510 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



criticisms to which it may be subjected by some of the more con- 

 servative forestry folk, will adhere to its present purpose of recog- 

 nizing that the laud which was purchased by the people and which, 

 therefore, belong to the people should never close a single avenue 

 of good which rightfully belongs to the owners. 



Tuberculosis has well been spoken of as the "white plague," a 

 plague which is perhaps, in many instances, as dangerous in its ulti- 

 mate results, to those associated with the sufferer as it is to him. 

 Its contagiousness is beyond doubt. The hope of restoration to 

 health from this disease in our crowded centres of population has 

 but a minimum basis of support. The most promising which the 

 invalid can do (providing he does it early enougli) is to seek an 

 outdoor life. Already the most desirable locations in the State 

 are being purchased by wealthy citizens, or wealthy clubs, and these 

 are jealously guarded against all intrusion from outsiders. The 

 most desirable summer resorts are to-day as thoroughly closed 

 against a consumptive as if the sufferer were afflicted with leprosy. 

 He must go somewhere. He has the same divine right to life and 

 liberty and pursuit of happiness and health that any other of God's 

 children has, providing he hsjis done nothing to eliminate that 

 right. No mere pecuniary interests, not mere social claim for 

 selfish isolation can rob the sufferer of this right. The air, the 

 earth and the w^ater should be, and by divine right are as free to 

 him as to any other living being. At this juncture the State steps 

 in and says: "TN'e are the owners of this land, it was purchased by 

 you and is for you and for your children and it is the part of a wise 

 public policy to invite you on these outing grounds where you may 

 be restored to health, and become again a productive member of 

 society rather than remain a perpetual charge upon the bounty of 

 the Commonwealth." This is the work which has grown out of the 

 Forestry Reservation system, and I hope that it may be regarded 

 by the citizens of this Commonwealth with just and proper pride. 



The act of the last General Assembly provided the sum of |8,- 

 000.00 for the establishment of a sanatorium for poor consumptives, 

 in the South Mountain, twelve miles southw'est of Chambersburg. 

 Long before we were ready to receive patients, they came flocking 

 into us. It was in vain to say: "We are not ready; come when our 

 buildings are prepared," the answer too frequently was, "Where may 

 I be when these buildings are ready?" The only thing we could 

 do was to accept the most promising patients and place them in 

 plain board cabins, erected with the money furnished by a few 

 generous friends. At present there are on the ground one large 

 assembly building, six cottages for the reception of female patients, 

 and ten cabins, giving us altogether power to receive at most thirty- 

 one patients. Since last March fhce have been on the ground 



