The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
MAYOR AIDS PLANS
FOR HEALTH FEAST
Banquet to DR.. Blue and Federal
Health Officers to Celebrate
City'S Cleansing
Governor GiIIett and Editors of
Ali Great Newspapers In
yited to Attend

Mayor Edward Robeson Taylor ha'
Joined his Efforts with those Of th'
citizens health committee 10 make
conspicuousiy successful the banquet a
the Fairmont hotel on the evening o;
Wednesday. March 81, TO be given by
the citizens Of San Francisco in honor
Of Past Assistant Surgeon Rupert Blue
United States public health and marin,
hospital service. and the federal health
officers who have worked ably witt
him and under him in the sanitation
OF san Francisco. While the com.
mittee and the mayor have planned
the function as testimonial to DR.
Blue and his associates, the banquet
viii also serve to recognize the
achievement Of san Francisco in be-
coming the healthiest city in the union
with a death rate Of less than 1e in
COO.
HEALTH FEAST ATTRACTS MANY
Mayor Taylor and Governor James
n GIlett are 10 be prominent among
the speakers Of the evening. and in
vitations have been sent to all the
great newspapers Of the United States
Inviting representative TO attend the
banquet Chairman c. c. Moore and
the committee in charge Or the banquet
report that large number Of citizens
have responded TO invitations to the
health feast"
Mayor Taylor referred particularly
IN an interview last night TO the pres:
ent healthfuiness Of the city in speak
lng OF the cause for celebration which
The city has
AT this time a year ago" said the
mayor. when the federal authorities
gave out their ultimatum OF what had
70 De done here there was a feeling Of
oiscourag cement and anxiety. We were
told that we had go days in which 10
oemonstrate our ability 70 cope with
the situation.
WORK OF FEDERAL OFFICERS
The federal officers had gone as far
as lAey could In cooperation with the
healtn oihcers OF the city. but they
lacked the necessary co-operation and
willing assistance of the people in the
work There was the necessity Of edu-
catlng the people to the dangers Of the
disease which threatened US and to a
comprehension Of the measures. neces-
sary 10 eradicate it.
The people Of the city realize fully
now what steps were taken and how
the desired results were accomplished
and IL is most fitting. now that the city
IS I'm q condition Of health and SANTA
uion superior 10 any in the union. that
We celebrate the remarkable accom-
pllshmets Of public spirit energy and
unseifsh interest. working together
with the federal authorities"
OTHER COMMUNITIES BENEFIT
In the opinion Of Mayor Taylor San
Francisco suffered from the plague
symptoms because il was in the path
OF oriental commerce. He declared that
any city in the country might next be
afflicted
"Wil the work Of san Francisco be
ot benefit TO other communities" was
asked
"Assuredly." answered the mayor.
.other communities may nov follow
our methods in eradicating the bubonic
plague, and not only that. but san
D tranclscans may feel that in guarding
iheir own health ana commerce they
performed a service TO the nation. for
had the plague got on our necks in
stead OF under our heels. 1t is possible
mat it might have spread to other Pa
citc coast cities or To the east. This
City deserves the plaudits OF the east
ern states and of the world. for that
matter. for the stand il took in this
matter"
CRUSADE TO CONTINUE
The crusade work will be ooptin-
ueo. Mayor Taylor added. '.but owing
TO the precautionary methods and the
building ordinances there is little dan
ger that the city VIII ever again be
threatened by the plague. as the num-
per ol rats IN the city has been reduced
10 remarkable degree With an
efficient and well appointed health de-
partment, which the city should alwaya
have, the danger Of a recurrence Of
the plague Is small or nOnexistent. In
regard 10 the banquet. I heartily an
prove OF the plan 10 confer service med
ais on the federal officers and also ~
the idea OF inviting editors from east
ern cities 10 attend the banquet ana
learn OF our triumph over disease"
EASTERN EDITORS INVITED
In the invitation addressed to east
ern editors the citizens health commit
tee, through c. c. Moore. chairman
points out the commendable status Of
this city as a healthful community. II
is stated that the people Of San Fran
cisco take pride in having demonst rated
their ability TO cope with such severe
conditions and TO put this danger he
hind them
The committee points with pride IN
the declarations Of federal and medical
men that San Francisco is the beaItbi-
est city and the most sanitary in The
union The point is also made that tho
bubonic plague. being an oriental dis
ease. was visited upon this city throush
no fault Of the community and thai San
francisco rendered a service to the en-
tire union in era dfca tfr-v 49, as
here.
LAST CASE OF INFECTION
The last human case OF bubon;c
plague found in San Francisco was
year ago last January" the letter saws
and the last infected rat was found
last october. Ordinary diligence is an
that is required now 10 maintain tbe
health conditions that prevail at pres
enL The health records show thar tba
ordinary fevers common in every large
city have been reduced fully SO ner
cent as result Of the sanitary cam
paign undertaken here Such sanitary
campaigns as this are in line with mod
ern medical progress and OF the great
est benent 10 any city, even II not