Semi-weekly herald., 1911-01-12
cry COUNCIL.

/ regular auJourneu session to consider
an ordinance calling special election
on the question OF holding a charter
convention, and also to consider such
other business as could legally be
brought before the meeting, Mayor
Goodman presided Alderman Dud.
ley was the only absent member of
the board
Health Officer Hurd appeared before
the board and reported there were nye
cases of smallpox in the pest house
and four mild cases in the city. Two
rooming houses are under quarantine
All persons residing in these houses
who would submit to vaccination had
been vacclnnted. The doctor assured
the council he was doing everything in
his power TO protect the public and
prevent the spread of the disease Con.
sidering the prevalency OF smallpox
throughout the state, Dr, Hurd thinks
Durango has no more cases than might
be expected, The mayor suggested to
the health committee that nothing be
left undone to prevent Il from spread.
ing further, and any action they might
take to this end would be endorsed by
the board In this connection the
mayor reported that some of the per.
sons under quarantine had no means
of livelihood and were wanting fol
the necessities OF life He wished to
know uh W Fnv
care and on being informed by the at
torney that the city was he insisted
the board take Immediate action in
the matter Upon motion OF Alder.
man Cummins, seconded by Alder
man Nelson. all members voting aye,
the health committee. the health Off
Ger and city attorney were instructed
to investigate the cases at once and
purchase the necessary supplies 1t
was reported to the board that a per
son quarantined in the Trumble room
ing house had been seen on the street
The marshal was ordered to determine
the name OF the individual and pro
ceed against him or her according to
law, which, it was explained, Is
fine of S25 for the frs; offense ana
$50 for the second. In default of pay.
ment of the fine the person is to be
committed to Jail
Manager Clay OF the Durango Gas
Electric company appeared before
the board and asked to have the sec.
tion In the electric wiring ordinance.
which reads. The space between the
wires on poles shall be six feet,
changed to read Two feet" as the
clause as 1t now stands would make
1T necessary for the company he rep
resents to take down every pole In
the city. He considered the six-foot
requirement by the underwriters musi
be misprint, as the two-foot space
is in accordance with the recommen.
dation of the National Electric Light
association. The matter wus referred
next meeting.
communication from Mayor Avery
of Colorado Springs, asking that
representative of the National Dry
Farming congress be appointed by
the council, was read Upon motion
Alderman Turner was appointed.
communication from h. e. Jals-
way. explaining the merits of drag
for street work was read The coun
ty commissioners have n model of the
drag and the street commissioner
was ordered to examine it and report
to the council
Relative to the petition requesting
that an election be called to deter.
mine whether the city snail have a
commission form Of government. AT
torney Ellis reported at the last elec.
tion l,527 votes were cast in Durango
for governor. AS the petition is sign
ed by 1870 legal voters there is NOR,
tnan the necessary 10 per cent and
according to the law the board mus
call the election within sixty days
Twenty days are required to make the
ordinance calling for the election Ell
lectlNe ana the clefk must publish II
in three weekly publications of a news
paper, thereby making total OF at
least forty-one days. Alderman Nelson
moved the ordinance be laid over for
consideration until next regular meet.
ing,
Alderman Morlock stated he had
canyassed the situation quite thor.
oughly aud found number Of per.
SONS who had signed the petition were
under the impression the first elac-
tion would be held at the time OF the
spring election. They agreed with
him that the petition should be with.
drawn and presented a little later so
that it could be legally voted upon
then. II the commission form does
not carry the city would be saved an
expense of nearly $1,000
l.. +. Main considered the petition
could not legally be Withdrawn. City
Attorney Ellis held that 1t could be
by consent of the petitioners If the
council had not taken any action upon