Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-11-16
CITY COUNCIL.

BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
The Beard was called to order ii the Regular
hour, when the President stated the object of
the ulcellng.
The clerk than read Communications from
DIR. Bedford Brown, President OIL the Board Of
Health, in regard to the smallpox, (Which will
be found in the official proceedings stating
| the number OF cases now p the city, and ask
| ing Couucil to appropriate S40O for the rur-
| m,,c of erecting building on Joucs Point Tor
the reception Of the patients.
A silclce was observed for IL few minutes.
Mr.. Johnson arose and said he had hccu
| waiting Tor suIIc one ~ say something IN re-
gard to what had been submitted. lie said
smallpox was in our midst, and the question
was whether il was to become general or not.
| He spoke at length on the origin and prcva
| cnce of the disease, using many medical tech
nicalites, the substance of which, amounted 10
| this: was the small poy 10 BIZ confined to the
few cases now existing or was II TO become
general? In the latter event every man should
| Look ont Tor his own huu>chv,d. The coln
munica:iou had recommended JONES Point as
Il suitable place for thu proposed hospital, but
had he control ni the matter, il should bc l"ca-
ted III Il lot adj lining the Aims House, which
was the property OF the corporation, aud when
il became useless as Il hospital it could be used
b. the keeper ol the Aims House Tor any other
purpose. By doing this the city would always
| have suitable place on similar occasions.
Mr. French said III his opinion it would be
best To purchase an old caual5 boat Tx 1t up,
and anchor it out in the river, in Solue out oi
the way place This plan had been found to
work well at Norfolk and other places. He
supposed, however, this idea would be met
with some opposition, or there would be u con
rcntion "a to where the boat should ye located,
Ii could be fixed up ard anchored out AT less
expense and in Shorter time than Il hospital
could be erected
Mr.. johnson doubted the right Of the city to
fix up an Old coal boat, anchor 1t III the river.
and compel patcuts to be Kept there unit!
well. Persons with the smallpox We're often
lcIcriouS, and to rake them out In the river
and quarter them in an I'D boat. their minds
would be filled with evil approximations as TO
whether they were to be thrown overheard or
not. Again it might be the cause OF impeding
navigation by placing infections 10 the river.
Council could not compel people to move Mcm'
bers of their families, who had been untor-
tunate AS to he attacked with small poX, into
tackled with the disease he would defy any
|
from his house
Mr.. CorSe said Dr. J.'> plan was evidently
the best, az the proposed location would he
contiguous 10 the Aims House. aud as Mr.
Stephenson had already had the disease, he
would have no hcSitancy in attending 10 those
who might be placed there.
The President said this was subject OF vital
importance to the city. The apprehensons
were that small. poy was about TO become cpl
demic, and it was the du!y Of Council to speed
iy devise means to prevent It's spread. lie
said he must differ with DR.. Johnson regard
ing the location of the proposed hospital as
the poor Inmates Of the Aims House, were
under the care Of the city. and to erect i hos
pital for the reception Of patients afflicted with
this disease in such close proximity to them
would entanger their health greatly. We
should not entail on others what We would not
like ourselves Of course there would of ne
.cessity be intercourse with this buldlng,aS the
inmates of the Poor'S House had to work
around the premises The proposition set forth
in the communication Of the Health Officer, de.
signaling Jones Point as the place, vas good
idea. us there the patients would have the
benefit Of the gentle zcphyrS waited from the
broad Potomac and Hunting Creek. He then
moved that $4lO, or as much as might be need
ed, be appropriated for the purpose OF erecting
the hospital at this place.
Mr.. Loving objected to this proposition. 1!
would be better to fix L boat up temporarily aud
see whether the disease spreads before build
ing was put up.
Mr.. rcnch said the reason he had suggest
ed canal boat was because you could buy one
for mere song and ix it up in twenty -four
hours. IF the disease didn't spread you could
then do away with it. If DR.. Johnson prop
ostion was adopted the passengers on every
train would see the yellow flag on the building,
and it would place the city in bad repute.
Mr.. johnson said he was In Council pro bonO
pubhco: otherwise, us medical man. he would
not undertake to discuss this subject with an
unprofessional man. Every year or so this
same thing would evidently be brought be"
fore Council, and If a substantial building was
erected now, Oh Corporation property, the city
would alway, have building tor patients in
fccted with such cpidenics.
Mr. Simpson, withdrew his resolution, and
said he would favor DR.. is proposition. 1t
might have good effect in preventing some
from committing mlsdcmcanors aud being sent
to the Work House.
Mr.. johnson then offered resolution that a
building, one or TWO stories high, with four
rooms in each story. be erected for the purpose,
| on the lot belonging to the Corporations near
the Aims House.
Mr. Corse seconded the resolution.
Mr. French said the Board of Health had
stated that the cost would be $500.
Mr. Markell moved that the amount be fixed
at $500.
Mr. johnson said the amount could Be fixed
at whatever was right.
Mr. French asked under whose supervision
the building was to be erected
Mr. JohnSon-The Committee on the Poor.
Mr. French suggested that the Committee
on Public Property be charged with the duty.
Mr.. johnson explained that it should be
erected in substantial manner.
Tie resolution of Mr.. J. was then adopted.
Mr.. French then introduced the following:
AN Act concerning Vaccination.
SEC l. Be it enacted by the Board Of Alder
men. the Common Council cCncurring, That
the Board of Health be. and are hereby required
to employ one or more physicians, whose duty
it shall be TO seek out I'll persons within the city
of Alexandrla who have not been vaccinatod,
and to vaccnate them, and also to racclnate all
| persons who have not been yaccnated within