[Text from left margin, written vertically] * The Mayor notified the Council that the City Clerk Mr. L M. Bradley being sick he had requested Mr. Connell to act in his place during his illness. There being no objection Mr. Connell was duly authorized to act. [Main text] 32 Regular Meeting of City Council Austin, Tx, February 2nd 1880. Mayor De Gress presiding. Roll called. Present— Aldermen Boardman, Tobin, Coombs, Nalle and Reichman. Absent.— Aldermen Crooker, Metz, Robertson, Sheehan and Wahrenberger. No quorum being present, Alderman Boardman moved that the council stand adjourned until Tuesday, at 7.30 P. M. February 3rd Carried. approved Mch 1/80 E P Connell Acting City Clerk Adjourned meeting of City Council Austin, February 3- 1880 Mayor De Gress presiding. Roll called. Present— Aldermen Boardman, Coombs, Crooker Nalle, Robertson, Reichman, Tobin, and Wahrenberger and Sheehan. Absent,— Alderman Metz. * The minuets of regular meeting of January 5th and called meeting of January 16, 1880 were read and approved. Petition of Philip Meyer to put up a Fairbanks Scales at the corner of old court house square. Granted. Petition of M. S. Hall, to erect a bath house on the Colorado river, foot of Brazos street. Granted. Petition of Sam S. Scott to fence the tract of land deeded to the City by Hon. E. M. Pease. Granted. Petition of Albert Jenkins and Abraham Clagg, asking to have Six dollars ($6.00) paid as pound fees, refunded to them, Laid on the table. Petition of B. J. Smith and others for a street-lamp on the arch stone bridge on west Pecan street. Granted. Alderman Nalle moved to reconsider the vote by --- Page break --- 33 which the petition of Sam. J. Scott was granted. Reconsidered. by the following vote. Yeas: — Aldermen Boardman, Coombs, Crooker, Nalle, Robertson, Rickman, Sheehan, Tobin and Kahnburger. Alderman Crooker moved to lay the petition on the table. Carried. Alderman C. Nalle explained that if the said petition was granted, the land deeded by Gov. Pease, would re-vert to him. Petition of S. Nadkey and others, to have one street lamp erected on the north-east corner of Capitol Square and one at the intersection of North Ave. and Brazos street. Granted. A communication from J. Dimelony to furnish concrete cement for pavements. Referred to street committee. Petition from A. J. Laundermann and others, for the erection of a street gas lamp at the intersection of Lavaca and Walnut streets. Granted. Reports of city marshal, city sexton, city physician and city treasurer received and ordered filed. Hon. J. C. De Gress, Mayor. I have the honor to call the attention of yourself and the honorable street committee that there are needed at the bridges on North Avenue and Chestnut street a lamp for each, and respectfully recommend that the one on Chestnut street be erected at once, as the bridge is very narrow. Very respectfully your obedient servant. A. N. Dinkins, City Engineer and Street Commissioner Ordered placed at the points designated. Quarterly report of the assessor and collector for the quarter ending January 31. 1880. Filed. Quarterly report of the city pound master for part of the month of January 1880. Filed. Alderman Boardman, of the ordinance committee, reported an ordinance introduced by Alderman Robertson at the last regular meeting, "to refer all bills to the council for approval," recommend. --- Page break --- 34 That no further action be taken on the ordinance Report report Adopted. Austin, January 15, 1880 To J. B. De Press, Mayor of the City of Austin, Sir: Your committee on streets and bridging have the honor to report that they examined the bids received for building a stone arch bridge over Waller creek, on Mesquit street, and find that the lowest bidder is not willing to do the work re-quired of him according to the plans and speci- -fications. The matter was then referred to the city engineer, whose answer is herewith submitted The committee in view of the above recommend that an additional appropriation be made of $585.22 to build said bridge. Respectfully submitted Jas. Wahrsenberger, Joseph Nalle, Street Committee. On motion of Alderman Nalle further time was granted the committee by the following vote: Yeas: — Aldermen Boardman, Coombs, Crooker, Nalle, Robertson, Reichman, Sheehan, Tobin and Wahrsenberger. An ordinance authorizing the Mayor and com-mittee on cemetery to contract with the City Water Company for six hydrants and the laying of the required pipe thereto in the city cemetery Read second time, and on motion of Alderman Wahrsenberger to place the ordinance on its third reading was lost by the following vote: Yeas:— Aldermen Coombs, Reichman, Sheehan, Tobin, and Wahrsenberger. Nays:— Aldermen Boardman, Crooker, Nalle and Robertson. Austin, Tx, January 17, 1880 To the Honorable Mayor of the City of Austin: Having understood that the city would not be disinclined to buy the property owned by me, one-half lots 7 and 