Austin's 1877 Water Waste and Business License Issues
• Leadership Election: Alderman Taylor was elected President of the Board of Aldermen after a close 4-3 vote against Alderman Robinson, following the resignation of the previous president.
• Sewage Problem: The Raymond House hotel petitioned the city council to develop a system for disposing of wastewater from their building, which was referred to the Streets Committee for solutions.
• Attendance Issues: Multiple council meetings were disrupted by absent aldermen, with the marshal having to retrieve members to maintain a quorum.
• Business Licensing Dispute: A butcher named Joseph Clay filed a complaint about his business license (#1894) that he obtained on March 1, 1877, though the specific issue was cut off in the record.
Full Transcript
Called Meeting of City Council May 23, 1877 Council called to order at 12.15 oclock Mayor Thuler in the chair Roll called and the following members answered Aldermen Robinson and Taylor Absent Aldermen Dremond Cook, Deffenbaugh James Larmour Maas and Ward. On Motion of Alderman Taylor the Marshal was directed to bring in the Absentees Aldermen Dremond, Deffenbaugh James, & Larmour came in answered and took their seats. Quorum found The Mayor informed the Council that they had been called together for the purpose of electing a president of the Board of Aldermen pro Alderman Chandler resigned and announced that nominations were in order Alderman Robinson nominates Alderman Taylor Alderman Taylor nominates Alderman Robinson On Motion of Alderman James the nominations closed The Mayor appointed Aldermen Deffenbaugh and Cook as tellers and requested the Members to prepare their ballots After all the Members had voted the tellers announced the following vote Alderman Taylor received 4 votes and Alderman Robinson received 3 votes Alderman Taylor having received the highest number of votes was declared elected President of the Board of Aldermen On Motion the Council adjourned to meet as a Court of Appeals Adjourned June 8th 1877 John S Herbert city clerk The Court of Appeals met W.A.Taylor President of the Board of Aldermen in the chair Roll called and the following members answered. Aldermen Dremond, Cook, Deffenbaugh James, Larmour, Robinson and Taylor Absent Alderman Maas and Ward
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Alderman Cook asked to be excused from the meeting Excused There being no business before the Court Alderman Robinson moved to adjourn subject to the call of the President Carried
John S. Herbert. City Clerk
Called Meeting of City Council May 30th 1877.
Council called to order at 3.30 P.M. Mayor Wheeler in the chair. Roll called and the following members answered Aldermen. Duffenbaugh James and Maas Absent Aldermen Bremond Cook. Larmore Robinson and Taylor On Motion of Alderman James the Marshal was directed to bring in the absentees Robinson and Cook Alderman Bremond Larmore Taylor and Mard came in and answered Quorum present Petition of J J Meadow Manager of the Raymond House. Asking that the City adopt some plans whereby the waste water can be carried from the Raymond House On Motion of Alderman Maas the petition was referred to Committee on Streets Petition of Joseph Clay stating that on the first day of March 1877 he took out license #1894 for carrying on the butchers business and paid Twenty five