Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-08-04
CITY COUNCIL.
Regular Meeting Of the Board OF
G. Mayor and Aldermen.
Monthly Report of Officer Message
Of the MayOr--TraHsactiOn OF
Business, ETC., Etc.

The Board Of Aldermen convened
at the City Hall last evening at 3
o'clock for the regular monthly dis
match of business. On motion OF Al
derman Black, Alderman Dyer was
called to the chair.
The reading of the minutes was dis
pensed with, and the Secretary read
the following
MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR.
Gentlemen of the Board:
The necessity grows more apparent
each day for the rigid economy in
your apprOpriationsan the reduction
of expenses, wherever possible, which
have had the honor before 20 recon-
mend and urge. Pursuant to your
resolution of the 9th July, authorizing
the Finance Committee, together
with the Mayor pro tenn, to use the
| Little Rock Railroad stock collateral
" to secure any past due claims
against the city, and to borrow money
for the purpose of defraying the
monthly current expenses; we have
been actively. engaged about the mat
ter, but have been unable to accom-
plish the same satisfactorily up to this
time. On the contrary a further
financial difficulty has been thrown
in our way by a bill filed in Chancery
BY Mr.. Davis enjOining the city from
issuing the stock as provided, except
it be used with him on the basis of a
contract he assumes to have been
made, a contract vastly to his advan-
| tage, as a creditor and as much or
more to the disadvantage Of the city,
| whereby there can be little or no dOubt
that our entire stock in the railroad
named would become sacrificed and
lost to the city, and as | believe the
| liability to Mr.. Davis have remained
vet uncancelled. The renewal of this
large liability to him already renewed
to his advantage whether acquired by
him at first at a greatly reduced rate
it is not now material 10 say, would
| of itself, the payments being at such
| short intervals, have devOlved on the
city an obligation it could not realize
the means to meet, in time, saying
nothing of the additional sum to be
loaned, and also in like time repaid.
1t would also have been an
| exceedingly partial arrangement as
against Others and IS meritOrious
creditors, whilst the almost
certain and final loss of our stock was
an event the city andOu u people were
not prepared to incur if possible to be
avoided. We were offered the neceS-
sarv relief. the same in amount and
on better time, by Mr.. Brinkley, (or
to be obtained through him. without
making the stock liable for more than
! that comparatively ~smalisum. TWAS
| our duty to the city as her agents, to
| accept this latter offer in preference,
whilst it was also in the power OF Mr..
| Davis to have made the like offer and
| received for himself or conferred upon
! the city the benefits of it.
IT is unfortunate indeed that this
| stock is thus made the occasion of so
much trouble TO the city and her peO-
/ pie and strife among ~contendIng par
/ ties.
l lay before you a communication
from the vigilant City Engineer on
| the subject of procuring tar for the
| NieOlSOn pavements, should you cause
il to be applied as before recon-
mended, and also IA communication
| from the Hon. II. G.. Smith in rela-
LtDl ~ Nllt NltEN ADAAADAA BAaAN0 wv
the grounds of Mr.. Smith.
/ have visited and inspected the
City Hospital and its several apart
| ments, and take pleasure in saying
that ! find the same in a condition of
great comfort to Our afflicted and
homeless poor, and highly creditable
to the accomplished gentlemen and
! excellent physicians in charge-the
deficiencies or incompletenesses being
such only as more ample means alone
could supply. Great cleanliness and
neatness, system, harmony, and at
tentiveness are manifest throughout
the institution and entire premises.
| am advised that the Hospital
Committee have given their personal
attention in good faith to the inter-
est of the city.
AS our financial honor is involved
80 largely in the prompt payment of
the interest ON our time indebtedness,
| beg to recommend to you to provide
for ascertaining and keeping that, like
the school fund, separate from others
and served to that use.
l take pleasure in saying that a let
ter Of late date from our distinguished
Chief Magistrate informs me that he
is hopeful, indeed cheerful, on the
subject of his health, recently so much
impaired as to require his absence
from duty.
DIR. Plough, of New Orleans, pro-
poses the establishment here OF
a Marine, Mechanical and Manu-
featuring Exhibition for the South
west, a subject of great interest to the
city. lie is a gentleman of evident
intelligence and public spirit, and
brings to me the highest c0mmenda-
tons from His Honor the Mayor Of
New Orleans. j. r. SWANNE,
Mayor pro tenn.
On motion, the message was re-
ceived and ordered to be published.
The enclosures alluded to in the
message are a letter from II. G. Smith,
rendering the back portion of his
wife's lot on Madison street, eight feet
wide, for an alley for public use, at
$250-the alley to be opened by Janu-
AIRY 1, 1870, OF the offer to be with
drawn. The other is a letter from J..
H. Humphreys, City Engineer, sug-
costing the ACCESSIBILITY of making an
arrangement with the Gas Company
for tar TO cover the NicOlson pave
ment. He states if One-half the pave
ment now in use be coated each year,
il Will require 1000 barrels OF tar per
annum. Arrangements can be made
with the Gas Company for erecting a
reservoir capable of holding 1900
barrels, which Mr.. Humphreys advises
REPORTS OF OFFICERS
for the month Of July.
r. d. Baugh, Gig Comptroller, re
ports receipts S22,SSS 81; disburSe-
ments 81, 45S 80; excess OF receipts
Sl379 %.
John Ii. Bowen, City Tax Collector,
reports SO, 100 % collected.
John l.. Chandler, Tax Collector on
Privileges, reports 1888 IS collected.
Robert GOOde, Wharfmaster, reports
$2i94 IS collected.
Peter Conally, North Marketmastcr,
reports S402 80 collected.
Charles BOrner, South Marketmas-
ter, reports SAL 20 collected.
Mr.. B0land, City Lumber I~nsnect0r.
reports 395, 99S feet of lumber inspect
and Sis 70 collected.
Dr. o.. Il. Thornton, physician in
Of the City Hospital, REPORTS as
Number of patients remain
ing last month 50; do. admitted in
July IS; do. treated in July I02: do.
discharged in July %; do. died II; do.
remaining July 3lst 60.
The marine account amounts TO sea 4
DIR. Alex. Erskine, Dean of the
EaculfV Mamphfo Ta1;.,l n-u- II