The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-26

the New HamDShire, au almost useless
she'll of boat at my disposal. The press
began to write up the cholera in such
glowing and sensational way that business
was seriously hurt IN the city. Other cities
Quarantiued against New York, and some~
thing took place that l hardly think the
press In Gotham would care to publish. l
am Informed that men representing large
business interests got together and notified
the papers that il the cholera scare was con-
tinued they would cease TO advertise in said
papers. That had magical
effect in one way. The papers
ceased to harp on the cholera and
proceeded to attack me. / be-
came the victim. How much OF politics
there was In the matter l am unable to say.
Why, long before the Normannia attempted
TO land at Fire Island a reliable man in
formed me that he heard a prominent re-
publican official say we would not be allowed
TO land. How he knew it have not learned
l have suspicion that 1t was part Of
game to land them on Camp Low. The
pilot at the Fire Island light house never
attempted 60 take the Cepheus, containing
the passengers over the bar, although it is
Well-knoWn the boat could have gone over
the bar. do not mind saying that if the
passengers were not permitted to land at
Fire Island | would have landed them in
New York, because felt certain that none
Of the passengers were infected after all the
precautions had been taken.
"After the live cargo in the steerage is
cared Tor the danger OF disease among the
cabin passengers is almost reduced TO a
minimum. by the way of parenthesis will
add that terrible hue and cry was raised
by on editor on. the NOrmRunia because 500
people were on board the Cepheus. The
truth is, the Cepheus is licensed to carry
1900 passengers. But after the dinner
given to me by my fellow citizens | GER
aralu Fa1lN hat -,
did not keep the unbiased from seeing that
at least did my duty as best l could with
the means at my command"
Are you better prepared now than be-
fore to keep the cholera out~
Yes; have not been idle moment
since last fall, and though cholera should
be epidemic in all the big European ports,
believe l can keep it out. No such con-
dition as existed when the plague ships
arrived last fall will exist again. Pre-
cautions have been taken in more ways
than one. After the cholera patients are
discharged, made some recommendations
toward rendering more efficient service at
the port OF embeTkation. Indifference and
neglect at the port Of mbarkation are no
doubt responsible for the cholera on ship
board. This year greater precautions than
ever will be taken in the big seaport towrs
in Europe, and the danger will be CORE
spondiDglY decreased. Then, at a confer
ence of medical men on the subject, 1 sug-
gested certain changes in Hoffman Island,
and the quarantine commissioners
also made some suggestions. 1t
was decided TO extend the IA
oilities on Hoffman Island and put add.
tional buildings on it. l also suggested a
freproof building on Swinburne Island. 1t
should be about midway of the island and
three stories high. This suggestion was
adopted. | also recommended a floating
hospital, and the plans have already been
drawn. However, there was some objec-
tion to 1t, and the determination of some
was to retain the old hospitals as they are
on Swinburne Island. and recommend Fire
Island in case OF an emergency, which the
decision of Judge Cullen makes possible,
until we can construct hotel on Hoffman
Island, by extending it, If 1t is decided to
do 80. The facilities therefore available at
present are for the accommodation of 800
passengers on Hoffman Island and 700 on
SwinbuTne Island. And on Fire Island 500
can easily be accommodated.
'In case or extreme need, Mr. DulKer,
who has buildings on the island, will give
them up, and that will make room for few
hundred more. A good many improves
ments have been made ia Hoffman Island
and Swinburue Island. New boilers have
been put in the plant and other things
necessary have been added. We have now
three boats-viz., one for the transfer of
passengers, ono for boarding vessels aud one
for the transportation Of the sick. If neces-
sary We can charter several boats. So you
see, as far as facilities for OBTAINING the
qnarantined are concerned, the state has
places to souse, fumigate or disinfeot, feed
and. when fatalities occur, to cremate."
What about Camp Low"
THAT belongs to the United States and
will accommodate 500 steerage passengers.
LQ-N. 4
receive an order from the Secretary Of the
Treasury. But with the system of double
quArantine-that is, at the port OF embarka-
ton and here-the danger of cholera GET
ting into New York is reduced to a mini
mum. In fact, it is almost impossible for it
to get In. Several steamship lines last sea-
son tried the double quarantine system and
the result was, not single case was brought
over. The measures taken at the port of
embarkation will not only be rigid, but the
sanitary arrangements in the ships will be
almost perfect. a careful supervis of
the passengers, of the crew aud the cargo,
proper food, good water, excellent ventlla.
ton OF the vessels, and a sharp eye
on the sanitary condition of the
state law requires In a bill Of health
will go a long way toward keep
ing out the dreadful scourge. Anyway,
the law and its strict enforcement will pre-
vent the bringing of the disease in ouch a
Wholesale fashion as last autumn. or course
this includes complete isolation Of patient
on the vessel at sea. Now, it follows that
with such careful supervision at the en-
barkation port, and medical supervision in
transit, and detention here, we have a double
quarantine, and we are doubly secure. In
the belief that these wise precautions should
be taken and the law OF the state should be
enforced, | sent a man to Hamburg last
January to see that the regulations men,
toned are not violated, but carried out to
the letter. The Ward Line of steamers to
South America carry out the double quar-
antine in regard to yellow fever, and have
found it an excellent system. It will go a
long way toward keeping contagious dis
eases out Of port"
DO you think the steamship companies
will hamper you in your workp
The steamship companies have to meet
heavy losses by quarantine and pay heavy
expenses, and they are not going 30 run any
risks. The heavy loss to the Hamburg
American Packet Company in the Nor
MAMMA case has been a lesson which other
companies will profit by. Besides. when
ship once becomes famous as a cholera ship,
1t practically ends its career. The law says
that the expense of the detention and the
taking care Of the passengers shall fall upon
the steamship companies. No steamship
line will run vessels for glory. All Of these
solid facts will help TO lessen the chance OF
the introduction Of cholera into this port
DO you think the recent quarantine bill