The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-13
START OF SAPEL0 QUARANTINE
LOCATION OF THE NATIONAL STA
TION ON BLACKBOARD ISLAND.

of the Founding of the South At
Iantic StatiOn-He FavOrs National
Control of Local Quarantine and
Relieves the Interests of the Port
VIII Re subserved by Turning
Quarantine Over TO Marine HOspi-
tnI SerVice-MethOd the Govern
ment Pursued in Founding the
station on blackboard IsIand-The
station There Model One-Every
Modern Appliance for the Disin-
lection of Infected Vessels Fur
nished.
DR. e. H Nichols, formerly assistant
surgeon in the marine hospital service and
assigned 10 quarantine duty, is strongly in
favor of the control of the quarantine at
savannah by the national government
DIR Nichols instances the Sapelo quaran-
line station, on Blackboard Island, as an
illustration of the effectiveness of national
control and gives an interesting history
Of the selection and use Of the island for
quarantine purposes.
The word Sapelo was taken from the
sound opening between St. GATHERINGS
Island and Blackboard Island.
blackboard was a government reserva-
ton thirty years ago." said Dr. Nichols,
when its primeval forests of live oak
timber were levied upon to construct knees
for ships. The island was selected in 1880
as the location of a national quarantine
station by the late DR. George H. Stone,
DR. William H. Elliott and DR.. Bailharche,
the latter an inspector of the naional
hoard of health. The party spent several
DAYS upon Blackboard, selecting an appro-
pirate site for a nOrth-end station and a
bospital location at the south end of The
island. which could be reached by the
beach or by creek through an opening
between this island aud Sapelo
Blackboard is small pear or nearly
vedge-shaped island. forming about three
fourths of the sea front of Sapelo Island,
ana separated from it by creek about
9O0 feet wide at the station narrowing as
il approaches the "cut," which unites IL
with another creek from Sapelo sound
and through which communication IS car
ried on with the quarantine anchorage at
the north end of the island. The base OF
the wedge is about one mile wide ana
fronts the sound. The apex, long tongue
of sand ridges, narrowing down to point,
forms the south end station, and about
mile from it's extremity stands the hos
pital. The island at this point is SOO yards
wide six miles is prabably the entire
length of Blackboard, which, Ike many
islands on the coast, consists OF sahd
ridges and intervening glades, running
paralel with the beach. 1t is the prop
ertv of the government, being, as has
been said, a reservation. Inc orig
inal bette noir the crotalus nor
ridus is now almost extinct, and the
present occupants have not this to fear
as did those of the pioneers of 1880.
The south end was selected for the hos
pital site" said DR. Nichols, "on account
of its freedom from endemic disease, IT'S
surface being perfectly free from standing
water, while ponds and lagoons cover
largely the surface of the middle and north
portions of the island. At the hospital
site the channel makes boldly up to the
very enclosure. The boarding station ana
observatory at the north end are conpected
by wire with the hospital. Two fine naph-
tina launches are in active use during the
season: q fine wharf almost in the middle
of the sound has been built upon creosoted
piles in caissons and the entire 2O rect OF
wharf filled in with cement and stone. The
upper wharf is housed and has fine dis
affecting plant of most approved pattern,
under steam This wharf is purposely
Isolated, boats and lighters being the only
communication with the shore. The north
end bluff overlooks the sound, which, one
half a mile off, affords a fine anchorage
for vessels awaiting free prauque. Dur
ing summer seasons the temperature
ranges from 75 to So degrees with prevail
ing southeasterly winds, and almost en-
tire freedom from mosquitoes"
The station" said DR.. Nichols, was
established the year following the selec-
ton of the island site and has been In
operation, under the direction of skilled
surgeons since that time, and to-day there
does not exist a better equipped station
upon the Atlantic coast"
With such a quarantine quipment at
our very doors and good prospect of an
equally well-fitted local station if the con.
troll of the quarantine of the port is turn
ed over 30 the marine hospital service,
there are still other advantages to be de-
rived from the change that could well
be expected. During tht last valley cpl
demic of yellow fever, Surgeon General
Wyman knew of five cases of the fever in
a charity hospital. practically as soon as
they developed and before the authori-
ties of New Orleans had time to publish
their DEATHS in the local gaZettes"
This secret bureau of information of
the marine hospital service would. to my
mind" said DR.. Nichols, "if nothing else
existed, close all argument against the
eXpedency of national control. You will
observe that 1 use the word expediency
which, when contrasted with necessity,
VIII show the misappled assertion of Mr.
j. 2. Wiiliams-that if we transferred
quarantine control we were either incom-
petent to protect ourselves or had not th5
FUNDS with which to do So l believe Il
e&pedient, or proper or advantageous I'M
der existing circumstances, and a city car
'ake advantage of an eXpedient to pro
mote a desired end or interest without be.
ing incompetent"
As to lack of funds. no one knows be,.
Ier the necessities of local equipment thar
Dr Graham, and with the marked re
Uenchment in expenses since tht
present administration, l doubt not tha
Iunds could be secured without embarrass
Went TO supply the floating disinfectins
pant, similar TO the one in New Orleans
ana an enlarged area of wharfage at iht
station. IL we were in a stress of prob
able approaching or actually existing cpl
demic l could agree with him. but from