The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-18
MUNICIPAL BODIES MEET.
The Board of Aldermen Reconsider and
Refer the Meat Inspector Ordinance,
Council Decides to Build the Hospital Addi-
tiOn and Awards the Contract - The
Smallpox Rapidly Disappearing,
THE LOWER HOUSE.


Communication from the Health Board.
The regular meeting of the Common Council
was held last night and considerable business
was disposed of.
The Chicago st, Louis & Pittsburg Railway
Company in a lengthy communication, asked
the Council to have the grade of East street at
the point where it crosses Pogue's run raised
not less than three feet which, it was claimed,
would afford the only sure and safe method of
preventing future overfows of the run. The
company expressed a willingness to comply
with any and all reasonable regulations by the
Council, but if the grade of East street is not
changed they said that all liability for damages
must rest on the city.
A supplemental ordinance granting the Indi
ana District Telephone Company the right to
use the streets and alleys of the city in main
tanning their telephone lines was introduced by
the judiciary committee.
The following communication from DR. E. S.
Elder, secretary of the State Board of Health, in
relation to the smallpox epidemic, was pre-
sented to the Council:
We are gratifed to be able to report to you that
smallpox has virtually disappeared from city, but
one case having occurred since Wednesday last and
that in the family of Thomas Lane whose violated
our orders by sleeping in an infected bed which has
cases in infected families but we confidently believe
that the disease is fully arrested.
The communication was also signed by Dr. J.
A. Sutcliffe and DR.. NJ I. Runnels, members of
the city Board of Health.
A majority report from the finance committee,
signed by Messrs Spahr, Reynolds and Pearson,
gave it as their opinion, after careful consider
alton of the matter, that the west wing of the
City Hospital, which will cost $25, O0O should be
built. 1T will be a great advantage to our
growing city," the report stated, and in the
near future will be a matter of absolute necessi-
ty" The committee further stated that they were
OF the opinion that the proposed improvements
could be made without impairing the financial
condition of the CITY," The minority report was
signed by Messrs. Bowling and Curry, in which
the opinion was expressed that during the pres
ent year the accommodations of the City Hos
pital ample for all demands that are likely to
be made, and, in addition, the statement was
made that it was believed that the money re-
quired for the improvement could be expended
to the more complete satisfaction of our citi-
zens." In speaking upon the matter Mr..
Bowling gave as reason for his obstinate
opposition to the Improvement that there would
be developments in the next few weeks in rela-
ton to the management of the City Hospital
which would astonish the members of the Coun-
Gil. He reviewed the estimated expenditures
for the fiscal year, and in support of his minori-
ty report advocated the spending of more money
in the cleaning of the streets of the city, instead
of building the proposed addition to the hospital.
Mr.. Spahr stated that the committee had reached
the conclusion, after a careful examination
of the condition Of the city's finances, that they
would he justified in making the improvement,
which, he believed, was a necessity and was de-
sired by the citizens. Mr.. Curry opposed the
Improvement, because he believed that the City
Hospital was an institution which fostered and
encouraged vice The recommendations of the
majority report were concurred in by vote of
l6 to Z, the ballot standing as follows Yeas
harter Gallahue, Mack Moran, McClelland,
Newcomb, Pearson, Rees, Reynolds, Smither,
Spahr, Thalman and Wharton-16 Nays
Counclmen Benjamin, Curry, Bowling, Downey,
Dain o,,1I NTolf
contract for building the addition was awarded
to Peter REUTER-.
The committee on sewers recommended the
construction of a sewer from Union and Hill
streets through private grounds to the bed of
the old canal, which was concurred in
c. l.. Sharpe, the owner of the Reagan market,
on West Washington street. offered to rent it to
the city for the term of four years at the rate of
$50 month. The proposition was referred for
consideration.
An ordinance providing, in the usual manner.
for the assessment of property upon which to base
the tax levy for 1884, was adopted, under sus
pension of the rules
Sidney NJ Dyer, agent for the New Denison
Hotel property, represented that the taxation
assessed upon it is excessive. and asked redue-
ton of at least $4,000. The matter was re-
ferred to the judiciary committee.
A petition from property owners on Home and
ing for an extension of the Blake
and Noble street railway line from
the corner of Peru street and Home avenue, east
on Home avenue to Columbia avenue thence
north to Seventh street, and thence east to New
man street. A resolution was introduced pro-
viding for the extension, and it was referred to
the committee on railroads.
The action of the Council in authorizing DR..
Henthome to employ a physician to vaccinate
all persons in houses where smallpox has oc-
CURED was reconsidered, and Messrs Trusler,
Newcomb ard Bowling were appointed a com
mittee to meet with the city Board of Health to
consider what expense and what action may be
necessary for the future"
A special ordinance providing for the raising
and improving of the grade of East street south
of Washington street, and the removal of all OBJ
structions from Pogue's run was passed
The ordinance introduced several weeks ago
providing for the regulation of sales by weights
and measures was taken up and passed.