The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-10-04
NO MORE
FUM|GAT|0N
Had Caused Delav
In Dispatch Of
Mails.

The tumigation OF all mails from the
mainland will be discontinued entirely
in the future, the health conditions at
San Francisco and in the states war
ranting this action.
1t was for some time the practice TO
fumigate all mails sent here from the
mainland Immediately upon their ar
rival, because of contagious diseases
prevalent in San Francisco and the in
terror. There was often a long delay
in the distribution and delivery OF mail
on that account, until the mail bags
had been thoroughly disinfected. Com
plants of this delay naturally followed
and finally, while 1t was thought un-
wise - discontinue the fumigation al
together, a way out of the difficulty sug-
eested itself, in having that work done
at San Francisco before the mails were
put on the steamers. At the suggestion
Of the Board of Health DR.. Cofer wrote
to the department at Washington and
secured the necessary order for a fumi-
cation of mails before leaving the main
land, and this has been done for the
past month or more, at San Francisco.
Now the complaint over the delay
comes from the other side of the ocean.
By recent mail Postmaster Dat receiv-
ed "A letter from II. +. Tharall super!n
tendent of the Eighth Postal Division.
with headquarters at San Francisco.
saying that the fumigation of mails at
that point was causing delay in forward
ing the mails TO Honolulu. and that they
were likely to miss the steamers alto
gether with part of the mail. 1t was sup
posed at this end of the line that the
mails could be fumigated at San Fran
cisco as fast as they arrived. days be-
fore the steamer sailed. and that Tia last
mail from the Coast would arrive n
plenty of time to allow of thorough dis
infection before sailing time.
1t seems from the letter written to
Postmaster Oat that often times 1t is
hard work to make connections between
the fast trains and the steamships, which
are often held for a short time to catch
the English mail. In such cases there is
no time left for the postal authorities
to take the necessary precautions. as re-
Quested by the Board of Health here.
and II is a case of either missing the
boat or dispensing with the fumigatin,
process. In the case of the transport
Warren, Superintendent Tharall writes
that he was unable to make the steamer
with part of the mail. and he forwarded
request to Postmaster Dat to have the
order rescinded, at least at the Sar
Francisco end of the line.
In compliance with his instruction
Postmaster Dat sent "a copy of the lettel
TO President Sloggett of the Board q
Health with request for such actor
as he saw mt, and the latter thea wen
to Dr. Cofer asking him to again writ,
to Washington to have the former orde
resclnded, as the Board believed 1t to b,
no longer necessary In view of the I'm
proved health conditions at San Fran
hpr In ha Sta.a
Consequently DR.. Golfer addressed a lette
to the department at Washington, anC
the order for fumigating the mails a
San Francisco has probably by this tim,
been rescinded. The action OF Presid en-
Sloggett in this matter was approved b,
the Board, and hereafter the mails vii
escape fumgation both in San Francisco
and Honolulu.
This will make impossible any further
delay on that account, and the mails
will in the future probably he dispatch
ed with less delay than ever.