Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-01-04

and Local Business interests We're
All Representative Malicious
Reports Against Wheeling.
The City Board of Health was called
to meet at four o'clock yesterday after
neon to meet a committee of the Mar
tins Ferry Board and representatives
OF the local business men, for gen
eral consideration of a proposition TO
raise the quarantine against Martin
Ferry. One Of the matters to be con-
sidered was the persistent and untruth-
fuI stories circulated in Ohio towns, and
credited 10 Wheeling people, that
there are still anywhere from ten to
thirty cases of smallpox in Wheeling,
when in fact there has not been case
of local origin here in six weeks, the
only two reported in that time having
come directly from the Ohio side, and
being at once sent out of town to the
city hospital Notwithstanding scores
Of letters, both official and private, have
been written to Ohio towns within sew
enty-fve miles Of Wheeling, giving the
true situation here, business men in
this city daily receive letters from Ohio
correspondents. making enquiries and
saying that Wheeling men tell us pos
itively that you have fifteen cases, or
some other ridiculous number, all Of
which is very exasperating.
Yesterdays session was organized
with Mr. Farrell in the chair, and DR..
Jepson stated he had received telephone
word from both Bridgeport and Martin s
Ferry saying they would be present at
the Wheeling meeting. He also said
that there had been conference be
tween representatives of the Martins
Ferry and Bridgeport boards, at which
the former wanted the Martins Ferry
quarantine raised, but Bridgeport de-
clined to act because that town was
bound by an agreement with Wheeling.
DR.. JepsOn also read an official letter
from DR.. Darrah, the Martins Ferry
Health officer, in which it was stated
there had been fifty-fOur cases, all told,
In Martins Ferry, with four deaths.
He also said there were but twelve
cases at present under treatment, in
ten houses, al Of these doing well. He
the Ohio quarantine on infected houses
was kept up for fourteen days after the
patient was well, so that Il stranger
visiting our town will see more flags
than we have patients"
Mr.. Morgan, of Bridgeport, made
statement of the situation in his town,
and the arrangement made by which
Martins Ferry was to be represented
at the Wheeling meeting. He said
Mayor WeStwOod was one of the Mar
tins Ferry committee, but he did not
recall the name of the other (Ir. Boyd
and did not know why they were not
present. Mr.. Morgan said he was sat
ished the situation in Martins Ferry
was greatly improved, and that it would
be safe to lift the quarantine Mr.
Bags, also Of Bridgeport, coTroborated
this
Mr.. Allen Brock. as a representative
Of the local business interests, was call
ed upon. He said he was not specially
authorized to speak for the business
men, yet he believed what he would
say would be endorsed by them. The
business men sympathized heartily with
the last TO interfere with regulations or
TO jeOpardiZe the public health. From
all present reports he believed it would
be safe to raise the embargo. He also
called the attention Of the Board par
ticularly to the slanderOus reports in
circulation on the Ohio side, to the ef-
feet that there was smallpox here.
These reports were very persistent, and
j., appeared TO be impossible to trace
them down. A circular had been sent
out signed by the Mayor, the Health
Officer. and the president of the Cham
Der of Commerce, and private letters,
even a letter signed by Health Officer
JepsOn. for the use Of representatives
of local firms travelling in Ohio had been
used. Vet often the reply was sent back
by customers: I'VE know positively
that there is smallpox in Wheeling.
Wheeling men have told us, and as
result there have been a number of
ouarantines in Ohio towns, without
cause. rhyme or reason. He thought
much of the trouble had arisen from
q confusion of West Wheeling, on the
Ohio side. with the city of Wheeling.
Mr.. Brock closed by saying that any
action taken by the Board towards lift
ing the quarantine should have
the sanction Of Bridgeport and
Bellalre. so that there would
he unanmitv of sentiment in
this section. That secured, it would be
easier to reason with the small Ohio
towns.
Mr.. B9ggs. of Bridgeport, said he had
been led TO think that Bellaire might
raise the quarantine against Bridge
port and Martins Ferry by the first Of
the week. He illustrated the loss from
the quarantine by saying one of the
Office force Of the Aetna Standard had
said the company's sales had fallen oil
$4,000 or 200 since the quarantine
went into effect
Or. JepsOn thought it would be best
if Bellaire, Bridgeport and Wheeling
could act in harmony
Mr.. Morgan. Of Bridgeport said he
thought if the river cities would act
i'm harmony and raise the quarantine,
the Ohio State Board would order the
Quarantines in small towns raised.
On this point Mr.. Baggs said Quaker
City he'd Cuarantined against Uhricls-
VILE because the latter town would not
quarantine against Bridgeport The
Quaker City quarantine had been raised
by the Ohio State Board, yet the Incl
dent showed the scare in the small
towns
At this point Mr.. Drennen, Of Martins
Ferry came in. He laughingly said he
had not been in his town for nearly
a month.
This led TO a discussion. Mr. Nc