The Portland daily press., 1885-01-20


for pole on Union street.
Of Frank Woodbury. for license as billiard
hall keeper.
NO REASON TO OBJECT.
The committee on finance to whom was re-
ferred the order of the City Council to ascer-
tain the character of the bill to be presented to
the Legislature by the Grand Trunk Railroad
Company enlarging the powers of the Allan
tic and st. Lawrence Railroad Company's sink
ing fund reported that they find no reason to
object to the passage of the order.
DIRIao HOSE COMPANY.
An order was introduced that under the di-
Eectlon of the committee on fire department and
the board of engineers, Dirigo Hose Company
Do reorganized with membership of fifteen
men. The annual pay of the fireman and
clerk OF said company shall be $50 each, and
OF the other members $25 each. This order was
referred TO committee Oh fire department.
ORDERS PASSED.
That the committee on public buildings be
instructed to place at the disposal of the SUPER
intending school committee any room in apy
public building not now occupied or in use, at
the discretion of said committee on public
buildings and under their supervision, for the
purposes, and to be- used in accordance with,
the petition of the Portland Fraternity con-
corning street boys.
That hereafter the return of the undertaksrs
to the Superintendent of Burials shall contain.
In addition to particulars now required, the
loliowlng: Name OF attending physician,
ward, residence, street. and number.
ORDINANCE RELATING TO FISH
An ordinance to amend the ordinance relat-
ing to health was given a second reading and
ordered printed. The ordinance declares that
no person shall bring into the city for sale or
shall sell any halibut, cod, haddock. hake
cusk, pollock, mackerel or sword-Gsh until
they have been cieansod OF their entrails and
such refuse parts as are harmful to the we'll
keeping of such fish, provided, however. that
such msckerel that are to be used exclusively
Tor canning purposes, and fish bait, founders
smelts and other small fish, salmon and shad
to be excepted. This ordinance passed to its
second reading and was ordered to be printed
CEMETERIES AND PUBLIC GROUNDS.
The Committee on cemeteries and public
grounds, to whom was referred the petition of
w. W. Thomas and others,-petitioning the
City Council to obtain from ths Legislature of
the State statute establishing board of
commissioners OF cemeteries and public
grounds-reported that they deemed it for the
best interests OF the city that law should be
enacted creating such a commission, to be an.
pointed by the Mayor with the approval OF the
City Council
Qute lengthy discussion followed the
resding Of the above report. Messrs Moves
and Kelsey favored adopting the recommends
tion, while the Mayor and Messrs Denison
and Hawkes. opposed it. The recommended
tion was adopted by vote of three yeas to
two nays.
The following was 'uferrsd:
ReSoteed, That committee consisting of three
from this board, with such as the council NAV lin
oe appointed to prepare such legislation and If pos
slole rocure Its enactment by the Legislature as is
necessary to establish BOARD of heal b. to change
the NIL tia law in relation to furnishing armo les
snnoyung ranges, ETC.; also TO restore the law of
1875 in relation to the election of experimenting
school committee.
ORDERED PRINTED.
New rules and orders relating to gunpowder,
were read and ordered printed.
BACK BAY NUISANCE.
The Mayor read the following report of the
committee on the Bay Bay nuisance, and 1t
vas accepted and the recommendation
adopted:
PORTLAND, Jan. 10, 1886
The committee appointed to investigate " hat
is termed "The Back Bay nuisance" and to
whom was referred a numerously signed ueti-
tion relating thereto, report that in compliance
with the order of the City Council, the Mayor
Jordan, Walter Allen, Daniel Hamblen and
Charles M. Plummer to join the committee.
With the exception of Mr.. Plummer, who was
unableto attend, all have taken an active iu-
terest in the subjects under Consideration, and
have given much valuable time and intelligent
assistance to the committee, which is appre-
ciated and gratefully acknowledged By the
members from the City Council
immediately after their organization the
committee invited public hearing in the
Council chamber. A large number OF citizens
were present, who freely expressed their senti-
ments; and, while they were far from being
unanimous in their conclusions as to the cause
it was very evident that there was at times in
many parts of the city offensive efiuvia, es-
pecially in the night time and in warm
weather, from which all were exceedingly de-
sreus to be relieved.
The Importance of the subject and the grea
interest manifested therein, impressed the
committee that they should have the counsel
OF some person of larger experience and wider
observation than themselves, and with consent
OF the City Council they invited Mr.. j. Her
bert Shedd of Providence, r. l., to visit the
city. In the selection OF Mr.. Shedd our city
civil engineer was consulted, and there was no
division in the committee.
Accompanied by Mr.. Good win and q portion
OF the committee, Mr.. Shedd visited and ex-
amlned many localities suspected of giving
cause for complaint. The maps and plans in
the Civil Engineers office were placed at his
disposal, and such assistance as could be rem
dered by MIR. Goodwin, or the committee, was
given. Mr.. Shedd's conclusions hava already
been reported to the City Council ordereti
printed and quite generally distributed.
December second, the several gentlemen not
members of the City Council, withdrew from
the committee for reasons given in their letter.
which accompanies this report.
1t is not evident that the unpleasant odors
complained of, whatever may be their source.
have been productive of disease, nor are the
committee prepared to say as the result Of
their investigation that one section of our city
is more unhealthy than another. We find no
reason for suspicion that the boast of Portland
to be an unusually healthy city is otherwise
than true.
1t would be well, however, to divide the
city into districts and tabulate such facts in
relation to disease and death as are obtainable,
to the eud that if there are localities of greater
danger to health than others, they should be
discovered and remedies applied.
The initiatory steps taken to prevent the
further spreading upon the fats of Back Cove
OF the sewage of that district provide for one
of the elements of the nuisance complained of,
bat There are others equally if not more i'm
portant, as will be seen from Mr.. Shedd's re-
port.
The city is now too large to longer tolerate
certain of what might be termed proyincialisms
of habits; the senses of sight and smell have
rights which strongly appeal for more strin-
gent laws and efficient enforcement, regulating
the construction OF privy vaults and the re.
moval of their contents.
The dumping of refuse upon vacant lots, in.
to the docks and along the shore, should moi
DO permitted, and attention should be immedi-
ately given TO the better ventilation of the
sewers and culverts.
IL being so near the end of the municipal
year, little can be done by the CITY Council
beyond correcting defects in the laws, thus
preparing the way for more effective work in
future. THIS, in the opinion of the committee
can De better done through the agency OF q
board OF health than otherwise; we would
therefore suggest that board OF health for tha
city of Portland be established and recommend
that the next City Council make liberal ap.
preparation to enable them to rectify some OF
the evils complained of.
MARQUIS r. KING,
For the Committee.
I'm Joint Convention.
Samuel h. Dyer was elected surveyor Of
lumber.
Permission was given Mr.. Sidney wv. Tbax.
ter to address the convention In support Of 8
petition of the executive committee of the
Portland Civil Service Reform Association
urging the Citv CounCll to petitiop the eCie,