549 Regular Meeting of the City Council Austin Tex June 16, 1884 Hon L. M. Crooker President of the Council Presiding. Roll call present Aldermen Pillow Weir, Schneider, Underhill, Crooker, Robertson, Peart Erwin, Brush and Brannen. 10. Absent Aldermen. Ruton Bancock, Campbell, Maas, Breckenridge, Carrington and Hauer. 9. On motion the Council was called and the marshal sent after the absentees Alderman Hill came in and answered to his name. Call of the Council suspended Minutes of march 24th 1884 to June 14th 1884 inclusive Alderman Robertson presented a petition from J. W. McEvan requesting permission (in case the bridges are removed from the street crossing on the East side of Congress avenue) to erect 7 stand pipes on Congress avenue for the purpose of obtaining water for Street Sprinkling purposes. Petition granted on condition that the bridges are removed, and not otherwise. Alderman Robertson presented a Petition signed by citizens owning business on and near Congress Avenue, protesting against the removal of Bridges at the crossing of the several streets that inter-sect Congress avenue. read and referred to the Street Committee. Aldermen Schneider, Carrington, Maas and Campbell came in and answered to their names. The following reports were received from the City Engineer, which on motion were received and adopted. Austin June 16th 1884 To the Hon Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin Gentlemen The petition of --- Page break --- 550 Citizens in regard to a bridge on East Mulberry St. at the crossing of wallen creek which was referred to me for estimate of cost for building the same would report that Mr. Heath has constructed a bridge at his own expense and the alderman of the 8th ward instructed me to have the approach, to said Bridge put in good condition which is now being done. Very Respectfully J. A. McFall City Engineer Austin June 16th 1884. To the Hon Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin. Gentlemen The petition of E. H. Berndt in regard to obstructions in the alley running through Block No 169 which was referred to me at the last regular meeting; would most respectfully state that I have made a careful survey of the above mentioned premises and said parties have been notified by the City marshall to remove the same. Very Respectfully J.A. McFall City Engineer Alderman Ervin presented the report of C.S. Nitschke City Sexton for May 1884 and recommended that the same be received and filed so ordered. The following majority report was submitted by the Cemetery Committee in regard to the purchase of land for cemetery purposes. To the Hon, Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin. Gentlemen Your committee to whom was referred the matter of selecting a suitable site for a Cemetery, beg leave to state that they have performed that duty to the best of their ability, and herein present a statement of the number of tracts of land visited examined together with the conclusions arrived at as: one tract of --- Page break --- land & miles east of the Capitol with extension of college avenue, containing 104 acres, price $500.00 offered by E. W. Shands, agt. Our tract of land immediately north of the residence of Mrs. Reese appointing Shoal creek containing 20 acres, price $3000. offered by DeCordova and Son Our tract of land containing 180 acres lying 2 miles east of the City owned by Dr. Wm. Sillers price supposed to be $47.00. offered by W. B. Kenney, agent Three tracts of land containing in the aggregate 500 acres adjoining each other being a portion of David Gilbert survey, and lying about 8 miles north west of Austin and one mile south east of Mount Bonnell This is a portion of the extensive of land formerly owned by Judge G. Townes, price $10.00. per acre or for the whole $7000. Offered by Col. Fred Carlton Agent. Our tract of land 2 miles west of the City of Austin with the extension of Pecan Street containing 520 acres, known as the Cook farm price $12.00. per acre, payable in 10 annual installments. The first note of $1000. being due April 1, 1887 the last April 1, 1894. All notes to bear interest at the rate of 6% after maturity. In this offer Mr. Breckenridge obligates himself to pay the City $1000 for 5 acres to be selected by him after the grounds are laid off. which he will pay at once if desired to enable the City to properly enclose the grounds and for the purpose of building a bridge if necessary. Your committee have spent much time in visiting and examining the different tracts offered and give as their opinions on their present attractions worthy of consideration viz: The Rees DeCordova Carlton and Breckenridge tracts. Our objections to the land offered by Col Shands being its distance from the City and the further objection that some parts have been sold off, which leaves it in an undesirable shape also the surroundings are not as attractive as that of other tracts offered --- Page break --- 552 The De Cordova tract is very beautiful and very suitable. But it is too small there being only 80 acres The Stiles tract is very beautiful and presents in a remarkable degree the requirements necessary for a beautiful cemetery. The Cauton tract is also very suitable. One important item in its favor is the price at which it is offered. Also the direction from the City. it being north east from the City but it is not as easily reached by ordinary conveyance on street cars in the future, as some others examined and also the distance is to great and cost of water supply objectionable. We have also examined the land offered for sale adjacent the present cemetery and considered the propriety of extending the same by the purchase of land adjoining it on the south. But in consideration of the objections urged by the citizens living in the vicinity, of the value of whose property would be depreciated in case of its extension and the conviction that the present cemetery is in a beautiful and populous part of the City inside of the corporate limits, and destined in the near future to be almost in the Center of the City and also that the price asked is $500. per acre. We consider its further extension would be unwise and we respectfully and earnestly protest against it. In summing up for cemetery purposes we have kept in view - 1st. Its accessibility. 