Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13
MOUNTED POLICE ON DUTY
Quarantine Against Foot and Mouth
Disease Is Maintained.
ANGRYFARMERs TURNED BACK
Capt. Daily and Squad From Ninth
Precinct on Guard in Early
Morning Hours.

There is a possibility every minute that
something will happen on the Bladens-
burg road and the Benning road In the
very early hours of one Of these cool
mornings. Mounted police are assigned
to the exciting duty of looking out for
blockade runners and to block their en-
deavors to get through the quarantine
established to keep away from Washing
ton all faint Of the dreaded foot and
mouth disease.
AS has already been recited the foot and
mouth disease is a plague which infects
cows. sheep. pigs. horses and other do
nestle animals and which travels with
lightninglike rapidity.
Once the epidemic gets started on a
farm great losses are sure to follow. AS
there is scarcely any other disease so in
fectious, SO virulent and so contagious.
the drastic quarantine measures taken by
the health department Of Washington, as
well as the Department of Agriculture,
would seem eminently proper.
Trouble in Maryland.
Many farms in the north of Maryland
and the south Of Pennsylvania are at
fected. The bureau of animal industry
has field parties in those Districts travel
Ing from farm to farm, rigidly inspecting
every stall. pigsty and stable. to see that
the disease is not spreading and that the
quarantine Is observed.
A short time ago the matter was
brought to the attention of the health
officer of the District. 1t was shown that
a wisp of hay or a single animal af-
plague to sweep Washington with ter
rible results. Cattle and horses would
have to be killed. all butcher shops would
have to be closed and all business con-
nected with meat. horses, hay and cattle
would be at complete standstill.
That such has not been the case is due
entirely to the mounted police. who have
taken on the added duty Of picket work in
the wee sma' hours. and who have sue
ceeded in turning back more than one
of hay. all from Maryland. over roads
leading into East Washington.
Old Soldiers on Duty.
Capt. Daley OF the ninth precinct is
mighty proud of his little cavalry. There
are nine members, but they guard the
citys outposts over along the Eastern
Branch and in the vicinity of Benning
and the Bladensburg road with the skill
and care of veteran soldiers. It is not
surprising. either, for almost all Of them
nave oceH ScISICc, hhe Ndpt bdlcy IlHil-
self, In the saddle under Uncle Sam and
are used to picket duty of the severest
kind.
It is in the hours shortly after mid
night that the farmers try to run the
blockade They attempt it then because
they want to get their hay or sheep to
market early, and because the simple rus
tic mind has not comprehended the eter-
nal vigilance of Capt. Daley and his nine
men on horseback
So. with the moon gone down behind
the hills back of Arlington. the farmer
starts out. silently driving without light.
along one of the main roads. All is easy
and we'll until near the city. Then sud
denly, in the middle of the road. there
looms up in the darkness the form OF
man on horseback, looking big and for
midabl through the black mist.