Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-05
CITY MATTERS.
proceeding. 81 the Board Of Mayor
and Aldermen Yesterday.
A Message from the Mayer-neport'
Of Committees, Etc., Etc.


met in regular monthly session yesterday
| afternoon. Present, Mayor Leitwich and
quorum Of aldermen.
The following message from the Mayor
was received aud read;
To the Honorable Board Of Mayor and Alder
| men;
| Since the inauguration Of the present
Board Of Mayor and Aldermen, your at
4 tention has beer mainly directed TO the
relief Of the due and pressing indebted
ness Of the city, 10 which il Is gratifying
to know you have succeeded beyond the
hopes Of the most sanguine,
| II now behooves you TO give attention
and encouragement 10 such enterprises
as are calculated to promote the endu-
ring prosperity OF the city, and para
mount to all others, l consider the early
completion Of the Memphis and Little
Rock railroad, in which the city is largely
interested, both directly and remotely
The adoption Of such an ordinance IN
relation TO wharfage as will protect and
foster our local packets is imperatiyely
demanded and every facility should be
| offered 10 the contemplated establishment
here of dry dock, for the repairing and
building OF steamboats,.
The wharfboat known as the Atlantic
and Mississippi Steamship Company's
wharfboat," now lying at the foot OF
Monroe street, should be removed TO such
O portion of the landing as is not so
essential for the accommodation Of
steamboats,; and in view Of its evident
unsoundness, a sufficient and satisfac-
tory bond should be required Of its
owners to indemnify the city against the
expense Of removing the wreck in the
event of its sinking.
| The establishment OF o workhouse is of
too grave import to be hastened or re-
tarded by such revolving spectacles as
the display of last Saturday, the mover
of which could more speedily produce
the desired result by honestly, aud in
compliance with law, accounting for the
privilege tax" which corrupt party
| for corrupt purposes has placed at his
disposal. The measures already inau-
gurated looking to that end should be
pressed to completion with as much haste
as is consistent with its establishment on
permanent and practical basis; and
the engine house on Poplar street, now
useless to the city, might with propriety
be sold or used in part payment for suit
able property for this purpose.
All departments of the city govern
ment are working tremendously and sat.
isfactorily, except, perhaps, the city hos
ptal, in regardro which / deem it my
duty to cay, the vague complaints which
are being made against the management
of that institution cannot be otherwise
than embarrassing to the hospital ply
stefan, who, in turn, charges the Hos
pital Committee with neglect of its
duties. This condition of affairs
cannot exist without seriously i'm
pairing its usefulness hence, ! recon-
mend that the charges, if they exist, be
properly investigated, and the matter
thus put finally at rest. The appoint
ment of competent and responsible
steward will relieve the physician of the
responsibilities that seem to be the only
source of complaint, and will, am con-
WINGED, re- establish the harmony that
should exist between the physician and
the committee. A nomination for this
position was heretofore made, and the
same is again recommended.
The advice heretofore given, and so
promptly discarded, relative TO the en-
ployment of permanent, tirsi-class
accountant for the controllers office, is
again respectfully renewed.
Respectfully, JNo. W. LEFrwIcH,
Mayor
The regular monthly reports of city
] officers were received aud placed on file.
An ordinance against the roaming at
large of unmuzzled dogs, between the
| 18th of June and the 10Th of September,
was passed on its second and final read
ing.
An ordinance providing that no cotton
shall be stored in any store or warehouse
except when especially erected for that
purpose, with en- amendment that mer-
chants be allowed to keep only five bales
on their premises for longer period
than twentyfour hours, was also passed
on its second and final reading.
An ordinance, regulating the rates
charged by furniture cars and wagons,
was passed on its first reading.
Alderman Brown, from special COM
mittee, reported in favor of placing adj
ditional benches in Court Square, boxing
the shade trees and graveling the walks,
and the report was adopted.
Alderman Passmore, from special
committee, to whom was referred the
communication of the several railroad
superintendents relative to the erection
of union depot, reported in favor OF
the city engineer making survey of the
proposed route with the engineers OF the
several railroads and report ID the
Board. Adopted.
The following petitions were received
and acted upon: From certain banks,
praying that the tax on banks may be
equalized according to capital Referred
to special committee, composed OF
Messrs. Moffet, Ruffin, Hoist, Black and
Johnson Also, from the Memphis Med
ioal College, for an appropriation of $500
to fl up aud supply with medicines the
free dispenssry. Granted. Also, from
the committee appointed at the meeting,
relative 10 the removal of the dry docks
from Cairo to this city, and asking an
appropriation of $3.50 to assist in defray-
ing the cost of removal Referred to the
Finance Committee.
An ordinance amendatory to the or
dinance relative to the payment of wharf