The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-12
SAVANNAH FULLY PREPARED.
COULD QUARANTINE IMMEDIATELY
SHOULD 1T BE NECESSARY.

BarricRde of Quarnntines TO the
West-It Is in a Healthy Condition
and Has Far Less Malaria Than
Usual - Precautionary Measures
Taken in Case There Should BE an
EmerGcncy-Montgo the Only
Point Now About which There Is
Any Anxiety-The Public VIII BE
Kept Fully Posted.
1t is hoped now that there will be no
necessity for Savannah to institute quar-
anune on account of the yellow fever in
New Orleans and other western points
| Nevertheless the health authorities have
Deemed it wisest to be on the safe SIDE
and they have made preparations through
which they can institute rigid quaran~
tine on short notice.
Mayor Meldrim said yesterday there was
absolutely nothing new in the situation
and that the sanitary board was simply
in correspondence with parties in New Or
leans and other points with a view to
keeping fully posted on the development
Of the epidemic. The meeting of ply
sicians Friday night, Mayor Meidrim stat
ed, was merely precautionary, being held
for the purpose Of comforting with the
railroad men and knowing just what could
be relied upon in case of an emergency
That meeting was an entirely satisfac-
tory one. and since that time nothing has
developed to make any action on the part
of the sanitary board necessary.
1--WE have not received any information
of any Importance as yet" Mayor Mel
drim said, but we have been given to
understand that we would be kept fully
informed of all developments. The stu
alton so far is encouraging, and it does
not yet appear that any active steps will
have to be taken.
1.-The city is In an unusually healthy
condition, and as a matter Of fact there
is far less malarial fever hepe now than
has heretofore been usual at this season
of the year Should there be any mani
fest danger however. we viii not hest
tate to act, and everything possible will
be done for the protection of abe city,
These views were fully indorsed by DIR.
George II. Stone, president of the Georgia
Medical Society, was present at the time.
He says the physicians all find the city
in an exceptionally healthy condition, and
though he thinks there will be no danger
whatever, he is an advoca to of precah>
tionary measures. and bell ewes in being
prepared for any emergency, even though
it may be only a remote possdbility.
Alderman w. w. Owens, chairman of
the public health committee of council
and a member of the sanitary board,
cit
Nothing has developed slice our meet
ing on Friday night, which was held for
the purpose of ascertaining just what VIC
could depend on. At that meeting we
learned that the railroads were all ready
to cooperate with us in any measures
that might be necessary in case of an
emergency, and we have mace prepara-
tons for instituting quarantine almost
at q moments notice, should the occasion
for it arise.
LAS the situation stands at present,
however I do not think that we will have
to take such steps, still it cannot be told
what may happen, and it, is best to be
ready to protect the city in case protection
should be needed. The quarantine to the
west of US constitute an almost impene-
trable barrier to the progress of yellow
fever in this direction. All of the prin-
cipal points In Alabama have Guaranteed
against New Orleans, and such points in
Mississippi as Ocean Springs and Biloxi,
and since the whole state of Florida has
quarantined against them the only way
for anyone to come from that section to
Savannah now is TO go clear up north and
come back south by another route.
'"rhe only point which has given us any
particular anxiety yet is Montgomery. 1t
is true Montgomery now has what is prac-
tically a shotgun quarantine against New
Orleans and other points where the fever
exists, but number of people from Mont
gomery, who were spending some time at
Ocean Springs, Miss. returned home be-
fore the fever was declared epidemic at
that resort have sources of information
in that city, through which 1 viii receive
immediate notice OF the first appearance
of any trouble there. We would not wait
for II to be declared epidemic in Mont
gomery. but would declare quarantine
against that city at once should yellow
fever appear there. Montgomery may es-
cape altogether but since II Is point that
is in direct communication with us by two
or three direct routes, it is necessary that
we be on the lookout,
"There is absolutely no reason for any
alarm here at the present time. In none
of the epidemics with which Savannah
has gone through has the first case APP
peared in the city after Sept. 3, and We
may be reasonably confident that under
far moro adverse circumstances than
those existing at present, it would not do
so now do not believe in making any
| concealmeut in such matters as this
think the people should know just what
the situation is so they might act as they
thought best so whatever is warranted
by the facts win be clearly and accurately
stated"
1t would appear, from the statement of
these authorities, that Savannah is at
present protected without the city taking
any active steps in its own behalf. sa-