New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-08

NEW YoRK'S POOR QUARANTINE STATION.
1T Is CRITICISED BY THE STATE BOARDS OF

Ito sevcnth annua, International Conference OF
state Boards OF Health which has been In session
during the last three days was brought TO end
last evening. The problem with which the
ference wrestled how 10 prevent cholera from
gaining a foothold these shores and how pre-.
vent the spread Of this disease should IL here
The doctors exercised their time hOnOred preroga.
five 10 disagree. and disagree they did almost
every topic under discussion with something OF the
pertinacity OF the woman VIC remarked that she
willing to be Convinced. but she would like TO
any mortal rman convince her. Most OF those In at
tendance had had long OF experience as health
officers and each naturally regarded bis own system
as the best The disagreement of lone section was
emphasized BY a separate meeting and the passing
of resolutions which the main body did not seem In
clined TO adopt. This section consisted OF TIE dele
oates from the States which members OF the
sanitary Commission OF the Mississippi Valley. This
Commission organized In 1870 10 prevent the
spread OF yellow fever and II has kept up lis Or
ganzatiOn Its action intended as protest
against the decision of the conference but It's recon-
mendatons applied only to the states represented
1t not intended In any sense as break from the
general organization. There was more OF common
feeling at the close OF the conference IMAM AZ l"e
beginning and the majority Of the members felt that
much good mad been accomplished, although no
radical and few definite measures were agreed upon
The inspection OF the lower quarantine station
proved a disagreeabe surprise TO those VINO hau eA
pec,ed to thoroughly equipped Plant uhuer
efficient administration. The feeling was so genera
that the conference should take some action with re-
gard to the ineffciency Of the station that committee
was appointed on the boat coming back to the city 10
report to the conference in the evening. The report
did not 60 to the lengths TO which private criticism
went. but 1t declared in no unmis'akabc terms It's
opinion of "a system burdened with grave inherited
defects The following the report OF the committee
which unanimously adopted
Resolved, That it be- expressed the sense OF this
conference representing the health sutioiues OF me
United StaS. Canada and Mexico. that the importance VI
having msikainea at the port Of NewYsrk thoroughly
efficient system of quarantine against imported pes'"ce
50 great to conference In Offering certain
urgent recommendations Inesnuch a. the state Of New"
York has assumed the responsibility OF carrying on inc
important upon the equipment ara efficiency Of "hch
other states must necessity largely depend, the repre-
sentatves States and communities feel themselves
justified urging that the present plant ana a "ces LOT
the performance qua Iantine l. Imam Island be
enlarged and improved to eonfol. to the highest
standard of modern imp ovement
conference recognizes the fact that the present
quarantine administration has laboed under the dsad
vantage having TO operaD system bufdehed WIN
grave inherited defects full credit is ACCORDED for
such good been done by the present active
quarantine officer IS Informed that several
important improvements contemplated and that as
soon a. practicable will be Instituted II Is IN
tended to increase Of Hoffman Island the ober's
lion and disnfecting station containing the pHhcipal
quarantine plant, from acres to about Ten III
fcues for the dsnection of baggage ana bedding are
deemed entirely the conference is Informed mat
an extension OF the 10 about npe times lts present
capacity is contemplated, but in view OF the constant
menace from cholera, the conference urgently recon-
ncnds that facilities be increased imhcu'aeS' 81
,,actcabe IL IS also recommended that wharf In deep
water be built for better accommodation OF vessels
under treatment Hoffman Island The supply OF drink
inc water in such tn render us cohtad'o"
At these stations possible, ana the necessity VI 'i
arrangement is imperative ., ,.
7, appears disirfcction OF immigrants oaegase
ha man on vessels has been practised a: The Port OF
nd
nro,s.es AGAINST the continuance OF this neglect
The conference also deems 1t It's duty 70 report 'ae ~
certificates at present issued by the Unitco S"'ee
at Ellis Island O. represented By Dr. Wheeer Vi 'ns'
service have no whatever IN guaranteeing any pre-
v,ous inspection or disnfecon Of immigrants baggage
Is this station is not designed for Quarantine WORK.
Tho hospital at Swinburne Island is well equ'ppcu %
the crematory the same is one OF sppo'ea
construction.
The committee which reported these resolutions CON
sisted of Dr. Patton, DR.. Punkett, Dr. McCofmach'
Dr. Probst and Or. Wells
The dsagreeable weather prsSs9'so msh 20 the
Quarantine stations Staten Island and IN tn n
BAY About bali the members W Of the &C II me- they
Visited Ellis Island and then went down the Day.
re' Tse ssn sss N council valley hss
its first meeting at the Filth Avehus Se evening
Peleaates Were present from the state Boa,rs q
Health Of Illinois Indians Iowa Ke4 MsHya h Sor
Dakota. OHIO PENNSYLVANIA Tennessee West nsl,a
and Wisconsin Dr. J. d. punKet1 , 1i anre,orv
RESOLUTIONS adopted after some di,enss, ion
asking the Secretary Of the Irea ,as 10 sTstem Of
immigration inspection service. with special fer1m ,
20 nnt in the hands Of special committee of which
Dr. John H. Ranch was appointed ehairmSm; N. sir
general Of the United states Marine Hospital
Service to exercise his powers under 5eco d c o'
Inform system Of sanitary inspection of travel BY
nver and rail throughout the territory reprrseYu "a
IN. Cnnc,l similar 10 the service maintained IN So
isso and 1881 TO guard against the spread OF yeUT
fever The secretary OF me coanci Ms an u'9 }pv"s,Iga
don OF the cholera situation IN Europe ana eSpc ars
In Russia and If the results res nro Si lilo in Whoe or in
part OF immigration from any Eulupa - The pres
place. to recommend suitable measures u ''''
AZ tho evening session the rolca of States TO near
reorts as 10 conditions existing and pFecaui us oe's
taken was completed. Dr. W Reilly OF i'GS,
wi,h the Worlds Fair and the peculiar dangers a,,
tendant thereon, was the first 10 fe"po""' '' ''
in part ,.., ,,, ,,s cant,
,sry condition has been demonstrably improved ~ w
estimated on the first OF the present mohth 's' o'e '
ooo inspections had been maze "lth 'hc
,,,s ,s, ,oonb. The Board Of Health has endeavoreu
70 educate the public into knowledge anu ocl'e' '
Asiatc cholera is largely bugbear; tha' eNe" ." ~
nou,ed water supply proper disposal OF eXceta anu
other cleanlv Of le there Is less 70 De '"e"
from this disease than from many other causes Ns'
TEN Of inspection Of Immigrants ana their enec's arrs
In the city OF Chicago has oeeh Haho'"cd "S 'N 'N'
Department since last September
During the last fifteen months great amount :"
effective sri;ary wo,k HIS been done In the "i'v Of
chca,o lis probable efficiency In the event OF an out
break o, cholera may inferred from It's unraac'o
record in dealing with smallpox NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. "o
fsouen, Introduction OF disease In 1892 I'm no instance
was there spread the contacion from any given hfs'
case 70 another person cholera the Department mas
made ample provision for isolation. disinecton OF premises
surveillance Of those exposed and Of the patient and
c,e s M obvious reason why should not be- as sue
cessfu I'm dealing cholera outbreak as IL mas oec
In dealing with the outbreaks OF smallpox
The Chicago water supply. concerning VINO" "e'o va"
serious ground for apprehension until the recent conpe
ton OF what Is known the -four mile tunnel IL o"
pronounced by competent experts TO he the best Oh any
large city IN the world The only exception 10 THIS