The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-09-20
DISINFECTING STATION.
Secretary Elkins Alazes the Use
Of House Island.
MISSION OF DRS. MESERvE AND
MERRILL SUCCESSFUL.

Apparatus for Dealing Death to Cholera
Germs May Now Be Established at
Fort ScammeI-How the Portland Petit
ton Travelled from Bureau to Bureau
at the Capital-Cabinet Officers Inter-
ested.
Drs. Meserve and Merrill returned yes
terday noon from their trip to Washing
ton to procure the use of Fort Scanned
reservation on House Island for a quar-
antine disinfecting station. On arriving
at Washington they at once called upon
DR.. Walter Wyman, surgeon general OF
the Marine Hospital service, where they
found the members of the International
Quarantine Commission of the Interna-
tional Conference of State Boards OF
Health, who were in Portland a short
time ago. DIR. Wyman was in full accord
with the plan suggested, but did not
think his endorsement would be of ma
terial aid as the War Department were
somewhat disturbed in their equanimity
by the use of Sandy Hook for quaran-
tine purposes, which had been advocat-
ed by the Marine Hospital Bureau and
the Treasury Department
Accordingly petition for the use of
House, Island or that part of it belong
ing to the United States, for temporary
quarantine station, accompanied by
statement of facts cordially and strongly
endorsed by Senator Hale and Congress
man Reed, as well as by the State Board
of Health, was presented to Gen. Grant,
Assistant Secretary of War, and acting
secretary in the absence of Secretary Ell
kins, who referred it to the engineers
department. The petition passed back
and forward between the secretary and
the engineer department for nearly two
days, Major Adams Of the engineers de-
partment, at last
Refusing to Recommend
the granting of permit telling the doc
tors that he thought they ought not to
have it. The petition was also referred
to the surgeon generals office of the
War Department, and DR.. Greenleaf was
understood to recommend granting the
petition. Finally, about 20 minutes be-
fore the hour of closing on Saturday af-
ternoon, General Grant said he would
not grant the permit if he decided it,
but would leave the matter open for
Secretary Elkins, who was expected
home onMondav. AS the doctors thought
he took rather narrow view of the mat
ter, they called upon Secretary OF the
Treasury Foster, who was much inter-
cited and in full accord with them in the
matter. He had on his desk a despatch
saying that Secretary Elkins had gone to
his home in Elkins, West Virginia, sick
and at his suggestion, the following tele-
gram was sent:
WASHINGTON, September IT, 1892.
To Hon. S. B. Ellciaas. Secretary OF Var, Etcars,
The undersigned represent the Board of
Health OF Portland, Me-. The War Department
has control of an unused fort, three miles rom
the city, and opposite, across the bay, about
one mile from Fort Preble, which is the only
piece of ground available for quarantine and
disinfecting purposes. We came to ask your
consent IOT It's ItInpOIdI uoC AoL oi0 Pui Pooo
named. We have endorsements from Senator
Hale and Congressman Reed, as strong as they
can be made, asking for such use. The Assist
inclined to refuse The demands of the situa-
ton are such as to make us feel that all minor
considerations should yield to the general good.
of an important duty to our people, ask you to
grant the proposed use of the land referred to.
(Signed1, A. K P. MEsERvE, M. D.,
HENRY P. MERRILL, M D.,
Riggs House.