332 Regular Meeting of the City Council Austin Texas August 06, 1883 Hon W a Rauslon Mayor presiding Roll call present alderman King Kinney Fannkuch, Blath and Wilson Saunders A fine of one dollar was entered against Humphry and Schuburt for non attendance at this meeting. Minutes of Council meeting of July 16, 23 & 31 and August 2 and 3 1883 read and approved. A petition was received from H. Hirschfield asking the Council to furnish a water hydrant for that part of the Cemeter used for a Hebrew burial ground. Referred to the Cemetery Committee A Petition was received from Citizens east of shoal creek protesting against the Comprner Company using East Cypress and Bowie Stock and Track Avenue for rail road track. Referred to the Street Committee. A petition was received from the Austin Athletic association asking the Council to grant them the right to moor their bath house or float immediately south of Jones iron Foundry on the river and further ask that they may have the right to make a decent in their resting establishment by means of a stair way on the edge of the bank. Alderman Kinney moved that the petition be granted on condition that after an examination by the street com mittee they are satisfied that no damage will result to the street or river embankment motion adopted The following reports for the quarter ending July 31 1883 was received from the City Sworn City Treasurer and City Clerk which was referred to the Finance Committee --- Page break --- 533 Report of the assessor and Collector for the Quarter ending July 31 1883. July 31. Income from advalorum tax for tax year 1882 $1177.76 " " " " " " " " " " 1881 146.10 " " " " " " " " " " 1880 118.80 " " " " " " " " " " 1879 80.00 " " " " " " " " " " 1878 103.00 " " " " " " " " " " 1877 100.00 " " " " " " " " " " 1876 34.10 " " " " " Back Taxes 1879.60 " " " " " Licenses 490.40 " " " " " Market House 140.70 " " " " " Mayors Court 20.00 " " " " " Ground rents 23.87 " " " " " Miscellaneous Total $16439.61 Credits By Treasurer receipt Nr 908 to 916 inclusive $16439.61 Respectfully submitted Fred Sterzing City assessor and Collector Austin Tex July 31 1883 Report of Taxes collected by the assessor and Collector for public schools for the Quarter ending July 31 1883 To income from school Tax for 1882 1898.70 " " " " " " " " 1881 38.30 Total 1937.00 Credits By Treasurer receipt Nr 76 & 77. 1937.00 Respectfully submitted Fred Sterzing Assessor and Collector Austin July 31 1883 --- Page break --- 334 Report of the City Treasurer for the Quarter commencing, May 1st, and ending July 31st 1883. Debits. Balance on hand april 30 1883 14073.79 Received from the assessor and Collector on % Advances Taxes 1749.44 " " Licenses 1899.65 " " General Fund 1657.57 " " Cemetery " 147.50 " " Market " 490.45 16439.61 30463.33 Credits. Back debt 7067.81 Paid 6% interest warrants 31.09 " " non " 1.00 " " " " Wheeler issue 70 " " " " War Degrees. 2100.56 Interest account Paid Coupons due on 10% Bonds 150.00 non-interest warrants for interest on 6% " 369.89 519.89 Cemetery Fund. Paid non-interest warrants 757.49 Market Fund Paid non interest warrants 417.46 Hospital Fund. Paid non interest warrants 13060.43 16360.83 Balances. Back debt 76.19 Interest 4630.00 Cemetery fund 466.69 Market " 1104.51 Hospital " 5000.95 General " 2874.12 14107.50 Statement of Balances | Cash | Appropriated | Unappropriated accounts Back debts | 76.19 | | 76.19 Interest | 4630.00 | 4630.00 | Cemetery Fund | 466.69 | 500.00 | Market " | 1104.51 | | 1104.51 Hospital " | 5000.95 | | 5000.95 General " | 2874.12 | 1397.10 | 1481.97 | 14107.50 | 6048.34 | 7587.47 Respectfully Submitted J.W. Howard City Treasurer --- Page break --- 335 Report of the City Clerk for the Quarter ending July 31 1883. Warrants issued from May 1st to July 31 1883. For Salaries and Commissions 2475 73 " Streets and Bridges 177 60 " Sanitary 344 80 " Street Lamps 204 40 " Police 1989.00 " Printing Postage & Stationery 33 878 " Cemetery account 7800 " Cemetery 704 99 " Fire Department 93 600 " Interest on warrants 36 989 " Water rent 3766.07 " Hospital 39 775 " Market House 58 412 " Feeding City Prisoners 18 780 " Miscellaneous 166.85 Total * 13815 88 Respectfully submitted Thomas L. Pernell City Clerk Austin Texas August 1st 1883 The following report of the City Physician was referred to the Charity Committee Hon Mayor and City Council of the City of Austin Gentlemen During the month of July patients not in Hospital received forty prescriptions sixty four visits were made including those at Hospital. On the date of my last report five patients remained in hospital under treatment since which date six were received of these six have been dismissed four remain on hand and one died. Respectfully submitted J. Cummings City Physician Austin Tex Aug 6. 