The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-08-01
JERSEY MUST Be
PROTECTED
Storm Of Protest Against
New York's Disregard Of
This States Welfare.
MAYOR DOREMUS SPEAKS
Transportation Of Consump-
tives Should Be Made So AS
to Endanger Nobo dy.

The epidemic of protest, if it can be
thus termed, against the proposition of
the New York Health Board TO send
pauper consumptives on the Erie Rail
road cars and ferry boats used by thou
sands Of New Jersey commuters daily,
is spreading. Bloomfield and Glen
Ridge, which, though separate sub-di-
! visions, are often found to be one COM
rnunity in sentiment and action, are
aroused at the danger. Plans for
meeting to be held at an early date are
maturing, and unless some change III
the administration occurs strong de-
nand upon the State Health Board to
protect the people of New Jersey from
the contemplated invasion will be made.
Councilman Jesse C. Green, of Bloomr
field, said today that the Erie Company
should have special trains as well as
| special ferryboats to carry tuberculosis
patients, so that the spread of the dis
ease would be prevented.
Former Councilman John R. Conlan
said that the action the Erie people pro-
posed to take with consumptives, as he
understood it, would be an outrage on
its great army Of commuters.
| Health Ofieer Seymour P. Gilbert de-
sclined to say anything at present, but
limited that the Board of Health would
take some decisive action at its next
meeting.
Although I have not had time TO CON
slider carefully the plan of New York's
| health authorities to send the INDECENT
eonsumptives of the metropolis through
New Jersey, / am certainly convinced
that every possible safeguard should be
thrown about the people of our city and
State Certainly am opposed to any
such plan. and believe that it should not
be carried out,,' is the way Mayor Dore-
mus expressed himself.
Montclair citizens who have been IL
| formed of the proposed transportation of
| New York tuberculosis patients over the
Erie Railroad all express the opinion that
this would be decidedly dangerous and
undesirable plan.
I
DIR. William Areson, a prominent ply
sician in the north end of the town, who
travels great deal on the Erie, said
that he considered it highly inadvisable
that the proposed plan should be carried
out.
Il was formerly connected with a sani-
tarium at Ontario,s said he, "aRdi know
from personal observation that the CON
sumptives are bound to expectorate no
matter how careful those in charge may
be. The opportunities for infection at
| the ferryhouses would be very great, and
not only would the passengers themselves
run great 1isk of catching the diesase,
but they would probably carry the germs
to their families. If the eonsumptives
must be taken over the road they should
be kept in separate compartments or cars
and antiseptic solutions could be pro-
vided."
! T. N. Prescott, of Orange road, who
/ travels on the Erie, said that he saw no
reason why the officials of the road
should not fit up one of their old ferry
boats for the use of the consumptives.
'srhey should under no condition be al
lowed in the ferry house, said Mr..
| Prescott.
Citizens Of Caldwell who commute on
the Erie Railroad are also much exer-
cised over the proposition of the New
York Board of Health.
James Best former president of the
Caldwell Board of Health, and COM
muter on the Caldwell branch of the
/ Erie since the road was opened, said
today that he was surprised that the
New York people should ship consump-
tive patients with the regular patrons of
the road. IF they are to be carried, z
said Mr. Best, they should be provided
| with special cars and not allowed in the
cabins of the ferry boats. but taken in
other ways TO the trains
Mr.. Best said further that the ssAdyer-
tisets was doing a good work in behalf
Of the patrons Of the railroad and the
people Of the State.
William II. McChesney borough
couneilman and a commuter on the Erie,
was also indignant at the idea Of the
crowding Of consumptiye patients into
the regular passenger coaches and the
mingling Of hsaithy travellers with those