The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-10-19
DR.. HAMILTON HERE
HE HAS BEEN STATIONED ON
SOUTH AMERICAN COAST.
As Quarantine Agent Of Port Of No
bile He Had Opportunity to
Study Customs and Condi-
tons of Country.

DR.. William G. Hamilton spent yester-
day in Montgomery on his way to his
home in Mobile, after spending the time
since April in the service of the Mobile
County Quarantine Board as quarantine
physician on the South American coast.
Physicians as agents of all Gulf ports
are stationed during the summer months
in the yellow fever districts rather to In
spect the steamers plying between south
ern countries and gulf ports. 1t is their
duty to give notice of suspicious cases
of fever and Of all suspicious diseases.
This precaution is taken by Mobile and
all coast cities in this country with the
aid Of the Federal Government to keep
the yellow fever out of this country.
DIR. Hamilton has been engaged between
Port Limon, Costa Rica and Boas del
Toro. Colombia and Is just five days out
from that coast on his way home.
He was at sea last on the Norwegian
steamer Kitty and says unless something
is done the United States Nag will soon
not be known in the commerce OF that
country as vessels can be operated much
cheaper under a Norwegian flag and the
customs of that country, wages being
lower and other things being cheaper in
proportion.
1t takes fewer men to operate a vessel
and a sailor under Norwegian rules gets
only about half what an American sailor
gets.
According to DR.. Hamilton, the past
summer was a most exceptional season
as to yellow fever, there being no appear
ance of the disease outside of the Mexi-
can coast ports and few cases there.
He says that yellow fever has been
brought to the United States from Cuba
in the past but since the United States
has cleared up that country with its sani-
tary laws and operations that disease
has been almost wiped out and
that there has been no yellow fever in
Havana the past year. He thinks it
cannot exist there under present con-
ditions.
DR.. Hamilton talks Interestingly of the
precautions taken in the quarantine SER
vice and how the Federal Government
sends out inspectors and the cities place
doctors on each vessel plying between
British Honduras, Spanish Honduras,
Nicarauga, Costa Rica, Colombia and
Guatamali The INSPECTORS. he says,
keep their eyes open for yellow fever all
during the summer months.
DR.. Hamilton has been at his post since
April and says the approach of winter
enables him to come home as further
quarantine for the season is unnecessary.
The banana trade. DR.. Hamilton says,
is the main support of those countries
where he has been. and it is assuming
really large proportions. The fruit is
shipped in large quantities to this country
and through the ports of New Orleans.
Mobile Charleston, Baltimore. New York
and Boston to all ports of Europe. They
are loaded and unloaded by machinery
oeing gathered and carried to the vessels
by the Jamaica negroes. who. he says.
are more intelligent than the American
negroes.
These negroes, DR.. Hamilton says. are
very hard to control and have been on a
strike for higher wages recently. Their
language is a broad, mixed and broken
English.
During his stay in these Central and
South American countries DR.. Hamilton
had an excellent opportunity to, study the
financial question. Silver is of course
the basis and he says the business GUS
toms would convert any man to the gold
basis in very short while. There are
no banks and money Is carried around
in bags and silver in any considerable
amount becomes very burdensome.
DR.. Hamilton was accompanied by Mrs.
Hamilton and their son. They went on
to Mobile last night