Regular Meeting of the City Council 91 Austin December 15, 1884 Hon J. W. Robertson Mayor Presiding Roll call Roll call present Aldermen Schneider, Metz, Campbell, Schneider, Maas, Warren, Crooker, Odell, Carrington, Hohman, Hill, Clark, Brush, & Brennen 14 Absent. Aldermen Pillow, Hancock, Welle Underhill, Quiskill & Erwin 6 minutes Dec 6 1884 Minutes of Dec 6th 1884 adopted. Petn of H & L + L Co No 1 A Petition was received from Austin H & L No 1. signed by the fire Commissioners, asking that the Council employ for said Company a tillerman referred to the Fire Committee Petn H & L Co no 3 Alderman Crooker presented a petition from Protection H & L Co. No 3, asking that the Council provide for the erection of an addition to their truck house and supply a hostler for their hose carriage to drive the same referred to the Fire Committee Petn Citizen 6 ward lamps Alderman Crooker presented a petition from citizens of the 6th ward requesting that the Council have a street lamp erected and lighted at the corner of St Pancird & Maple St the motion to refer the petition to the Lamp Committee was lost on motion the Petition was granted Petn of Mrs A. K. Geoble Alderman Clark presented a petition from Mrs A. K. Geoble, stating that hogs belonging to her had been empounded and sold by the City and asked that she be paid $85.00 loss sustained by her. The motion to refer to a special committee of three and the City Attorney was carried Com on Pet of Mrs Geoble The Mayor appointed as the Committee Alden men Clark Warren & Odell, A communication was received from a [illegible] --- Page break --- 92 December 1st, 1884. Asst. Chief Chief of Austin's Fire Department, enclosing a report to him from Mr. Brown, asst. chief and S. E. Jones, Forman of Colorado Engine Co. complaining of insufficient water pressure at the fire on Dec. 5th, 1884, referred to the Fire Committee. Pet. of Citizens A Petition was received from citizens of the 10th. ward residing near the Tannery on the river walk protesting against the Council extending the leave a nuisance of that part of the river walk to the proprietors of the Tannery, and asked that the leave now in force be cancelled. The petition was referred to a special committee of three and the City attorney. The mayor appointed as the Committee Aldermen Crooker, Maas & Brush Bennett A.S. A petition was received from A. S. Bennett asking that a fine imposed against him in the Recorders court be remitted. Petition not granted. Cella Antonio The Petition of Antonio Cella asking that a fine remitting a fine imposed against him in the recorders court was not granted. Peck Fred. The resignation of Fred Peck as a Police Officer to take effect Dec 1st 1884 was read and accepted. Clack & Waddell Applications of Fred Clack & H. Waddell, for the spec. police position of spec. Police officer was read and referred to the Police Committee. City attorney On motion of Alderman Clark the City attorney was instructed to draw up an ordinance prohibiting Ord. gambling all lottery or gambling devices from being exhibited on stands on the streets of the City. Pet for St. L. The Board of Trustees of the congregation of Beth Israel petitioned to have a street lamp erected at the Corner of San Jacinto & Mesquite. Petition granted. --- Page break --- 93 St Lamp: On motion of Alderman Crooken the street committee was instructed to locate a street lamp at or near church the Christian Church St Coms. on cost of bridge The Street Committee submitted the following report: Austin Texas Dec 15, 1884 To the Honorable City Council of the City of Austin Gentlemen; I have examined the attached statement and press Company original vouchers, showing the Compress Company have actually paid $648.81 cash for erecting the bridge over Shoal Creek, and recommend that the original amount $500.00 appropriated for that purpose be paid, less 1 per cent off per month from this date until April 1st 1885 (signed) J Schutze Chairman of Committee Ord for $480- for compress Co The motion to take up an ordinance appropriating $480to pay the Compress Company for building a bridge over Shoal Creek was lost. appropriating $4765.43 The Finance Committee introduced an ordinance appropriating the sum of $4765.43 for the pay roll for December 1884 and approved account. The ordinance was read second and third time under suspension of the rules and passed by the following vote Yeas:- Aldermen Metz Schuhmacher Campbell Shuler Maas Warren Crooked Odell Carrington