Arizona republican., 1906-03-01
CALIFORN LEPER
 NO LONGER A PERIL
Return OfHealth Officer DuffieId From
 a Visit Of Inspection.

as territorial health officer and to shake hands with old friends. He says Yuma is just now the liVliest town of its size that ne knows about Six hundred men are employed on the La guna dam work and about 400 on the work being done by the Southern Pa cific to stop the inflow of the Colorado into the Salton sea. About hundred more men are wanted at each place. so he was informed. The town is lively in a business way and every body works including father" The general appearance of Yuma mas changed since he saw it last New buildings are going up and there is the hum of business around all the stores and offices. About seven boat loads of supplies are shipped daily either up or down the river l. seem ed to the doctor that about two thirds of the people now in Yuma were for mer PnOenicians. On every corner he would meet somebody he knew and many are there that he had no time to call upon or who were absent when he did call. Superintendent Millay of the territorial prison. has been very sick and had returned from Los An geles on Monday hoping to improve rapidly under home surroundings. T. D. Molloy is a very busy man and seems to be enjoying prosperity in his official life as court commissioner, etc. w. Fl. Buck is prosperous and Wm. Widmer is happy on the hill. He is walking the wall and not inside of it. Dr. Clymer is enjoying a good practice. C. H. Moore also seems to be healthy and happy and C. C. Me Neill is keeping books at the Laguna dam. There are a score of others he might mention, all from Phoenix and all helping to build a greater Yuma.
 The particular thing that necessi- tated his official visit to Yuma was the matter of the leper sent there from San Bernardino a man by the name of Pratt, and the circumstances of whose coming have been previously published. Dr. Duffield met Pratt. talked with him and won his confi- dence, telling him that he was not there to prosecute but to help him as well as to protect other people Pratt thereupOn told more about himself and gave information which enabled the doctor to verify his story. He was born in New Orleans and it was ap- parent even at the early age of seven years that he was affected with lep- rosy. He is now forty-three. so he has lived at least tliTty-siX years with the terrible disease. He came south from San Francisco where he was discharg- ed about a month ago as being no longer infectious. Dr. Duffield last evening received telegraphic verifica- ton of this statement from the San Francisco board of health. together with advices that relieve the situa- ton and will enable the moving of the man from Yuma. For a time it looked like there might be difficulty between the officers of Yuma county, and those of San BernardinO county. California, but everything nas been amicably and satisfactorily arranged.
 Dr. Duffield says that the mayor and council of Yuma, the board of sup ervisors. Dr. Ketcherside, the coun- ty health officer and all the officials concerned should De given great credit for their prompt and efficient action in this instance. They can be depend ed upon to protect Arizona from any possible infection of that sort from the southern California side.
 Dr. Duffields visit in Los Angeles was a most enjoyable one. He spent a great deal of the time with Dr. Pow CTS, health officer of the city of Los Angeles and was the recipient of many cOurtesies. Dr. Pawers has practical ly built up the organization of the health department that is now one of the most efficient and best conducted in the country. His work has been so satisfactory that he has been retained in office under several different ad- ministratiOns showing that his work has been appreciated regardless of any political questions that might disturb the people. Dr. DuffieId secured for his own information and guidance. copies of every blank form used in the Los Angeles health department. For other reasons also, Dr. Duffield's visit in Los Angeles was a most pleasant one. The city itself is worth seeing in it's present rush and expansion. Long rows of new houses greet the eye in whatever direction one seeks the suburbs And the number of Ari- ZOna people one sees is amazing. They are almost as numerous now as they have been heretofore in the summer time when the excursion season was on and the hot weather impelIed Ari- zOna people to travel. The city is growing down town just as fast as it is on the outside. Old buildings are giving way to new ones which are larger and better constructed. The new Alexandria hotel, he thinks. is the finest hotel west of Chicago. at least the tlneSJ one ne has seen. And 1t IS now only half its projected size, and will be built clear through to Broad way as soon as possession of the ground already bought, can be secured.
 The city is growing so fast, is so full of people and there is such rush and
 hustle that one is never greatly star tled at whatever he may see. He was therefore but little surprised one Sun day morning to look up into the heav- ems and see an airsnip floating around as naturally d sif 1t belonged there. The doctor had started to church. in
 tending to improve his opportunity to
 hear a sermon by Rev. Bob Burdette
 and was going down the street when
 he saw other people ''rubbering" in the
 sky. Looking up he perceived one of the Knabensnue flyers doing some real
 work. The young man in the aerial
 machine seemed to have perfect con- !