1883 The report of the City Marshal for the month of July 1883 shows 143 arrests, amount of fine collected in cash $469.75 fines worked out on the street $85.00. rent from vegetable stands $4.50. The report was referred to the police committee --- Page break --- 336 The report of the City Sexton for July 1883 showed Total deaths for the month 31 white 12 Colored 10 Mexican 1 also three burials from different Counties Referred to the Cemetery Committee The special committee appointed to investigate the matter of feeding City prisoners submitted the following report which was adopted. The undersigned committee to whom was referred the complaints in regard to the feeding of the City prisoners beg leave to report that we find the testimony in regard to the matter very conflicting. We have heard very positive testimony on the part of the Police Clerk and other officers to the effect that the foods supplied to the prisoners was not in accordance with the contract either in quality or quantity. There is equally positive testimony from the Marshal and City Porter and others that the food generally has been all that could be expected but we are forced to the conclusion that on several occasions spoiled meat half baked bread and very doubtful coffee have been furnished probably without the knowledge of the Contractor But we must insist that inasmuch as the Contract was given to one whose bid was 4 cents higher per meal than any other bid, there should be no exceptions to the furnishing of good and abundant food, and that the proper Officers see to it that the prisoners get what the City pays for. H. Kinney N. B. Metz A Petition was received from the Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church asking the Council to remit a city tax levied against their church property for the year 1880. Alderman Platt called up an ordinance which was read third time. Granting South Half of Block fifty nine to F. W. Shands and his associates for the purpose of erecting a general merchandise to cost not less than five thousand dollars and the lease to be for --- Page break --- 337 Five years at annual rent of one hundred dollars Alderman Kinney moved to indefinitely postponed. the ordinance motion lost by the following vote Messrs Kinney and Lawrance. nays Metz, Pfannkuche Peart and Wilson. Alderman Peart moved that the ordinance pass motion adopted by the following vote yeas, Metz, Pfannkuche, Peart and Wilson The following letter was received from Foster and Co which was referred to the finance Committee. Austin, Texas, Augt 6th 1883 To his Honor the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin Gentlemen We propose to sell to the City of Austin $10,000.00 in ten per cent bonds due 1893 at 12½ and accrued interest and take Austin City 6 per cent bonds properly issued in payment for the 10 per cent bonds at par Very Respectfully Forston & Co. Alderman Kinney called up an ordinance levying ¾ of one per cent AdValorem Tax for the year 1883. The ordinance was read second time Alderman Peart called up an ordinance levying 1 per cent adValorem Tax for the year 1883 and setting aside one tenth of the amount collected for hospital purposes. The ordinance was read second time. His Honor the Mayor presented the returns from the election held in the 6th ward on August 4th, 1883 for Aldermen of said ward. Alderman Peart moved that the Mayor appoint a committee of 3 Aldermen to canvass the returns for the 6th ward motion adopted His honor appointed as the Committee Peart, Metz and Kinney. --- Page break --- 338 The committee made the following report which was adopted. We the undersigned committee appointed to canvass the returns from the election held in the sixth ward and from examin- ation of the report of the Judges of said election that J. W. Driskill was elected Alderman of the sixth ward. R. Blout } H.B. Kinny } Committee Austin Dy Aug 6, 1883. Alderman Kinny introduced an ordinance providing for the sale by the City of Austin of new 7th City bonds of the City of Austin of the denomination of $50. each to the amount of $75,000: said bonds to bear interest at the rate of 6 percent per annum and payable twenty years from January 1st 1884. The ordinance was read first time. On recommendation of Alderman Platt the Mayor nominated R.E. Richardson as special Police officer. Alderman Watson recommended G.W. Booth as a police officer on recommendation of Alderman Hunn Rucker. Fred Plath was nominated as a police officer on motion the nominations were confirmed by acclamation. A Petition of Neil Jno. Cashin asking the Council to remit a fine of five dollars imposed against him in the Mayors court was referred to the City Marshall. On motion the Council adjourned J. S. Pennell City Clerk Sept 8 1883