Austin Ends Quarantine After Doctor Approval
• Quarantine Lifted: City Council voted unanimously to repeal a quarantine that had been in place since August 20, 1878, effective October 27th at 4 p.m.
• Medical Consensus: Three doctors (Biff, Royth, and Nisselberg) advised the council it was safe to end the quarantine, giving officials confidence to proceed.
• Cost Savings: The city had employed four quarantine officers at $3 per day; ending the quarantine would eliminate these positions and associated expenses.
• Quick Action: The council suspended normal procedural rules to fast-track the resolution through all three required readings and pass it in a single meeting.
Full Transcript
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Called Meeting of City Council Austin October 26, 1878. In pursuance of a call by Aldermen Brooker, Heitz, Raven and Sheehan the council met at 2½ P. M. G. Crow Mayor Pro. tem. presiding. Roll called, Present Aldermen Heitz, Raven and Sheehan. Aldermen Raven moved a call of the Council. Call sustained and the Marshal dispatched to summon absentees. Aldermen Brooker, Millett Strong and Caughan answered to the summons. The Mayor pro. tem. stated that the object of the meeting was to discuss the propriety of repealing a resolution of the City council adopted August 20, 1878 establishing quarantine. At the request of the Council, Drs. Biff, Royth and Nisselberg expressed their opinions with regard to the advisability of raising the quarantine and all considered that it would be quite safe to do so at this time. The following resolution was then introduced by Alderman Sheehan. Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin. That a resolution adopted at a called meeting of this council August 20th 1878, authorizing and empowering the Mayor to establish an effective quarantine and employing therefor four officers at a salary of three dollars per day, be and they same is hereby rescinded; and that all officers now engaged as quarantine officers be immediately notified of the passage of this resolution. That this resolution be published and take effect from and after four o'clock P. M. October 27, 1878. Read first time and on motion the rules were suspended and the resolution
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placed, on its second reading by the following vote. Seas. Aldermen, Brooker, Merllgtt, Moatz, Raven, Sheehan, Strong 2d Vaughan Jays. None. Read second time, and on motion the rules were further suspended and the resolution placed on its third reading by the following vote. Seas Aldermen Brooker, McGillett, Moatz, Raven, Sheehan Strong 2d Vaughan. Read third time and on motion passed by the following vote. Seas. Aldermen Brooker, McGillett, Moatz, Raven, Sheehan, Strong 2d Vaughan On motion of Alderman Raven the foregoing resolution was ordered to be published in the Daily Democratic Statesman, the State Gazette, and the Bexar Capital. On motion the council adjourned Approved Dec. 2d 1878 L. M. Bradley City Clerk.