The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1898-10-01
SiiEFVEPOET'S DANGER.

Were Il not the case that people Of
sanding aud influence sometimes in
/ Gulged in it. we would say that the eX-
, preston, zone case If yellow fever here
would Kill Shreveport or set her back
! for ten or twenty years was the most
IDLE child's prattle. But in Difference to
these, we refrain from such criticism.
We owe respect to some of The people
! who say thusly, without giving the
east consideration to their saying on
the subject We can not call it an
opinion; because there can not be an
opinion on any subject unless thought
has been given to it. And we feel that
just little thought on the theme here
referred to, would restrain any one who
desires to have weight, from making
such foolish remark.
AS matter Of fact, this expression
has become SO trite that it is most fire.
Quently uttered with that glib aban-
don Of serious reflection that the patent
medicine vendor employs in his street
corner harangues. Now by what man
ner of means could one case Of yellow
fever in Shreveport. brought here from
some infected district, ruin her or retard
her growth for ten years? Those who
speak so thoughtlessly must be think
ing of Shreveport, the little town of a
eight thousand people would have
summed up her population. 1t Is true
that the yellow fever epidemic Of 1873
did cast gloom and spell over her
for some years; but the Shreveport Of
then and the Shreveport of now. are too
vastly different places. Then T. w.
Jones foundry and saw mill. small ice
works, Roses gin shop, Dorian's mill
corner Of Milan and Crockett streets
Stoner's packery and may be Burns &
Whitbeck mill, were, We believe, all the
steam works we had here, while only
one short railroad entered here, and one
private bank did all the business in that
line. With such small place, 1t is not
surprising that an epidemic OF malg-
nant fever which struck the death blow
to hundreds. practically killed her for
awhile. But behold the difference. Now
there are practically six large railrpad
lines entering here: we have four banks,
all operating with larger capital than
the one; we have two large congresses;
none then: practically two large oil
mills; ice works ten times as large,
water works and myraids Of industries
too numerous to recall just at the mo-
ment; a city OF about $4,000 inhabitants;
industries and buildings springing up|
all around; our city doing business with
the entire union almost; then how can
one case Of yellow fever brought here
paralyze such city? Doesn't the
absurdity Of such remark now morti-
fy those who have been wont topaz
rot-like-give expression to It? Now, in
truth-one case, nor dozen, nor fifty,
nor hundred cases of yellow fever here
would Kill Shreveport, nor materially
retard its present growth. OF course
"''' "ouiu bc SASpS1ucu LOT dW Illl8.
But my Heavens! so it was last year
during that unnecessarily strong qua
rantne. A lot OF terror-stricken people
would fly for their lives they did the
same last year when we had no yellow
fever here at all. And so, as far as the
da sams to our city is to be computed; It
IS about the same whether we have
fever here: or have to keep up a strict
to prevent its being brought
here.
And so, friends: lets quit ell this nom
that is just about what il |
to-about this dreadful scourge !
and act like sensible people should !
~ sitting all attempts or inclination |
by hasty speech and action to create |
| panic They 10 intense harm They do
10 good.
Did It ever occur to our readers how
ew people there are In Shreveport |
iow-incmding your physcians-whol