1856 March Council ProceedingsFebruary 25, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
L D Randall oiling hose of Fire Company No. 2
John Palmer loss on Treasury orders Madden Hollow Road contract
Bills Allowed
Farley and Rouse for Fire Hooks
Anton Gell Street Commissioner
Street Commissioner cash paid to hands
P W Crawford Recorder
March 3, 1856
Petition from A P Wood and others to extend Union Avenue as laid out and marked on the map of Woods Addition to Mineral Street
Extend Bellevue Street in said addition to intersect Union Avenue
City Engineer to make a survey and plat of the proposed extension of said streets in the manner required by Ordinance
March 3, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petition from A P Wood and others to extend Union Avenue as laid out and marked on the map of Woods Addition to Mineral Street
Extend Bellevue Street in said addition to intersect Union Avenue
City Engineer to make a survey and plat of the proposed extension of said streets in the manner required by Ordinance, south side of the street shall follow old corporation boundary
Petition signed by A Yager and others condition of Cooler Avenue at the bridge near the intersection of Eagle Point Avenue
Report from the Treasurer
Orders paid out
Remaining in the Treasury
General Fund
Wharfage
Interest
Report from the Marshal, Petition fo H W Sanford and others
Wooden buildings on block between 2nd and 3rd and Main and Locust
March 3, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Report from the Marshal, Petition fo H W Sanford and others
Wooden buildings on block between 2nd and 3rd and Main and Locust
Petition signed by all property holders in the block except one
Peter Kiene Marshal, by W C Mace, Deputy
City Attorney to draft an ordinance with the prayer of the petitioners
Complaint of John Quinn
Condition of Lot No. 81 corner of 1st and Locust on City Plat, owned by John Quinn, to need immediate filling up
Resolution
Resolved Lot No. 81 be filled up and raised
March 3, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Committee on Claims Report
Bill of L D Randall for oiling 500 feet of hose
Foreman of Fire Company No. 2
Bill was cheap, required more labor due to bad state of the hose
City Attorney draft of a deed to the Jones Street Harbor Company
Draft of a deed under the contract with the Southern Improvement Company
Description differs as to the Northern boundary from that in the contract
Members of the Council have a personal knowledge of the land
J S Blatchley
Draft a deed in accordance with the language of the contract
School Commissioner of Dubuque County
March 3, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
School Commissioner of Dubuque County
Apportionment of the school money as teachers fund
Each child reported to this office October 1, 1855
3466 children reported
Amos Mathews
Board of Education amount of money in the hands of the City Council belonging to the School Fund
Board of Education to communicate in writing from time to time
Draft of a deed to the 7th St Harbor Improvement Company
Land North of 7th Street
March 3, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Deed be executed by the mayor and recorder and tendered to the 7th St Harbor Improvement Company
Washington Fire Company No. 1
Engine Houses for Fire Co.
City furnish them with a suitable house for the protection of their engine
Look with favor upon the laudable efforts that are making by our fellow citizens for the organization of fire companies
City is the owner of Lot No. 611 according to the city plat
Receive proposals for erecting the engine house
March 3, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Committee to provide for a market place in the 3rd Ward by widening 13th street from Iowa St to White St
Report in favor of the prayer of the petitioners, recommend the engineer to make a survey and plat of the ground
Reception of sick persons under charge of the City in the Sisters' Hospital
Such persons as not be laboring under contagious or infectious disease will be received at the price of $4 per week
March 3, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Amount of money for the relief of the poor drawn from the General Fund
Loan from F S Jesup for 6 months without interest
Female Benevolent Society, Relief Committee
Resolutions
Resolved City Attorney be requested to give his opinion on the liability of the City to provide for an support sick paupers
Resolved Engineer to resurvey a street called Charles Street, formerly surveyed by A L Brown
Ordinance providing for the opening of streets
Resolved Survey and plat of 10 feet of ground proposed to be taken for the widening of an alley between Kings and Langworthy's additions
March 3, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Resolved Survey and plat of 10 feet of ground proposed to be taken for the widening of an alley between King's and Langworthy's additions
South side of the alley, names of owners marked
Resolved Engineer to make a survey and plat of Diagonal Street with the names of the owners of the ground, amount of ground proposed to be taken
Resolved City Marshal instructed to enforce in relation to hogs running at large in the City
Proposed straightening of Main Street, diverges from a straight line near 1st street so as to intersect Jones Street
Committee to close the negotiation for the loan of $100,000 with Mr. Corcoran of Washington
Bills
Theodore Sittig for three baskets of champaign
Herman Lensck 50 keys for engine house No. 2
E M Warner paiting and repairs
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petitions
C Mason and others against the engine house on Lot No. 611, lot had been declared a public street
S S Skemp remit a fine for resisting an officer and obstructing the sidewalk
Reports of Officers
City Attorney Support of Pauper's Opinion
No liability for sick paupers exists, and the City is in no way bound to make provision for them
So far the support of paupers is an obligation resting upon the government, provision is made for them by the laws of our State.
