The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-08
Mayors Annual Report.
MAYORS OFFICE,
SAvANNAH, GA, Jan. /, 1892.

ceipts and expenditures of the city govern
ment from Jan. TO Dec. 81, Of each year OF
his term OF Office.
In compliance with said ordinance sub
nit herewith for your information said re-
port for the year 1891, and also statement
OF the financial condition of the city with
reference to its bonded Indebtedness. The
report and statement are verified by the re-
ports of the city treasurer and of the sink
ing fund commissioners, published here
with.
Although the expenditures, in some in
stances, ran over the budget fixed for the
departments for the year, which excess
could not be prevented owing to extra ex-
penses unlocked for at the time of the pre-
paration Of the budget, and which could not
be avoided, the public service has been
economically conducted, and it is matter
of satisfaction to note the cash balance re-
manning on hand at the close of the year.
The report OF the treasurer, carefully item
ICED, showing the receipts from every source
and expenditures In every department,
clearly proves that the revenues of the city
were promptly collected and its expendl-
lures carefully looked after. The annual re-
ports of the city officers, giving in detail the
transactions of the departments during the
year, will be published, as also other statis-
tics Of public interest, in the yearly city
book, known as the mayors report for 1891.
The departments including the board OF
health, streets and lanes, police, fire, water,
etc.-haye heen properly managed by the
officers in charge, and efficient service has,
in consequence, resulted with much benefit
to all. The following references and recon-
mendations in regard to important points
connected with the service are made and
submitted for the information Of the public.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
An examination of the treasurer's report
will show that this account embraces the ex-
penditures for Laurel Grove cemetery, sala-
ries of the city physicians, donations to hos
pitfalls, expenses of the sink department,
crematories etc. The total expense under
this head during the year exceeds the bud
get. This was caused by the charging Of the
running expenses of the crematories 10 the
board Of health, no provision havings been
made in the budget for said expenses, and
by the unusual expenditures alluded to
made necessary on account of small pox,
%, 1890, and did not entirely disappear until
Nov. Is, 1891.
The virulence of the disease never at any
time reached such point as to alarm the
authorities or the citizens, and was practi-
cally stamped out early in the year by the
prompt measures taken to secure the vac
cination ofall persons within the city limits
not previously Vaccinated. A strict enforce
ment of the law regulating vaccination was
at once resorted TO and results most satisfac-
tory obtained. The small pox extended
more rapidly among the colored people than
the whites. In view OF this, depots were at
once established in the vicinities mostly
populated by colored people, and vaccina-
ton was eXpeditiously carried on at these
points by physicians employed by the city
and thousands of persons unvaccinated thus
reached. In addition to these measures
visits were made by physicians from door
TO door and all persons not Vaccinated were
attended TO in this respect. The vaccna-
ton of whites was also rigidly enforced.
The city authorities were very much aided
in their object by the commissioners OF
chatham county, who provided for the vac
cination of persons in the county without
the city limits. The prompt and fearless
services of the health officer in ferreting out
cases that we're In many instances concealed
and under his personal supervision remov-
ing them at once from the city, surrounding
such removals with all sanitary precautions
possible for the prevention of contagion and
L0S spreading OF Jns disease, deserve the
commendationo of the citizens. A full his
tory of the disease, its commencement, its
progress and determination, with details as
TO expenses incurred, number of deaths, ETC.
will be found in the report of the health
officer.
LAUREL GROVE CEMETERY.
The mayor urges attention to the recon-
mendations heretofore made, and in which
he earnestly joins, looking to the selection
OF suitable place for the establishment of
new public cemetery. Laurel Grove is
nearly filled, and there are but few ayaila-
BILE lots therein unsold.
The reference made by the health officer
in his report to the menace to the public
health occasioned by the vaults in Laurel
Grove cemetery above ground, deserves care
full thought and consideration. This Gem
etery is now well in the city; many people
are living adjacent to it, and, in the opinion
OF the mayor, the utmost caution should be
exercised and prompt action taken TO pro
tect, beyond a chance and permanently. the
Inhabitants thereabout, as well as the whole
community, from sickness or contagfon that
might result from the impure air and gases
that these vaults contain, which is said TO
escape whenever the vaults are required to
be opened and may possibly escape even
when the doors of the vaults are closed.
CREMAToRIEs.
The crematories were originally built at a
cost OF nearly eleven thousand dollars 1911 :
900, The builders guaranteed that each fiIr.
mace there being two) should destroy eighty
800 cubic yards of garbage and night soil per
day, at a cost not to exceed twenty-five cents
(25c) per cubic yard. Owing toinexperienced
labor and the condition of the garbage, much
of the latter being mixed with sand and
ashes and rendered thereby almost indie
structible, the furnaces did not at first
accomplish as much as was expected OF
them.
An ordinance, was passed compelling the
separation of garbage from ashes by the oc.
cupants OF houses, so that the scavengel
carts would find the garbage and ashes
sand, ETC., properly placed in separate boxes
This, together with the employment later
on of more experienced labor, produced
better results.
The platform of the crematories was
burned Oct. u, 1891, and rebuilt at a cost o.
twelve hundred dollars $1,000. The ere
matories are now doing excellent service
and judging from their increased efficiency
it is expected that with proper management
they will soon destroy all the garbage of the
city, at a cost of less than fifteen cents l5c1
per cubic yard.
GROUND LOT RENT-CERTIoRARI CASES, ETC
The following is quoted from the report o
the city attorney:
1.-THE case involving the taxation OF tn,
lots commonly called ground rent lots
has been determined by the superior court
and validity OF this taxation has been fully
and emphatically sustained.
"The injunction suit brought by the Yer
non Shell Road Company against the city
has been determined in favor of the shell
road company, and under this decision thu
city cannot remove the tollgate or take any
part of the shell road, or cross the same
with interesting streets, without first hav
ing the damages assessed. 1t will be proper
for council to determine whether 1t viii