The Skagway City Council believes with Ben Franklin that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." At a protracted special meeting of that body last night active steps were taken to prevent smallpox reaching Skagway. A committee was appointed consisting of councilmen aud citizens to provide for a detention camp and a pest
house. Dr. I. H. Moore was appointed health officer, with full power to act, and a resolution was adopted requesting the school board to require all teachers and school children in both public and private schools to be examined and such as require it vaccinated. All citizens are also requested to have themselves examined by a physician and if he deems it necessary be vaccinated.
The committee, which consists of J. P. Rogers, Capt. Hovey, W. L. Green,
Dr. Moore and J. M. Winslow, will meet at the office of J. P. Rogers in the depot building at 10 o'clock to-day, and it has several plans for the prevention of the introduction of smallpox in Skagway under consideration.
At the present time Dr. Pare examines all the passengers and employes
on the train each day before it leaves White Horse. The officials of the railroad company, who are actively working in conjunction with the city authorities, have offered to shut up
every coach on the train and permit the city health officer to examine all passengers at the shops. They have also offered the old Brackett toll gate to the city to use as a pest house in case it be required
It has been suggested that the Canadian and American authorities should
act together in the matter, as the Canadian towns in the interior are as greatly if not more interested in preventing smallpox from getting into Skagway than the people of this city themselves. If Skagway should be quarantined against by the cities to the south it would shut them off from the world more completely than it would Skagway. E. S. Busby, who
represents the Canadian government at this place, has offered to act with the American authorities in any way he can.
The meeting last night was called by Mayor Peoples for the purpose of
taking such action as is required to prevent the introduction of smallpox in the city, and there were present Councilmen Green, Guthrie, Hislop and the president. In addition to the
counciimen Collector Andrews, Capt. Hovey, J. P. Rogers, Cortes Ford, J. G. Price and Dr. Moore were present.
Collector Andrews stated that he has asked for information as to quarantine regulations, and as to whether or not he had authority to take steps to prevent the introduction of smallpox. The department at Washington notified him that the local authorities had full powers in the premises, but sent him 500 vaccine points. Of these he had given 50 to Dr. Moore for use on the train, and had given 100 to E. S. Busby for the use of Canadian officials at White Horse. These, he said, will be returned. He would give the city health officer the 350 now in his possession.
Capt. Hovey addressed the council, making numerous suggestions. He had
been notifled, he said, that there was no money available by the war department for the purpose of providing protection against smallpox, and he could only act as far as was necessary to prevent the disease getting among his men. However, he said he would go as far as possible under his instructions, and would furnish tents, lumber and other supplies for a pest house or a detention camp.
The committee which was appointed last night has full power, in conjunction with the health officer, to act, and it will make examination into the condition to-day and take such steps as are necessary. The committee will report to the council Monday. The school board will meet tonight and no doubt take the action the council has requested.
