The Magnolia gazette., 1899-10-18
STATE CAPITAL NOTES.
YELLOW FEVER SITUATION IN THE
CAPITAL CITY.
Liberal Exemptions TO Capital
Invested in Factories in
Mississippi.


The first case Of the "prevail-
ing fever in jackson was record
ed September 10-just 1--WE weeks
ago. The record is II cases, 6
deaths. There have been only
two cases in the last twelve days.
One Of these still under treat
ment; all the others are out
again, premises disinfected and
guards removed. The prevailing
opinion is that il this fsver was
of the type we had in 1858, 1854,
1866, 1878, the weather Of the
past week would have produced
an epidemic. Indeed the pre-
vailing opinion of the physicians,
and OF the laity, was that more
cases would develop, and that we
may still have a few more, but it
is now so near frost time, any
considerable increase is not prob
able.
Absentees are getting impa-
tient TO return. Some of them
declared, after their experience
of last year, they never would
run again. Scores of families
who skipped out in 1898 are now
congratulating themselves that
they stayed at home in 1899.
'There is no place like home" is
the universal and emphatic testi-
mony of refugees.
A paper, numerolsly signed
by citizens. and published this
afternoon, gives the truth of the
fever situation in jackson. 1t
declares, and very justly, that
there is nothing in the situation
to justify further quarantine
against jackson, or that should
prevent anybody from coming to
jackson to attend to business.
There has not been an unusual
number of cases of sickness of
any kind since Ser tember 1st-I
the total interments in cemetery
from. jackson and territory adia-
cent being only 21 since Septem-
Der 4st. For same period, in
1898, the deaths numbered 68.
Same period in 1897, the deaths
were SO; same period in 1896,
total %; in 1896, total %; in 1894
total 26. In several cases where
fever appeared, those exposed
were quarantined in house with
it, and no one has taken it. AsI
to the seven who were reported
as having died of yellow fever,
one was lady seventy years of
age, another an infant child, an
other colored man of dissipated
habits, another a man who had
Just recovered from long spell
of sickness; and this is the record
upon which it is industriously
published that Jackson is having
an epidemic fyellow fever worse
than 1873.
Before giving this statement to
the press, the city physicians
were consulted, and they, with
out exception, expressed the
opinion that there is no danger
of an epidemic at this time. Two
physicians, Drs. Johnston and
Culley, signed it. had no op-
portunity of signing it, bat en-
dorse every word Of it.
The total beneficiaries of the
state pension fund (S75,C CG0) for
1899, shows an increase of 829 |
over last year-the total being
4, 164. The increase has been |
mostly of those who draw the
largest sums-the preferred |
classes-so that the minimum
benefit has been reduced to 81. IA
The further we get from the war,
the greater the number Of pen
sioners. 1t is problem that
needs solving.
The City Council of Vicksburg
has adopted an ordinance pro-
viding for a system of vital sta
tistics-the registration of births,
deaths, etc. And every city,
town and village in the state
should do the same thing. And
what is more-there should be
state law requiring it.
The Natchez Cotton Mill has to
do little night work occasional
ly, SO as to get up with its or
ders. One of its late shipments
was car load of goods to Shang-
hal, China. And yet there are
people who have lots of idle mon
ey, who are timid about investing
in a cotton mill. All the mills in
Mississippi have done well, and
some are making very handsome