Council Proceedings

The August meeting . of the common council was held Monday evening. After the reading of the minutes carne the presentation of. petitions. The flrst petition was from tho Ann Arbor Schutzenbund, by Conrad Krapf, president, asking the council to appropriate from 875 to $100 to assist them m their schutzenfest to be held next week. Referred to general fuiid committee. Of H. E. Gidley, Albert Trumper and 28 others, asking that the gas lamp at thehead of 8. Ingalls street be permitted to remain there. Referred to general fund committee. A communication from Zina P. King, reciting his compliance with the rosolution of the council in raising the electric light lamp on the corner of Monroe and 12th street, to a height of 00 feet, (and by the way this light doea more service than any five of the suspended lamps in the city), and presenting a receipted bill for the same. Eeceived and placed on file. A communication from H. W. Ashley, Gen'l Manager of the T. A. A. & N. M. B. E, asking the privilege of laying pipes from the Manu spring in the west part of the city to their new water tank. lieferred to the general street committee together with the city attorney. The next document was a monster petition hearing the names of upwards of 150 of our citizens living on both sides of the river, asking that the board of health take some action to relieve them of the stench arising from and the nuisance niaintained by the slaughter houses, located within twenty rods of the 5th ward school building. This petition was turned over to the council by the board of health and Dr. W. F. Breakey, the health officer of the city, accompanied it with the following communication : HEAirn Office, July 25, '87. To the Mayor and Cornmon Conncü: Tüe board of health respectfully recommend that immediate action be taken by yonr body to secure the removal of the slaughter houses of the city, to some point farther from placee of residence, of schools and of business. For several years complaints of the odors offensive to health and comfort arising from these places- particularly in the 5th ward - have been numerous and frequent. And for the past two or three months, complaints of this stench have come almost daily, from citizens resident on both sides of the river, from those who work in the shops and milis near by, from the employés about the raüroad station, and from passengere who get on and off of trains; and in the school season from the teachers and scholars of the 5th ward school . There w also a moral feature of the case affecting the schools, aside of the afflictions to physical health and comfort. The business of slaughtering, however legitímate, is almost necessarily burtf ui if not demoralizmg to children when carried on in such proximity to schools, that the dumb animáis are driven or carried by the school yard to their death but a few rods distant, and the dead carcasses brought back by the same route. These sights, not to speak of the sounds of the dying animáis said to be heard, tend to shock the innocent and tender, and to harden and make more cruel those so i nclined. Many of these complainante seem unaware that these buildings are located within territory designated by the council in an "ordinance relative to slaughter houses," adopted November 8, 1875. And that the board of health can only try to secure disinfection and cleanliness. This is not so feasible as it may seem, notwithstanding that most of the butohers are well disposed to keep their premises clean. But the grounds tinder these buildings, and the yards adjacent, in which hogs are' kept - and sometimos fed upon the oflfal of the slaughtered animáis - is so saturated with decomposable matter as to give off offensive and dangerous exhalations even in moderately warm weather, while in the hot weather, and particulaaly at night, the stench is fearful and sickniug. This question is referred to your honhonorable body, together with the accompanying petition. First, because these buildings were located where they now are by compliance with legislation of the city government, and by assent of itfl authorities. Their removal will involve legal questions of property rights, which would have to be adjusted by appraisal, or amicable arrangement, and which your body bas entire authority to deal with. The board of health recognizes slaughtering, not only as a most unneceBsary business, but as especially needing all the protection and encouragement that the city government can give it to ensure healthy food to those who oonsume the meat slaughtered here. And we believe that a reasonable exexpenditure of publio