The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-06-22
CRY CuUNc1I-oFFlCIAL MINUTES.
Special Meeting.

| TUESDAY, June 18th, 1873.
Present, Mayor Lynch; Alderman West Kel.
ley, Phelps, Hossack, Dean, Leonard, Murphy,
Catin, Hull, Hoban, White, Logan and Griffith.
| THE CALL.-There will be n special meeting of
Council at the City Hall, June 18th, at ~
o'clock for the purpose of consderering the en-
forcing OF the ordinance to prevent animals run
ming at large in the city and the transaction OF
such other business as may come before the
council. Signed, Tnos CATLiN,
w. ii. HULL,
j. w. DEAN.
The Mayor then read following communica-
ton
| 1t is now quarter of a century since the city
| of Ottawa was organized and established Dur
ing that long period the freedom of the city at all
times ana at all hours of the night and OF the
day was permitted to mich cows, although an
ordinance existed restraining their liberty from
eight O'Clock in the evening to six in the morn
ing. The last meeting Of this council called at
tention to this ordinance and ordered that it be
enforced AS consequence there were nearly
thirty mich cows impounded on Wednesday
night last, and of the number two-thirds were
owned by families in the most INDECENT circum-
stance, families whose COW was their main de-
pcndcnce for support, families who were posi-
lively and absolutely unable TO pay the charges
for impounding Persons not acquainted with
the circumstances of some of these poor people
should have found their COWS during the eve
ming and secured them for the night" In many
instances this was an utter impossibilty. Some
were owned by poor widow women, who partly
supported their children by washing and other
work in families where they were detained until
late and were too tired and weary to make the
walk necessary TO find their cows, Some were
owned by families where the husbands, unable to
find work in the city had gone into the country
and their wives We're by sickness or unavoidable
causes, subject to occur at some TINS in the best
regulated families positively unable to comply
with the ordinance. Believing that it would
meet your approval | requested the city marshal
| to allow all the cattle impounded to go without
charge and to inform the police not to interfere
with them again until the next meeting of the
council was much pleased on receiving the
notice for this meeting, believing that it was due
| TO the action of some members who had learned
that the enforcement of the ordinance would i'm
pose cruel burden on that portion of their fell
| low citizens who were least able to bear 1t.
have no doubt the cattle are slight annoyance
to many citizens, but it does seem that if such
citizens were sensible of the material benefits
which the majority Of the families owning the
cattle derive from them during these desperately
hard times, they would chccrfully submit to the
annoyance. | know the people of Ottawa and
feel confident that with very few exceptions they
are humane self-sacrtcing and charitable. They
would not knowingly, by their own act, or
through their representations, for triiling con
sideraton, do serious injury TO their poor neigh
bors.
In view of the facts stated, would recommend
that the order of the counsel directing the strict
enforcement of the ordinance relating to cattle
running at large be rescinded.
Aid West moved that the last order of the
council in relation to animals running at large
be rescinded, which was lost by the following
vote: Ayes-West, Murphy, Hoban, (S), Noes
Kelly, Phelps, Hossack, Drew, Leonard, Catlin,
Hull, White, Logan, Griffith, TO-
On motion Of Alderman Logan the clerk was
instructed to furnish book for the use Of the
Pound Master for the purpose of registering all
animals impoundcd.
On motion of Aid. Dean the bill Of S41.23 for
painting done on the fence of the public square
was ordered paid, and clerk instructed to draw
the order in favor of c. 5. Phelps.
Petition of Henry Mayo and others asking the
city to erect Il street lamp on the corner of
Guthrie and Van Buren, streets, was on motion
of Aid. Logan referred TO the committee on gas.
Aid. West moved that Il street lamp be erected
on the south west corner Of Post and Superior
streets, and was on motion referred to the com
mttee on gas.
On motion of West adjourned.