Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-04
CITY COUNCIL.
Monthly Meeting = Acting Mayors
Message - Monthly Reports-IittIe
Rock Railroad stock not to be Hy.
pothecated.

1
ton of regular monthly business. Alder
man Dyer was called to the chair.
| The following message was read from
the Mayor pro tenn
GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD: The me-
eessity grows more apparent each day
for the rigid economy in your appropria.
tons and the reduction of expenses,
wherever possible, which / have had the
honor before to recommend and urge.
Pursuant to your resolution of the 9th of
July, authorizing the Finance Commit
tee, together with the Mayor pro tenn, to
use the Little Rock railroad stock col
laterally to secure any past due claims
against the city, and to borrow money
for the purpose of defrsying the
monthly current expenses, we have
been actively engaged about the matter,
but have been unable TO accomplish the
same satisfactorily up to this time. On
the contrary further financial difficulty
has been thrown in our way by bill
filed in Chancery by Mr.. Davis epjoining
the city from issuing the stock as pro-
vided, except it be used with him on the
basis of contract he assumes to have
been made, contract vastly to his ad-
vantage 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 La
bility to Mr.. Davis have remained yet
uncanceled. The renewal of this large
liability to him already renewed to
his advantage (whether acquired by
him at first at greatly reduced rate
it is not now material to 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 10 like time repaid. 1t
would also have been an exceedingly
partial arrangement az against others
and as meritorious creditors, whilst the
almost certain and final loss of our stock
was an event the city and our people
were not prepared to incur, if possible to
| be avoided. We were offered the neces-
sary relief, the same in AMOUNT and on
better time, by Mr.. Brinkley Tor to be
obtained through him) without making
the stock liable for more than that COM
parstively small SUM, 1t was 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 him
self or conferred upon the city the bene-
| fits of it.
1t is unfortunate indeed that this stock
is thus made the occasion of so much
trouble to the city and her people, and
| strife among contending parties.
lay before you communication from
the vigilant City Engineer, on the subject
of procuring tar for the Nicholson pave
ments, should you cause it to be applied
as before recommended, and slao Dom.
municatiop from the Hon. q. G. Smith,
| In relation to the alley contemplated over
the grounds Of Mr.. Smith.
have visited and inspected the City
Hospital and its several apartments, and
take pleasure in saying that l find the
same in condition of great comfort 70
our afflicted end homeless poor, and
highly creditable to the accomplished
gentlemen and excellent physicians in
chsrge-the deficiencies OF incomplete,
nesses being such only az more ample
means alans could supply. Great clean
| illness and neatness, system, harmony
and effectiveness are manifest through
out the institution and entire premises.
am advised that the Hospital Commit
tee have given their personal attention in
| good faith to the interest of tho city.
As our financial honor 10 involved so
largely in the prompt payment of the
interest on our time Indebtedness, beg
to recommend to you to provide for as
certaining and keeping that, like the
school fund, separate from others and
served TO that use.
take pleasure ia aaying .ha. letter
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.
DR.. Piough, Of New Orleans, proposes
the establishment here OF q Marine,
Mechanical and Manufacturing Exhbi.
ton for the Southwest, subject of great
interest to the city. He is a gentleman
of evident intelligence and public spirit,
and brings to me the highest commenda,
tons from bis hcnoE the Mayor of New
Orleans. !. I. SWiYEE,
Mayor pro ten.
R. D. Baugh, City Controller, reports
receipts, $22,sa8 81; disbursements,
S2l, AS SO; excess ofreceipts, Sl379 80.
John II. Bowen, City Tax Collector,
reports SIS, 4s0 26 collected.
John L. Chandler, Tax Collector on
Privileges, reports 1888 65 collected.
Robert Goode, Wharfmsster, reports
s2494 IS COLLECTED.
Peter Coz ally, North Matchmaker,
reports $40A % collected.
Charles Borner, South Matchmaker,
reports SAL 20 collected.
Mr.. Boland, City Lumber Inspector,
reports 1896, 1893 feet of lumber inspected,
and Sis 70 collected.
DR.. G. B. Thornton, physician In
charge OF the City Hospital reports as
follows: Number Of patients remaining
last month, 59 number admitted in
July, AZ; number treated in July, l02
number discharged in July, 20; number
died, IL; number remaining July 81, 62.
The marine account amounts to S93.
DR.. Alex. Erskine, Dean Of the Faculty
of the Memphis Medical College, reports
ISL IS expended for medicines for the
City Dispensary during the month. The
total Ru Der Of patients treated were $50,
for whom 694 prescriptions were issued.
There has been an increase of sickness
among the poor during the month, but
type of disease has been generally mild.
]. 81. HUMPHREYS, City Engineer, re
ports S45l 60 expended in salaries, aud
$l6 Is in Office expenses; $4,000 80 has
bden expended on streets and alleys, as
fnIlnva. Sfona nhYinr S963 4S: gratings.