13 Regular Meeting of the City Council Austin Texas August 18, 1884 Hon J. W. Robertson. Mayor. Presiding Roll call present Aldermen Oehlender Pillow Campbell Undershill Maas Warren Ouskin Carrington Platt and French. Absent Aldermen Sutor Hammock Wells Schubert Brooker Odee Robertson Hill Ervin and Brevnen A Call of the Council was ordered and the marshal sent after the absentees Alderman Schubert came in and answered to his name Call of the Council Suspended Minutes of July 7. and August 4 1884. read and approved. Peter Sig Alderman Platt presented a petition from in the Recorders Court be remitted asking that a fine assessed against him Alderman Platt moved that the fine be remitted except two dollars. Motion lost by the following vote Yeas. Aldermen Schubert Maas Carrington and Platt Nays Aldermen Schneider Pillow Campbell Undershill French Warren Ouskin 7 F.W. Lotts and other Alderman Pillow presented a petition from culvert on W. Pecan St. J. W. Fots and other property owners. W. Pecan St. on West Pecan street asking that a culvert on Pecan Street between J. H. & J. C. Raymonds property be enlarged so that it will carry of the water without overflowing the street. Referred to the street committee Alderman Ervin tendered his resignation as Chairman of the Cemetery Committee and asked that the same be immediately accepted --- Page break --- 14 August 18th 1884 Alderman Sutton came in and answered to his name. The Street Committee submitted the following report on the petition of C. E. Anderson which was referred to the City Engineer for estimate of cost of work. St. Com. Rpt. To the Hon Mayor and Board of Aldermen of C. E. of the City of Austin Anderson. Your committee to whom was referred the within petition of C. E. Anderson, requesting the City to pave the gutter in front of his residence, would most respectfully beg leave to report that the petition be granted and that the City Engineer is hereby instructed to have the work done. R. Pease St to pur- The Street Committee submitted the following report chase iron on a resolution to purchase iron foot bridges for foot bridges Congress Avenue. for Con. Avs. To the Hon Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin: Your committee to whom was referred the within resolution would beg leave to report that we have duly considered the same and would recommend that it do pass and that the City Engineer be instructed to contract for the same Platt Brush Buster St. on San- The following report was received from the Street Comitary mat- To the Hon Mayor and Council of the City of Austin. ters Alley Gentlemen – your street committee would respectPecan St. fully suggest that the proper officers give more attention to the sanitary condition of the City than has been done in the past. This country now threatened by epidemics render it necessary that more attention of the Council and City officers is given to the reports of the City Physician, as our alleys are in a most deplorable condition as a sample of the many, --- Page break --- We would call the attention of the officer who sees and steps over the nuisance three or four times a day, to the condition of the alley east of the Avenue and between Hickory and Pecan Streets namely, some odorous water is and has been running down the alley to and down Pecan Street for the last year or two. While this is bad it is as sweet as the perfume of newmown hay compared with other Alleys in the City. It is very apparent that some strong measure should be taken in the enforcement of the ordinances and that at once We will not say who is responsible for this continued evil but do say that the responsibility rests with some one and we think the Mayor should see that all officers attend the duties for which they have been appointed or elected. We refer to these matters with much hesitation as we do not know of any recommendations from this committee upon petitions or other matters, after having been endorsed by the Council to have received any attention. or if there is no official report of action or nonaction can be found upon the minutes of this board. We would further say that our streets are in a miserable condition and for want of funds our committee are powerless to better them. We would recommend that the amount for which the bonds were sold be turned over to the City Treasurer and that the amount to be awarded under the ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of bonds. be placed to the credit of the street fund so that steps can be taken at once to at least make our streets as good as the ordinary country roads. Respectfully Blair Brush Driskill --- Page break --- 16 August 18. 