Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-03
BOARD of Common Council.

The following members were present
Councilmen Gent, Chase, Parker, Pres
colt, Dromgoole, James, Twohig, Hubert,
Cohen, Richardet, Kelley, Pepper, Cum
Minis, Dixon and Graves.
Councilman Cohen made personal
explanation in regard to the alleged sell.
ing of complimentary ticket to Louis
vile and return. He had merely ex'
changed for another one to go to New
York by way of Chicago. No other &C
ton was taken.
The following message was received
from his Honor the Mayor:
To the General Council of the City Of Mem
phis:
GENTLEMEN return without my APP
proyal contract awarded at your last
regular meeting for the construction OF
a cistern at the intersection of Linden
and Lauderdate streets. My reasons for
SO doing are, first, the bid accepted seems
not to have been the lowest, from the &C
companying protest of A. G. Belts, who
claims to have been the lowest; second,
the bids are zoo high and much above the
value Of the work, aud should for this
reason have been rejected; and, finally,
the want of money in the treasury TO-
make any further improvements until
such time as the owners of real estate see
fit TO coms in and pay their taxes upon
their property, now four months past due.
As YOU are aware, the expenses OF the
city government for the ten months OF
the year have been paid out of the wharf
receipts, market receipts, fines and for
feitufss of the Recorders court and the
Mayors office, and the privilege taxes
from merchants and dealers OF all kinds
in the city; and | must here take oeoa-
sion to say that in the collection of these
taxes our collectors have generally been
met in most liberal spirit, and promptly
responded to. This kind of support |
can assure you, has been appreciated by
the city government in their efforts to
carry on upon a cash basis the business
of the city.
The taxes upon real and personal
property eollseted to date, for general
purposes, amounts to only the small sum
Of 1911 20. From this state of faets, 1t
is plain we cannot be expected to under
take any more work until the owners of
real estate, by their acts, show more APP
preciation Of our efforts, and put into our
hands the means with which to pay for
work when completed.
toHE JOHNSON, Mayor.
Received and concurred in.
The following reports of city officers
for the month IF 9ct9ber were received
and fled:
NJ. D. A. Shepherd, City Comptroller,
reported TsOeipts, $Sl,956 81; cash pay
ments, $50, 233 o..
W. II. Bridges, Treasurer: Receipts
for current year, 1929, 1868 6S; paid war
rants, $il4,976 IA deposited for inter;
est 81 .355 IS: cash on hand for general
Iurscges, $l3,63l 90.
M r. ". Robertson, Tax Collector;
Total receipts, $zl .sS2 7.
Mr.. r. Good, Wharfmastef. totsi re-
ceipts, $4,G53 So.
Dr e. b. Thornton, City Physician,
reported lO4 patients in the City Hospl-
al al the last report; admitted, ls6;
treated. 900; discharged, l50i died, Al;
remaining in hospital, 80.
John A. Deniger, North Aarketmas'
ter-collections, $206 %.
Ghafles Borner, South Marketmaster
collections, SS26 50.
J.H. Humphreys, City Engineer-to-
tai expenses Of department, $3.50 30.
W. II. Horton, City Ipspeetor-eoiiee-
tons, 1901 IS.
Mr. J. w. Scales. Recorder, submitted
a report. showing the arrests made dp'
ring the month, with the amount OF hnss
and fees collected.
Mr.. T. W. ODonnell, Chief Of Police,
presented a detailed statement Of the
arrests, etc, in his department,with other
particulars.
The Committee on Improvements re-
ported IN favor Of sundry city improve
ments, which were ordered to be exc
cuted
The compiftae on Wharf and Land.
ing reported ip favor Of the grading and
paving Of central landing. Adopted.
The Committee on Claims REPORTED
adversely in regard 70 a claim for reduc-
ten Of assessment Adopted.
Councilman Gent. from the special
committee appointed 10 redistrict the