City Closes Today To Fight Influenza Which Is Spreading

• “All schools, churches, show places, saloons, and indoor gatherings of every sort not specifically exempted cease activities at 5 this morning – no interference with essential business desired or expected – order without time limit and duration depend on malady which gains many new victims in day.”• “Air, sunlight, avoidance of infected best medicine.”• Health dept. and committee on influenza recommended to Mayor Buck to impose this ban. • At 11 pm yesterday, health dept. reported that 690 influenza cases and 12 pneumonia cases had been reported in past 24 hours – “These figures are more than twice the count for the preceding twenty-four hours.”• “There is no official record of the total number of cases in Buffalo, inasmuch as many are not recognized as influenza and reported.”• Mayor had conference with Commissioners Kreinlieder and Bagley, who both agreed on the decision, after which the order was issued.• “The proclamation was issued under authority vested in the Mayor by an emergency ordinance for control of the influenza plague, which was passed by the council Wednesday.”• Acting Health Commissioner Franklin C. Gram “announced that the order includes lodge meetings, society meetings, and labor union meetings.”• He also banned church funerals.• Brewers and saloon representatives protested this closing order, but after talking with Dr. Franklin C. Gram, they agreed it was necessary, and said they would support it.• Managers of theaters canceled next week’s shows last night.• Educational propaganda began to be distributed through the city.• People infected with influenza must stay in their homes, under quarantine, but members of the family that are not sick may leave the house.• Anti-spitting ordinance to be enforced “rigidly” by Police Chief Girvin.• Health authorities and medical advisors do not feel that industrial plants and commercial businesses will need to be closed, that the current closing order should be enough to “check the epidemic.”Newspaper article1,