The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1901-04-11
AN IMPORTANT MATTER.


already before the Legislature, two
mem orials presented a few. days ago |
by the State Board of Health may
he considered the most momentous,
at this particular time They are
signed by President w. B. Ifender-
son and Secretary and State Healt h |
Officer, Joseph Y. Porter, and the
first one reads as follows:
Executive Office, State Board of
Health of Florida, Jacksonville, Feb
ruary u, 1901. Whereas, The
prevalence of small pox throughout
the United States and it's continual
importation into the State of Florida
is constantly threatening the public
health of the State, in spite of the
activity of the State Health Authori-
ties in their attempt to enforce rules
and regulations directed to its pre-
gention and exclusions:
"Be it it Resolved, by the State
Board of Health, now in session,
That our Senators and Representa-
tives in the Legislature soon to be
assembled, be requested to empha-
size to the people of the State of
Florida the urgent necessity of the
adoption of strict precautions for the
prevention of the disease of small
pOx by the passage of an act for the
compulsory vaccination Of the citi-
zens and residents of the State"
And the second is in this language:
"Executive Office, State Board of
Health of Florida, Jacksonville, Feb
ruary 21, 1901. "Whereas, The
'Tortugas group of islands have been
used by the Treasury Department of
the United States for many years for
quarantine purposes, and are by their
location peculiarly adapted to pro-
tect the health of the Gulf States,
and particularly in Florida; and
"Whereas, Congress has author
lied the surrender of these islands to
the Navy Department and has pro-
-vided for the abandonment of the
Quarantine Station, located thereon
and its removal to Mullet Key on
Tampa Bay, which is already by
license of the United States utilized
as State Quarantine Station, that
amply protects the commerce of
Tampa Bay, and
'"Whereas, The contemplated use
sof Mullet Key By the United States
las a general Refuge Station for
treatment of vessels with cOnta-
:glOuS and INFECTIOUS diseases In con-
mection with the proposed Quaran-
tine Station, threatens the health of
the people of Fld drida because of the
nearness of M5llet Key, to the
thickly settled localities on Tampa
Bay, and to thf military post on
-Mullet Key.
'Be it Resolved, by the State Board
of Health, now III session, That the
Senators and Representative of the
State of Floridak Fin the Legislature,
soon to be assert bled, be earnestly
requested, by resi- sIution or memorial
TO Congress, to. protest against the
abandonment of the Tortugas group
of islands by the Government, as a
general refuge station, and the estab-
aishment Of such refuge station on
Mullet Key"
These measures were presented
by the Monroe County Representa-
tives and will doubtless have the
hearty support of the entire Legisla-
ture. 1t is hoped, too, that this will
not be the last of them. The country
at large is protected from the in
vasion of epidemic disease by the
Florida State Board of Health, and
it is the duty of the Congress of the
limited States to assist in every way
nossible in carrying out this very
efficient service.