The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-01-10

parts Of the State but have been of a
very mild character. Only small pox
has assumed anything like an epidemic
form and the mortality has been very
light. 1t has appeared in twenty-three
counties during the year and is still
prevalent in some sections. tt is i'm
portant that stringent measures should
be adopted in order to stamp it out be-
fore it assumes Il more virulent type.
The Secretary of the State Board, DR..
James Evans, in his report to me says:
SIT was impossible for the State Board
of Health to prevent the rapid spread
of the disease to those widely separated
sections of the State for several reasons,
the chief of which was the inadequate
funds at the disposal of the Board; not
being clothed with sufficient power to
enforce their authority in isolating,
guarding and preventing intercourse
with the sick: in enforcing the great
safeguard against the spread of the
contagion, compulsory vaccination, and
the great necessity of extending the
health organization to the township
which would secure prompt notification
of the presence Of any contagious or in
fectious disease to the health authOri-
ties, who could thus take prompt ac-
tion in stamping out any disease before
it could possibly infect other persons
and become epidemic" This matter
deserves your careful attention. To ex-
tend the organization from the State
Board to the County Board and from
the County Board to the Township
Board would put in operation machin-
cry that should be able to control and
stamp out any contagious or infectious
disease before it could have opportuni-
tyi to spread, and could guard with a
jealous eye the health of the State.
You have now on your calendar q bill
providing for township boards of health.
On account of the prevalence of small
pox recently I made arran gements to
borrow $4,000 to be put at the disposal
of the State Board OF Health in order
:, to stamp out and control the small pox
epidemic. Up to this time that fund
has not been drawn upon but have no
doubt the State Board has incurred
some obligations which will have to be
met in handling the disease. The
health of the people of the State is q
very important matter and should be
carefully guarded by the enactment OF
wise sanitary measures. In the rerort
of the State Board you will find several
| important suggestions ard recommen-
dations which should receive your care
full consideration.
MEDICAL COLLEGE,
The Medical College of the State OF
South Carolina located at Charleston
| is not q State institutson but through
the kindness Of its faculty has for sew
eral years been furnishing free tuition
to seven deserving young men, one from
each congressional district in the State,
These young men have been named by
the Governor. Ithoughtproper to call
| this matter to your official attention
and to commend this institution for the
good work it has been doing for the
State. -. .&'--r s''"I /,..
| ~ OYSTER BEDS. y
In our coast counties the oyster busi-
mess could be.made an important indus
try If proper and wise legislation were
enacted to project the oyster beds. I
am informed that tons of oysters are
shipped from Beaufort County every
week during the winter to canning fac
tories in other States for which the
State receives practically no reve-
nue., and these beds are almost in
exhaustible. And what is true OF
Beaufort is true of Georgetown and
our other coast counties. 1t is a much
more important matter than some OF
| our people who are not familiar with it
| imsgine. If properly protected, can
neries could not be built and profitably
operated where the beds are and remun-
erative employment given our own peo-
pie. If they were not and the oysters
were exported the State should receive
some revenue from them and not vol
unfairly contribute to- enrich other
States from property which Is ours. i
ask for this matter your careful consid-
Grafton and such legislation as in your
wisdom you may conclude proper for
the protection nf the State. At the
session of 1897 slime legislation was had
along this linc '.n! il needs to be amend.
ed and perfected and made more effec.
tive.
! CLAIMS FOR CAPTU RED AND ABANDON.
PROPERTY.
1t has been brought to my notice that
there remains in the Treasury OF the
| United States the sum OF $40, ,5I2, ,007 96,
balance remaining from the sale Of
captured and abandoned property OF the
Southern States, under the Acts Of Con.
gress approved March y, 1868, and
July 2, 1864, this being chiefly cotton
seized in and around Beaufort during
the occupancy of the parishes OF St.
Helena and St. Luke's while the war
was in progress, and elsewhere through.
out the Southern States in such parts OF
the territory as we're under Federal con-
troll during the war, and after the war
by special agents of the Treasury ap-
pointed for that purpose. This fund
has been the subject OF considerable
contention. Claimants have endeavor-
ed to- establish their right to it, but
owing to the difficulty Of bringing suit
against the United States, sovereign,
and the peculiar provision OF the law
under which it was taken requiring
iron-clad oaths and proof of loyalty, iu-
dividual suit could be brought only in
a very few instances. Meanwhile the
fund has laid inthe Treasury, and in
dividual efforts have continued to be
madeEby persons deeming themselves
interested therein, before Congress, to
secure the privilege of bringing suit in
the Court of Claims. During the years
that have passed the subject has been
considered frequently by the Supreme
| Court of the United States, and it has
| been determined by that tribunal in a
direct decision, Klein. Rs. us. 13 w.