8, of Block 69, now leased to the city for the fire department until June, 1882, I would respect- --- Page break --- 35 -fully submit you the following proposition: I would sell the above named property, both half lots with all thereon, to the city for the sum of $4500.00, taking out $1500.00 in city taxes and the balance in cash or its equivalent in warrants, or if desired to purchase only the upper half lot whereon the building is situated, I would sell the same for the sum of $3000.00 taking out $1000.00 in city taxes and the balance in cash. A private party wishes to buy the property, but recognizing the value of our efficient fire department to the property-holders of this city would give them the preference. Respectfully, Caroline Haksenberger Mayor's Office City of Austin, January 28, 1880 Respectfully referred to Mr John Bremond, chief of Austin fire department, requesting his opinion as to the advisability of the city purchas-ing this property, especially regarding its location, etc. J. C. De Gress, Mayor. Austin, Tx, January 31st 1880 Hon. J. C. De Gress, Mayor. Respectfully returned to his honor the mayor with the following report: A matter of vital necessity to our fire de-partment is a good fire alarm, to ensure which we must have a good bell tower, centrally located. The vacant part of this property is the best location I know of for this purpose that we can now get. Besides, the lease under which the city holds the buildings now occupied by Colorado En-gine Company No 2, and Austin Hook and Lad- -der Company No 1, will expire before a great while, so in view of the above facts I recommend that the entire property be purchased, believing from the best information I can get, the offer of the whole is made for a fair price for the property. John Bremond Chief Engineer A. F. D. --- Page break --- 36 Referred to finance committee. An ordinance appropriating Seven hundred and eighty dollars ($780.00) to do certain work on streets in the seventh ward, together with a communication from the city engineer. Read first time, and, on motion, was referred to street committee. An ordinance donating the cemetery lot in which are interred the remains of Policeman C. Fahey, who was killed in the honorable discharge of his duty March 10th 1875. Read first, second and third times and passed under suspension of the rules, by the following vote: Yeas – Aldermen Boardman, Coombs, Crooker, Nalle, Robertson, Reichman, Sheehan, Toin and Wahrenberger. Absent – Alderman Metz. Petition of K. B. Smith and others, to erect an oil street lamp on the north-east corner of Land Office block. Referred to street committee. Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin. That the city marshal be, and is hereby, instructed to place one street lamp at the intersection of Chestnut and San Jacinto streets. Referred to street committee. Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin. That the city marshal require the Superintendent of the Blind Asylum, to have a dry well sunk, and kept in repair at the terminus of the sewer leading from the Blind Asylum and ending on block 144 in division B. Referred to street board of health. A communication from Charles S. Parnell and John Dillon, of Irish famine relief fund, asking the formation of a relief committee to obtain funds. Alderman Crooker moved that a committee consisting of the mayor and three Aldermen, and seven citizens be appointed by the Mayor to take measures for soliciting funds. Carried. The mayor appointed L. M. Crooker, Jev. Sheehan and James Wahrenberger, on the part of the aldermen, and the following citizens: --- Page break --- 37 Rev. G. B. Knight, Rev. D. J. Spilland, Messrs A. Neil, Walter Tips, Peter Smith, James Nolan and James Nolan. An ordinance to amend article 498 of the revised ordinances. Read first, second and third times, under the suspension of the rules, and passed by the following vote; Yeas:— Aldermen Boardman, Coombs, Crooker, Nalle, Reichman, Sheehan and Tobin. Nays:— Aldermen Robertson and Wahrenberger. Alderman Nalle moved that a committee of three aldermen be appointed by the Mayor to inquire into and report to the council the most advantageous way of lighting the street lamps of the city. Carried. The mayor appointed the finance committee. The bill of the Austin Gas Light and Coal Company being brought before the council, motion was made that the finance committee approve the same. Carried. Proposal of Wm. Walsh & Co. to furnish the city with lime. Received and on motion the mayor was authorized to advertise for proposals to fur-nish the city with lime by the barrel for the com- -ing season. An ordinance authorizing the mayor to appoint a suitable person to take charge of and work the city prisoners. Read first time, and, on motion, was referred to the police committee. There being no further business, on motion, the council adjourned. O P Cormell Acting City Clerk. Approved Mch 1st 1880