The Smallpox Threat from Victoria
As cases of smallpox rise rapidly in British Columbia, Seattle calls for a strict maritime quarantine to protect the city.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
All reports agree that the spread of smallpox at Victoria has been rapid to a degree almost unprecedented. The fact remains that there are a very large number of cases of the dread disease and that this number is increasing with alarming rapidity. Under the circumstances, it is the duty of the Seattle authorities to enforce strict quarantine regulations against Victoria. The relations between the two cities are close, with steamers plying between them daily. If the usual freedom of communication is maintained, it is inevitable that the pestilence will be brought to Seattle. This can be prevented only by the most rigid inspection of passengers and baggage coming from Victoria. Fortunately, the task of quarantine officers is an easy one in this case, as communication between the cities is entirely by boat and can be regulated or suspended with comparative ease.
“This can be prevented only by the most rigid inspection of passengers and baggage coming from Victoria.”
Public health crises have historically driven Seattle's civic policy, and the reliance on maritime and border restrictions to manage disease outbreaks predates modern pandemics by over a century. The tension between commerce and safety remains a hallmark of Seattle's relationship with its northern neighbors.
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