The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-27
WHAT QUARANTINE COSTS.
The Saving TO the Vessels by the
Removal Of The Charges.

Congressman Lester Has Charge of
the Matter of Securing Government
Control of the Quarantine-some
Doubt as to Whether the Govern
ment VIII Take Charge-The City's
Budget will Feel the Deficit in
Case it Does Not-What it Costs to
Run the Station.
Vessels are now coming into Savannah
free of all quarantine charges. This re-
lieves the vessels of very considerable
tax, including charges for fumigation,
discharging of ballast and the boarding
officers fees.
The ordinance removing the quarantine
charges went into effect Aug. l. Only a
small number of vessels have come into
the port since that time, but there will
naturally be a large number coming in
during the remaining months of the year
which are the months of greatest activity
in the shipping business.
The loss of revenue to the city by the
removal of the quarantine charges is esti-
mated at s. COO for the remainder of the
year. The loss of revenue by this
move in round numbers will be about
$4,000 annually. The expense of conduct
ing the quarantine is something over
$4,000 annually, which expense will con-
tinue TO be borne by the city unless the
government takes charge of the quaran-
tine as was expected when thequarantine
fees were removed.
DOUBTFUL ABOUT GOVERNMENT CONTROL.
Mayor McDonough, in speaking with
MORNING News reporter on the subject,
said that no further steps had been taken
toward securing the government control
of the quarantine other than those al
ready announced.
Congressman Lester has been placed in
possession of all the facts in the case, and
the matter has been left in his hands.
What Congressman Lester has done in
the matter Mayor McDonough said he
did not know, as he has received no recent
advices from him upon the subject
1t was intended when the resolution re-
quesllug the general government to take
charge of the quarantine was adopted by
council that committee consisting of the
mayor and several members OF council
should 90 on to Washington to personally
urge the matter there. Mayor Mellon
ough was advised by Col Lester, how
ever, that such a course would be useless.
GO ~ NOtAAo ChpNG lOtuAliEs anu IllG luGd Oh
sending on committee to Washington
was abandoned.
Whether Col. Lester will be able to eff
feet the end desired is unknown, and
Mayor McDonough did not seem very
sanguine on the subject. If it is neces-
sary to pass a special bill through CON
gress for the purpose of having the
government take charge of the Savannah
quarantine, ito is considered out of the
question for the natter to be accom-
plished at this session of congress. There
may be a fund al the disposal of the ma
rine hospital service, however, which can
be devoted TO this purpose, in which case
it is thought the chances of the govern
ment taking charge are good. Altogether,
however, the prospects for governmental
control of the quarantine are not consid-
cred as bright now as they were a few
months ago.
WHAT A QUARANTINE COSTS.
In this connection some statement OF
the receipts of the city from the quaran-
tine and the expenditures thereupon may
be of interest. The receipts from fees of
boarding officers and fumigating charges
last year were S9,9l4.25, and for dischaGg-
ing of ballast S4,309,50, making total of
Sl4, 223.15. The expenditures were S2S,-
400. 40. This includes running expenses,
repairs of damage caused by the storm of
August last, and part of the cost of the
new dislnfecting plant. This does not in
clude, however, the expenses of operating
the tug, which amounted to So, 659. SO.
making the total amount of expenditures
for all purposes for quarantine during
1893 S34 l25l2. This, however, included
$40 697. "A for new improvements
On account of the cost of repairing
damage done by the storm, and on ac,
count OF the large expenditure for i'm
provements, including the new disinfect-
ing plant, last years receipts and expeu-
ditures do not make fair showing. The
year before was about an average wear.
The receipts for 1892 were SID, 534. So The
expenditures were Sl4, l04 50 for ouaran-
tine proper, and -, OBS. "a for expenses of
the tug, making a total of $40, 343. 10. This
included about 1880 for extraordinary
expenses.
From this it will appear that quaran-
tine control will be rather costly to the
city unless benevolent government can
be induced 10 take charge and defray all
the expenses. If the government does not
take charge there will be a hole in the
citys receipts which will have to be
made up from some other source. The
deficit caused by the loss of the revenue
from quarantine for the next four
months, is likly to be felt, as all the de-
partments are running on very narrow
margin of expenditures this year, and
falling off in. the revenues from any
source is certain to be felt.
The average saving to schooners banks
and other sailing crafts of from $50 to
1000 tons, by the removal of the quaran-
tine charges, is from S22 TO $40 for fumi-
cation, and vessels of 900 tons and up
wards from $40 TO 500. In addition there
was the boarding officers fee of s. for
each and every vessel entering the river.
Besides this. the charge for discharginO
ballast at quarantine was IS cents a ton
for vessels carrying anywhere from 80
to $50 tons Of ballast. The removal Of the
quarantine charges saves to the vessels
entering port on an average of from $50 TO
SO each.