Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-11
COUNTY COURT.
Many Bills Endorsed and Plenty OF
Petitions Granted Without
Reserve.
The PesthOuse Asks for Improvements
"A Resolution Looking to
Back faxes.

The County Court met again yesterday,
with Chairman Smith presiding. A large
number of bills were passed upon with
promptness-
The committeeman examining into the
affairs of the chairman's office were allowed
$3.50 each for their labors. They claimed
$500.
Major Meriwether, the Taxing District en-
gineer, submitted plan with specifications
for the extension OF the wing walls of the
Main and Jackson culvert. The court or
dered the work done at a cost Of not more
than 1916.
A petition was received from eighty mem
bers of the bar asking that the walls, etc. of
the law library be repaired and reprinted.
The chairman was authorized to have such
work done was necessary.
A petition from Sophia Laski asking for
a reduction of valuation Of property was
granted.
A petition from Ike A. Chase asking for a
reduction of assessment was granted.
A petition from r. r. Church for a reduc-
ton OF assessment was granted.
petition from John johnson for reduc-
ton of assessment was granted.
A petition from w. J. Polk for correction
OF assessment was granted.
OLD GAYoso PARADISE.
A petition from Mrs E. l.. Topp and
Others heirs of Robertson Topp, states that
they are owners of the old Gayeso House;
that bill was introduced in the Chancery
Court a few years ago for the collection of
the back State and county taxes; that tax
bill for the year 1860 was included in the
chancery bill. Under this bill the property
has been recently sold for taxes, but the sale
has not been confirmed. Petitioners further
show that under the acts of 1872 the L7gis-
lature only intended TO enforce the collection
Of back taxes which occurred during and
since 1865; they further show that by COM
mon consent and understanding the back
tax collector has not attempted to collect
any taxes prior to the year 1865, and he has
no taxes on his books for any years prior to
1865. During 1860 the property was in the
hands of tenants whose duty and obligation
it was under their lease to pay the tax, and
petitioners presume they did SO, but the ten
ants are now dead and their receipts are all
lost. The tax is now twenty -one years old.
They ask that the court release them from
this tax of 1860.
MORE PETITIONS.
A petition from David Botto for correction
Of back taxes was referred to the chairman
and county attorney with power to act.
petition from E. E. Elan and A. S.
Tally, road commissioners, asking for four
bridges, two across Benson's Branch on the
Chulahoma road-one opposite Benson place.
and the other opposite Bray place; one
across Hurricane on the Capleton road, and
one across Hogg's creek on the Monohan
road, not to exceed $3.50 in cost, was granted.
A petition from ]. VOORHEES, for a reduc-
ton of assessment was granted.
A petition of James S. Speed for correction
Of assessment was granted.
A petition of Reese Pritchsrd for a reduc-
ton OF taxes was granted.
A petition Of Mrs. Johanna Corbit for re-
daction of assessment was granted.
A petition of Peter Perl for correction of
assessment was granted.
A petition of Doyle Parsons for a correc-
ton of assessment was referred to the justices
of the Sixth civil district.
PEsTHoUSE
S. Ii. Brown, physician of the pesthouse,
reported for the quarter ending March 31si:
ia admissions, 4S deaths, IS discharges, 81
yet in the house. OF this number a good
many have been cases Of malignant small
pox, a still larger number cobAuent. In
addition TO this numbers of cases have never
been discovered by the health authorities
until the disease was far advanced, and in
consequence n good msny have died the
first "a, 48 or - hour5. Quite a nuinber also
have been small children and persons ad-
vancei in years, in whom mortality is
always larger. DR.. Brown suggests the i'm
mediate construction at the pesthouse of a
bathhouse and laundry. To wash clothes
now it is necessary 10 build fire in the yard
and place upon ii IN ordinary wash-pot.
The bed clothes OF smallpox patients ought
to be changed every four or five DAYS, and
to wash the bed-clothes and clothing for
thirty patients in this manner is a serious
inconvenience. Cleanliness at the time Of
discharge from a pesthouse is absolutely
necessary. The prevailing opinion that
warm weather will dissipate smallpox con-
tagion is entirely falacious, and while the
doctor hopes differently the disease may
continue through the summer.
The pesthouse bills were reported at
S150S "A George Schmierer, cook of the
pesthouse, was allowed S35 per month. On
motion, E-quires Galloway, Winters and
Elliott were appointed committee to ex-
anime into the propriety OF allowing S. H.
Brown, pesthouse physician, extra compen-
sation for services during the prevalence of
smallpox.
LUNACY INQUIsITIoNs
Various bills of cost for holding inquisi-
tions of lunacy, on Recorder Haddep, were
referred to the county attorney, to ascertain
whether he had any authority to hold such
inquisitions.
ASSESSMENT CHARGES.
The mmittee composed of Esquires Hole
man, Bledsoe and Galloway will submit the
following assessment charges to-day: Circus
tax raised from $50 to $3.50; artists and pho
tographers, from Sl2 90 to s25; brokers,
others than real estate, from $500 TO $1,000;
variety establishments mot theaters), from
SO to SIS per month.
BLEDsoE's BLAST.
Esquire Bledsoe offered the following:
"WnEREAs, There was, according to the re-
port of c.. Wetherford, State and county
agent for the collection of back-taxes about
two years ago, the amount Of 100000 due
the State and county on property mostly in
the old city of Memphis; and, whereas, ac-
cording to the report of the receiver of the
extinct municipality of Memphis, there is
due on the same property the sum of 81 $780,
900; and, whereas, the same property is in
debted for taxes to the Taxing District Of
Shelby county, Tenn, in the sum of S1l3,000
which aggregated sums in many instances
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