Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-08
ROADS TO Be GUARDED
Highways Leading 10 Mary
land Will Be PatroIIed.
NIGHT WATCH TO BE KEPT
Smuggling of Cattle and Sheep
Charged.
QUARANTINE TO BE ENFORCED
At Secretary Wilson's Request Steps
Are Being Taken to Bar Out
Cattle From Adjacent State.
QUARANTINE TO BE ENFORCED

That cattle dealers in Maryland. which
state is qualified because of the prev
alence of the foot and mouth disease
among live stock. have been driving cattle
and sheep into the District at night was
brought to the attention of the police
department today and tonight an effort
will be made to apprehend the violators
This is looked upon by officials of the
health and police departments as serious
thing. They explain that these cattle
dealers are not only making themselves
criminally liable by breaking the quaran-
tine established by the United States
government, but they are making it pos
sible for the disease to be introduced and
spread in this city. If caught these
offenders will be severely dealt with.
Night Patrol to Be On Guard.
This smuggling, as it is termed, is being
done over roads that enter the city from
the northeast. In keeping lookout for
the smugglers the local police will be
aided by inspectors of the health depart
ment and agents of the Agricultural De-
partment. A number of highways i'm the
northeast section leading to and from
Maryland will be patrolled from shutdown
until after midnight.
"A dairy farm inspector in the service
of the health department learned of this
smuggling yesterday. He was told that
1t had been going on for several
nights. He reported his information to
FL. c. Mclean, acting health officer. who
informed the Agricultural Department
and the police department
In connection with the prevention of
live stock ION the hoof'' coming into the
District from Maryland. Maj Sylvester
chief of police, thinks the jurisdiction
of the local police in the matter is ques-
tionable. After comforting with Com
missioner West the latter has asked
Corporation Counsel Thomas to advise
the Commissioners as to the rights of the
police.
This doubt is raised because the quar-
antine was placed by the federal govern
ment and its violation is federal viola
ton and not District government one
1t is TO be determined whether the police
can act as agents of the Agricultural De-
partment or whether they can make ar
rests for violation of federal laws.
River Shipments Fall Off.
Steamboat men say that shipments from
places along the Potomac in Maryland
to this city have fallen off fully one-half
since the quarantine was established.
Farmers who cannot ship their cattle will
not come to the wharves to ship a few
eggs. or such stuff as is not under the
ban.
1t is asserted that there has not been a
case OF the disease in any of the counties
of Maryland along the Potomac The
quarantine Is great hardship to Mary
land people who are nearly hundred
miles away from Carroll county, the seat
of the disease.
The continuation of the quarantine ii is
claimed, will make the coming Christmas
season extremely dull on the river
Secretary Wilson's Request.
Secretary Wilson of the Agricultural
Department recently requested the Dis
trict Commissioners to direct the police
department to prevent the movement of
all cattle. hogs. sheep calves. hay, straw
and stable fodder into the city from
Maryland.
The Commissioners will assign as MANY
police as can be spared from else where
TO the outlying districts of the c.ty to
watch for cattle, swine, etc. coming in
to the city from Maryland and will do
everything else within their power to
prevent the. dreaded diseases intro
duction here. The local health DEPART
ment, although crippled because of a
lack of men, will aid in this respect
The officials of this department realize
the seriousness of the disease and the
results that would follow should it find
its way into Washington
Maj. Sylvester, chief of police ,,po,
receipt of this letter from Secretary
Wilson and the notice of the preya-
lence of the foot and mouth disease in
Maryland and the latters quarantine
under laws of the bureau of animal
industry Of the Agricultural Depart
ment. sent out Il general order to the
police informing them of the contents
of this letter and directing them to be
on the lookout for cattle. etc coming
from Maryland and to report any such