Hill Holman Platt Brennen The Hospital Committee submitted the following report which was adopted. Hospital Com on Pet of Dr Burt To the Mayor and Council; The Hospital Committee beg leave to report on the petition of Dr W. J. Burt City Physician dated Sept 15th asking additional pay for his services at the City and County Hospital said petition having been referred to the Hospital Trustees and by them referred back to us; That we find in Sec 6 Art 9 Sec 1, in the City Charter this paragraph; the salary of the City Physician shall not exceed $600 per annum and also, in addition to the duties as have been or may be prescribed by ordinances --- Page break --- 94 December 15th 1884 We think therefore we are inhibited from giving any additional salary to the City Physician, and would recom- mend, also that in place of a druggist now employed at the Hospital, some competent Physician be engaged to reside at the City and County Hospital and take charge of the same and its employees (Signed) Ely Warner, Chairman J. Schubert Wm Ervine The following majority report was submitted by the Special Committee in regard to an increase in Street lamps. To the Hon J. W. Robertson Mayor Rept. of Spec. Committee on increase of st. lamps Your Committee appointed to confer with the Austin Gas Light and Coal Company with reference to the question of procuring light for the streets of the City would respectfully report that they have had a conference with the officers of said Company and the best offer they have been able to obtain from said Company is a proposition to furnish lamp posts to be made and to extend its mains to a limited extent beyond their present location and to furnish gas therefor and attendance upon the same at the rate of Two dollars and fifty cents per month for each lamp south of Mesquite Street and Three dollars per month for each light North of said Street. Your Committee would further report that they are informed that said proposition is made upon the basis of a consumption of 1500 feet (Cubic) of gas per month also that a proper extension of the lighting of the City would require an increase of lights to the number of 125 and that the same should be located by the street committee. Your committee are of the opinion that a contract for not exceeding one year ought to be made for one hundred and twenty five lights at the rate proposed. W. R. Brush A. J. Hix Alderman Schubert submitted the following minority report. To the Hon Mayor and Board of --- Page break --- 95 minority Aldermen of the City of Austin rept submitted Whereas your special committee on gas appointed on increase By your Honor to confer with the Austin gas light of st lamps and Coal Company, has had a conference with the officers of said Company, and the majority report explained to that effect; but your committee on the minority part has had the same under due consideration and deem it wise and judicious for this council to defer this matter for economy sake, until this Council, was got the propa sition of the Capitol Gas Co what they will do in regard to lighting the streets of Austin, which I am personally award that they are ready to furnish lights at the shortest notice J. Robertson Res. to confer Alderman Campbell offered a resolution directing with electric the spec Com on Gas to confer with the Electric co to light Light Co, in regard to lighting the streets, the motion sts to adopt the resolution as a substitute for the report of the Com. was lost. To table The motion to lay the majority report on majority the table was lost by the following vote rept Yeas aldermen Schneider Campbell Schutze Warren Carrington Clark Brenner & Nays aldermen Metz Maas Crooker O'Dell Holman Hill Brush & it being a tie vote the mayor voted nay. The motion to postpone action on the reports of the Committees was lost, (yeas 8 nays 8 (same vote as above) The motion to refer the subject matter of an increase of gas lamps, to the water & Gas Committee, was lost. adopt majority The majority report was adopted by the rept following vote Yeas aldermen Metz Maas Crooker O'Dell Holman Hill & Brush 7 Nays aldermen Schneider, Campbell Schutze Warren Carrington Clark & Brenner 7 it being a tie vote the mayor voted yea. --- Page break --- 96 December 15th 1884 Resolution $30.00 per mo for City Physician Alderman Odell offered a resolution allowing the City physician $30.00 per month for extra services in connection with the City & County Hospital. The resolution