The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-12-27
HIGH SCHOOL OPENS MONDAY
CHURCHES AND SHOWS CLOSE

1t has been officially decided to
reopen the Moscow high school next
Monday, December 80, and the public
schools the following Monday, Janu-
ary 6, but to do this the health Of
ficers have decided to close every
pool halls, churches and lodges. The
quarantine will be put on tighter than
ever before in Moscow and every
home where the disease is known to
exist is to be quarantined. 1t is be-
lieved that by this action the disease
can be stamped out within the next
few days and the lid can be taken off
on Monday, January 6, the date on
which the university opens for the
second quarter.
The influenza situation in Moscow
is much better than it has been at
any time since the epidemic first ap-
peared here. In the past week there
have been cases reported in three
families, several cases being reported
in some of these families, but the
new cases are all confined to three
homes. There is one case at the Mrs.
Hunter home on C street; and the
other cases are in the homes of Pro-
fessor Wright and Ed Christianson.
All of the new cases are mild. Nearly
all of those reported last week have
quarantine.
DR.. w. A. Adair, city health officer,
has begun the use of placards for the
homes where the disease is located
and these are being posted. This had
not been done previously. More rigid
quarantine rules are being enforced.
There are fewer cases in Moscow now
than at any time since the disease
first appeared here and it is believed
that by enforcing the regulations
from now on the city will be free of
the disease when school opens at the
university and city schools on Janu-
ary 6.
1t is now planned to open the high
school next Monday, December 80, and
to keep a trained nurse employed at
the high school to watch all symptoms
of disease and to see to the enforce
ment of health rules. The public
schools will not be opened until one
week later, January 6, when the uni
versity opens for the second quarter,
having closed for the holidays.
1t is hoped that the ban can be lift
ed in Moscow by January 6 and that
all restrictions may be removed at
that time. 1t is almost necessary to
open the high school next Monday in
order to permit the seniors to gradu-
ate next June If it is postponed
longer they will not be able to COM
plete their school work which will
mean a wait of another year before
they can enter the university.
All parts of Latah county report
greatly improved conditions, Genesee,
where the disease was bad week ago,
is almost normal again. There have
been eight deaths in Genesee, but
none since last Saturday and there
are few cases there that are regarded
as serious. Kendrick, Troy, Juliaetta,
Potlatch, Bovill and Deary all report
conditions greatly improved and
school will open in many districts in
the county next Monday and a week
later it is believed that every school
in the county will be open. With the
opening of the public schools in Mos
COW the ban will be lifted from Sun
day schools and all public gatherings.
Health Board Announcement
Upon the undersigned, members of the
school board, and the county and city
health officers, rests the responsibility
of saying whether or not it IS safe to-
open the schools of this city, owing to
the prevalence of the influenza This re-
sponsibility is a grave one. We have
seen other communities open their
school and lift their quarantine regula-
ton when they consider their commun
ity practically free of the disease, but
the disease again became prevalent and
a considerable number of lives lost.
A Joint meeting of the school board
and the health officers was held yes
terday afternoon and thorough survey
of the situation had, and the matter dis
cussed The situation in Moscow has
gradually improved The number of
new cases has decreased during the past
several weeks, but there are still in the
city several homes where one or more
cases exist By efficient work on the
part of the health officers and the hearty
on the part of the majority
Of the people. Moscow has been ex-
tremely fortunate and has not suffered
to the extent of most communities of
like size. The reason for the unfavora-
BILE results in other communities follow
ING the opening Of the schools is be-
lieved to be due to the assumption on
the part of the public, that in opening
the schools that the danger is past and
the quarantine lifted. The people be-
come careless and at once proceeded to
have their usual social gatherings and
general comingling
The question of opening the schools
was presented to not only the health
officers, but also to the other physicians
If the city, and it was the unanimous
opinion of all that the present situation
IN Moscow would warrant the opening
Of schools provided that extreme eau
ton and care was used on the part of
he public in the prevention of any fur
her spread of the contagion; and that
he people were impressed with the fat
hat the opening of the schools did not
mean the lifting of the quarantine.
It was also the opinion of the phys
cians that if concerted action and co..
,peration could be had on the part of
e Il 1t Al.