Taxes are collected and officers are selected, whose duty it is to see that the means provided by taxation for the support of the poor are properly expended for that purpose
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Reports of Officers
City Attorney Support of Pauper's Opinion
City Charter contains no allusion to paupers or their support
The relief of the poor is a duty of certain Township and County officers by the statute of the State
It is the duty of the City Council to guard the health of the City
Provide a place where a man affected with a contagious disease could be placed so as not to endanger the health of our citizens
Notify overseers of the poor that the City will not longer take charge of the paupers
Marshal amount of monies collected by him for January and February 1856
Recorder report amount of orders drawn on the treasury
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Report amount drawn on the treasury
Engineer report, extension of Union Avenue and Bellevue street in Wood's addition to Mineral Street
James Potter Engineer
John Blake petition remonstrating against the extension for injury to his property
Venire to the Marshal summon a jury assess damages to Blake's property
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Report from the Engineer in reference to the procuring of ground in the 3rd Ward for a Market Place, accompanied by a plat of the ground proposed to be taken for the widening of 13th Street
North two fifths of Lot No. 448 and Lot No. 454 suitable ground for a market
survey of ground for widening 13th street
market house in the center of public streets has proved so much of a nuisance and inconvience in cities
sidewalks are mere alleys
filfth accumulates and sanitary regulations fail
Recommend five lots be bought by the city on the corner of Iowa
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
purchase lots for market house
Block on Iowa Street because it is vacant
James Potter Engineer
Attorney file a petition to the District Court of Dubuque County making application in the manner printed in Section 9 of the amendment to the Charter
January 13, 1855
North 2/5 of Lot No. 454 and Lot No. 448
plat of ground proposed to be taken for the widening of an alley between King's and Langworthy's addition
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Venire to the Marshal to summon a jury to assess damages caused by widening the alley
Reports of Committees
Committee on Claims
Bills for work on Fire Engine No. 2
Protection Fire Company No. 2
price charged for work exorbiant
H Jensch bill allowed
Contract between John Palmer and the City
work done on Madden Hollow Road
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Bill for champaign wine, private transaction
Committee on streets
planking of 7th street extension
Board of Directors of the Dubuque Harbor Improvement Company, 7th St filled up by them
planked with a good double plank
Contract drawn up in a loose manner
City has no particular need of this street at this time
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Bill of W H Robbins for lamp posts
one post short of the number included in the bill
Post in front of the Epsicopal Church was taken up by the Gas Company in order to repair the pipes
Committee on Parks
Petition of J P Farley and others convert the graveyard into a public park
Report that Congress in 1853 passed an act granting to the City Council the right to dispose of the land in question as follows
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Committee on Parks
Petition of J P Farley and others convert the graveyard into a public park
Report that Congress in 1853 passed an act granting to the City Council the right to dispose of the land in question as follows
Section 4 July 13, 1853
places for recreation to the inhabitants of a crowded city, public health
The chief attractions of London and Paris are their beautiful public grounds and monuments
Champs Elysees
Bois de Boulogne
Gardin des Tuileries
Versaillis
St. Cloud
St. Germain
New York has recently purchased a "central park" containing 776 acres
Artificial lakes
Boston, Philidelphia, and Baltimore public grounds
St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Galena public squares
Dubuque (a city of magic growth) located on the west banks of the great Mississippi in the center of the richest lead mines
scenery, the most beautiful, diversified by prairie, grove, bluff, dale, and rock containing a population of 15,000 inhabitants
(and will doubtless increase within five years to 50,000) is entirely destitute of a public square
neglect and stupid indifference
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Committee on Parks
Petition of J P Farley
Great land holders within the city limits and in its immediate vicinity who purchased land at government prices, find themselves almost millionaires, not one of whom have donated land to the City
Petitioners J P Farley, H W Sanford, L H Langworthy, J H Emerson, J W Finley, George W Burton, and Barney, Scott and Co
slip of ground on the South Side now in possession of Bishop Loras
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Committee on Parks
