The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-04-21
0. r. M Company Pushing For Its
Establishment Here.
GREAT DANGER THREATENED
rreSiteat Nohler aad Agent NoOlSey at
Nork-DL j. A. fultoa lpsS the
Necessity Tor Station at OnSe,

President Mohlcr OF the ., II. n n
Co, spent yesterday in Astoria, This Is
his tirst visit to this city since assuming
the duties " his oniee. when seen by
an Astorian representative and In re-
sponse to questions, MIR, Mohlcr said;
Il am here simply looking over tn,
Held relative To improvements conicm'
plated by the company our docks need
repairing and the coal hunkcrs are IN
sufficient in capacity to handle the bust
ness. have also Investigated the opera
tion at this end OF the river steamers
hc made In the river schedule
Another important matter and one
which Is OF the utmost consequence TO the
whole Columbia river Is the question OF
arrangements soon TO BE- made by the
government for the establishment ot a
quarantine station here. The last two
ships from the orient arriving az the
sound and san Francisco had smallpox
aboard We are operating line of steam
ers to the orient and at present there
is absolutely no means OF taking carr OF
a vessel that might have infectious dis
eases aboard. I have consulted with
Health Otiicer Or. J. A Fulton and Gen
eral Agent Frank woolscy OF the steam
ship line will be here In a few days 20
look further into the matter | am very
anxious to induce immediate action by
the general government Tor the establish
ment of this station. Il Is a question OF
supreme Importance In the matter OF
trafic between Oregon and the orient.
There Is some question as TO the proper
location OF the station. Probably Captain
Fiske or another officer In charge OF the
matter will make recommendations as to
the best location Of the station. There
should be immediate relief and the I'M
portance OF this movement now involved
In the operation of the oriental liners
cannot be overestimated. The absence OF
a quarantine station AZ Astoria means
under certain conditions tremendous de-
LAYS TO traffic and a great disadvantage
10 US as against the Sound and san
Francisco, fhe delay OF the government
in establishing this much needed station
is not only a hardship but operates
against Astoria and Portland. Al san
Diego for years there has been quar-
antine station, although the foreign ship
ping along the Columbia river exceeds
that Of San Diego in the proportion OF
fifty ships TO one"
It is believed that Mr.. Mohler's visit
presages important Improvements and de-
NvsIaa a H#IFN ~
with the Columbia.
When seen last night Or. j. A. Fulton
state health officer. referring TO the ques-
tion Of quarantine In Astoria, said:
To-day there are absolutely no facilities
In Oregon for handling a ship containing
infectious diseases. II only the ship itself
was To be dislnfected this could be ac-
complished easily and eXpediuously and
at a small outlay Of time and money.
But when II comes to handling passen-
gers II Is an entirely different matter.
We have no place in which to keep the
passengers and Il will be necessary TO
see that the passengers who are well
and who are simply detained until the
incubation period OF a disease has passed
are well and properly cared for II has
been suggested that in case We are 50
unfortunate as to have to deal with an
Infected ship and crew or passengers
that we might obtain an old covered
barge and use that for the station until
the government can furnish better quar-
tiers. There are. however, objections TO
such an arrangement. II may be that We
would purchase a number Of tents for
the purpose and put them up in some
sheltered place. This would necessitate
a guard night and day and in case OF
bad weather would not be altogether sat
isfactory. However. trust, We will
not have to meet the misfortune. II We
do. We shall certainly take the necessary
precautions to protect the public from
disease, no matter who is inconyenienced
or what the cost OF money or time"