Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-02-08
CLOSE CITY
SCHOOLS TO
Fight fever

CONTINUED From First Page)
and the School Board promptly
gave It's assent 20 the plan.
Mr. Stradiey then moved that STU
perintendcnt Ward should he given
authority lin his discretion" to close
all the public schools. This motion
was opposed by James T. Chandler
on the ground that the children
would be In more danger out OF
school. or in the streets or In motion
picture houses than in the schools
themselves. DR.. Victor u. Wash
burn also opposed tho motion. de-
claring Il imposed an unfair rcspon-
sibility on superintendent Ward.
This responsibility. ne believed.
should he borne by the entire board.
Mr.. Stradley withdrew his motion
and substituted another that the
board direct superintendent Ward
to close all the public schools for
one week and that the buildings
should be thoroughly fumigatcd.
President Souder supported this mo
tion, citing the complaint OF a father
whose child had been taken ill with
scarlet fever from contact with an
other pupil in school. This parent.
: said Mr.. Souder. wanted not only an
the schools but the motion picture
houses and Sunday schools closed.
The motion to close the schools
: was passed with every member
present voting in favor of IL except
e Mr.. Chandler.
e There are now 1875 cases OF scar
y let fever in Wilmington. according
to reports made 20 the Board of
Health, and 1877 up 20 last Friday.
II according to superintendent OF
Schools David A. Ward. and doubt
less many more which have not
y been reported to the board. A spe-
. cial meeting Of the Board OF Health
has been called for $50 O'Clock
y this afternoon. at which time IL Is
expected some drastic action will be
taken to check the rapid spread Of
" the disease. While the entire board
ID" Is not favorable to closing all NOV
=. ing-picture shows. theatres. schools.
- churches and other placer OF public
A. assomblage in view OF the closing
of all public schools by orde- OF the
Board Of Education. IL was SAID By
one member Of The Board Of Health
= this morning that the board viii
likely forbid any church. school.
theatre. motion-picture house or
other public place OF assembiage
permitting the attendance Of chill
dren. Those opposing a strict clos
ing OF these places say that the
spread Of scarlet fever is almost ex-
clusively confined TO children and
see no reason for disrupting BUSH
ness generally. when the same OBJ.
jet can be attained by combining tbs
n ban on public assembiages to chill
n dren alone.
~ DR.. c. NJ. Handy. president OF tn
Board OF Health, Is understood q
e concur in the program, but said thi
n morning that he will put the matte
IA up to the Board OF Health this after
noon.
Up The board was in session yestei
ne day afternoon and received report
IN from all the health officers on IA
KS scarlet fever situation. but decide
IRE to forego action for another dal
nd The reports received this mornin
es are said TO indicate that the diseas
'r- has now reached the epidemic stage
To- Therefore the special meeting wa
en- called.
For several days DR.. Handy ha
ed been devoting a large part OF hi
time to making personal investiga
Ut tons, and while he still maintain
that there is no special cause 10
r. alarm in view OF the mildness OF tn
he disease. he is said to be willing q
abide by the wishes OF the board thl
u afternoon. and II a rigid quarantin
IL Is ordered will endeavor to see ina
he the orders are carried out.
one nurse at the Delaware Hos
" pital has contracted the disease an
is isolated at the hospital. Request
TO- made OF the Board Of Health for ne
an removal were refused. as the boar
m did not care TO assume the responsi
az bility. but suggested that the nurs
might be better cared for in the hos
ro pital.
The Board OF Health has oferei
,rr to fumigate all public schools an,
y, has so notified the school authori
ties.
superintendent OF Schools Davi
A. Ward closed all public school
- this morning.
The Y. NJ. c. A. announced toda
u that the Boys Work Department q
the association would be closed ur
~. til next Tuesday. The gymnasium
-, viii be open TO men as usual. how
~. ever.