Petition of J P Farley
public park 50 acres of land
Old graveyard declared a public square
Removal of graves ordered before May 15, 1856
Committee on schools
Board of Education, speedy organization of schools
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Board of Education indefinitely postponed the examination of teachers
Board act with entire independence of the Couincil
amount of money to be used for school purposes
School Fund had been used by the Council for other purposes
Communicate in writing from time to time any desire the Board of Education may have to purchase or exchange real estate for school purposes
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Board of Education
Resolution
Resolved construction put upon the paver and duties conferred upon this Board by the Ordinance for its organization
No prospect of effecting anything for the establishment of public schools in this City by anything this Board can do
Section 2 Amended charter of the city page 15 of the acts of last general assembly
Common Schools in the District, payment of teachers and supervision of schools
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Board of Education
City Council can authorize the Board
Duty of the City Council to provide school houses
Resolution
Whereas the Board can effect nothing for the establishment of public schools and indefinitely postponed the examination of teachers
Resolved that the Ordinance organizing the public schools be repealed and the members composing the Board of Education be discharged
An Ordinance repealing an ordinance to establish a Board of Education and to define its duties
An Ordinance to establish a Board of Education and to define its duties
March 10, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Ordinance to establish a common standard level for the City of Dubuque
Ordinance creating the office of City Auditor and defining its duties
An Ordinance to repeal a certain ordinance against wooden buildings
Ordinance to prevent the erection of wooden buildings in the Block bounded by 2nd and 3rd streets and Main and Loctust streets
Resolution
Whereas trespasses Barney Cut island
Resolved Engineer investigate damage
Election of Members of Board of Education
1st Ward
J J E Norman
2nd Ward
James A Reid
3rd Ward
Henry A Wiltse
4th Ward
F E Bissell
5th Ward
S M Case
Bills Allowed
M McNamara shroud for pauper
Sisters Hospital Board and attendance
F Sherman levee
March 18, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Communication from George W Jones and W W Corcoran of Washington
$100,000 loan
fuller information and explanation in regard to the debts and finances of the city
Committee appointed to close the negotiation
March 24, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petitions
Jacob Brown allow him the sum of $1500 as compensation for the loss of a mare killed by falling into the sewer on 14th Street
W J Kelly and others establish the grade of 14th street west of Bluff Street
James Rowan and Henry Miller remonstrating against the taking of ground owned by them in the 3rd Ward for Market purposes
Marshal procured fire hooks and ladders and wagon for Fire Department
March 24, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Communications
A Levi resignation of the office of City Auditor
Engineer Report in relation to Lot No. 611
C Mason against placing a building for the accommodation of a Fire Engine on Lot No. 611 old town on the ground that said lot was a public street
April 30, 1849 petition of T Mason and C Mason
May 14, 1849 lot as continuation of 4th Street
Recommend that the street be vacated and the lot used for building a house for the fire companies or any other public building
street terminates at the bottom of a steep bluff impracticable
March 24, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
City Engineer Report establishment of a Datum Point from which the grades of the city would be established
Durable Monument be placed in the public square on Locust St between 6th and 7th street
All grades shall refer to this monument
Recommending change in the location of Madden Hollow Road, straighten the road so it passes through the land of John Simpson
Declared a Public Highway
Plat of the continuation of Main Street in a straight line from 1st to Jones Street as instructed by the Council
Jones Street Company
Report of Special Committee to correspond with the parties who have taken the $100,000 loan
March 24, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Report of Special Committee to correspond with the parties who have taken the $100,000 loan
George W Jones and W W Corcoran of Washington City
An Ordinance amendatory of an Ordinance to furnish the City of Dubuque and the inhabitants thereof with water
January 15, 1855
S S Skemp asking for the remission of a fine
obstructing the sidewalk and resisting an officer
To recommend a remission of the fine would not only be bad precedent but would be injudicious and highly improper
Best not to disturb the verdict of the court in the case of the said petitioners
Communication H A Wiltse on part of the Board of Education
opportunity to purchase the North Middle 5th of Lot No.
