History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

299

SMALLPOX EPIDEMICS OF 1881-82
On account of the threatened prevalence of smallpox in I88I and
the prevailing carelessness of citizens to take proper precautions, the
board of health, of which John Meloy was chairman, adopted a houseto-house vaccination campaign, being, of course, backed by the common
council. At the same time vigorous measures were put in force to eradicate all filthy conditions which would naturally stimulate the spread of
any epidemic. A pesthouse was established during this period, as several
cases run their course notwithstanding all the precautions taken. When
the epidemic had abated the pesthouse was closed, but several blankets
were unfortunately left behind-most unfortunately, because a certain
colored family appropriated them for private uses, and started an epidemic in the following year which was worse than the first. But that
was also stamped out by energetic measures.
An interesting item taken from the records of I8$4 is that which
presents the schedule of licenses adopted at the meeting of the common
council held on April 21, of that year. A menagerie and circus were to
pay into the city treasury $15 each; circus and menagerie combined, $25;
side show, $5; stand or booth, $2; concert or minstrel show, per day or
night, $2; theatrical troupe, per day or night, $2; rope walker, per day or
night, $2; street exhibition of animals, per day or night, $2; other entertainments not mentioned in the foregoing, $2 per day or night; wagons
or tables (transients), per day, $5; street peddlers other than the foregoing, $5; meat peddlers, per year, $25; fish stands, per year, $Io; vegetable, fruit or candy stands, carts or wagons (single or combined), per
year, $io; hacks, omnibuses and other public carriages, transient, per
day, $5; auctioneer, transient, per day, $5; auctioneer, local, per year, $5.
NEWSPAPER SENSATION
Some excitement was caused at the council meeting of April 20,
1885, by the introduction of a resolution to the effect that the city papers
(Gazette and Bill Poster) had charged that body with misappropriating
cemetery funds for general purposes; one correspondent in the Bill
Poster stated that the amount so taken was as much as $3,000; and, in
view of said charge and contemplated purchase of new cemetery ground
"Resolved, that the mayor appoint a committee of five to investigate
such charges and any other matters concerning said cemetery and report
at the next meeting, said committee to consist of two aldermen and
three citizens."
Such investigation showed that the council had borrowed about $2,000
from the trust fund with which to buy the south addition to the cemetery grounds, with no other intention than of promptly paying it back
(which was done); so the excitement and newspaper sensation effectually evaporated.
The council held a special meeting April 27, I885, to take appropriate
action on the death of Mayor Samuel H. Norton, and resolutions were
adopted and engrossed at the meeting of May 5th.