DR. SOPER'S REPORT, ROOSEVELT A PROPHET, LOVER OF BIRDS, AND ORDERS COMING IN

 

George A, Soper.

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Tuesday, May 12, 1903.

DR. SOPER’S REPORT.

Necessity of Stamping Out All Sources of Disease.

STATISTICS OF THE EPIDEMIC.

Total Number of Cases Will Never Be Known—29 Cornell Students Died—Samples of Water Taken From Six Mile Creek Show That It Is Still Polluted.

   Ithaca, N. Y., May 8.—Dr. George Soper, representative of the state board of health, who has been in Ithaca since the last of February to assist the authorities in their efforts to stamp out the typhoid fever epidemic, made public a report addressed to the common council of Ithaca which covers his investigations.

   Dr. Soper, among other things, stated while he hoped the epidemic was stamped out, that as each typhoid patient furnished opportunity for a new center, it was necessary the the utmost of precautions be taken in order that the sources of all infection should be stamped out.

   Concerning the statistics of the epidemic Dr. Soper said: “So far as can be said at present there have been 955 cases and 64 deaths. This ranks the epidemic among the most important in modern times in this part of the world. Of the total number of cases 288 were students and the remainder townspeople.

   “The total number of victims will never be known. It is clear that some cases of fever that originated at Ithaca have given rise to cases in other cities. I have records of many and some deaths. The figures just given as number of cases and deaths take no account of any which were not actually contracted at Ithaca.

   “The number of Cornell students who died of typhoid fever as a result of the epidemic is 29. Of these 13 died at Ithaca. At the present time there are 19 typhoid fever cases in bed and 35 convalescents. Since April 1 there have been 11 new cases and six deaths.

   “It is important for many reasons that these facts should be generally known and understood. It is never a good business policy to hide from the public knowledge facts about an infectious disease. It is due to the public that the subject be dealt with honestly and openly. In no other way can the necessary sanitary safeguards be assured. To deny the existence of communicable disease when so many cases occur is to rob the public of means which it should take for its protection. This policy in business means bankruptcy and in public health means that it leads to epidemics.”

   Dr. Soper then strongly recommended that the plans projected for the further prosecution of measures for the elimination of all possible source of contamination should be prosecuted until fall and says the commercial future of Ithaca depends upon the completion of this work, and to this end the city cannot be too liberal in the expenditure of money. Dr. Soper also stated that recent examinations of water supply from Six Mile creek have been made and that the water was still polluted and impure.

 

President Theodore Roosevelt.

ROOSEVELT A PROPHET.

A Colored Bishop Says He is Bound to Succeed Himself.

   Asbury Park, N. J., May 8.—Bishop Derrick, in an address before the New Jersey African Methodist Episcopal conference yesterday referred to President Roosevelt as a prophet of the African race. He said:

   “We have complained that we did not have a man in the White House to talk for us. We have one there now: God hath given us Theodore Roosevelt, and he is sure to be his own successor.”

 

Booker T. Washington.

WOULDN’T MAKE NEGRO’S BED.

Chambermaid Refused to Touch Bed Booker T. Washington Had Used.

   Indianapolis, Ind., May 9.—Booker T. Washington lectured in this city on Wednesday evening, stopping at the Hotel English. On Thursday morning Louise Hadley, a chambermaid, refused to make his bed and clean up the room. The manager told her that she would have to make the bed of leave the hotel, and she left, declaring she would not make any negro’s bed.

 

Rev. U. S. Milburn, Memorial Baptist Church, Cortland, N. Y.

A LOVER OF BIRDS

Protests Against Robbing Nests Even in Behalf of Science.

   To the Editor of The Standard:

   Sir—In a recent issue of The Standard I noticed a communication signed U. S. Milburn in regard to the collection of birds’ eggs donated to the museum of the Science club by H. C. Higgins. It is a deplorable fact that our native song birds are growing less every year. Many species that were comparatively plenty a few years ago are now seldom met with. As the bird disappear the insect pests multiply by the million. The farmer is the first one to suffer loss, although every one suffers either directly or indirectly. Now, if I had gone last year and robbed a whole lot of birds’ nests, and was planning to do the same thing this year I should expect to to be condemned, not praised, and especially not to be praised by a minister of the gospel. “Of much educational value,” he says. I can hardly see where the educational value comes in. If you wish to study birds, study live birds; go where they live in wood and field; leave your gun at home. I will warrant that the fresh air and exercise will do you good, and if you cannot learn anything from nature as nature is, it is your own fault.   

   I wish you could see my dear little shore lark that follows my plow and harrow, some days for hours at a time, see him take down the large white grubs until it would seem that he would almost burst. He will almost take them by hand. But don’t you try to harm him, nor steal their eggs away. You will find six feet of humanity after you in a hurry and you would think you were in an automobile smash up. I can tell you that now.

   It has been my good fortune to find three humming birds’ nests in my life. Did I rob the innocent little birds of their eggs? Well, no. Over twenty years ago in the “Elder Bennett” apple tree in my father’s yard I accidently discovered a nest just out of reach, but with the help of a table I was able to see two beautiful little eggs. The mother bird was sitting and soon hatched the tiny little birds. She did not seem to resent my intrusion, but would perch on a twig nearby. The birds soon grew up and flew away. They came back to the nest at night for a short time, but were soon gone. As I look upon the dear little nest at my side as I write how thankful I am that the eggs are not in it now. That was the most interesting study in bird life I ever saw. Today the memory of that dear little bird home and bird life is more to me than a whole museum full of musty egg shells and poisoned distorted bird skins.

   The next year I think I found a nest in another apple tree, but it somewhat came to grief in a wind storm and the eggs were broken.

   Three years ago I found another in a large maple in my woods twenty feet or more from the ground. I told a member of the Science club about it and he said, “Why don’t you get the eggs, they are valuable.” I said to him, “Neither you nor any one else can have those eggs,” but alas, some accident or tragedy intervened. I made frequent visits to the place, but never saw the bird since the first time that I discovered the nest. Later in the season with considerable difficulty I secured the nest, but it showed signs of having been the home of young birds.

   I have the same respect for the wicked boy that robs birds’ nests just for pure cussedness as I have for the scientific man that robs them for collections. The motive may be different; the effect is the same, as far as bird life is concerned.

   If this escapes the waste basket, I will try and tell some more facts I know about bird life and bird butchery.

   Ed D. Phelps.

 

CENTRAL PAPER BOX CO.

Of McGraw Incorporated With a Capital Stock of $30,000.

   Albany, May 7, (Special).—The Central Paper Box company of Cortlandville has been incorporated with the secretary of state to make and sell paper boxes. The capital stock is $30,000 and the directors are Fred A. Purchas of McGrawville; Walter G. Purchas of Nyack, and Alice M. Purchas of New York City.

 

ORDERS COMING IN

And the Davis Mfg. Co. is Hustling to Fill Them.

   The Davis Manufacturing Co. is installing its new steam apparatus, mention of which has been made before in these columns. It is the intention of the company to erect a new separate boiler house with engines capable of developing 240 horse power. This will give power enough to employ 500 men. At present the old 50-horse power engine will be used. The new boilers and engines are to be delivered within ninety days. Additional men will be employed from time to time, as business conditions warrant. Doubtless the present force will he increased as soon as more power becomes available, as the company already has a number of orders ahead. One order is to be delivered June 1, but the company fears that it will be unable to deliver the goods on time. At present it is engaged in putting in the steam pipes and dry kilns.