El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-22

When Mayor Magoffin called the
city council to order last night, all the
members with one exception answered
to their names. Those present were
Aldermen Burton, Badger, Clifford,
Drummer Grant McDuffie and Stewart.
Absent, Alderman Ogden.
The minutes of the previous meeting
were read and approved.
Condition of Streets.
City Engineer Wimberly presented
the following report relative to the
bad condition of a number of the city
streets:
To The Honorable Mayor and City
Council, Cit yof Ell Paso, Texas:
Gentlemen:-I desire to call the at
teton of the council to the fact that
the cutters along many of our graded
streets are filed up with mud and
other debris to elevations in many
places above that of curb or sidewalk.
whereas the bottom or flow line
should be eight inches below the top
of the curb or sidewalk at curb line.
We have some twelve or fifteen
streets that have been graded Off
cially. and in many places sidewalks
and curbing have been placed, but
mud has accumulated from time to
time and it is now from three inches to
grades of some of these streets. This
is not noticeable except during rainy
seasons. as the surface of the street
is hard at other times.
This accumulation of mud has been
in progress for many years, the work
of grading most of our streets having
been done in the early nineties. The
curbing in many places along the
graded streets is entirely worthless
because of decay. and should be re-
placed on the gutter side, otherwise
it will be impracticable to maintain
the gutter and protect the adjacent
property from storm water overf1owS.
If the curbing is made available for
the purpose for which it is intended
and the cutters cleaned OF accumula-
ted mud for wiath of some four or
five feet, down to the concrete cap
ping. on the graded streets much
relief could be had. especially IN the
central and business portions of the
city. where the placing of street cross
ings is now in contemplation.
I respectfully recommend that the
council give this matter due consid-
Grafton while considering other street
improvements. Respectfully submit
ted. Geo. c. Wimberly.
City Engineer.
Alderman Clifford said there was no
question but that the cutters of many
of the streets were in bad condition,
and suggested that they. ought to be
cleaned out and put into proper shape.
He inquired of the city engineer what
the cost would be but that officer was
not prepared to give an estimate at
that time Upon motion the matter |
was referred to the committee on
streets and improvements.
The report of the chief OF police was |
ordered received and filed.
Bills Allowed
Alderman Clifford of the finance |
committee reported favorably the fol- |
lowing bills and they were allowed and !
ordered paid:
Ell Paso Transfer Co.. S25; Fire De-
partment bills. s2O4.41; Consumers !
Ice Co., 1905; Ell Paso Daily News, |
$3.50: street pay roll, S74: engineers |
pay roll, So; A. H. Parker. bill for eX-
animation of city engineers report |
on Sunset Heights. s25: G. N. Mar ,
shall. same. $25; International Light |
and Power Co.. $4O1.6S: Hulls Printing |
house. s22.5O; Star Stables. 81: Ell |
Paso county, for paupers, $301.90.
Hospital Bill Discussed.
A discussion arose as to the pay |
ment of the bill for expenses incurred |
by the pest house, and the objection
present method of keeping account of
the city patients. and the lack of def
mite knowledge as to who were really !
sent there. He thought that the city
physician should notify the city clerk I
after patient was sent
to the pest house. so that proper
record could be kept. He quoted an
instance where a man had presumably
been sent to the pest house, but upon
no record of his name
could be found upon the books of the
hospital and there was no evidence
that he had ever been an inmate.
City Physician Race replied that it
would be impracticable to at once send
to the city clerk the name of a patient
before he was admitted to the hospital
as most of the cases were of emergen-
". but agreed that the names could
be presented to the clerk as soon as
possible thereafter. and a record kept
Of them.
The bill was ordered paid with the
that hereafter this rule
would prevail. and all patients account
ed for
Warrant for Bonds.
Alderman Clifford reported that the ]
sum of S5.049.5S was necessary for the
of outstanding city bonds,
and upon motion warrant was order
ID drawn in favor of the city treasurer I
ior the purpose.
City Attorney Kemp in connection {
with a petition asking for the relin- [
luishment of a city tax title to Mrs. I
Newman, said that the matter had I
been investigated and he recommended I
hat the request be granted. 1t was {
20 ordered. 1t
A report was made by Messrs. Mar &