1884 Si, . . . . . The Fire Committee submitted, the following report on the Petition of Mr. A. Taylor, which was recommended Soon JW Robertson Mayor and Members of the City Council Your committee to whom was referred the above petition would recommend that the above petitioner be allowed to finish the construction commenced Respectfully W.B. Brush W.J. Ruton Fire Committee Fi. Com. The Fire Committee submitted the following on hydrants a resolution locating five hydrants on your West Pecan Street. Pecan St. Our motion of Alderman Close the resolution and the report was recommitted, with instructions to the Committee to investigate and report at what points in the City Fire hydrants are needed J.W. Robertson Mayor of Austin Your committee on Fire Department would report that they appreciate the necessity of an extensions of the water mains in the City but, owing to the present financial condition of the City we do not think we can recommend the location of five hydrants as asked for in the resolution, but would recommend that the Mayor contract with the water Company for the location of three hydrants on west Pecan Street and one on the Corner of Melnhan Congress Avenue Wm J. Ruton W.B. Brush Chairman Fin Committee Application. The application of Alderman Rendry for the Rendry. position of mounted Policeman was read for Police. and Laid over --- Page break --- Gentlemen The Special committee to whom was referred the matter of obstructions on the street submitted, on the the following report. Austin, Texas, August 18th 1884 To Hon. Mayor and City Council Your committee to whom was referred the above memorials relating to the obstructions on the streets, have the honor to report that we have considered the same and believe that some relief should be granted the petitioners We find that many improvements of a permanent character but encroaching upon the streets have been made in good faith, and that the immediate removal of such would entail no small loss upon the owners We further find, that these encroachments are a great nuisance and should not be permitted to remain any longer than is absolutely necessary. We do not think the ordinance in question should be suspended but that its enforcement should be so regulated as not to cause hardship and loss. We recommend 1st That no encroachments upon the streets alleys or public ways, shall hereafter be allowed under any circumstances 2d That no repairs shall be permitted on any such obstructions that now exist 3d. That no such obstructions shall be rebuilt 4th That a time be fixed in which all such obstructions, whether permanent or otherwise shall be removed 5th We further recommend that in cases where such permanent obstructions exist to the injury of the street or alley, or to the detriment of adjoining property, owners, such cases be brought directly before the City Council for such action as may protect all parties --- Page break --- 18 August 18th 1884 6th When property rights are claimed by long occupancy of the Streets or alleys, we donot believe that the recorders court is a proper tribunal for the trial of the rights of parties which these modification we recommend that the ordinance be inforced. Respectfully Submitted A B Underhill. So ordered Alderman Heath moved that all the report of [illegible] the Committee except the last clause be struck in out. motion lost by the following vote Yeas Alderman Schneider Dixon Carrington Heath and Bruschig Nays Aldermen Pillow Campbell Ochubron Underhill Mayo Warren and Driskills 7 The report of the Committee was then adopted The following report was received from the Board of Equalization and Appraisers which was ordered Spread upon the minutes Austin Texas August 18. 1884 Hon J.W. Robertson Mayor of the City of Austin Rep't of The undersigned who were appointed Board of by your honor as a board of Appraisers to appraise Equalization and equalize the assessment of property in the 1884 City of Austin. have the honor to report that after a full investigation of the assessment rolls and in many instances a personal examination of the property assessed we have equalized said assessments and find that the aggregate value of property in the City will be increased two hundred and ninety two thousand and thirty dollars, $292.530.00 for the year 1884 which will increase the taxes two thousand nine hundred and twenty five, 30/100 $2.925.30 for said year. They further report that beleiving it to be their duty under the law creating said Board of Equalization to place upon --- Page break --- 19 The assessment rolls all property made taxable by law for State and county purposes, in accordance which the Charter of the City and not. rendered or assessed by owners. They have placed upon the rolls the property of the following corporations, which they find unrendered for Taxes to wit: City Water Company $187,650.00 Capital Compress Company 37,800.00 Austin Gaslight and Coal Company 43,700.00 making an additional increase in value of $149,150.00 A complete list of the changes in the assessments made by us is on file with the City Assessor & Collector of Taxes Very Respectfully Your Orvin T. J. Campbell H. B. Shelley J. W. Doom. Alderman Campbell introduced the following resolution: Be it Resolved by the City Council market house limits. of the City of Austin That the ordinance Committee be instructed to prepare an Ordinance on Market house and Market limits and report the same to the next regular meeting of the Council Alderman Blair moved to refer the resolution to the market house committee motion lost. The resolution was adopted. Ord. on amend. to art. 375. The Ordinance Committee submitted the following report on an ordinance amending Article 375. The report of the Committee was adopted. To Hon. J. W. Robertson. Mayor Your committee on ordinances to whom was referred the within ordinance --- Page break --- 20 August 18ᵗʰ 1884 Have considered the same and believe that the Business of the City requires the number of members of Council now required by ordinance and recommend that this ordinance do not pass. R. J. Hile R. B. Underhill Ordinance Committee On motion the Council adjourned J. H. Purnell City Clerk