Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-01
OUR SENTINELS.
Meeting of the Legislative Council Yes.
terday Afternoon, and Big Budget
OF Business Opened.
The Garbage Ordinance Passed its Sec
0nd ReadiDg-Dr. ThorntOD's SAM
tary Reports Received.

The Legislative Council met yesterday
with PTe-ident MADDEN in the chair, anC
Messrs. james, Gavin, Lee, Kney, Wallace
and Graves being present.
The following annual report OF DR.. Thorn
ton was received and filed.
QUARANTINE.
Though my views and official acts for the
past two years are sufficiently pronounced or
the subject OF quarantine not to make q
description Of it at length now necessary,
deem it NV duty to bring the subject directly
before you as one of paramount Importance
to Memphis at certain seasons of the year
In my second annual report 1 recommended
that a quarantine Of observation be estab-
lished every year not later than by the first
or middle of May, and proper surveillance
exercised over all freights and passengers
from points south of this where there is rea-
son to apprehend yellow fever may exist.
The reasons for that recon mendation are
fully set forth in that report, and as my views
have undergone no change since, deem II
superhuous TO repeat them here. The fact that
no epidemic of yellow-fever developed dur
ing the past two years ID no guarantee against
its temperance in those localities where
it formerly most frequently prevailed, or
justifes in Us feelings of exemption for the
future without proper precautions. A quar-
antine Of observation, with such an inspec-
ton service as was maintained during the
past two summers, did or need net so inter
fere with commercial relations between us
and points south of us to such extent as
to give Just cause for complaint to any one
directly interested in those relations. Es-
pecially would this be true after due notice
il given that such quarantine regulations
will be instituted on and after given date
Should necessity for such preparation arise
by an existing danger without timely prepa-
ration in anticipation of it, it might be too
late to take such precautions successfully
after it has developed. Therefore, in antici-
patton of possible danger, and for the pur-
pose of allaying a sensitive apprehension not
only in this immediate community, but
in the country adjacent with which
there is constant Cuisines intercourse, l
think this precaution necessary. As pre-
liminary step on March Doth this board
adopted and sent to the National Board Of
Health, as authorized by Law, the following
resolutions:
Resolred, That the National Board of Health be
respectfully requested to place on duty at New Or
leans, and such other Southern ports as may be
deemed necessary, an Inspector or INSPECTOR
whose duty ii shall be to supervise the shipment
BY river or rail all goods, merchandise, baggage
etc, and TO advise (by cipher telegraml the reSi-
dent member OF the National Board OF Health IN
represen tative, whenever such shipments are be-
lieved to be infected or in any wise dangerous TO
the public health and that the National Board
instruct its resident member to promptly inform
this board Of the shipment OF such Injected or
dangerous goods, etc, for this city.
Resolved, That the quarantine grounds and
buildings on Presidents Island be again rendered
to the National Board of Health, for in
spection station for the enforcement of the quar-
antine ordinance OF the Taxing District, which
Of the inspection service OF the National Board.
Resotced, That copies of these resolutions and
quarantine ordinance be transmitted to the secre-
tary of the National Board of Health at Wash
ington.
These resolutions were promptly acceded
to by the National Board, and by authority
of the Legislative Council the quarantine
grounds on Presidents Island were turned
over to it, to be used as specified, this board
itself to cooperate by all means
in its power to facilitate the administration
of the quarantine and inspection service,
both by river and rail. A similar policy
should be inaugurated at the proper time
every succeeding year.
ABATToIR.
In my first annual report the establishment
of an abattoir at some suitable point below
the city, at which the slaughtering of all live
stock could be done, with the stock yards
adjacent, was recommended for considera-
ton. The came reasons exist now as then
for practical action on this important subject,
and the longer action is delayed the greater
will be the necessity for it by reason OF the
growth of the city in population, an increased
value of real estate, and as a consequence
the increased obstacles in the way of its con-
summation. The committee appointed to
confer with those interested in the slaughter
ing of live stock, and in stock yards, arrived
at no definite conclusion, and as the subject
is an important one for several considerations,
not only to those directly engaged in the
business, but as public health measure and
to those not directly interested IN the bust
ness, but residing near slaughterhouses,
it should receive your early consideration.
The advantages arising from the abattoir
system over the present arrangement of indi-
vidual slaughterhouses has been demon
strated too positively in other cities to require
extended comment here. As some of these
advantages have been indicated and argu-
ment in its favor made in my first annual
report, which seemed to meet with favorable
reception by most, if not all, directly inter-
ested, will not repeat them here, but refer
you to that report and urge upon you early
action on a subject which gives rise TO
trouble every summer and at no distant day
must be definitely disposed of. During the
past year one slaughterhouse, east of the city,
a short distance beyond its limits, was dis
it being complained of and adj
UNsANITARY HOUSES.
By reference to table of statement of work
lone it will be noted that 10 houses are re-
ported as destroyed, and so repaired during
he year, which makes total of 244 de-
troyed during the past three years. 1t must
lot be implied. however, that these 10 houses
we're destroyed as provided for in section 1852
Taxing District ordinances (Heiskell's Di-
rest, page 9S) for the destruction of sucn
houses as are found to be improper habita-
ions from a sanitary standpoint, for though
hey were condemned by the Board of
Health they were destroyed voluntarily by
heir owners. The destruction or proper
enovation OF this class of houses is an i'm
'ortsnt feature in the sanitary reformation
in 1879. Several localities in
he city have been notably improved by the
destruction OF such houses, but this work has
lot been carried far enough, as there
ire many buildings in various locali-
les which should be likewise destroyed.
This work was arrested prematurelv owing
o some legal questions arising to the or
finance which have not yet been decided by
he courts. This is an important question
or two reasons: First-It enters largely into
he general hygienic condition of the city as
purely public health measure; second, as
n act of Justice to those who voluntarily
omplied with the demands made by the
Board of Health and destroyed their houses,
nd 20 others Who ssb.Aitted to theirs being
destroyed as provided for by the section Of
he ordinance above named. There are a
lumber of houses yet standing which are
ust as amenable to the ordinance as those
being unsanitary, defective in
architecture and construction, which may be
Justly classed as public nuisances, and others
dangerous to life from freman's standpoint
nd amenable to section 135, Taxing-Dis-
riot ordinance (page 81 HsiskelPs digest).
DIR. Thornton made the following special
eport as to
UNsANITARY PROPERTY:
In compliance with your instructions, in
ompany with the health officer have ex-
mined premises No. 20 Front street with the
lew OF reporting to Its sanitary and gen
raj hygienic condition. The house is an
Id two-story frame, at present unoecupied, |
D very dilapidated condition, and not only |
but injurious TO the adjoining |
snemsnt, two-story brick house, by reason |
I the water from Its roof so dampening the |
rails OF the brick az to render its rooms |
amp and injurious TO the health of its oc-
upants. The owner OF this house has been |
uly notified as to its unsanitary condition, |
nd has been brought before the Police Court |
18th no results toward sbating the nuisance. |
n our opinion, it is impracticable to put |
mis- house In proper sanitary condition at |
easonable expenae. We therefore recon- |
lend its destruction or proper renovation as |
rovided for by section 162, Taxing-Dis- |
-icr ordinances fHaiskillfs DIGEST ua1a QSN |