The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-05
MAY KEEP PRESIDENT AT HOME
Prevalence of yellow Fever Likely to
Prevent Tour OF South.

New Orleans, Aug. 5.-The an
nouncement through the press in to-
days papers that President Roosevelt
had acted with characteristic prompt
ness on the request of Governor
Blanchard to have the marine hos
pital service take charge of the yellow
fever situation here, created general
satisfaction, though in some quarters
there is dissent from the action of the
meeting, on the ground that Louisiana
ought not to surrender her SOW
ereignty and confess her inability to
handle the situation. Opinion gen
orally is, however, that confidence out
side of the state was so completely
lacking in the local health authorities
that unless the interposition of the
government was asked there could be
no expectation of relaxation of Sc
we're guarantees until the coming of
frost. Moreover, it is believed the
power, discipline, efficiency and re-
sources of the government are neces-
sary to handle the fever, which is
still strongly intrenched in the down
town section of the city.
Besides wiring Surgeon General
Wyman, President Roosevelt sent a
prompt acknowledgment of his tele-
gram to Governor Blanchard, saying:
II have received your telegram on
behalf of yourself. the mayor of New
Orleans, the presidents of state and
city boards of health and others, and
have at once requested by wire a re-
port from Surgeon General Wyman
as to what the federal government
been done. Every assistance in my
power will, as a matter of course, be
rendered.
In this connection it is realized that
President Roosevelt has made an en-
gagement to come to New Orleans be-
sides visiting other cities in the south
in October.
Nav Stop RooseveIt's Trip.
Heretofore in serious epidemics the
fever has always existed in October
and guarantees have been maintained
during that month. Unless therefore,
the fever before October resulting in
the raising of the quarantine, the
presidential visit will necessarily have
to be abandoned.
DR.. White expects to be advised to-
day that his department has assumed
control. Surgeon General Wyman
himself will not, it is thought, come to
New Orleans, remaining in Washing
ton where he can be in full touch
with all the work in the south, but
large staff of marine hospital surgeons
and workers will, it is expected, be
concentrated here. Concerning what
will be done when the department
takes charge, DIR. White said:
"Our work will be an enlarged APP
plication of the system at present in
force, taking the utmost precautions to
prevent persons from moving While in
a possible incubative stage and infect
new districts. rigid application of
measures destructive to mosquitoes to
the whole of any infected vicinity;
daily inspection of every person in
every house where there has been a
case of fever and a duplication in such
houses of destructive measures for
mosquitoes"
The railroad situation has somewhat
improved Rapidio and Calcasiu, the
parishes which threatened to prevent
the passage of any trains across their
borders have made concessions. DIR.
Tabor showing a disposition to modify
his restrictions as to through passen-
gers.
1t is thought that the Southern and
Texas Pacific will be able to move
through trains during the day. At La
Fayette the Southern Pacific has lost
some of it's men as the result of fake
dispatches there that people were dying
in New Orleans by the score. Assist
ant Division Superintendent Scarlet re-
signed and with eight or ten operators
and dispatchers took passage for Texas.
AS was forecasted in these dispatches,
the difficulties of handling the trade
through Mobile are. beginning to force
the Central American steamers to this
cort.
There is a complete boycott on fruit
in many towns of Mississippi. Edicts
have been issued forbidding the passage
of fruit trains through them.