The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-21
THE CHOLERA SCARE
Dr.. Wheeler of Ellis Island
Reports on the State Of
European Ports. s,.a

NEW YORK, July 81. 1893.-Dr. W. A.
Wheeler, head of the Medical Depart
meht at Ellis Island, has returned from
Europe, where he had been sent by the
Treasury Department. at Washington to
inspect the sanitary condition of the
more important seaDorts, and learn the
precautions used there in tho transport of
Immigrants to this country. He arrived
on the White Star Line steamship Britain.
mic this morning. after an absence of
nearly three mouths.
DR.. Wheeler has a lengthy report to
make TO the Treasury DE partmen of his
Investigations, but when seen thi morn
ing he declined to divuIge its contents,
and was unwilling to tell anything
beyond the fact that in general the ports
which he visited were in quite salts
factory condition. Later, however, he
visited Ellis lslaua and made known to
Commissioners Senner some of the par
ticutars Of his inspections.
THE NAPLES SCARE
The information that cholera had an.
peared at Naples interested Dr. Wheeler
greatly when he learned of it today. He
was in Naples about three weeks ago,
and there was no sign OF cholera there
then. In regard to its appearance he
said:-
Il certainly believe that it was import
ed, and under the present arrangements
thai it will be held In check.
These arrangements include the quar-
antinipg of all intending Immigrants for
five days In q building recently erected In
the rear of the city. Until the erection
of this quarantine station there were no
protective measures whatever, and iu
this respect Naples WAS far behind ports
like Hamburg and Bremen.
The principle ports visited by Dr.
Wheeler wer Hamburg, Bremen, Rotter-
dam, Antwerp, Marseilles and Naples. IN
Hamburg and Bremen lie found that
every precaution was being taken to pre-
vent the appearance of cholera aud to
hold it under control in the event of its
appearance. He found that the steam
ship companies were protected By care
full inspection of all steerage passengers
booked on their vessels. and that the
sanitary condition Of the cities was far
ahv.. Of that of last year. There have
been number OF cases OF cholera in
Marseilles, bnt these were of sporadic
nature. from an attack of which Mar
seilles has ever been free. There are few,
If any. immigrants arriving from Mar
settles, and the only importation to be
feared is that of rags.
THE RAG TRADE.
The rags exported from that place to
Infected before they are shipped, under
the supervision of the American Consul,
and consular certificate is required to
this effect.
Rotterdam aud Antwerp are in fair.
condition, one thing being particularly
noted by DIR. Wheeler. AT both these
ports Russian Jews are collecting, be-
cause not so much care is exercised there
by the owners of steamships in the selec-
tiOn of their steerage passengers. At
Hamburg particularly, Russian Jews
have recently had difficulty In securing
passage tickets to America, and the re-
suit is that others are gathering at Rot
terdam and Antwerp for Immigration.
DR.. Wheeler. will remain in this city
for two or three days, he says, and will
then go to Washington 10 report. In
addition to his report on the methods of
Immigration In Europe, it Is said that he
has made number of Investigations
which are intended to lessen the possi-
bilitY OF cholera reaching this country,