Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-04
DAVIDSON COUNTY COURT.
Reports-RafIrOad COmmIssionerS-
Finances - suspension Bridge
PauperS, etc. etc.

| FdupeESs eLcs etc.
The court was called to order yesterday
morning at ten o'clock, Judge Turner il
the chair. On a call of the roll, forty-si1
magistrates we're found to be present.
The minutes of the last meeting were
then read and approved
The Judge stated that at the last term o.
the court there had been a gteat deal Of
disorder and he had therefore requested
Mr.. Norvell to act as an assistant officer to
wait on the court. The motion being put
to the court, was lost
The Courthouse Committee presented q
report, stating that soon after the January
term, they had employed James William
son as Janitor, and recommended that his
salary be fixed at $75 month.
| Squire Meacham thought that this SUBJ
| Ject should be postponed, so that some ac-
ton should be taken to do away with the
| porters, who, altogether, were now receiv-
ing So or Sc a day for doing nothing, ex-
cept to open and shut the doors,
Squire Meacham moved that the report
be received, and its adoption postponed
for the present.
Squire Paul moved that the committees
Pauls motion carried
Squire Wand presented the finance &C.
counts, amounting to $3,I3282. The
items were read and the accounts allowed
Other accounts we're laid on the table for
the present.
Squire Wilkinson and other Magistrates
on the committee on pesthouse presented
report, stating that since last report two
smallpox patients had been admitted, but
that there were no smallpox patients re-
naming in the Pesthouse at present.
The agreement made by the pesthouse
committee to pay DR.. Wilkinson ten dollars
day for treatment Of patients was read.
and Squire Maxey moved to non-concur.
Squire Wilkinson stated that DIR. Wilkin-
son desired to be released from the con.
tract
Squire NeylaR moved that DIR. WiIkin-
son be allowed the same amount for his
services as was paid last year, namely ten
dollars day. Squire Neylan's motion
earned almost unanimously.
A short intermission was taken in order
to pass around two baskets Of fine apples
presented by Mr.. John B. CorIey, OF the
Circuit Court
Squire Taylor presented verbal report
In regard to the County Asylum, and sta
ted that 1t was in good condition, and also |
that about seventy patients were present.
The Finance Committee presented 9 |
lengthy report, stating that the Com
mlttee had undertaken the laborious task |
OF making proper settlements with retired |
county officers from the year 1910 to the |
present time, but owing to the great labor |
required, the Committee could not make a |
detailed report as to this matter. The |
Committee also Requested the court to al |
low the Committee a competent clerk. |
The port was received and fled.
The School Committee reported that |
there were l07 schools in operation in the |
county, G3 being in the country districts.
Several other schools will probably be /
started early in April. The Committee
referred to the tabular stateme ent, fled at
the February term, for statistical informa-
ton.
The Commissioners of Public Roads
reported thst they had examined all the
turnpike roads north Of the Cumberland.
and found all of them in pretty fair condi-
ton, except the Brick church pike and
the Whites creek pike, which were
found in a most miserable condition.
The Commissioners ordered the gates
on these roads thrown open till the
law was complied with in regard to public
roads. A bill was filed in the Chancery
Court, enjoining the action of the County
Court, and Chancellor East granted the
injunction, ''arrogsting to himself power
that is only granted by recent decision
Of the Supreme Court to Constitution
al Convention. We submit with all re-
5pect, if the actions cf this court are to be
spjoined by the Chancellor, the County
Court is q nullity."
Squire Maxey offered an additional re-
port, supplementary to the report of the
Turnpike Road Commissioners, stating
hat no reflection upon Chancellor East
was intended.
The above reports were received and
lied.
The Railroad Commissioners elected at |
he February term, made a lengthy report,
Itating several things which have hereto
ore been published. They report that
hey have examined the reports of the
Tennessee and Pacific Railroad and the
1dgefeld and Kentucky Railroad, and
Jtate also that they cast the vote of the
county, at the elections held Oy those roads.
The committee further report that there is
yreat necessity for an early investigation
md examination of the conduct and man
lgement of the Nashville and Northwestern,
he Nashville and Decatur, and the Louis
vile and Nashville railroads, so far as the
interest of the county is concerned. The
also rep rted that they had
elected Secretary and Treasurer, to take
he place of Judge Whitworth.
Squire Meacham remarked that the |
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company
lad spent from $40, 600 to 5000, 600 of
he money of Davidson county, without
sver having consulted the county, or ask
ng any questions, and this money had
.lso been spent illegally and unlawfully.
These things ought 10 be investigated. The
.eport of the Railroad Commissioners was
hen received.
The committee, to whom was referred
he subject of excessive toll charged by the
Broad street Suspension Bridge Company,
exported that they had examined the char
er of said company and found that the
company was not charging more toll than
hey were authorized by their charter to
,harge.
The report of the committee was re-
,eiYed.
A large number of applications were
made for assistance TO paupers, and about
line hundred dollars we're appropri ated in
,ums ranging from twenty dollars up to
hirty.
The petition of Stokeley Donelson and
others to close an old road located in the
Eth district, commencing at the Lebanon
pike, near the Hermitage church, and
.unnir south, was read and the petition
granted.
On motion the assessors books we're re-
,eived, and Wednesday morning was fixed
IS the time when the Court would equal
Ze the assessments.