Evening journal., 1893-01-23
A COURTEOUS REQUEST.

the governor of that state to communi-
cate with the governor Of this state
requesting the consent Of our General
Assembly to permit Pennsylvania to
purchase Bombay Hook Island, Tor so
much thereof as the owners may consent
to sell for the purpose Of establishing
there modern quarantine station, upon
such conditions as may seem right to the
state Of Delaware
For the last twenty years the
City Of Chester has felt the
Present Lazaretto, to be constant
menace to the welfare Of her citizens, as
well as very dangerous to a rapidly in
creasing suburban population in close
proximity.
In 1872 a vessel infected with yellow
fever was brought to that quarantine,
and every one Of the physicians and at
tendants stationed there became victims
of the disease and died The physicians
Of Chester, with noble heroism, volun
teered their services and remained in dis
charge Of professional labor uotil the
plague succumbed 20 their skin, but des
pite all their efforts to confne those
from the vessel, within the enclosure Of
the Lazaretto, some scaled the trihing
barriers erected about the grounds and
spread the disease to Chester.
Since that time, the city of Chester
has dreaded the appearance of the
yellow" signal from the flag staff Of the
Lazaretto and even with the de-
velopmeuts Of modern therapeutics,
and the preventives of diseases,
they are still confronted with
the alarming fact that should vessel be
brought to that station for disinfection,
the excreta, garbage and bilgewater
would be discharged in the channel di.
rectly oyer the mouth Of the water pipes
from which about 35, 600 people draw
their daily supply, and they are assured
by eminent specialists on germ diseases
that, beyond all doubt, the citizens Of
Chester, and all with whom they may
come in contact, are seriously liable to
disease by reason Of such pollution.
To effect the removal of the quarantine
station from such a populous centre has
long been the desire of Delaware county
But they were always met by the objec-
tors, saying that there was no other
place in Pennsylvania upon the Delaware
( river that could be any less dangerous.
At a former session Of the Pennsylvania
Legislature joint resolution was
adopted creating quarantine site COM
mission, with the governor as president,
who should invite the states Of Delaware
and New Jersey and the Federal Govern.
ment to ascertain II a site could be had
where the entire Delaware river and bay
would be protected, and contagious or in
fictitious diseases prevented entrance To
any part of the states bordering upon the
Delaware
In 1891 Governor Pattison requested
OF Governor Reynolds committee tc
confer with the Pennsylvania commission
which was courteously and promptly re.
sponded to, and both commissions care.
fully explored the Delaware river aud bay
for site in every respect acceptable and
without any reasonable objections.
Deep Point, opposite the Chrstiana
was objected to because of being close to
New Castle and Wilmington, and in &
populous section Of New Jersey, and on
fresh water Fort Delaware, ton Pc,
b Patch lsland) objected TO- because Of tn,
T. narrow ship channel on the eastern side
as shown by the Pilot Association, and
y Of its close proximity to Delaware Cit,
and the entrance 60 tine Chesapeake anC
j. Delaware Canal Reedy Island, objected
. to. because of its neaness and opei
b water to Port Penn, and it's liability Il
overflow by an ordinary high tide
e which it would require an expensive Sc
i wall to prevent, and since the Federa
IL Government has constructed a ietty a
'1 the south end toward the Delaware shor,
D il is the opinion that this island will On
10 course Of time), by deposit Of silt be
. come attached to the main land OF Della
ware. Collins Beach, objected to, becaus
q being upon the main land station
.g would in the future be liable to en-
=. croachment by villages or towns bein
! located upon the Delaware at tina
" point.
Il wss then determined by the con
r. missions to personally examine On
H. modern quarantine stations to ascertain
IN what are the physical requisites tina
n experienced scientific experts declare
N necessary A visit was made to Boslo
IL and thorough examination was aforde
10y the Board Of Health and the quarar
tine officers OF that city of Gallops islam,
be containing fifteen acres and crowde
with one hospital. A graveyard, a war
house aud land devoted TO the susteuanC
Of some mich COWS deemed essentia
is. and their steam disinfecting plant.
BY the courtesy Of the New York Stat
lie Quarantine Commissioners their MOI
III expensive accommodations when mex
visited. In lower New York bay wei
er originally two sand bars. which bein
the only available places for hospita
ty were purchased by that state and el
to larged and enclosed at an emo
I'd nous cost. Upon the lower OF