October 30, 2003
'The Council believes in the transmigration of souls'
You may have seen the author of the excerpt below profiled and interviewed by The Oregonian last week.
The author is Jewel Lansing, and the book is Portland: People, Politics, and Power, 1851-2001, which I've begun over the past few days. Structured to follow the tenures of Portland's mayors, it features rundowns of City Council activity under each. So far, the excerpt below is my favorite, from the 1853 tenure of Mayor Simon Marye.
Meeting #28 (special). Saturday morning, March 12. Doctors J. A. Davenport, Broy, and Wilson told the council, by letter, that smallpox was prevalent in the city. The council defeated, by one vote, a motion to procure a large "Pest House" where all persons afllicted with smallpox would be confined. Councilman Dennison then proposed that every house in which someone with the disease lived should be posted with a sign and the family cautioned against "having any communication with any persons except through the physician attending them."
Councilman Norris moved to add the words, "a flag 21 feet square (shall) float over each house in which the small pox exists." Mayor Marye then offered the following amendment: "That each [member of the committee to ascertain where smallpox exists shall] ... wear a Red Cockade in his hat and be compelled to sleep in Oregon City, Dine at Milwaukie, and walk on the waters of the Willamette."
The mayor then accepted an amendment (which was voted down) that the expenses of said committeemen were to be paid by the Portland mayor. The mayor then offered the following substitute: "(T)he Council believes in the transmigration of souls and that A. P. Dennison be a committee to seek out forthwith and conduct into the Council Room the largest black Cur that can be found for the moment, in which is supposed to rest the spirit of Aesculapius (Greek and Roman god of healing), as to the best mode of preventing the spread of the small pox in Portland -- The city council being incompetent and unable to determine the matter themselves." The motion was voted down.
In the coming weeks, according to The Oregonian, Lansing will be having three book-signings: 4:30 to 5:30 PM on Thursday, November 6, at City Hall; 7:30 PM on November 11, at Annie Bloom's Books in Multnomah Village; and 12:00 to 4:00 PM on December 7 at the Oregon Historical Society as part of its Holiday Cheer & Authors Party.