PESTILENCE FROM ASIA

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 13

PESTILENCE FROM ASIA

: San' Francisco has ,been afflicted with many ills, writes our American correspondent.; Politi-; cal corruption and'Musftial' disturbances are among, its minor- evils. Earthquake and <fire have brought physical calamity. And ever and 'always its citizens .walk in fear.■ of .-plague• from , the: Orient. ; For many, years the bubonic plaguo, that most ancient enemy of man, had lain dormant.in the Baef, but in 1891 it was roused , - into H6\r! life, and followed the lines ,of commerce to all the seaports of. the.world. If touched San Francisco in .1900, but .was dislodged after" four years of struggle. ■ Taking -advantage.' ofVthe'.'iusoider;:following; -the great 'eartliqnako,' it , -appeared again in :San Franoiscoiin 1907 with mifficient virulency to attract the 'attention of. : the■'-Federal-!Govern-ment. "Sanl'-Pr'ancisco is the:gato«ay;through whioli pass»most of 'tie commerce.; and travel of-the Pacific --.In 'euoha situation tho prob-' lem of- pestilence is npt local but national, and for ■ -two "years.' the. fight ,for a.-. olean city lias been fought: with .federal; funds and. under federal supervision. , " "-,,-' ' ■'■■- • '■■ By /September of :J907- the< disease has •' appeared "in .sovferal ■ places, in. tlie; city,;attacking not: only. : the-Oriontals; butthrough; tho agency.!of fleas, ate. tlie vehicle, by which ■theVdisense. is spread. .After the earth-; quake rodents ran. rampant, l and the whole city: was -threatened.,.: -The.'sanitary army, of 'the; general.Government now the field.;. The city was idlvided into. thirteen • districts,' over ''each'..'of which a>.sanitary officer-ruled. 'The bampaign, was/ directed against the ■ rats, and their parasites.' .Old and rat-infested buildings were condemned bybundreds. Old stables ivere : cleaned up.', Cellars were cemented. )Eat•proof- storage houses,' were erected in ; place of woodon::ivarehouses -eyerywhore., No city-ever had -i;.moM complete renovation.' -. To-day. San Francisco ;.ls -.siild to .'be the oleanest oity ..on. the;;:contirient. " . ■■: -.■'"'."■'.. ■'' '-■ -." V':; -'■':.'■:■'' '":,,■' -, ;

: Of ■ corirse .thte /result was not secured without .the co-Q/poratiori of .all -the citizens. •■Mass meetings'wero.held at which the whole:matter was explained. ■' It. was pointed out ..'.that -there was not 'tnerely .peril -from the disease, hut there .Was- danger that-- foreign.' Governments :would establish ;a'disastrous quarantine against and practically dose, the -port;;' Hence 'the:;'merchants' >enlisted .for the war j every cominerpjal-body,.trades union, club, religious arid social '.organisation in the city,; were .called upon to'join the fight. Corporations brought their; employees together and ; instructed theia in the methods" of warfare. The Southern Pacific Railroad •. Gompimy 'gave thirty .thousand dollars to:,the;fund, .and: donated .its surgeons arid-nurses.'. :■';■ •-'■■''■' ' '•■■■■; ; -'■ ■•''/;. ,'v .-.•"•;. .

'■ .Witb.what .result? /'One million rats have beeh' slain.. .'..Millions-of..square-feet ofpermnnentv rat-proof . cenient: have; been laid in cellars and;,stables.and courts; ','. The plague has eradicated."■■ The death-rate from all contagious diseases has been cut in half./ The general - .death-ratel., has,, been , -..reduced .thirty ; .per cent?-i.', Sanl;Francisco: is' , clean--soVolenT) that to prove'it the commission men gave a :banquet in the open streets. " ' ". • In. thusj.lrtftniler. the'first fight with the.pes'tilenco iri.iits .invasion/of the American continent was fought and won. What San Pranbisco.has (lone othor.iport-eities must-do. -The plage is now making ".its 'way through the port-' cities pi Soiltli/America. It maj. appear anywhere -at, any 'time.' Completo sanitation, with .extermination- of "all-rodents and flea's; "feT'the universal .remedy. .... ; ; '.•«-. ••-. i-■■.'-. \ i.-;Keep/oleiuiT-';-;.Kill : 'the'';ialßl.',';.".■' ;V ■, :