The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-06
ALDERMEN AUTHORIZE A SMALL
EXPENDITURE BY THE HEALTH
DEPARTMENT
TO ABATE sTAGNANT POOLS.
THREE OF THEM IN THE EIGHTH
WARD, WHERE DIPHTHERIA
is EPIDEMIC.
FINAL ORDERS I FOR PAVING
william A. Leg Gets the Contract
for Repairing the Fort SMELL
ine00SSBridge. :

The board of aldermen took such &C.
ton last night as will, in the opinion OF
Health Commissioner Stone, remedy
the unsanitary and contagious disease
breeding condition of that portion OF
the Eighth ward in the vicinity of the
ST. Bernard parochial school at the
corner of Albemarle and Rose streets
The matter came before the board in
the shape of a communication from
DR.. Stone.
In that communication DR.. Stont
called attention to the necessity, as a
sanitary measure, of the city taking
steps to fill three lots in the Eighth
ward in the vicinity of ST. Bernar6's
parochial school, on which pools of
stagnant water accumulate. The health
commissioner also called the attention
of the common council to the fact that
the st. Bernard school has been vol
UNFAIRLY closed by it's managers on ac-
count of an outbreak Of diphtheria
among the pupils. DR.. Stone reported
that there were approximately thirty
cases of contagious disease in the
neighborhood. The owners of the lots
which require filing are all non-resl-
dents, and although notice of the un-
sanitary condition Of the property has
been served on the agents of the own
ers, only one owner has responded. In
consequence Dr.. Stone had communi-
Gated with the legal department, re-
questing an opinion as to the power of
the city to compel the owners to fill
in the lots, and had received such
opinion, which accompanied his COM
munication. ~ e.
In substance the opinion of the cor
pofation attorney Was to the effect that
the property owners could not be
reached by criminal process, as they
were out of the jurisdiction of the city.
Neither could the agents be held re-
sponsible. The charter, however, en-
powered the common council to direct
the board of public works to abate
nuisances, drain swaf1ps, marshes ard
ponds and fill the same and to assess
the expense of SO doing on the proper
ty fronting on the Improvement or
benefited thereby. This, however, WAS
slow and awkward 9pTocess. But the
council also had the power to abate
any nuisance injurious to the public
health of the city of ST. Paul, and the
health commissioner had the right to
enter upon private property and abate
such nuisance, whether the expense
thereof could be charged to the prop
erty owners or not as an assessment.
In conclusion the corporation attorney
suggested that the council might ap
propriate q sufficient amount to enable
the health department to abate the
nuisance.
DIR. Stone, who was present at the
meeting, Informed the aldermen that
the managers of the st. Bernard school
had. consented to follow the instruc
lions of1.the healthb department in the
matter of renovating and disinfecting
the school buff ing 6, THE %hsaith de-
paftmeht, Dr., Stone said. was unwill-
ing to- permit the school to e. reopen
While the present epidemic existed, and
While theilots with their pools of stag
nant water still remained a breeding
place for conta gious diseases.
Aid Kaldunslli then offered a reso-
luton authorizing the commissioners of
health to cause the nuisance to be
abated by draining or filing the three
lots, and providing that the expense
thereof, not exceeding the sum OF Sl00,
be paid out of the general fund. The
resolution was adopted by vote OF
ten to one, Aid Lindahl casting the
negative vote, as he wanted the nom
resident property owners to be COM
PEELED to stand the expense. DR.. Stone
will consult with the city engineer ana
will receive bids for doing the work.
Comptroller McCardy sent in COM
munication suggesting that when the
board adjourn it adjourn until Oct. I,
at which time he would be ready to
submit the tax levy rate. The board
decided to adopt the suggestion.
The board of public works submit
ted a favorable report recommending
a final order for repaving Ashland
avenue with asphalt as far west as
Dale street The board passed final
order.
A resolution was adopted directing
the CITY clerk to advertise for electric
motors ard generators to operate the
police patrol telegraph system, in
place of using the present chemical
batteries. Aid. Kenny and President
BigeIow voted against the resolution
Superintendent King, OF the ponce pa
troll telegraph, recommended tine
change as an economic move.
The contract for repairing the hoor
of the Fort Smelling bridge was award
ed to William A. Lee. whose plo OF
S4514.23 was the lowest of eight that
we're submitted Aid Lindahl voted
against the resolution.
Preliminary orders were passed LOT
the paving of Nelson avenue from
Summit avenue to Western, Kent street
from Ashland to Selby avenues; Afun-
del street from Holly to Marshall ave-
nues: East Eighth street from jackson
to Broadway: Minnesota street from
Third to Tenth street.