Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-21
WORK OF THE COUNCIL.
OBSTRUCTION OF THE QUARAN-
TINE ANCHORAGE GROUNDS.

Present Quarantine Statton-Ine san
ftary Commissioners Recommend th'
Selection Of n New site - ImPrOvins
the Fire Service - War on tho BIZ
Posters.
The City Council met last night in The
Mayors office, the improvements in inc
Council chamber still being incomplete
There was a full attendance of Aldermen
in the city. The chief matter OF interest
was the report Of the Health Officer IN
regard to the obstruction of the quaran-
tine anchorage, forwarded by
the Board of Sanitary Com
missiouers. The government work IN
the river in the vicinity of the quarantine
station. and the construction Of jetty
westward from the island upon which the
buildings and wharves are located, 1t is
claimed Is causing the obstruction OF the
channel heretofore used as anchorage
grounds for vessels subject to quarantine,
and viii in a short time neceesltate the
abandoning of the station. This report OF
affairs was made a matter Of inYestiga-
ton by the Health Officer. The gov
eminent work was inspected
and found to consist OF
a ietty sunk for the purpose of deepening
the main channel, directly across the an
chorage grounds, totally closing this long
used passage into the river.
The Heath Ofiicer's report and recon-
mendatons were submitted to the SAM
tary Board, and such portions as related
to the quarantine station were forwarded
to the Council. "From information
received, l am able to state"
the report goes on to say, chat the in
tention of the United States Engineering
Department is 10 push the work OF closing
the channel during the summer until the
lefty reaches the height of five feet above
low water mark. AS long as the present
anchorage gives water sufflcient TO
allow vessels to unballast at the
Wharves, such vessels when leaving
have to 20 seward around the oyster
bed shoals in order to reach the river
feel assured that the jetty will bring
about a rapid shOaling of the anchorage
which, even at best, was always cramped
as to width, and that will necessitate the
abandonment in the very near future of
the station altogether. 1t is necessary
for Inc TO urge the absolute neces-
sity for keeping up the quarantine
wharfage, where vessels from infected
and suspected ports and ATTITUDES will be
able to discharge their ballast. For the
present, perhaps during the remainder of
the year. the station can be used. The
establishment quarantine wharfage and
buildings is slow and expensive work, and
If my opinion regarding the rapid shOaling
of the present anchorage consequent upon
the construction of the ietty between the
oyster bed shoals and Turtle Island be
correct. IL hehOOves the Sanitary Board TO
make such recommendations to the City
Council as will insure the port uninter-
rupted facilities for unballasting and
placing in a sanitary condition all vessels
arriving from infected and suspected ports
and ATTITUDES. in order that the health of
the community will not be jeOpardized
nor portion of the city's commerce stag
mated"
In closing his report the Health Officer
suggests that proper site for new
quarantine station be sought at once, and
that If the government work should, as it
certainly will, necessitate the aban-
dOning Of the station, and this
work is looked upon as established,
that the government be petitioned
through the Congressional representative
of the district tor indemnity tor loss or
the construction Of a new station.
The Sanitary Board in indorsing the re-
port recommended that the Council take
immediate action for providing new
station.
The report was referred to the Joint
committees on Health and Cemetery and
Harbor and Wharves. The question is an
important one 10 the city. The location
OF new station is a difficult matter and
not easily 10 he accomplished.
The question of prvy vaults and sinks
was again brought before the Council by
petition signed by a large number Of
citizens, asking for a remedy for the pre-
sent ordinance, the enforcement of which,
1t Is claimed. is a burden to the city.
The npfIfipu Of the uraan frropapc for 70.
lief from unlicensed competition, referred
TO the Committee on Market at the last
meeting Of the Council. was returned
with the Endorsement of the committee
that the tax ordinance fully
covered the matter. The committee.
however, recommended the strict enforce
ment Of the ordinance, and that the Mar
shall inspect all green grOcers' licenses,
and II any green grocer be found doing
business without license that he be pro.
ceeded against under the law. A copy of
the report was ordered to be forwarded to
the Marshal for his guidance.
The Street and Lane Committee de-
clared war on the bill posters by intro
duclng an ordnance providing for the
removal of all standing bill boards from
The streets and squares, and fixing pen
atty for the erection of new boards.
resolution 10y the Fire Committee
-~N'AtAAphAAh- bAf purchase VI a new uNet
cart, and horse and harness, at a cost not
exceeding 81 600, was discussed at length,
but was finally passed Alderman
Thomas opposed a further outlay upon the
Fire Department unless absolutely neces-
sary. The appropriation voted to the de-
partment ut the beginning Of the year for
its maintenance was $23, 800. over $4,000
OF that amount had been expended during
the first five months. The Alderman was
IN favor Of keeping within range of the
budget, and for that reason opposed the
resolution, not deeming IL an absolute
necessity at the present time.
The Committee on City Lots reported
the progress OF the q y Exchange i'm
prOyements, and askeU for an additional
appropriation Of $3.50 TO complete the
work, which was voted.
The Mayor reported TO the Council a
vacancy in the Board Of Port Wardens.
caused by the death of the late Charles
Van Horn, sr., and the necessary steps
were taken Tor filing the vacancy by an
election at the next meeting.
Considerable other business was dis.
posed or, among which was the adoption
OF the report Of the Committee on Ac.
counts, showing bills against the city
amounting TO Sl4,227 80.
DRILLING FOR THE PRIZE.
Sergt. spann the Winner Of the Gold
MaNul II ffta RawuhTluuv. nTu.a