The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-11-03
A HOUSE FOR SMALL POx PATIENTS.
City Fathers Decide II Wise to Have
One Ready.
@. m. Young and r. W. jackson
overseeFs of the Poor.
The Question OF Lighting Those
Monument Lamps.

The regular monthly meeting Of the City
Council was held last night. The chief
events of the evening were the election of two
overseers of the poor, and the passage Of an
order to erect small pox hospital.
In Board OF Mayor and Aldermen.
The upper board transacted business as
follows
A SMALL PoX HOSPITAL.
In a communication to the City Govern
ment, November A, 1889, this board respect
fully represented the existing need OF the
erection of o small building OF moderate cost
to be used for the isolation and care OF those
sick OF contagious diseases. A small excess
In the bids over the estimated expense pre-
vented its erection In the annual report OF
this board for the years ending February %,
1890. and February 2S. 1891, this need has
been reiterated. Such a building Is sttll
greatly needed for the care Of our poorer
classes when affected by dlphtheria and scar
latina.
In view of information received at inter-
walls through official channels since early in
September, of the prevalence OF small pox
along the Canadian border OF our State, and
the approaching season when travel between
Canada and this city will be greatly In
creased by reason Of the steamship service
between this port and Europe. the board
feels that 1t would be derillct in its duty TO
the public II 1t did not again respectfully
call the attention of your honorable board TO
the danger which Is now menacing us from
the source indicated. At no time since the
great epidemic In Canada in 1884 have we
been so liable to be suddenly confronted
with the presence of a case Of this disorder,
with absolutely no means In hand Tor Its
proper Isolation and the protection of the
community.
1t is not impossible, and within a short
rtsaan tC rnAAf fE.nN~ AAl1 IL. hat nHl
may be hastily notified that in railway or
police station there may be someone suffer-
ing from small pox and too Ill to be returned
to his place Of starting. 1t Is but the truth
to state to you that not single facility
exists in this city for meeting such an emer-
geucy. a
There were on October oath, In the
Province Of Quebec. In eight villages along
the line OF railway communication with this
State. thirty-seven cases OF small pox. There
had been in all since September 8tb, In ten
places including the city of Amqui, sixty
two cases with fifteen deaths.
What may well cause special apprehension
is the fact that during the, past few months
great numbers Of people have j0urneyed to
Canada. taking advantage OF the excursion
rates upon the railways; many of them are
still there. 1t Is to the infected districts that
many from our main manufacturing cities
have gone. They are returning every week.
1t is true that we have thus far escaped an
epidemic and have not been seriously affected
by the absence of such an isolation building,
but prudence asserts that the risk Is too great
to be carried, and II nothing higher than the
money argument be considered the small sum
saved would be many times Outweighed by
the cost Of an epidemic
The original design was to utilize the build
Ing for the care Of cases Of diphtheria aud
scarlatins, which diseases cannot be prop
erly managed among the poor and ignorant
In crowded tenements. III lfemergency arose
the rooms might be used for small pox.
This board still believes that the plans
submitted were feasible and that the build
ing should have been erected. 1t Is con-
vinced that public welfare demands such a
convenience for the care Of cases frequently
arising among the city poor, aud In the face
of threatened danger from small pox.
We are unwilling to assume the response
bility which would justly rest upon us II,
knowing the facts We do, we did not urge
this question upon the consideration OF your
honorable body.
The communication from the Board Of
Health was received and ordered on file and
1t was ordered that a suitable build
ing be constructed at cost not
to exceed $1,000, the amount to be appro-
| priated from unexpended balances. The
lower board concurred.
THE RE-vALUATIoN COMMISSION.
An order was passed. extending the term
Of Office Of the Re-Valuation Commission
three months.
THE CITY's MONEY.
The Auditor reported that the expendi-
lures for schools will exceed the appropria-
tion about 500.
The special appropriation for school books
Is expended.
Jackson school has an unexpended balance
OF about $3.50.
The appropriation for sanitarium will
about cover expenses.
The appropriation for drains and sewers
will be fully used up.
THE NINE-HoUR LAW.
Alderman McClutchy called up the order
making nine hours days labor, aud moved
its passage. The order failed Of passage.
A yea and nay vote was taken, resulting as
Clutchy; nays-Conant, Stephenson, Clark
| and Lewis.
NEW BUILDINGS
The petition of the county commissioners
| to erect wooden building at 80 Munroe
street. to be used as stable was laid on the
table till next meeting.
The petition Of James A. Martin, to erect
wooden building at 13l Lincoln street, to
be used as private stable was tabled till
| next meeting.
erect new building at 143 Newbury street,
| to be used as shed, was granted.
| The petition OF Oren Hooper to erect a
wooden building at 145 Neal street, to be
L uStu rs u uW6ltlnR was RranLeQs
| The petition Of Hattie E. Chafiu to erect
new wooden building at 81 Forest street,
| to be used as dwelling was granted
The petition Of P. F. O'Connor for IL
cense for billiard hall was granted.
THE MILL POND NUISANCE.
1t will be remembered that last May two
petitions were received by the city govern
ment. one from John +. Rand and other cit
liens. and one from Fred III. Gerrish and
i other physicians of Portland, praying for
the filling In of the flats within the limits of
Deering Park. At that time the petitions
for investigation and report The commit
tee on health now reports that they have
considered the matter and recommend that a
hearing be given the petitioners. 1t was
| vsted TO hold said hearing on November 10Th.
MISCELLANEOUS.
An order was passed authorizing the City
| treasurer TO pay to the Portland Gas Light
Company SS5 to reimburse said company for
| expenses incurred In laying pipes to supply
the lanterns around the Soldiers Monument.
An order was also passed authorizing the
committee on city lamps TO light the lamps
| around the monument when they deem Ii ex-
| pecient.
An order was passed placing Monument
Square in the hands Of the park commission
| ers.
An order was passed providing for the lay
ing out of Cove street, also for the laying
out OF Stetson court.
A petition for an electric light on Warren
street, was received. signed by ID. +. Muir
dock and others. 1t was referred.
"A communication was received from the
Maine State Board of Health. thanking the
city government for the use If their rooms
fol the meeting Of the sanitary convention.
"A report was received from the city en-
gineer In regard to the grade and lines OF
Morning street, and was ordered on file. The
engineer states that several residents OF
Morning street have built onto the lines OF
the sidewalks, and through no fault OF the
city, as the city has always been ready to
give the lines when requested. The whole
ing.
The New England Telephone and Tele-
| graph Company were granted permission TO