there is always a possibility that it may
not, and it behoOves us to take all proper
precautions to prevent its finding out any
center Of population in this country the
conditions OF which are favorable to its
propagation.
In British India, which is the cradle of
cholera, it has been remarked that its most
fatal outbreaks have followed the assem-
blage Of crowds at religious festivals. The
presence at one spot of immense numbers
of human beings vitiates the air and pre-
disposes the body TO disease. OvercT0wd-
ing in cities has constantly led to some form
of malady, especially as il is usually accom-
panied by the decomposition of animal mat
ter, and the impOssibility of enforcing strict
sanitary regulations. Where people assem-
bic in vast numbers they are imperfectly
fed, aud the usual laws Of cleanliness are
neglected. The supply Of oxygen in the air
becomes insufficient and healthy action Of
the lungs is prevented. Hence when an
epidemic breaks cut wise sanitation sug-
gests tile scattering Of populations over as
large an area as possible; health boards try
to relieve the cOngested condition of over
crowded wards by distributing portion of
their people in the suburbs or the country
municipal authorities endeay0r to thin out
the inmates of tenement-houses. The preya-
lent IDEA is that the fewer persons there are
to the square mile the less dangerous the
epidemic will prove. On-general principles
the assemblage Of million new people in
one spot, while cholera is raging or is threat
ened. appears to be tempting providence.
Again, all the authorities agree that one
of the chief predisposing causes Of cholera
is bad water. The awful mortality at fam
burg is explained by the fact that large
proportion Of the people drink the water Of
the Elbe, which is polluted by the city sew
age. The Chicago water is of a similar
quality. 1t is derived from submarine
springs at the bottom of Lake Michigan,
and into that lake the drainage OF Chicago
flows. Considerable distance intervenes be-
tween the point where the drinking water is
taken from and the point where the drains
empty into the lake, but it is always the
same body of water, and to some extent
pollution must peryade it for large areas
| That such is the case is proved by the fact
| that with Il population half as large as that
| Of New York, Chicago has twice as many
| cases of typhoid in the course Of the year
II viii be a matter Of general disappoint-
| ment and regret if the fair has to be post
| poHed. But it is better TO bear both than
| to run any risk Of pestilence at the height
! Of the celebration Of the holiday. An out
| break Of cholera among the hundreds OF
! thousands who are expected at Chicago
! after the fair opens would be a disaster so
| appalling that it would be unparalleled in
| our history. 1t might carry mourning into
| thousands of homes. And it is not easy to
| see how the possibility OF such a calamity
| could be guarded against. Disease germs
! can be carried from place to place in ex-
| hibi:s as we'll as in the clothing of immi-
| grants. There would be danger in every
! package of goods from France. Germany
and Russia.
Chicago will be sorry If the fair is put off
| But she would be sorrier still If few cases
| Of cholera occurring after its opening should
drive away visitors, and the splendid build
| ings which are going up by the side Of the
| lake should become desolate solitude.