The Nenana daily news. (Nenana, Alaska) 1918-1921, 1918-12-30
CITIZENS REMOVE
QUARANTINE BAN;
FAIRBANKS FREE

oohhs, estdoilSneu some time ago
by the people of Nenana, has now
been lifted at the request of the
majority of Nenanaites, and travel
between Fairbanks and Nenana, un-
der certain conditions which can
easily be complied with, has now
been made possible.
Advices received from the coast
towns recently by the Board of
Health, indicating that the disease
had been practically stamped out
and that the danger of its spreading
to the Interior was infinitesimal,
was deemed sufficient cause by that
body for the modification at least,
of the quarantine measures. The
Board of Health also understood
that majority of Nenanaites fav-
ored the lifting of the quarantine
between Nenana and Fairbanks,
and in view of the fact that the
quarantine was instituted, in the
first instance at the request of the
people of Nenana, a mass meeting
was called to ascertain the wishes
of the people in the matter.
An erroneous impression seems
to be entertained to the effect
that the quarantine was established
by F. d. Browne, as head of the
Alaskan Engineering commission.
This is not so. Legal authority
for the establishment of a quaran-
tine is vested in the Board of Health
alone, and the quarantine was es-
tablished at the instance of the
Board of Health and at the express
wishes of the people of Nenana; Mr..
Browne taking an active part and
acting as chairman of the various
mass and other meetings at the re-
quest of prominent Nenanaites
The measures taken also had his
strong support as head of the Alas
kan Engineering commission for
this division, which also bore more
more than half the expense of main
tanning and all of the expenses of
establishing the various camps for
the quarantine.
The mass meeting was held at the
Coliseum Immediately after the pic
ture show Saturday night. The
large attendance at the show was
augmented considerably by others
arriving at the end of the show
to attend the meeting, which in con-
sequence, was representative one
F. D. Browne again presided at
The meeting, being supported on the !,
1ais by DIR. David More. Mr..
Browne briefly addressed the gath
ering and explained the purpose of
he meeting. He said that as the /
people themselves had instituted the |
quarantine measures, it was now up
o them to say whether or not the
stringent rules laid down are to be /
'elaxed. He said that insofar as he
vas concerned, he was in favor of +,
fitting the quarantine against Fair
ranks provided the Board of Health
md the people of Nenana sane
Toned such a move. All reports
coming in, he said, indicated an
lbatement of the disease on the
Alaskan coast, and that the danger
would not appear to be so imminent
IS at first, when, in response to
he wishes of the people, the quar-
milne was established.
He stated that Townsite Man
ger Joseph, who is also secretary
# the Board of Health, made a :,
pecial trip to Fairbanks and had
lad several conferences with the
health officials of the upper town.
Mr.. Joseph also went very thor
'ughly into the question of the quar-
milne established by the Fairbanks
against the coast, and in
lengthy communication unhesi-
atingly recommended the abandon
nent of the quarantine against
Fairbanks.
DIR. David More, on being called
lpon by Mr.. Browne to state his
L l.