Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-14
GNASHYILLE'S INFANCT.t
Original Organization OF the Town
Government.
Chances at the VeritabIe MInute-BOOk
Of the First Municipal Legislature

Chances at the VerItabIe MInute-BOOk
Of the First Municipal Legislature.
When the town of Nashville was incOr-
pOrated, instead Of Council OF Board of
Aldermen, il had a "Board of Commits
sioners." One Of the oldest inhabitants Of
the city has in his possession i scar and
yellow old manuscript, bound in coarse
fax. which is the record of the proceedings
of this Board from its organization several
months.
On the first page of this curious old relic
we read, that in pursuance of IAN act for
the regulation of the town of Nashville, :"
which passed the General Assembly Dec.
10, 1901, an election was held April 3,
1902, and Robert Searcy, W. T..
min j. Bradford, Roger Is. SsppIngtOn,
VIM. Luniz and Thomas Rutherford
were elected commissioners for the
Town. The next day the Board Of Com
miSsioneIs met at the house OF Timothy
Demonbreun, and after taking the oath
proceeded to elect officers.
The result Of the vote was that X. q.
Foster was elected ''Intendant,' b. j.
Bradford Clerk, and Il. B. SappingtOn
Treasurer. Henry Guthrie was appointed
.'Town Surveyor" and authorized TO EN-
ploy chain carriers al 81 per day, in order
to set about laying OFF the town. w. p.
Anderson was charged with receiving lists
Of taxable property.
MeSSrs. Anderson, Searcy and Ruther-
ford, having been appointed for the pur-
pose, drew up and submitted on the 9th OF
April a series of rules for the government
of the board. Among the simple but stern
rules adopted was one requiring each MEN,
Der '.tO take 4 seat during sessions, uncover
his head and continue SO while in the
ROOM"
A series of rules and regulations for the
police Was adopted at one Of the early
meetings of the Board. Among these We
find some that have an air of antiquityabOut
them. For instance, ''each inhabitant of
the town, who had been liable 10
work on and keep in repair
the streets under the laws of the State,
was still liable 10 work, and contribute in
opening and keeping in repair the streets
under the direction and inspection of a
supervisor to be appointed; and if at any
time on three DAYS previous, notice any OF
the said inhabitants should refuse or neg
lect 20 attend AMI work, as by this article
directed, he or thes, go neglecting, should,
for every such offense, forfeit and pay the
sum of fifty cents"
Another of the regulations was "That no
inhabitant OF said town should permit or
suffer any swine to run at large (of his own
property in sait ,own under the penalty
of twenty-five &C. IS per head for the first
tWenty-four hours, and fifty cents for the
second; and if the swine should be found
on the third day, should be taken and sold
by tie town sergeant TO the highest bidder
for cash, one-half for the use of the officer
and the other for the town."
Thus early was the grJInting roOter de
clared nuisance, and proceedings had for
its Abatement. Marshal Pitman can thus
have some idea of the antiquity Of the
work in which he was engaged last spring,
and Inc may well feel cOmplaeent if he
finally completes a job of such long stand
ing.
Among the first steps taken by the Board
of Commissioners was the adoption Of a
resolution April "a, 1902, TO establish a
market house. Work was Immediately be
gun. and a markethouse erected within a
few months.
The recorded proceedings of the Board
while they have strong primitive peculiari-
ties. indicate remarkable intensity Of pur-
pose and vigOT of action.