2nd. The distance from the City 3rd. The direction from the City 4th. The chances for water supply 5th. The character of the soil and its drainage 6th. The general beauty of the locality and its surroundings. In comparing these different tracts of land we have come to the conclusion that the tract offered by Col. Breckenridge combines within its self more of the attractions and requirements necessary for cemetery purposes than any other. --- Page break --- examined and is by far the most suitable for many reasons among which we mention the following 1st. It is west of the City. the most suitable direction in case of an epidemic, as the prevailing winds in summer is from the south and southeast 2nd. It is in easy reach of the City by carriage or street cars or by rail road if necessary 3rd. It is so located that it will be in easy reach of the main water works. Also in groves immediately on the Colorado river and on its bank are located the sand springs, which furnish sufficient water in our opinion for a city as large as the City of New York and in our judgement, the vein from these springs runs directly through this tract, and might be tapped higher up and form a flowing fountain which would furnish sufficient water for cemetery purposes for all time to come and at a small cost to the City. 4th. The soil is gravelly and free from black watery soil, the surface undulating and abounding in beautiful sites for monuments, drives and walks all along the banks of the Colorado river a street car line might be run to the cemetery and a magnificent place of resort established, that in time might make this cemetery not only the pride of Austin but worthy of the capital of this great state. Wm Erwin J. M. Odell The following minority report was sub- mitted by Alderman [illegible] of the Cemetery committee in regard to purchasing land for cemetery purposes. Austin Texas June 19th 1884 To the Hon. Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin Gentlemen As a member of the Cemetery Committee to whom was referred the petitions of many citizens, recommending the purchase of twenty acres of land from James Riley as an addition to the present City Cemetery a big have to make this minority report --- Page break --- 554 Having consulted many of the oldest and permanent citizens of Austin as well as those of more recent settlement among us, I have not been able to find a man opposed to the purchase of the addition referred to except in the city council or persons directly interested in the sale of lands for cemetery purposes But on the contrary, find so far as I have canvassed the matter, almost a unanimous voice in favor of the petition. I find that a large number of old settlers have lots in the present cemetery which will suffice for burial purposes for an indefinite period of time and consequently are loath to acquiesce with the present cemetery and therefore advocate the purchase of the addition referred to I find others who have no lots in the present cemetery very desirous of having an opportunity of securing lots in the addition under consideration Without reference to my own views in this matter, as a faithful representative of the people to whom I am indebted for the position I occupy as a member of the Board of Aldermen I most unhesitatingly recommend the purchase of the Riley tract of twenty acres as an addition to the present city cemetery, more especially as it can be acquired upon such reasonable terms as follows The City to take charge and set apart as a part of the City cemetery under the controle and care of the City and to pay him one half the proceeds may be sold for lots and the City may receive the money paid for lots and the City retaining the right to pay him the whole amount at the rate of $800 per acre This proposition it seems to me is very reasonable and meets with the approbation of the majority of the Citizens of Austin and I most heartily recommend its adoption In the majority report there is no referance made to the petitions referred to our Cemetery committee by petitioners for the Riley addition but it is recommended that the City purchase --- Page break --- 555 the Breckenridge track of 330 acres at $1.50 per acre which will amount to Thirty nine thousand six hundred dollars ($39,600.00) Now the Question arises, have the City under the law authority to purchase this tract of land and thereby incur this additional debt. Will alderman Steph and consider before taking this step? Can they legitimately adopt the Majority report. If you deem it wise to adopt the minority report which will cost nothing not cost the City one cent you will agree with Yours &c R. B. Underhill Alderman Robertson moved that the whole matter in regard to the reports and the purchase of land for a cemetery be postponed until next regular meeting and that the reports be published. motion adopted. On recommendation of the police committee and city marshal John Legier was nominated and confirmed as a Special police officer. Alderman Brush presented a petition from J.B. Barren asking the city council to instruct the city Engineer to establish the grade in front of Block 57 and 58. Petition granted. Alderman Brush offered an ordinance appropriating the sum of $800. to pay for repairing Sewer at the foot of Congress avenue. The ordinance was read second and third time under suspen sion of the rules and passed by the following vote yeas alderman Schroeder, Pierce, Ellis, Cardwell, Behnen, Hugall, Mann, Kroken Carrington, Robertson, Hill, Rath, Erwin Brush and Brenner 15 On motion the Council adjourned Read and adopted July 7th 1884 D L Burnell City Clerk