Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-01
QUICK WORK.
The City Council Rushed Matters
Lively Last Night.
The Board of Health was Present in
Full Force-They Got Some
Concessions.
The Hyde Park Street Railway Ordinance
Passed-The Citys Electric Lighting.
Bills A.lowed-New Streets.

The gentlemen of the city council were
comparatively prompt in arriving at the
council chamber last night.
Before the body was called TO order
there was some desultory discussion re-
garding the improvement on the floor of
the hall since the new spittoons were
purchased, the necessity for a health
officer for the city in spots. and the latest
Developments IN the city's great artesian
we'll on Tucker Hill.
The hands of the big clock indicated
7:40 when Mayor Smith took his chair
and called the council to order.
Call of the roll disclosed the presence
of every member except Alderman Day.
The city secretary, Henry Early, read
the minutes of the previous meeting and
| they were approved.
The chairman of the finance commit
tee, MIR. Martin, reported that his COM
| mittee would be able to report on the
| rate OF taxation for the coming year at
| the next council meeting.
The claims committee recommended
| payment of S4l6.S1 to p. b. Binyon for
| coal for the waterworks. Allowed.
| The street and alley committee, with
regard to The Bessie street petition, re-
| commended granting same, provided all
the property owners have signed and the
Union land company furnish gravel free
| of charge.
! Mr.. Nies explained that this was
section of road calculated to lead in a
direct line to Handley, five or six miles.
| The matter was referred to the street
and alley committee and city engineer to
secure an estimate of cost, and to report
at the next meeting of the council.
On the petition of Nichol street prop
erty owners the street and alley commit
tee reported favorably. 1t is for the
grading of one block. This went to the
city engineer to furnish an estimate of
cost and report at the next council meet
ing.
The following was read:
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council:
GENTLEMEN-Upon the petition of the
physicians to enforce the ordinance Gre
ating health board Ordinance p. 1l3,
Art. 76) we beg to report as follows:
l. We believe the enforcement of any
law so long as it is unrepealed Is minis
terial and not a discretionary matter,
and that we have no more right to vio-
late this ordinance by refusing TO enforce
II than our executive officers have, and
that to do so is bad policy. 1t should
either be repealed or enforced.
2. Sanitation and sanitary measures,
and precautions are matters about which
our physicians are familiar, and we be-
lieve that they understand what they are
asking for, and that they can appreciate
its necessity more keenly even than we
can.
8. The health department should
business basis.
4. We therefore recommend that this
petition be granted and that said ordi-
nance creating health board be en-
forced at the next regular meeting of the
council by appointing the officers therein
mentioned. The ordinance referred to
provides for health board to consist of
two citizens, one health officer and the
city physician. Only the health officer,
who is the executive officer of the board
receives salary, his remuneration being
only SIS per month. This seems to US to
be cheap and efficient.
GEO. w. ARMSTRONG, Chairman.
MIR. Jackson moved that this matter
lie over till the first regular council
injecting in May, 1891.
Mr.. Armstrong desired to know the
cause of such action.
MIR. Jackson explained that the season
of sickness IN the city is now over, and
no necessity now exists for extra health
precaution. In the spring the health
officer will be in office in time to clean
the city for the summer. al will vote
for the health officer, in the spring, -
said Mr.. Jackson, "if l am alive
Mr.. Armstrong thought there was
present necessity for the health officer.
He thought the health department was
underestimate by the council. Every
other department was we'll organized in
the city. A physician estimates that in
Fort Worth there are 10, 200 carloads of
decaying matter. This may be an ex-
aggeration. You perhaps appreciate |
the health of this city. But it is ques-
ton of methods. Sewers are good |
things, but SO are schools. Yet schools |
will not run themselves if you have no |
officers. You need health officers. |
This committee is not capable of doing |
the work properly. This office provides |
for SIS salary only. If we don't en- |
force the present ordinance let US repeal |
it. We need health protection now. |
The indications are that this winter will |
be one of sickness. Unless we appoint a |
special officer for the purpose no preveu- |
Rive measures will be taken. If we |
kbnly save one life we will have saved cur |
Expenditure.
Mr.. Nicks thought that the matter of |
Expense should be considered. We can |
get along without health officer during |
khe winter. The health officer would |
bot move the garbage. We have two |
Aficient sanitary officers. They know
what is garbage as well as an NJ. D. |
There is considerable red tape about this
health officer business. II is not true we
do not appreciate the Importance of the
health department. The fact is we pay
much attention to that department. 1t
is not true that health officer prevents
all deaths. In a city of So 200 people
someone is going to die every now and
then. In the spring we may need to i'm
prove the health department.
Mr.. Martin was in favor of postponing
until spring for reasons of economy and
because the season was so far passed.
Mr.. Rail ssid if the health officer was
to cut weeds he would be in favor of it.
Mr.. Rail had received an order to have
the weeds on public places cut. and he
would not work for S75 per month. He