March 24, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Communication H A Wiltse on part of the Board of Education
opportunity to purchase the North Middle 5th of Lot No. 447 adjourning the lot owned by the City in the 3rd Ward
Legal proceedings to recover the south 42 feet of Lot No. 602
sold under a mechanics lien for the sum of $212.75 to John Buesuoye and that the money paid by him be returned with interest
School lot
Return of the money to J Bussaye sale of the lot in the 1st Ward
Communication from the recorder
Investigate the truth of the charges against an officer of the City
column of the Express and Herald
Resolution
Resolved Engineer to make a survey and plat of the island property of the City
Resolved paving and macadamizing of the block on Clay Street between 6th and 7th streets be added to the contract of A McCann
March 24, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Resolution
Resolved paving and macadamizing of the block on Clay Street between 6th and 7th streets be added to the contract of A McCann
Resolved Attorney to prepare an ordinance for the regulation of weights and measures for the city
Ordinance to prevent horses or other animals attached to vehicles from standing in the streets unattended by their owners unless unhitched
Ordinance to prevent racing within city limits
An Ordinance to repeal a portion of an ordinance entitled An Ordinance to license auctioneers and regulate auction sales
An Ordinance to prevent the selling of indecent publications
An Ordinance concerning game
Resolution
Resolved Street Commissioner best plan for carrying of the water between 8th and 10th and Main and Jackson streets
March 24, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Resolution
Resolved that the auctioneers of the city be authorized to sell at public auction horses, cattle, or other live stock on 7th street between Clay and Jackson
Resolved grade of 7th street be changed so that the water will run into the inner slough
John Palmer allowed percent on the amound Madden Hollow Contract for loss on City Scrip
Bills Allowed
C Vanderlich making wagon for fire hooks and ladders
P Lewis cistern boxes
Weisbeck and Huber coffins and corpses to graveyard
An Ordinance to establish and dedicate a public square
March 31, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Petitions
B Smith and others condition of sidewalk on Clay Street between 6th and 7th streets, almost impassable
Report of Engineer
Jones Street Harbor Company contract
Spirit of the contract has been carried out by the company
Severity of the weather
March 31, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Report of Engineer
Jones Street Harbor Company contract
Spirit of the contract has been carried out by the company
Severity of the weather
deposited sufficient material to complete their contract, as to rip-rap protection, as well as the requisite stone to furnish the paving
Cannot see a shadow of a doubt as to the ability and willingness of the Company to comply strictly with the contract
James Potter Engineer
March 31, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Report of Engineer
trespasses on city property
upper part of the middle island
Dubuque Harbor Improvement Company excavated a considerable quantity of material
banking upon the levee
Opening known as Barney's Cut
dredge boat
Large quantity of earth has been removed on the ground claimed by the city above 7th Street
damage to the city
James Potter Engineer
Attorney to serve a written notice to the Company forbidding them to trespass further
Report of Street Commissioner
Water on Clay street in the vicinity of 9th and 10th streets
establish grades
March 31, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Report of Street Commissioner
Water on Clay street in the vicinity of 9th and 10th streets
establish grades
Clay to Main Street and on Clay from 8th to 10th street
warer carried off
G Blocklinger
Total amount remaining in the treasury
An Ordinance regulating the weights and measures
Bill of C Vanderlich and Co work on the hose carriage of Fire Co No. 2
Draft of a deed to the Jones Street Harbor Company prepared by the company and offered the following Resolution
Resolved Mayor and Recorder execute the deed
Straightening of Main Street
Jones Street Company
Market purposes
March 31, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Report of Committee on Charges Against Recorder of malfeasance in office made in the Express and Herald
Charges against P W Crawford
Committee fully acquit Crawford of charges in view of all evidence
collected a large amount of money and paid scrip of the city into the treasury in lieu
received as part pay for his salary
scrip received for licenses, cemetery lots, taken in absence of the Marshal
March 31, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Communication from George Zumhof against the taking by the City of a strip of ten feet of ground owned by him for widening of an alley in King's addition
Engineer to make a survey and plat
F E Bissell on the part of the Board of Education
Resolution place at the disposal of the board the sum of $10000 for the erection of a school house on the north 2/5 of Lot No. 447
Contract between the Harbor Improvement Company and H Jordan and A Jordan for paving the 7th St Levee
John Palmer Madden Hollow Road Contract
An Ordinance to punish offenses against public morals and decency
Resolution
Resolved Marshal fill all graves in the old graveyard which may be opened for the purpose of removing the bodies
Judges and Clerks of Elections
1st Ward
Ed Keas, Hugh Treanor, Thomas Hanon, Hugh Lammer
March 31, 1856
Shields, McNamara, Curran, Samuels, Spottswood, Ham, King, Nightingale, Pelan, Quigley, Connel
Judges and Clerks of Elections
2nd Ward
P Fanning, Joseph Gehrig, John W Clark, O Rothlander
3rd Ward
J H Emerson, I N Higbee, William Vanderen, A Cain
4th Ward
L L Wood, A McDaniel, J L Everett, G R Foster
5th Ward
Anton Heeb, T Hurlbut, R McKinlay, John Rhodes
Bills Allowed
T Sherman ring stones on levee
C Perry rent of building for protection fire co no. 2
J Gehrig boarding prisoners in calaboose
L Glas
T Smith work for Street Commissioner
M Taller
J Pagel
Sam Elmer
April 8, 1856
City Sexton Report for the month of March
total number of deaths for the month
Intrusion of Henry Kroll in the cemetery by digging graves without sexton's leave