was laid over Ord. $500 for stepping stones Alderman Clark introduced an ordinance appropriating the sum of $500. for the purpose of laying stepping stones on Congress avenue and Pecan street. Read first time and refered to the street Committee Ord $3000 bridge Pine st. Alderman Plath introduced an ordinance appropriating $3000 to build a bridge over Waller creek at the crossing of Pine street. Read first time and referred to the street committee Ord. to print minutes in statesman Alderman Brush introduced an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to contract with the Daily Statesman of Austin, for the publication of the proceedings of the City Council. Read first time and refered to the printing Committee. Alderman Hill offered the following resolution which was adopted and refered to the printing Committee. Resolution at P.O. as 2 class matter Resolved. 1st. That the printing Committee be requested to make arrangements, if possible, for having the publication containing the proceedings of the City Council entered at the Austin Post Office as second class matter for distribution among the Citizens. 2nd. That arrangements be made by the committee, giving each member of the council an opportunity to designate a fair proportion of the persons to whom said proceedings shall be mailed, and the mailing thereof by the printer or City Clerk License tax for 1885 Alderman Schubert introduced an ordinance levying a license tax for the year 1885 on keepers of livery and feed stables and on the --- Page break --- 97 owners and proprietors of vehicles not connected with a livery or feed stable. The ordinance was read first time The motion to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its second reading was lost referred to the Finance committee Alderman Schuban offered the following resolution which was adopted Resolution | Resolved by the City Council of the City Int. N. R. R. | of Austin, That the City Engineer be authorized to build | to notify the International railroad Company culverts on | to have the culverts on each side of the Cypress street | street crossings on west Cypress street from Congress Avenue to Shoal creek to be put down and opened; viz West Cypress and Colorado Street, West Cypress and Lavaca Street Cypress and Guadeloupe, West Cypress, San Antonio, West Cypress Nueces, which streets now only have one culvert, thereby causing that portion of the City to overflow to the detriment of its citizens and taxpayers Ord. $1,000 | Alderman Maas introduced an ordinance for park | to establish a public park on the 4th ward on Academy | the Academy Block and appropriating $1000. for Block | improvement of the same. The motion to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its second reading was lost. Alderman Schuban offered the following resolution which was adopted. Resolution | Whereas it has become an imperative necessity for iron | to replace the foot bridges that were destroyed at foot bridges | the late jollification, Therefore be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, That the City engineer and street commissioner be instructed and authorized to contract for twelve additional foot bridges in place of wooden ones destroyed. --- Page break --- 98 December 10th 1884 Appointing Standing Committees for 1885 The following message of the Mayor, in regard to the the Standing Committees was read Mayor's Office Austin Texas Dec 10th 1884 Gentlemen of the City Council: It becomes necessary since the installment of Aldermen elected December 1, 1884, that the Standing committees be reorganized; I have no, reason to make any change in the Committees as organized and shall assign the new aldermen to the places occupied by their predecessors. Committee on Streets: Dehubro, Driekie, & Holman. “ “ Fire department: Crooker, Bruch & Metz. “ “ Finance: Odell, Hancock & Maas. “ “ Markets: Campbell, Puiors, & Brush. “ “ Police: Schneider, Hill, & Brunnin. “ “ Printing: Maas, Plath, & Odell. “ “ Cemetery: Ervin, Underhill, & Odell. “ “ Ordinances: Hill, Crooker, & Metz. “ “ Sewers: Underhill, Warren, & Wells. “ “ Hospital: Warren, Dehubro, & Wells. “ “ Water & Gas: Hancock, Driekie & Plath. “ “ Charity: Wells, Holman, & Carrington. Very Respectfully J.W. Robertson Mayor. Committee on amende ments to Charter The Mayor appointed as the Committee of Aldermen on amendments to the City Charter, A J. Hill, Lewis Hancock, & S. Warren. On motion the Council adjourned J. L. Purnell, City Clerk.