The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-20
MAYORS REVIEW OF 1899
CONTINUED from Eighth PageJ


For the present year the income of the
city is estimated at $3.50 600. and The budget
provides for expenditures of 1884, 655.77.
Quarantine and Public Health.
The care Of its quarantine staten hav-
| ing been transferred TO the federal govern
nieut, under a contract for two years, at
the beginning Of this administration, the
city has been saved an expenditure of at
east $4,000 net a year. and commerce has
oeen relieved Of "A tax of between 5000
and 5000. Savannah is now free port
with no quarantine fees collected from
vessels coming here, the government rem
derins this valuable service absolutely
free 90 vessels arriving at ports where it
has control of the quarantine station. The
results Of the change have been satlsfac-
tory in every respect The quarantine Of
iicer makes regular reports to the ely, ami
is in close communication with the health
officer. There is no friction between the city
ana the government, nor Is there likely TO
be any. The service under the Marine
Hospital has met every requirement and
silenced every criticism Of those who
seemed 10 regard the transfer Of control
as fraught with serious dangers to Sa-
Vannahs health and commercial prosper
ity. Not a single complaint has been
heard since the change was projected nine
ton of Council has met with the hearty
approval Of citizens generally. / would
accordingly recommend that, while the
arrangement with the government was
only for a period of two years, the station
Re now permanently transferred, the city
receiving there fore the assessed valuation
agreed on at the time of the temporary
transfer, that is, $4,000 The national
government will then feel encouraged to
spend a large amount in permanent inn
proVements at the station, 10 the adVan-
tage OF. commerce by lessening detention,
and still further protecting Savannah from
any possibility of INVASION by disease.
The forward step Savannah has taken in
this respect l believe VIII be eventually
followed by every other port Naional
control of quarantine is one of the nece~
sites growing out of modern conditions,
and Savannah is but in the van in recoS-
nizing this fact.
During the year the general health con-
ditions locally were good. At one time,
though the city was threatened with a
serious visitation of smallpox, introduce
ed from counties in both Georgia and
South Carolina. When the first cases
were discovered here the pest house was
at once brought into requisition, and
steps were taken to stamp out the dis
case This was rendered more than us
ually difficult by the continued introduce
ton of new cases from the country sec
lions where the disease had obtained a
foothold. The attention of the national
health authorities was directed to the
matter, but they were not able to assume
control in the territory from which Sa-
vannah was being infected. The disease
was almost entirely confined to negroes,
and the death rate was light the city
giving the best of care to those afflicted.
There has been no new cases of local ori-
81 ,UaA Al,r
disease may be considered as eradicated
unless a fresh contagion comes from the
country, where smallpox is understood
to be still in existence, and almost in
epidemic form at different points.
There was also repetition of the dan
ger from yellow fever which prevailed in
an epidemic form in towns in three states,
Florida. Mississippi and Louisiana. An
effective land quarantine was established
which was maintained until frost. These
and other matters bearing on the health
of the community are treated at more
length in the detailed report of the health
officer In this connection though, L wish
to express my personal and official belief
that the people Of Savannah are to be
congratulated on having again secured
the efficient services Of DR.. w. f. Brun-
ner in this capacity His well known en-
ergy, determination. and ability through
special education and long training, JUS
tilted the efforts that were made to in
duce him to return and take charge of
this most important department of the
city government,
The Cemetery Question.
Under this head the question Of a new
cemetery may properly be considered.
For some years it has been held by the
health officials that further additions to
Laurel Grove cemetery were inimical to
the health Of that section of the city,
Year after year this has been stated in
the annual reports. In the last two
years steps have been taken
looking toward the location of
new cemetery remote from the
residence portion of the city and where
ground ample for the needs of a growing
city for a quarter of a century or more
could be had. The present Council APP
pointed a special committee to investi-
gate the fitness Of the present cemetery
for further use. While there is some dif-
ference OF opinion as to the immediate ne
cess'ty of such a step, it appears to me
advisable That the opportunity be taken
TO secure an available site at this time.
when lands are cheap and before the need
becomes more pressing 1t would, IL APP
pears 20 me. De a sanitary measure 10
limit the further use Of Laurel Grove
Cemetery for intermeuts, ana not to ex-
tend its borders at all. The lowlands
about it, some of which have been includ-
ed within it. are not suitable or desirable
for burial purposes and people are averse
10 their purchase unless the necessity is
forced upon them by the absence of on
other suitably located cemetery under CITY
control. II has recently been demon
strated. am informed, mat in wet sea-
sons graves in this section cannot be al
ways dug to the required depth without
striking water The question of a new
| =-----
To those living