aid, if needed, to secure the removal of these buildings, is not only legitímate, but that public sentiment would commend it as promoting publio health and comfort, and accomplishing a much needed publio improvement. That it would make more bealthful the homes of our citizens, and our city more attractive as a place of residence to others seeking homes. The removal of these buildings wonld offer in their re-construction, opportunity for such arrangements as would enable their owners to more easily comply with all necessary sanitary regulations. The fact that several butchers now use one building, provea the feasibility of an abattair, or building that all might use in common. We recommend an amicable settlement of this matter, if practicable, before a resort to the power given in the statutes. W. F. BREAKEY, Health ofBcer. July 25, '87. 75 (he Mayor and Common Council: The board of health also urgently recommend the passage of an ordinance designating some suitable place where the business of redering eoap fat, and other impure fats, and bone boiling or bone cleaning, may be carried on. One of the most offensive nuisances with which the board has to deal, arises from this business. We are not prepared to discourage the making of any necessary ingredients of soap, but we not believe it possible to carry on the business within the city limita, or near to residences, schools or business, without endangering public health or comfort. And as we are not sure of our authority to suppress the nuisance under present conditions we repectfully ask your body to locato it under the power given in the Statutes, Sec. 1737, for the "Regulation of offensive trades" (Howell.1678). W. F. BREAKEY, Health Officer. The whole matter wns referred to the following committee to report at the next meeting of the counoil: Aldermen Hammond, Ware, Martin, Mayor Smith and City Attorney Kinne. A plat and description showing the proposed extention of South Second street, for the benefit of the Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan Railway Co., was presented by Mayor Smith and referred to the general street committee. BEPOBT8 OF COMMITTEES. Aid. Swift, from committee on finalice, made the report of expenditures for the month of July: lat ward fund $ 33 62 2d " " 173 58 3d " " 70 07 4th " " 131 93 5th " " 5 13 6th " " 04 30 General street fund 49 11 General fund 616 90 Contingent fnnd 308 91 Total f 1,489 54 Aid. Allmendinger trom general fund committee reported that the committee had been unable to secure the raising of aeveral of the electric lampa in the city to a deaired height, although in the contract with the citv the Thomaon-Huston Co. had bo agreed to do, and asked that the council take aome action in referenoe hereto. After some discuaaion, Aid. Swift offered the following: Resolved, That the Thomson -Houston electric company be notified to comply with the instructiona of the general fund committee iu raiaing and locating the atreet lamps within 30 days, or payments will be stopped nntil auch changea are made. Which waa unanimously adopted. On motion of Aid. Allmendinger tbe general fund committee was authorized to remove the gaa lamp-poat at the corner of Madison and Thomoaon atreets, the same being on the sidewalk. Aid. Neithammer, from the fire department committee, made the following report: Your committee on lire department to whom was referred the petition of chief of flre department to organizo a hook and ladder company, would recommend the same, said company to conaist of the following persons: Larry Dunn. John Burna, JobnCampion, John Kenny, W. Kennedy, Sam McLaren, J. Hauaer and Fred Stein . Which report was adopted. Aid. Kearna reported to the council that the Michigan Central railroad propoaed laying a truck on the aouth fiiie of the freight depot, which would bring the traok in the atreet. The matter was referred to the street committee. A rocesB of five minutes wan then taken to allow the pólice committee time to confer. After reconvening a communication waa read from Wm. Campion, resigning his poaition as patrolman which was accepted on motion of Aid. Ware. Aid. Wines woved that we proeeed to the election of policeman in place of Wm. Campion, resigned. Carried, and the following ballots were then taken : lat 2d 3d 4th 5tn E. B. Gidley 4 5 5 4 4 AlbertPieroe 4 44 0 1 Jaaper Imns 1 1 1 3 9 Chas. Burnham 0 0 0 3 3 Scattering 1 1 1 0 1 Total 11 11 11 10 11 On motion of Aid. Ware the eleotion of a patrqlman waa deferred until the next meeting. Taking up the resignation of Aid. Seabolt, of the 4th ward, Aid. Swift moved that a committee of three be appointed to oonfer with him relativo to tbe same, which was carried and Aids. Switt, Martin and Ware were appointed. REPOIlTS OF CITT OFFICERS. City Treaaurer Sorg reported the following balancea on hand: Contingent fund, on hand $ 5,819 97 General Fund, overdraft 1,460 20 General street fund, overdraft . 