The herald., 1897-10-28
Against Bananas From
Fever=InfeCted Ports
THREE CARLOADS ARE COMING
HEALTH OFFICER WILL FUMI-
GATE THEM ON ARRIVAL
Board of Health Hold e Special Meet
ing to Consider the Fever Scare
Yellow Jack at Mazatlan

{
been declared by the Los Angeles board
of health against New Orleans and other
fever infected points on or near the
Gulf of Mexico. This action was decided
upon at a special meeting of the board
held yesterday noon at the office of the
mayor The meeting had been suddenly
called at the request of Health officer
Powers, who had been informed that
three carloads of bananas were about to
, be received in this city from New Or
leans. He desired to learn the wishes
of the board before he permitted the
cars to be received and opened. While
he did not anticipate any danger, he
thought it best that the proper authori-
ties should be informed of the matter,
that they might take such action as
they desired.
All of the members of the board who
are in the city were in attendance at
the meeting. DR.. Powers stated that
three cars of fruit were now en- route
to Los Angeles from New Orleans via
the Santa Fe. The consignment was to
Simpson, Hack & Co. and Loeb, Fleish-
man G. Co. 1t had come originally from
Bluefields, a non-infected port in Cen
trail America, and at New Orleans had
been loaded into cars which had been
| fumigated, and after loading the cars
were again fumigated. They were then
offered to the Southern Pacific for ship
ment, but were refused, as that COM
pany is accepting no freight at that
point. The cars were then shipped to
Kansas City, and thence westward over
the Santa Fe. The health officer wanted
to know what to do about the matter.
TO BE FUMIGATED
For a time Mayor Snyder and the
other members of the board were not
disposed to admit the fruit under any
circumstances. It was admitted that
the seizure of the assignment might
work a hardship to the merchants who
had purchased the fruit. but it was
argued that the city could not afford to
| take the slightest chance in the matter.
DR.. Powers explained that the fumiga-
ton of the fruit had been under the
direction of the United States marine
hospital service, and he thought it was
| thorough. He suggested that the cars
be again fumigated carefully before
| they were unlOaded, and that the con-
tents be also fumigated by parcel be-
fore the consignment was turned over
| to the dealers. He further stated that
in his opinion there would be no danger
of infection here if these precautions
were taken. The members Of the board
were not inclined to admit the fruit
| even with these additional precautions,
but they finally agreed to allow this one
shipment to enter, but no others.
| The three cars were due to arrive at
Barstow last night, and they are eX-
pected here sometime today. Dr. Pow
ers, after receiving his orders from the
board, began his preparations for the
fumigation of the fruit He will do this
work as thoroughly as can be. using the
| most approved means of securing per-
feet disinfection. He stated yesterday
that the bananas would not be injured
although they might nave q peculiar
flavor after he had finished his work.
A QUARANTINE STATION
After the question of admitting the
fruit had been disposed of the board
entered into a general discussion of the
proper protection OF the city from dam
ger of infection. 1t was pointed out that
one case of yellow fever here would
mean loss of thousands of dollars to
the city. 1t would ruin the reputation
of the city and of Southern California
as a health resort, and would keep
thousands of tourists from coming here
| There is of course always some danger
Of a case being brought here by some
person fleeing from the fever, but un-
less it is brought in that manner, there
| is believed to be no danger whatever
| from other sources. AS a matter of
precaution against any possible case
that might be caused by the importation
| of the germs of the disease the board
| of health decided that after yesterday
| no freight of whatever character from
the infected cities would be received. Dr.
| Powers was notified to advise the rail-
road companies of this action by the
| board. He will do SO this morning. In
| their efforts to keep out this freight Dr.
Powers has been assured of the o-oper-
alton of the several railroad companies
and until the fever has entirely disap-
peared the companies will receive no
freight at the points where it exists con-
signed to Los Angeles. A careful watch
will be maintained so that none of it will
slip in.
| An effort will be made to secure the
cooperation of the state board of health
in the matter and it is certain that the
state body will act in conjunction with
the local board. 1t is the intention to es
tablish If possible fumigating station
at Barstow where all shipments that
have come from that part of the coun-
| try in which the fever is prevalent will
be carefully disinfected.
NO NEED FOR ALARM
Speaking of the matter yesterday Dr.
Powers said "There is not the slight
est occasion for any alarm here or else
where in this part of the state. Even
| if case should be brought in from a
distance, and that is the only way it
could reach here, the climate is such
| that spread of the disease would in my
opinion be impossible. The nights are
so cool here at all times that the germs
| of the disease could not thrive. There
has never been a case of yellow fever
here and we do not intend that one shall
come now If we can prevent it. The de-
cision of the board of health in quaran-
timing against freight from the fever
district does not mean that we fear that