Evening star., 1908-01-14
No Evidence of Panic.

There was no evidence of panic or fear
manifested, which seemed to be due to the
confidence. cheerfulness and coolness of
Librarian Bowerman, DR.. Woodward and
his assistant. DR.. Fowler. The gathering
Of the sixty three employees seemed more
like social occasion than anything else.
The work of disinfecting the building
thoroughly began this afternoon and will
be carried on until it is certain all danger
from germs is past.
DIR. Woodward has a big job on his
hands this time" said one of the en-
ployes. He Will not only have to disin-
feet the more than 100000 volumes in the
Public Library, but he will also have to
keep SO many people under observation
until the danger point is passed. But l
believe the health officer will be equal to
the emergency
1T seems like the irony of fate" said
Dr. Woodward. that an infectious dis
ease has been brought into the institu-
ton under Mr. Bowerman's charge
the health department remember
now conscientious and careful he
has been In regard to such matters al
WAYS. He has been ever cautious on his
own initiative and has kept the library in
constant contact with the health office as
to the publication of the drinking water
used in the library. and has authorized
the health officers to destroy all books
that have been in circulation in neighbor-
hoods where scarlet fever and other con-
tag1ous diseases have prevailed. There
is no public official who has been more
conscientious in the matter Of preventing
possible contagfon than Mr.. Bowerman."
The work of disinfecting the big build
ing will require the expenditure of much
labor and disinfecting material. The
books as they are placed the shelves
will be subjected to fumigation, as will
the hand rails tables and all other arti-
cles. The library may be reopened next
Monday, DIR. Woodward said adding that
it would not. however. be again opened
to the public until he was assured that
all danger of communicating the disease
to the patrons of the institution was past.
He said the minimum time for the devel-
opment of the disease is about eight days.
Notice of New Cases Assured.
1t was said the same policy of frank
ness will be maintained and tie public
will be notified of any new cases and
when it is safe to open the building it
will be done.
The health Office will keep the situa-
ton under strict observation said DR.
the employees will be kept under observa-
ton at their homes the usual length of
time
Librarian Bowerman announces that the
public lecture that was scheduled to be
given Thursday evening by MIR. William
Dana Orcutt of the University Press,
Cambridge, on Printing as Fine Art"
will be given that evening in the audi
torium of the George Washington Univer-
sity, which has been rendered oy the uni
versity authorities. 1t will begin at S:15
o'clock Thursday evening.
The public address which was to haze
been given tonight by DR.. S. w. Stratton,
director of the bureau of standards on
THE Purchase of Departmental Aupples''
at the Public Library has been Cancelled
because of tine quarantine. This address
is postponed to future date. notice of
which will be duly given. These meetings
are being held under the direction of the
Association of American Government Ac-
countantS.