Closing Order May Be Lifted Within Week

• Upon his return from a conference with Dr. B. Franklin Royer, Mayor Babcock believes the policy bans may be lifted in Allegheny county would be lifted by next week, or sooner• The policy ban would be lifted or remain dependent upon conditions in the city; if favorable, the ban would be lifted (and conversely, if unfavorable, the ban would remain)• “It is not a matter of business, it is a matter pure and simple of health”, says Mayor Babcock regarding the policy closing bans• State registrar of vital statistics Dr. Wilbur R. Batt will remain in the city to make reports on the county and city level conditions to give to the state health commissioner• As long as influenza remains in the smaller communities outside of Pittsburgh, the policy bans will remain and will not be lifted• It was explained to Mayor Babcock that a lifting of the ban in Pittsburgh would mean an influx of people from epidemic-ridden towns who would then threaten the health and welfare of Pittsburgh, and renew instances of the disease here• Recent reports indicate 638 new cases of influenza with 73 cases of pneumonia, along with 13 deaths from influenza• One of Dr. Royer's assistants at the state department, Paul Ross, died of influenza yesterday• Policy: The town of Willock transferred its influenza sufferers to the emergency hospital in Carrick• State authorities sent a physician (Dr. E.L. Friederman of the U.S. public health service) and a clergyman (Rev. Wintersteen) to organize and operate an emergency hospital in the city of Curtisville • Other physicians sent by state authorities include Dr. D.G. Blake of Oakland assigned to Glen Willard; Dr. Henry Kohberger sent to Sharpsburg; and Dr. L.W. Zoher to Moon Run• The Washington park recreation house has been transformed into an emergency hospital• Red Cross reports show 50 teachers acting as nurses' aids• Washington appealed to the local Red Cross for more nurses for Western Pennsylvania towns afflicted• So far, 120 graduate nurses have been assigned to duty and 50 more are being called• The Union Switch and Signal Company plant is being equipped as an emergency hospital with 48 private rooms for influenza victims, with Miss Catherine MacDonald in charge• Profiteering has been found and in some cases, charges as high as $15 for an inoculation when prominent physicians believe the fee can range from $2 - $6• Yesterday, free public health stations were opened yesterday to allow everyone an opportunity to be inoculated in the towns of Tarentum, Brackenridge, and Natrona• Dentists have volunteered to relieve the physicians at these stations, as there are more than 1,000 cases in the three towns• Policy: due to the influenza epidemic, the November term of federal court will now open Monday, Nov. 18Newspaper Article