Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-11
CRAZY DIXON CALLS
MAIN LINE DIRECTORS
T0PLAGUE HOSPITAL
Haven for Paralysis Victims Not
Menace But Protection,
Health Commissioner
Asserts
WORST MAY BE OVER

Crazy things" are the wealthy residents
Of Bryn Mawr and Rosemont who threat
ened to burn the emergency hospital for in
fantile paralysis convalescents near Rose
mont according to DR.. Samuel G. Dixon,
State Commissioner of Health.
They are crazy things" said Doctor
Dixon today. They can be put in no other
class. Far from being a menace to the
community, the hospital is a protection"
The hospital was rushed to completion
under police guard from Radnor township
and will be ready to receive fifteen patients
Wednesday.
No deaths and no new cnses of infantile
paralysis reported in the city up to noon
today gave added hope that the worst
Of the epidemic is over. A marked decrease
In cases and deaths has been noticeable the
last few days
ALL MAIN LINE NOT OPPOSED
The threats to burn the hospital because
Of fear that the presence of patients would
spread the contagion do not represent tho
true spirit of the Main Line residents Doc
to- Dixon said. Sensation-mongers scat
tered the reports, he said. although he ad-
m'tted that the precaution was taken os
having police guard the building.
!''The finest spirit of cooperation has
been shown by people Of the Main Line"
he said. For example, the plumbers who
day Job contributed both materials and
time. -
'As for the persons who made the
threats, they should be examined and sent
TO an asylum. Their threats were actuated
by fear that depreciation I'm property
values would follow the building of the hos
pital. They take ten times more risk al
lowing their children to travel than by hav-
ing a hospital near"
The location of the hospital is central.
and yet isolated, he pointed out The near
est house is barely within sight strips of
woods and a railroad track forming the
boundaries of the site There is absolutely
no danger of the building spreading the
contagion, as every sanitary precaution will
be taken, he said.
Fear OF contagion and that the disease
might spread along the Main Line is the
reason advanced for the threats. 1t was
intmated today that since they were unable
TO stop the building of the hospital by physi-
cal force, the wealthy suburbanites would
attempt to serve an injunction on the build
ers.
fered by Samuel NJ. Vauclain, vice presi-
dent of the Baldwin Locomotive Works /;
John s. Clarke, of Ardmore. and others
The hospital is being erected on a corner
Of Mr.. Vauclain's estate. The threats have
been received chiefly by the hospital au-
ehOiiliSS ~ isiSh
HAAiMoNToN TAKES ACTION
The strlctest quarantine yet leveed
against the malady in New Jersey began
operation today at Hammonton, following
the first Sunday night municipal meeting
In the history Of the town.
No children will be allowed to enter, leave
or even pass through Hammonton, and all
automobiles containing adults from the sea-
shore resorts will not be permitted TO pass
through along the White Horse pike. Health
certificates will be ignored, and all viola
tions OF the order viii be prosecuted, The
drastic action was decided upon by the
Board of Health, Town Council and leading
citizens because OF two deaths from
paralysis at Blue Anchor, six miles distant ;
three cases at Egg Harbor and four at
Vineland. Hammonton has one case.
Automobiles from the shore will be COM
PEELED to use circuitous route through the
outskirts Of Hammonton or make their entry
to Philadelphia via the Gloucester pike
A similar quarantine is in force AT
Swarthmorei wher 279 children were turned
back by inspectors yesterday. No certIh-
Gates are honored and none granted.
Eleven-year-old Ralph Schoenjnger, of
~ Paxon street, this city, is at the Mu-
nicipal Hospital, Camden, having been
brought so miles from Ocean City In the
hospital ambulance. The boy developed
infantile paralysis while living in a cottage
at 1046 Asbury avenue, Ocean City. with
two other Philadelphia families, who have
returned. A quarantine on the homes OF
James Ernest. biiS Arch street. and the
craddock family, AZ North Paxon street
was lifted by DR.. A. A, Cairns chief med
ical inspector, on the promise that the chill
dren, who were In the Ocean City cottage
mill nat ha al uaA IN Iaaxf