The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-05
WHERE SHIPS ARE DETAINED.
Uncle Sans Quarantine Guard at
the Harbor's Entrance.

the Harbor's Entrance.
Interesting to those who saw it for
the first time, the quarantine station on
the Savannah river, just this side of
Fort Pulaski was doubly interesting
Tuesday to those in Mayor Myers
party who had not seen the station
since it was turned over to the United
States government.
Many Improvements have been made
since the city relinquished it's control
of the station, and it is now better
equipped and a more effective deten-
ton place than it has ever been. Not
only is Savannah safer, but the city
is not put to any expense. The plan
to have the government take charge
of the station was opposed at the
time, and DIR. w. F. Drummer, at pres
ent health officer, probably had more
to do with the making of the change
that is now so acceptable than any
other person.
The transfer of the property to the
government was made in April, 1892
and the station at that time was any
thing but modern. The government
paid the city $4,000 for the privilege
of assuming charge of the station and
has paid annually in the neighbour
hood of $4,000 for its operation. Ex-
tensiye improvements have also been
made since that time, and the home of
the officer in charge of the station was
put up at a cost of about $4,000. In
this manner the city not only received
$4,000 in cash, but has been saved a
heavy annual expense, and at the same
time is really getting more efficient
service than was possible under the
former arrangements.
The station is still in charge of DIR.
w. ]. Linley, who occupies, with his
family, the pretty little home put up
by the government Besides the
quarantine officer there are on the
place pharmacist, an engineer,
fireman, two boatmen, a laundryman
and a cook. The. crew of the Charles
Foster, the steam launch that was
used by the Mayors party, is COM
posed of seven men, and is part of
the station. The Foster is a trim
launch, thoroughly seaworthy, and a
great improvement over the Thekla,
the boat that was used when the city
was in charge of the station.
All foreign ships, ships from infect
ed ports and vessels upon which there
is sickness of a suspicious nature are
required to be inspected before going
into port. All vessels from infected
ports are thoroughly disinfected and
the expensive and modern plant at the
station is used upon such occasions
Two ships can be looked after at one
time with the present facilities. The
textiles are all removed from the
vessel being disinfected and are thor
oughly steamed, after which the ship
is given the attention of the quaran-
tine officer. The compartments are
made air tight after which the work
of disinfecting is begun. IS
In the event that a vessel does put
into quarantine with a suspicious case
she is sent to Sapelo, fifty miles away
Vessels from ports at which there is
yellow fever or cholera are detained
for five days, and from ports infected
with the plague for ten or fifteen days
Since the government has been in
charge of the station a well appointed
hospital or isolation house has been
built, but only four or five patients
have been under treatment since it's
esta blishment. This convenient little
house contains several beds and is
we'll stocked with medicine. All in all
the quarantine station that DR.. Lind
ley now has charge of is a great i'm
provement over the one that the city
maintained previous to April, 1892 and
too, the municipal government is no
longer under any expense.