The San Francisco call., 1905-08-05
Health Authorities at New
Orleans Send an Appeal
to President Roosevelt
for Federal Assistance
STEP Is TAKEN TO
REVIVE CONFIDENCE
Public Approves Action and
Surgeon General Wyman'S
Forces VIII Make a Fight
to Stamp 0ut the Fever

NEW ORLEANS. Aug. 4-Fever re-
port TO 8 =. M.
New Cases. IS. Total cas>E to date,
47s- Deaths, ;. Total deaths to date,
S9. New srb foci. re. Total sab foci, -.
With no intention OF admitting ths
fever situation 70 be be-ond control,
but in the hope or reviving confidence
here and elsewhere in the South, Official
and business interests decided to-day
10 send q recuest to President Roose-
veit to have the United States Govern
ment assume fun charge Of tha strug-
gle now IN progress 10 wipe out yellow
fever from New Orleans Tae public
approves the action taken. Expecta-
tions is that within the next two days
Surgeon General Wyman. with ali the
resources OF the Government viii be
enlisted actively in the campaign.
The action taken was tire result of a
meeting held late to-day al the Cotton
Exchange.
1t was the cOnsen sus Of opinion that
II Government control was resolved
upon there would be an immediate re-
storation OF confidence throughout
Louisiana and tho other States IN the
South. where there has been criticism
Of the local authorities for not sooner
making public The existence OF the
fever. u WAS the beIief OF those pres
ent that General W-yman viii be able
10 send 4 force of physicians 10 New
Orleans thoroughly equipped for the
han ding OF yellow fever situation be-
cause of their experience IN Cuba. Mex
leo and at different points in the United
states and that the Government would
have the facilities for enforcing a sci
entifc campaign not possessed by the
local authorities.
GOVERNOR NOTIFIED.
Immediately after the meeting a tele-
gram signed by the Mayor and other
interests represented was addressed to
Governor Blanchard. telling him Of the
action ken.
The announcement Of the action taken
al frst created some alarm in the city.
growing out Of the fear that il meant that
The situation had grown entirely beyond
control bur Jnat alarm was allayed when
IL became known that the authorities had
acted simply in the belief that the
prompt action now in turning over the
direction Of affairs 10 the Marine Hos
pital Service. in whom there is supreme
confidence here, would almost certainly
avert an epidemic
At a conference at the City Hail it was
decided that Mayor Behrman should issue
q proclamation requiring every business
house IN the city 10 close its doors on
"Wednesday next IN order that employees
might take hand in the general clean
ing movement that has been inaugurated.
Merchants are to be asked TO furnish
their carts and floats to assist IN carry
ing away refuse. A thousand carts will
BE- required in The work. 4 special ap-
peal is to be addressed 10 householders
10 cooperate IN the sanitary campaign by
The thorough cleaning Il their back
yards.
WANT PROMPT REPORTS.
The Mayor decided TO borrow an addi-
tional $4,000 from the fiscal agents to
assist in the work. To-day the Board of
Health Instituted q new rule requiring
its inspectors to make prompt report of
cas- g. To that order was due the fact
that twenty cases had been announced
early in the afternoon as occurring dur
ing the day. Yesterday the o'clock re-
port was Of seven new cases and two
deaths. The announcement at 6 O'Clock
that there were ffty-four cases and five
deaths was due to the fact that the in
spectors turned their cases in in bunches
late in the evening. and had most dis
quieling effect on the public. which had
been led L. believe that the situa ton was
improving. Hundreds of people are tenn
porarily moving out Of New Orleans into
st. Tammany Parish. St Tammany is
practically the only nearby haven 10
which local people can go. The parish
has refused 10 put on a quarantine and
has opened its doors to all refugees That
is due TO the fact that q case of yellow
lever was never developed there, even in
the most serious epidemics here. Cases
have been taken into the parish, but whe-
ther the patient recovered or died there
has never been any extension of the in
fection. The reason for the immunity of
ST. Tanmany is that the stegomyia has
never existed there
Because Of the rigidity Of the quaran-
tines instituted by Texas and some Of the
parishes in Louisiana the Southern Pa
cific has suspended passenger traffic and
has also refused much of the freight Of
fered 10 it. General Freight Agent Fay,
however, issued an announcement to-day
that, beginning on Saturday, the road
would again receive freight for Texas
points.
INSTRUCTs wYMAN.
WASHINGTON, Aug. president
Roosevelt tonight forwarded to Surgeon
General Wyman Of the public health and
marine hospital service a telegram from
Governor Blanchard Of Louisiana re-
ouesflng that the United States Govern
ment take control Of the yellow fever sit
uation in New Orleans. The President di-
rected the surgeon general to take every
step in his power 10 meet the situation in
New Orleans and to notify him what fur
ther action is advisable and possible for
the Federal authorities to take. The tel
egram in full is as follows:
Have received following telegram from Gov
ernor Blanchard of Louisiana:
AT e joint meeting OF representatives OF
all commercial bodies Of New Orleans and
other prominent persons at which were pres
ent the Mayor Of the city the State health
authorities and the New Orleans Medical AS
sociati0n the following resolution was adopted:
That this meeting indorsc the proposition
TO ask the United States Government to take
control Of the yellow fever situation in New
Orleans that the Governor OF the State and
the Mayor OF the city b. requested TO take
steps 70 carry this PROPOSITION into effect
Further. that the hearty cooperation OF the
state and city governments and the State and
City Health Boards and the parish medical
societies and Of tho merchants and people
generally be pledged IN such action as may
be taken hy the Government
4 am requested by the Mayor of the city
the president Of the state and City Boards
of Health and by committee Of prominent
citizens 10 ira nsmit the above resolution to
you and request you 70 take over behalf
OF the Federal Government. through the
proper channels the yellow fever situation at
New Orleans. This ! do now and urge speedy
action on your part
IN &. BLANCHARD.
Governor Of Louisiana
Please take every step in your power 70
r~pef -fhe Situation At New Orleans and COM