The San Francisco call., 1896-02-15
Suspects Said to Be on Their
Way Here From Ellis /.
Island.
BOARD OF HEALTH rs ALERT.
Six New Milk Inspectors Will Be
Appointed at Salaries of
SIS Each.

The startling information was conveyed
| to the Board of Health at its special meet
| ing yesterday that San Francisco is in dam
ger OF a visitation OF smallpox from
abroad. The communication was from
the Immigration Commissioner at Ellis
Island, N. Y, where emigrants from Euro
pean countries are examined before being
permitted to land in this country.
It is stated that a steamer which recentlv
arrived from Naples, Italy, had been in
fected with the dread disease, and that two
Italians had succeeded IN eluding the vigi-
lance of the authorities and had gone on
board the cars bound for San Francisco.
The local authorities were warned to look
out for the two men, as they might spread
contagion.
The meager details given left the board
in quandary as to the course to be pur-
sued to apprehend the suspects, but it was
decided to send for more particulars post
haste and in the mean time notify the
State Board of Health OF the matter and
take all possible precautions until more
that any serious Danger exists, as the dis
ease, if it attacks the men, would prob
ably do so en- route, but the board will
take no chances of permitting the scourge
to obtain foothold in this City.
The Milk Committee, consisting of Drs.
Hart and Morse, rendered report on the
new ordinance which was full of interest
ing suggestions.
After debating at length on the import
ance of pure milk as an article of diet and
stating that the great mortality among
young children is largely attributable to
unwholesome milk, the report goes on to
say:
milk inspection have brought home to every
citizen thorough realization OF the general
and almost universal adulteration of the milk
supply of this City, and while the City has
been most fortunate in having recently the
services OF efficient, brave and untiring
milk inspector, the fact that milk comes into
this City from many quarters, and during
every hour of the day and night, and is being
distributed over an area OF over &c, 900 acres,
by over 800 wagons, proves conclusively that
no one man can be expected to safeguard the
consumers of milk against adulterations
which result so largely to the pecuniary ad-
vantage of unscrupulous dealers in milk
Such an inspection at best can never be any.
| thing but a temporary and utterly inadequate
affair and almost valueless. Moreover, when
we consider the temptations to dishonesty in
the milk business the ease with which adnl-
| terations of milk can be made, the number of
| persons engaged in the business of producing
and selling and using milk, and the difficulties
of such inspection over large an area and
the utter impractieability of having suffic lent
| inspectors to insure purity OF milk, it will be
| seen that some system or simple method for
| accomplishing this desired result must be
| adopted.
The committee contended that the new
milk order will greatly improve the state
OF affairs. In relation to inspection sta.
tions the com mittee reported as follows:
The order further provides for public food
inspection stations, at which milk must be
and meat and fish, poultry, vegetables, and in
fact all other foods will be publicly inspected
Pursuant to this order, we have established
four public food inspection stations, situated
| as follows:
Food Inspection Station is situated on the
seawall at the Clay-street wharf. This station
has been granted to the City gratuitously
the OF the State Board
| the good offices in that behalf of Z. L. Colnon,
| president OF the board.
Food Inspection Station is situated on
Fourth street, near King. and is as near to the
Fourth and Townsend streets depot of the
Southern Pacific Railroad as could be obtained
Food Inspection Station is situated on
| Army street, near the corner of Alabama. this
being central point of ingress to the City
from the San Bruno road and the County road,
| which are the only two highways of entry by
land into the City from San Mateo County.
Food Inspection Station 4 is situated on
Geary street. near Central avenue, being q
point of entry for all dairies in the Richmond
| District and along Point Lobos road
These stations will all be open night and day
and thoroughly illuminated, and the total ex-
pense to the City for rent and incidental ex-
| penses of all four stations will not exceed $40
| per month.
We have thoughtfurly and carefully consid-
| cred the necessities of the situation, the i'm
portance OF having pure milk and other foods
for over 800, 900 inha bitants of this City, the
| methods by which it can be complished and
| the necessary expense which will be entailed
on the City for the realization of this vital OBJ
| ject. We believe that the citizens OF this CITY
| will be glad to incur the small additional eX-
| pese necessary to secure so vital and so impor-
| tant result as pure food for over quarter of
| million people; but however it may be regarded
by others we feel constrained in the fulfillment
OF our official duties, with the view of attaining
that object, to recommend to this board the a D.
| pOintment of six additional inspectors for the
| four food-inspection stations at salary of S75
| per month each. This will necessitate an a n
nual cost of $5400. which will insure a
| thorough inspection of all foods which come
| into this City.
When we consider that the annual expense
| of the City government in 1895 was S5 568.-
| 827 d, and that the enormous advantage to
| the public health OF such daily inspection OF
| foods can be almost insured for the absolutely
| insignificant sum of $54OO, we cannot believe
| that the foregoing recommendations will meet
the opposition of any person who really means
well by the people. Respectfully submitted.
| j. T. MORSE,
Fl. H. HART.
The report was adopted unanimously.
| and the board decided to defer the an.
| pointing of the inspectors until legal ad
vice on the matter is obtained, the Board
of Supervisors having announced that the
| salaries of the officials will not be paid.
The Young Women's Christian Assccia-
tion sent in q communication protesting
| against the removal of Superintendent
| Weaver of the Almsh
ROBBED WHILE ASLEEP