193 81 lst ward fund on hand 802 51 2d " " " " 456 83 3d " " " " 962 75 4th " " " overdraft. ... 8 38 5th " " onhand 97 99 6th ' " " " 64 32 City Cemetery f'd on hand 44 82 Dog tax fund on hand 225 60 Water Works fund on hand ... 788 33 Delinquent tax fund overdraft. 1,285 07 Pontiac Street Bridge Fund. . . 2,500 00 Court House Aid Bonda 28 00 Total on hand 8,843 77 City Marshal Sipley reported the following expenditure of the poor fund for the month: 2d " 5 10 2d " 27 75 4th " 31 08 5th " 14 88 6th " 8 00 Total $ 86 81 The City Marshall also reported two arrests duriug the month. MOTIONS AND BE8OLUTION8. A resolution by Aid. AllmendiDger upropriating $25 for a crosawalk on South Main street. Carried. By Aid. Wines: Resolved, That the chairman of the sidewalk committee ia hereby iustructed to lay a sidewalk in front of the Sixth ward engine house. Carried. On motion of Aid. Swift $400 was transferred to the 4th ward fund ; and on motion of Aid. Wines $400 was transferred to tbe Oth ward fund. By Aid. Kearns: Resolved, That the name of Bowery street, in the 4th ward of Ann Arbor, be changed to Miller avenue. Also that the name of W. Catharine street, in the Oth ward be changed to Geddea avenue. AH of the above waa paseed without dissent. By Aid. Wines: Resolved, That Church street from Willard street to Hill atreet be opened, after the deeda to the right of way shall be depoaited with the recorder and placed on record. Carried. On motion of Aid. Kearns, N. J. Keyer was permitted to cut down some willow trees on Summit street, and to use a portion of the atreet with building materials. By Aid. Wiinee: Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, of which the Mayor ahall be chairman, and city attorney a member, to investígate the water works, nnd also to determine what additional means of communication by telephone, for fire purpoaes is needed; this committee to report at the next regular meeting. Carried, and Mayor Smith, City Attorney Kinne, and Alda. Winea, Ware and Martin nppointed aa such committee. Aid. Allmendinger presented the following preamble and reaolution: At a recent meeting of the Business men's asaociation of thia city, a request was unanimously adopted asking the council to Bubmit to the voters of the city a proposition to raise by taxation $5,000, to advertise the city and induce manufacturera to lócate here. Said association is compoaed of nearly all the business men and many taxpayers of the city. In response to their request be it. Resolved, That a special election be held at fireman's hall from 12 o'clock noon of Friday, August 26th, until 4 o'clock in the afternoon, at which a proposition to raiae $5,000 by taxation shall be submitted to the taxpayers of the city aaid sum to be uaed in advertising the city and in advancing tha manufacturing interests of the city by loan or bonus. The amount voted if any shall be made a fund known as the city improvement fund, and warrants may be drawn upon it by the council aa upon other funda. At the election ballots ahall be used reading. "For the tax of $5,000 for advancing and encouraging the business and manufacturing interests of the city, No." Which was adopted, and the recorder authorized to give the necessary notice, and procure'the printing of the ballots. Aid. Ware moved that the chairman of the street committee be authorized to be caused to be constructed a railing between the passenger and carriage way of the Pontiao street bridge and its approaches, of sufUcient height and strength to proteot pedstrians from injury. Which was adopted. The recoider waa instructedto notify the chairman of the sidewalk committee that a new aidewalk must be constructed on the north side of William streef, between South Main and South Second streets, on a lino with the recent survey oftliüüity engineer; also for the construction of a sidewalk on the east side of North State street, commencing at Ann streef, and running four rmls, and on the north side of East Ann street, commencing at North State street and running eight rode, the property owned by Mrs, Boudinot.' The grand finale vas produced bythe passage of the following resolution, offered by Aid. Allmendmger. Resolved, That the mayor and recorder be iustructed to oxtend an invitation to President Cleveland to stop in Ann Arbor during his western taip.