The age-herald., 1897-11-14
EX-GOVERNOR I. G. JONES
Writes About Quarantines When He Was Gov
 ernor of a,ama.

Ex-Gov. Thomas G. Jones printed an intervieiw in Montgomery paper yester- day. in reply to an~interview on the quarantine subject in Thursdays Age Herald by Capt. H. H. Amerine.
 MT. Jones says:
 'T'heTe was no yellow fever in ATabama in 1893, and no state quarantine against any point in Alalba ma. What was to be done With refugees in the event yellow fever broke out in Alabama was never tlie subject of instructions 10 any quar- anline officer. No instructions were is sued on that point.
 ssOn the declaration of fever at Pensa- cola and Brunswick, state quaranlines were put in force against them; and the best method of dealing with our own aefugees if fever appeared in our cities, beoa,me the subject of earnest conference btween the $, ate health officer and my self.
 ..It as considered cerlafn that cities and counties, which thought themselves in danger, would instantly quarantine on the fir:I, authentic evidence of fever; and that these local tines, and the aroused fears of the people, would keep refugees out of places where fever would spread among the inhtabi uants more effectually than any state quaran- tire. Besides under the law, the state aut horfties had no power to determine such matters, against the wishes of the local authorities. It was, therefore, de- tennined if quarantine againS- plalces in Aiaba ma should become necessary, that the slate would not attempt to determine where refugees should or should not stop.
 'ut was also certain that there were communities in Alabama which were satisfied by actual test that fevsr would not spread among the inhabitants, all though refugees s'ckened and died with fever in their m dst; and these communi- tiss, as they did in former epidemics, would certainly receive refugees. It was thought wiser and more humane to encourage refugees to go to such places than to try to shut ths m out of the state Both of us felt certain, if the state would afford safe conduct to such convenient places of refuge, it would better prev nit than in any other way the scattering of fugitives dn other places, where fever would spread. and that there was ss d1ngsr to the general public than in any other plan.
 Tt was decided, if fever broke out in any place in Alabama to procure the cooperation of the railroads and run trains under supervision of state officers to places like, Opelika. A state officer was to be stationed at each of the places where refugees were allowed, and they were to be paroied to report to him daily, and not permitted to leave ex-
 
 showing they were in gcod health and net been exposed in ten days. If any person failed to report he was to be taken to a. place of detention and kept there the required time before being allowed to depart It was thought inn practicable to establish any camp of de- | tention near any of tha centers having fever, in which people should be forced to remain ten days before going else where. The difficulties and dangers Of such a camp are self-sug gesting. 1t was thought easter to carry the people on special trains to the places willing to receive than to attsmpt Ito camp them rear the cities which they wished to | leave, and that many would go on the trains who would be certain to avoid going into a camp of detention near a city with faver If any great number of refugees went to Opelika and like places, and sickness broke out among E them, the state would care for them l. there, establishing hospitals. If necss- | sary and providing, if necessary, for |. isolating patients from fellow refugees. or the inhabitants, if fever spread