Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-05-19
THE QUARANTINE STATION
Discussing the Question of a
Change of Location.
DELAWARE NOT ANXIOUS FOR 1T
This State VIII Not "Bid for
Yellow Fever"
Some PhiIadelphians Want the Lazaretto
Moved Down the Delaware River, and
Others Are Opposed to Any Change
An Interesting Meeting of the Com
missioners.

The commission appointed by Governor
Pattlson, in compliance with a resolution
OF the last legislature, to investigate the
merits of suggested sites for quarantine
station, met on Friday afternoon at the
board of trade rooms, Drexel Building,
Philadelphia, to hear the views Of repre-
sentatives of organizations interested in
the maintenance of quarantine station.
In the absence of Governor Pattison,
president Of the commission, John Hug.
gard, presided. The other members of the
commission present were DR.. Henry Left
man, secretary; DIR. Benjamin Lee,
Andrew Osborne and George j. Brennan,
corresponding secretary.
Mr.. Huggard said the commission would
like to hear from the commissioners APP
pointed by the governor of Delaware to
cooperate with the Pennsylvania body.
u. I. Budd of the board of trade of Mid
dlctown said the Delaware commissioners
were present to hear what there was to say
on the subject. They had no suggestions,
as they were acting unoffically, the Legis.
lature not having passed upon their APP
pointment.
l.. X. Passmore, president of the COM
mercial exchange. said there was one
thing underlying the whole question and
that was that the present quarantine sta
ton could not be removed until some
suitable site is chosen to locate it.
William r. Tucker, secretary of the
board of trade, said the commission was
the outgrowth of an effort made last year
to change the location of the quarantine
station, for which there was no demand
by the commercial interests of Philadel
phia. The present site is entirely satisfac-
tory. II feel that we are not in much OF
position to offer you suggestions as to
another site" sale Mr.. Tucker. ave may
be obstructionists after you have selected
ONE
William V. Mexican made the point that
the commission was not appointed to
select another site
Alexander q. Ferguson. president of the
maritime exchange, could not discover a
better place than the present one for the
quarantine station Oil the Delaware river
He thought the best thing that could be
done would be to let the present station
alone.
Mr. Mexican was glad to sec the com
missioners from Delaware present. He
asked If the Pennsylvania commissioners
had communicated with the Federal gov
erlment, the New Jersey or the Delaware
authorities. President Huggard said the
commission had taken several trips along
theriyer with the governors of New Jersey
and Delaware.
As to the removal of the quarantine sta
ton from Tinicum Mr.. Mexican said every
organization is against it; the city auehori-
ties are against it, and there Is not an
authoritative voice raised in its favor. The
truth is, he said. that this quarantine sta
ton is admirably situated and IL Is fitted
for the purposes for which it is used.
Every ship master, every shipping asso-
citation and commercial association say
that the quarantine station is where Il
ought to be. In aboishing the station,
Mr.. Mexican said he had not heard word
as to who will pay the city. Philadelphia
spends 81 900 year on the station, of
which S9, 900 goes to pay the salaries of
state officials.
Representative Bliss of Delaware county,
the father of the bill to remove the quar-
antine station, said unless the newspapers
were incorrect there was yellow fever in
the Delaware river at the present time.
1.-THE port physician is here" said MIR.
Ferguson, and ask him If that is true"
The bark on which yellow fever was
left the river this morning." said DR.. Left
man.
How long since there was yellow fever
on board?" asked Walter +. Hagar of the
commercial exchange.
'tifty-seven days" said DR.. Lehman.
Representative Bliss, continuing, said
that Of course Philadelphia did not want
the quarantine station removed from its
present site, as that city did not suffer as
Chester and other places adjacent to the
combine on a single station that will give
us all protection?' he asked.
James b. Candy. of the commercial ex-
change, thought that it was desirable to
have the quarantine station near Philadel-
phia.
L. R. Cochran of the Delaware Commits
sioners, said they were not present to bid
for the quarantine station. I'VE may
have hay seed in our hair and raise
peaches" he added, but we won't bid for
yellow fever.n
Representative Crothers said very few
people in Philadelphia knew where the
quarantine station was. The present sta
ton was simply an excuse for one 1t will
not protect Philadelphia from contagious
disease, rs there were no means of keeping
the affected people there. AS property
holder in the vicinity OF the quarantine
station he thought he should moi beloaded
down by the yellow flag. He was satisfied
If the State of Delaware could get the
benefit Of a quarantine for Wilmington
and New Castle for u little expense, they
would have no objection.
Mr.. Mexican called attention to the fact
that factories and other establishments
were moving up toward the Lazaretto. He
would venture to assert that not two years
in hive was there case of yellow fever at
the quarantine station.
He was told that there was not case
there since 1884.
Mr.. Huggard thanked those present for
their views on the subject, and assured
carefully considered by the commission,
and the meeting adjourned.
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A COOPER TESTIuONTsT