• Disease Control Measures: Austin City Council enacted an emergency quarantine against people traveling from infected areas, appointing four quarantine officers at $3 per day to enforce travel restrictions.
• Health Department Created: The city established a Board of Health with five doctors, including a designated City Physician, to oversee public health efforts during what appears to be a disease outbreak.
• Public Health Funding: Council allocated $300 (significant money at the time) to purchase disinfectants for disease prevention and sanitation purposes.
• Community Involvement: A Health Inspector position was created with funding coming from voluntary citizen contributions rather than city budget, showing public commitment to addressing the health crisis.
Full Transcript
Called Meeting of City Council Austin, Texas, Aug. 20, 1878. Mayor N. E. Gress presiding. Roll Called. Present Aldermen Grous, Brooker, Millett, Metz, Platt, Shelton, Strong & Vaughan - 8. Quorum Present. The object of the meeting was stated to be the Discussion of Quarantine and other Sanitary measures. Remarks were made on the subject by Drs. Hooten, Dut Tabin, Cluff, Matthews, and Bibb and by Mr. Eugene [illegible] a majority of whom favored immediate Quarantine and rigid enforcement of the Sanitary Ordinances. Mayor De Gress stated that he had been appo-ed to quarantine up to the present but as two persons had been known to sue, the city from infected points, he was now in favor of quarantine against individuals. Alderman Millett offered a resolution requesting the Mayor to issue his proclamation establishing quarantine against all persons coming from an infected point and authorizing the appointment of four Quarantine Officers at a salary of $3.00 per diem. Resolution read 1st, 2d and 3d times & passed under a suspension of the rules two thirds of a full council voting in the affirmative. His Honor the Mayor nominated as a Board of Health Drs. P. M. Swearingen, T. D. Hooten, G. F. Masselberg and G. E. Roach with Dr. P. H. E. Bibb City Physician as President. On motion the nominations were unanimously confirmed. The Mayor also nominated Mr. J. E. Allright as Health Inspector with the understanding that he should receive his compensation for services rendered from voluntary contributions of citizens as provided for under resolutions adopted by a meeting of citizens on Aug. 13, inst. On motion Mr. Aldright was confirmed by the council Resolution Appropriating $300 for purchase disinfectants. Read first and the rules
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suspended and the resolution placed on its second reading by the following vote. Yeas Aldermen Brow, Brooker, Millett, Metz, Platt, Sheehan, Strong & Vaughan, 8. Nays none. Read second time and on motion, the rules were further suspended and the resolution passed to its third reading by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Brow, Brooker, Millett, Metz, Platt, Sheehan, Strong and Vaughan. 8 - 8. Nays none. Read third time and on motion passed by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Brow, Brooker, Millett, Metz, Platt, Sheehan, Strong, and Vaughan. - 8 8 J Nays None. On motion the Council adjourned. Approved Oct. 7, 1898 L.M. Bradley, City Clerk