The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-18
ATLANTA GETS RESTLESS.
BEING A CITY OF REFUGE is NOT
AN UNMIXED BLESSING,

Country Merchants VIII Not Buy
Atlanta Goods - The Board of
Health Is Divided-Dr. Stone In At
lanta-He Speaks of His Visit to
MobiIe-Apprchends No Danger.
Atlanta, Ca, Sept 17.-The general invi-
tation extended to yellow fever refugees
to come here has caused a conflict in the
public's mind, and it is not improbable
that there will be a vigorous protest made
if the refugees continue to flock in and
quarantining among other cities goes on.
The members of the board of health are
divided as to the prudence of this invita-
ton, which has already resulted in hun
dreds of the panic stricken ones coming
into the city from New Orleans and other
infected districts. President Alexander
of the board takes the position that there
Is hardly possibility of a spread of the
! scourge here, even if it should be intro
| duced. In fact, he goes so far as to de-
clare that the fever cannot exist here, on
account of our peculiar climatic condi-
! tions, and he, with several other medical
| gentlemen, say that The gates should be
kept open and everybody allowed to come
| in. There is an element of the health
board and among other reputable physi-
clans, however, that take the other view
of the situation, and do not hesitate to
say that the fever could easily become
epidemic here, though the danger is not
as great as in some other sections These
members of the board, Drs. Avary. Nc
Rae and cooper, have issued a statement
in reply TO the position taken by President
Alexander, who claims the city TO be inn
mune from the yellow DEATH in which
they say
| ''Dr. James F. Alexander has expressed
the opinion that it was impossible for yell
low fever to develop in Atlanta on account
of his being president of the board of
health, this private opinion of his has
been construed by the public as an Off
cjal utterance of the board itself. At a
call meeting of the board of health yester-
| day afternoon, each of the undersigned
| strongly dissented from DR.. Alexander's
opinion.
1--WE do not think it impossible under
appropriate condition for yellow fever to
gain foothold in Atlanta. The past inn
munity which our city has enjoyed is only
partial proof that such immunity will con-
tinue. We think it quite possible under
certain atmospheric conditions as to tenn
| perature and moisture, together with such
| unsanitary conditions as frequently pre-
| vail in certain parts of all cities, that the
| germs of yellow fever might readily find
a suitable soil in which to grow, and -four
| ish. We deprecate as reckless and impru-
dent the wholesale invitation which has
! been extended to all stricken cities, to
| come and abide with us.
While we consider the development of
the disease exceedingly improbable here,
We do not believe that it is right to jeop-
ardlze the health and commercial rela-
! tions of this city on the unproven
assumption that it is impossible for yell
! low fever to develop here. We believe it
| necessary to take every precaution against
| admitting into this city any person sick
! with this disease, and for that purpose we
| have established a rigid inspection on
! trains coming from Alabama and points
! beyond. If any should be found among
| the refugees either on the train or after
reaching Atlanta it would be promptly re-
moved outside the city limits
| 1t was reported to-day that there were
two cases of yellow fever already in exist
ence here, but the report proved to be
! groundless, although II created a good
| deal of excitement. President Alexander
| of the health board issued the follow
| ing bulletin to quiet the public mind:
ATLANTA, Ga, Sept. II, 1871 certify
! that there is not now, neither has there
been a case of yellow fever In the city of
Atlanta. James F. Alexander,
president Board of Health, Atlanta, Ca
The health board has adopted strict reg
ulations for the inspection of incoming
trains and every effort will be made to
keep out actual cases of sickness. A
| corps of physicians has been detailed to
work on every incoming train, and the
sanitary department has been set to work
cleaning up the city, flushing the sewers
which have been in bad condition all sum-
mer and taking other precautionary
measures In view of the large
influx of refugees Chief
Sanitary Inspector Veal and his assistants
have arranged everything for the deten-
ton of any suspicious cases that might
be found on the incoming trains.
The Atlanta and West Point trains from
New Orleans. and the infected region will
be inspected at East Point. and the trains
from Birmingham and Austell, IL any
suspects are found on the former they
will be removed at West End and trans
ferred to the detention hospital, and any
are found on the Birmingham trains they
will be taken off at Bellwood and carried
to the same place. Tents have been pre-
pared at the sanitary grounds outside the
city limits, ana everything is In readiness
to handle any suspect that may be found
on the trains or that may develop suspi-
cious symptoms after their arrival.
1t was reported in the business section
to-day that some of the surrounding towns
have determined to boycott Atlanta goods
Until after the fever scare is over. The
outside merchants are afraid that they
will buy fever germs along with goods
purchased here and in Difference to their
own feelings, as we'll as to the sentiment
of their customers who are beginning to
regard everything from Atlanta with sus-
picion, they have determined not to deal
here for a while This information has
caused some Of the leading business men
Of the city to take another view Of the
indiscriminate invitation to the refugees,
and IL the commercial interests of the
town are to be sacrificed by the loss of
trade on account of this feeling in adjacent
territory, as well as the quarantine that
is being enforced against Atlanta because
she has opened her gates to the refugees,
they will probably take steps to call a
halt. joining the faction of the health
board which opposes the view that the
fever cannot become epidemic here
DR.. Stone of Savannah, who was order
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