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

Ii'eS eoSut tiSu any biIlilp lihC du cplueHltC
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. 1t is i'm
portant that stringent measures should
be adopted in order to stamp it out be-
fore it assumes ~ more virulent type.
The Secretary of the State Board, DR..
James Evans, in his report to me says:
"It was impossible for the State Board
OF Health TO pi event 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 &C.
tion in stamping out any disease before
it tcould possibly infect other persons
and become epidemic" This matter
deserves yourcareful 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-
ty to spread. and could guard with a
jealonsFeye the health of the State.
you have now on your calendar a bill
providing for township boards of health.
On account of the prevalence of small
pox recently I made arrangements 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 I 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 a
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. g.,
MEDICAL COLLEGE. "
The Medical College of the State of
South Carolina located at Charleston
is not 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. ss '>.r,
= OYSTER BEDS.
| In our coast counties the oyster busi-
ness could be made an important indus
try if proper and wise legislation were
| enacted to prosect the oyster beds. l
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. |
ask for this matter your careful consld-
Grafton and such legislation as in your
wisdom you may conclude proper for
| the protection Of the State. At the
session of 1857 -pma legislation was had
along this line hut it ueeds to be amend
| ed and perfected and made more etfec-
| tive.
! CLA ms FOR CAPTU RED AND ABANDON
| ED PROPERTY.
It 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, 1861, 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 n progress, and elsewhere through
out the Southern States in such parts OF
| the territory as were under Federal con-
| troll during the war, and after the war
| by special agents of the Treasury ap-
l.pointed for that purpose. This fund
has been the subject OF considerable
contention. Claimants have endeavor-
ed to establish their right to 1t, but
owing to the difficulty OF bringing suit
against the United States, q sovereign,
and the peculiar provision OF the law
under which it was taken requiring
iron-clad oaths and proof of loyalty, in
dividuallsuit could be brought only in
very few instances. Meanwhile the
fund has laid in thelTreasury, and in-
diyidual efforts have continued to be
| made by persons deeming themselves
interested therein, before Congress, to
secure the privilege of bringing suit in
the Court OF Claims. During tteyears
that have passed the subject has been
considered frequently by the Supreme
Court of the United States, andSit has
been determined by that tribunal in a
direct decision, (klein vs. u s 13 w.
4. L l.. 1873 III that it was not the in
tention of Congress by the enactment
of those statutes, that the title to prop
rrty seized under them should be d.
vested from the loyal owner: ~ that