The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-10-19
MUNICIPAL LEGISLATION.
THB CITY GUARANTEED AGAINST IT.
Ne Cases In North Yakima, but Pre-
causionary Measures Were Neces-
sary-scheels Closed TIL the sOth.
misceiIan eous Business.

siisceiianeous Business.
At the session OF the city council or
Monday night, at which Mayor Prossel
presided, all members OF the council
were present except Redmon, who is east
After the minutes were read, Mayor
Prosser directed the attention OF the coun'
Gil to the fact that diphtheria or some
equally fatal scourge was reported to be
prevalent in the Cowychee and Natchee,
valleys and that the people OF this city
we're alarmed sufficiently to justify special
action Of the council in the matter Of
thoroughly investigating the character Of
the epidemic and Of quarantining the
town, il found necessary, against expos
ure to the disease. The health officer
had already gone TO the infected com
munity, but would not be able to return
to the city before the following day.
At the request OF the council Drs
Hill, Morrison and Heg, who were pres
ent, were invited to offer their opinion, SC
far as they could give it without personal
investigation, Of the character of the
scourge and the best means of guarding
against the spread Of the contagion with
out unnecessary embarrassment to the
community in business and social way.
DIR. Hill stated that, from reports con-
corning the effect and fatality of the dis
ease, he was forced to believe it was
diphtheria; that there was death or 90
every day that diphtherIa was more ma.
lgnant and fatal than any other conta-
gion with which we had to contend in
this climate; that DR.. Smith, of Tacoma,
now in the city, had said that diphtheria
prevailed on the Sound, and that there
was well-defined suspicion that it had
been communicated to the people Of the
unfortunate communities on this side Of
the range by hop-pickers from the west
side; that probably the best means OF
protecting this community was to estab-
fish a patrol on the highways between
this city and the valleys named With q
view to meeting people Of the affected
district who may desire to reach town
and in that way cut off as much direct
communication between the city and
the seat of the scourge as possible.
DR.. Morrison was not so confident that
that the epidemic was dlphtheria, but be.
lievcd, as did DIR. Hill, that thorough
investigation by good authority should be
made at once. If he found it to be con
tagion Of any malignant type, then quar-
antine the town as nearly as possible
close the schools and churches and keer
children off OF the streets. Our alleys are
in bad condition, said the doctor; germs
of infection are hidden in the fifth
allowed to rot there. Should an epidemic
get at start here it would not be easy tC
control it.
After thorough discussion OF the mat
ter the council obtained promise from
Drs. Morrison and Heg and conditional
one from DR.. Hill to 60 up the Cowyche,
on Tuesday, carefully investigate tn,
character of the epidemic and report tn,
result to an adjourned meeting of tn,
council on Tuesday evening.
In this connection it will be well to in
clude a report of the action OF the ad
journed meeting ON Tuesday evening
The committee of doctors reported thu
disease malignant type Of diphtheris
and advised the application of precau
tionary measures Immediately. DR.. Hes
stated that they had made thorough in
vestigation and that he and DR.. Gunr
had found seventeen cases of diphtheria
Drs. Rosser, Morrison, Hill, Heg anc
Gum addressed the council on the sub
ject OF quarantine necessity. They al
agreed that there were no cases of the
disease in the city. DR.. Rosser wa,
directed to notify the people OF the in
fected district that quarantine measures
had been applied and they must not com,
into the city during the period indicated
only on permit from the board Of health
The council, therefore, while not estab.
fishing an absolute quarantine, requested
that the school board close the school.
until the 31th inst, one week from mex
Monday. The action was taken by tn,
board in accordance with the request o
the council.
The report that there was a case o
diphtheria in this city was not true, nj
case having developed here, and it is be
lieyed that there is no imminent DANCE
from the scourge in this city. @
W. j. Dean offered to put coat of fire
proof paint on the roof Of the city hall fol
$40. Referred to committee on publ,
Improvements with power to act.
A Communication was read from 0. w
johnson. praying that the license on hi
variety show be reduced from s. to 81
night. This matter was made a specia
order oil business tor the adjourned meet
ing on Tuesday evening, at which it wa
tabled indefinitely.
City Justice j. o. Clark's Septembe
report was referred to police committee
The committee on the Sunday CLOSING
proposition reported unfavorably on tn
prayer OF the petitioners, citing a provis
ion in Hills Code which covers the case
Adopted.
The printing committee reported re
jecting THE HERALD's bid for the cit,
printing and instructed the clerk to ad
vertise for new bids. The report wa
adopted, Councilman Kuechler votin
no.
Bills 70 the amount of 1886 were allowed
Ordered that the telephone account b
Il a 4 l.