The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-04-14

they compel the people living there TO
take the refuse matter out OF the city,
and he would please ask them to answer
his question.
Bolton-we have places for that pur-
pose.
The Mayor-To remove this fTcal
matter the city should own property
somewhere, where 1t should be placed.
You cannot compel man to throw
filth on somebody else's land.
Belknap-What would you do II you
had no sever
The Mayor would do the best under
the circumstances. If there had been
no river there probably would have been
no city. The doctors of the Health Board
are discussing II carefully, and they
saw the danger fiom sewerages would
be much greater by permitting this sys-
TEN of barrels or cesspools than to let
this fuoal matter into the river. Sup
pose you decide TO take this refuse mat
Ter six miles, how are you going to do
III Either enforce the ordinances all
the way or blow them out Of your
books; that Is all | would ask after you
have come to the conclusion it Is best
to prohibit this thing or say of two evils
this il the least thing. | ask this Coun-
Gil to struggle with the question. In
answer to Alderman Smye that the
dams are private property, the same
dams are erected with the permission Of
the city until the city orders them to
remove them. This report has to be
met fairly and squarely. What
are YOU going to do? IL Is one or
the other. This Is what the Board of
Health suggests and believe 1t is the
best If the Council In their wisdom
think this kind best let them say so.
French: Is that the idea that the dams
should be removed.
Hrlknap: would ask that the sug-
gestions should be read once more. The
clerk read the report IN pursuance OF re-
quest.
Bolton: If filth be permitted to go
down TO the river, when II reaches the
river AT the Arsenal street bridge, II nat
urally sinks and adds to the banks ofthe
river. and when the river falls If you are
not to have IA fit Of sickness, | am mis-
taken. As the city grows up we are
bound to have sewerage. III the people
had known that this sewerage was going
across the river and not into the liver,
but to be used to irrlgate all
that section of country across the Leon,
no doubt the matter would have gone
through. II you are going TO allow peo-
pie in the neighbOrhood of this river to
empty their refuse into the river you do
not obyiate the difficulty at all. Go to
the back Of the postoilice-it Is the most
pestilcntial spot in this city, and 1t Is
well known fact that IL has been for
wears. At the lower end of the ditch,
from down below where the Alamo ditch
gets INTO the Maverick ditch, people use
that water for drinking purposes. We
all know how siokly the people are who
stay at those hotels, and the poison from
their bodies pOllute that ditch.
French-lt was the opinion of Mayor
, when he Inspected the volume
of water that went into the river, that
the amount of sewerage would not in
.iure, in any respect, the health of the
city; that the volume of water was
enough to oXidise ii in 600 yards, before
it got below this point.
Smye-ln reply to the gentleman who
said II was more unhealthy to have cess
pools, would say that can show one
very large cesspoOl at Lewis dam, about
10 yards below Main street. 1t is ex-
posed and testers in the sun. If the
dam was removed il would take that
down to Guenther's dam, and that is in
the very portion of the city where we
get all our fresh air. Now, about
the thickly populated portion of the city
where there is no river it Is kept clean.
The sanitary police can 90 on the same
principle, that if one family can keep
cesspOol clean so can n hotel. don't
think the ordinances are strictly en-
forced. How about the water from dam
to dam? Is not that a cesspool?
Some more discussion on the point
took place, and finally the matter was
referred to the Improvement committee
in conjunction with the City Engineer.
The report of the City Engineer ask
ing for the appropriation of 500 to sur
yey and make maps of the boundaries of
various streams ms well ms the San An
tonic river and San Pedro creek.
Bolton thought the Engineer should
begin the survey at the head of the San
Antonio river. The report was laid
over.
The report of the City Engineer on
Improvement of central streets, to cost
S2lG, 100 was ordered filed.
Petitions from the sanitary inspectors
for Increase of salary, were referred to
Finance committee.
The new sidewalk ordinance was then
called up, when the Council went into
Committee of the Whole to consider it,
with Alderman Sohreiner in the chair.
After considerable discussion French
moved to refer to Committee on Petit
tious and Ordinances and City At
torney. Carried.
Committee arose and reported pro-
gress.
The waterworks ordinance to protect
the property of the company was called
up and adopted.
Belknap reported that reports of the
City Treasurer had been examined and
found correct. Also reports OF the CITY
Engineer, City Welgher and City AT
torney.
French reported on Hambleton's i'm
provement scheme, asking that il be not
adopted, and to make no further I'M
provements until well defined plan has
been made first, when the taxpayers
will no doubt vote for it,
Smye moved that the resolution be
adopted, Notwithstanding the report of
the committee.
Bolton favored the motion, and said
the people wanted drainage and i'm
proyements badly.
Spirited arguments took place, and
the report was finally adopted.
French also reported in favor of build.
Ing tool and sleeping house for the la
Dorer at the city cemetery, and an an
preparation OF 500 for that purpose.
Adopted.
Ilambleton reported an ordinance TO
define and punish gaming of any descrip-
ton, In conformance with State laws on
the same subject. Ordered published
one time and laid over.
Lockwood reported recommending
that 500 be appropriated to improve
Maverick street, by cutting out brush.
etc. Adopted.
Also, that all old, unfinished work of
the Street Commissioner be declared
null and void. and that harao ftar all -,