Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-29
.FAv0RS A CHANGE
Views Of A. NJ. Dahlgren Of Present
Quarantine Systems.
SHOULDBE UNDER NATIONAL CONTROL
Instances Of the Evils of a Divided
Responsibility.
YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC

YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC
A. NJ. Dahlgren, collector Of customs for
the Pearl river district of Mississippi, and
special disbursing agent of the marine hos
pital service, is an earnest advocate of a
national quarantine system instead Of state,
county, city and shotgun guarantees, as
now seen in the fever-stricksn district of
the south. He gives some interesting in
stances Of the operations of the present
plan.
M. Dahlgren Is a native Misslssppian,
and, besides holding two important posi-
tions under the government, is well known
as a man of prominence
He Is a son of Gen. A. G. Dahlgren, a
nephew Of Admiral j. A Dahlgren and q
brother Of the wel-known novelist, Mrs
I. A. Dorsey. who presented JEFF. Davis
with her magnificent estates He is presi-
dent Of the Sound Money League of Har-
rison county, president Of the Gulf Coast.
Electric Rahroad COMPANY and until re-
Gently was president of the Biloxi Com
mercial Club; chairman democratic coun-
~ executive committee and member of
the legislature. He is deputy grand chan
ceiior, knights of Pythias; Mason and
member OF seven other prominent orders.
Mr.. Dahlgren was in Washington on q
vacation in September, when the fever
broke out IN the south, and as all the ex-
press oinces were closed up between New
orleans and Mobile, there was no way for
the government to get any money to de-
Tray the expenses of the detention camps
az Mount Vernon, Ala, and Fontainebleau.
MISS, and for other places along the coast
except some one should take the cash there
In person. The situation was thus desper-
ate. when consultation of the President.
secretary of the Treasury and surgeon
general was held, and Mr.. Dahlgren was
requested to give up his vacation and pro-
ceed at once to the yellow fever district
he did this Immediately, accepting the an
polntment of special disbursinH agent for
t .ne epfdemic fund. and left here Septem-
cash. for the yellow fever stronghold al
1housh he had never had the fever himself
anu was physically worn out by the long, hot
summer in his district
He performed all the duties intrustad to
MIN and returned to this city a few days
ago TO render his account and take a much
needed rest.
Yellow Fever Situation,
MT. Dahlgren was seen by reporter of
The Star at Hotel Vendome last night and
when questioned regarding the yellow fever
situation in the SOUTH said:
could I'LL your entire paper with per
sonai experiences and those that came I'M
uer my observation. but will only cite few
TO show the righteousness. follv and IN.
competency Of the so-caIfed ouarantina rao-
uidtlohs now In force, and the necessity for
national quarantine law. When this fever
sim, u fraat IN Mobile. along the Mssis-
Threw open her gates and invited every
pooy TO come In. while Montgomery. win
ner supreme quarantine laws, compelled
rush rms 'ra ans, AFTER change Of crews. to
IuSn through the city, with car doors
locked, windows. transoms and even ven1
lllators closed tight, to a point some miles
OUTSIDE the city, where, on the occasion
l hps,., OF. tne train stood for two or three
hours III the fearful sun of hot September
gay, crowded with men, women and chill
oIen, all breathing the vitiated, sickeninp
ai. , VI Almost an alright compartment.
-. T., aiming women and children CRIED in
van VAN LOT little water to quench their burn
ing thlrst; The water supply had. given
out out the railroad people could NOT re-
pienish II, because 1t was against auaran-
sides oil the cars to enforce them. '''''
ihen, look at my own case I had :,
M Th certlncate from Surgeon General
t my" an OF fifteen days stay in Washing
Z, Iom the city board of health. and one fron,
surgeon j. II. White. commandant Of the
United United States detention camp at Fontafne-
7 $500, VI niteen days more, and with these
feluesteo permission to go into a non
lhIected point in Harrison county Miss
LOT one daV only and return to Fontaine,
o ofeau. l i've In Harrison county. and one
OF my custom houses is there TIC 60 ~
board agreed to admit me hut To- o s.a.e
ooaro wired me that 1 would not he nor,
IhItteo In the county, officially or otheru,isa
Would unuG any ~, circumstances. and for fear 1
wouIa attempt to come in anyway tho
guards with shotguns were donhIaS me
all roads closely watched. anu
now, although l held two commissions
o atn tne government and health certia.
Gates or nearly forty days from all infan-
non, and was on an errard of relief -
0ehled the privilege of entering NV ou,n
county because of the petty iealoustes ~
county quarantine authorities over stata
hack to ,'v ataa ana l mad to go all the way
OF the mississippi coast from there
another case is that of the postmistress
a. heauVolr, Miss, who went over to New
Orleans in the morning, expectinp r. ra,
turn that night, but Mississ,nni No.
tired against New Orleans that dav and
she had to remain there three weeks She
nnaily got bill of health from the LOUIS
lara board of health, which was recn1-
nized by the Mississippi board of heaIt6
ana she returned home. But as soon as
the Harrison county board of health found
II out they sent the sheriff to her house
which is right near the beach, and isolat
anu threatened to imprison and fine her.
and declared the state boards had no right
10 ADMIT ner Fearing to resort to extreme
measures in her case, they stationed a
enara OF men, with shotguns, day and
enc to enter or leave the place for eleven
days. BY order of the county quarantine
authorities, she was compelled to give up
the keys to the post Office and mail bags.
and a man put in charge of the office, un-
der no bond whatever, while she was under
heavy bond to the government If this
is not interfering with the United States
mails with a high hand, 1 would like to
know what is. When she was finally re-
leased they compelled her to pay the man
$40 for his services.
County Retaliation.
Il saw one Of Mobiles leading merchants.
who had been in Atlanta for over thirty
days. and had the proper state health GER
tificate Of Georgia, who received permits
sion from the Alabama health authorities
to go to Birmingham. but before he got
there one Of the county quarantine officers
arrested the old gentleman put him in CON
fnement and shipped him back to Atlanta
on next train; and the only excuse the
county officer gave him was that on some
other occasion the state officers had not
recognized the county officers telegram.
and he did not now propose to recognize
the states authority.
Il could give you many amusing incl
dents, but 1t would take up too much space.
f,,ct lonl OF tHa