138 Regular Meeting of the City Council Austin Texas April 06, 1885 Hon. J. W. Robertson Mayor Presiding Roll call. present Aldermen Pillows, Hancock, Wells, Campbell Schubert, Underhill, Means, Warren, Driskill, Crooker, Odell, Carrington, Holman, Platt, Erwin, Brownson. Absent Aldermen Schneider, Foley, Hill & Brush. Minutes of March 16 & 20 1885 adopted. Pet. Alderman Odell G. St. M. E. Lutheran Church Alley Alderman Odell presented a petition from the German St. Martins Church asking that the alley west of said church be opened to its full width. Referred to the street Committee. Ald. 1st ward open Willow St. Alderman Brownson presented a petition from Citizens of the 1st ward asking that Willow street be extended east from Neches to Red River street. Stating that Messrs Driskill & Rainey would donate to the City an 80 foot street provided that the City would build a bridge across Waller Creek. Referred to the street Committee. Ald. 6th ward sidewalks on Whitis Ave Alderman Driskill presented a petition from property owners living on Whitis avenue asking that the sidewalks be widened on said avenue from 10 to 12 feet, accompanying the petition was an ordinance providing for the change as asked for On motion of Alderman Platt, the regular order of business was suspended to take up the ordinance changing the widths of sidewalks on Whitis avenue. Ord changing Whitis avenue sidewalks An ordinance changing Whitis avenue and widening the sidewalks upon the same, was taken up and read. Then read second and third times under suspension of the rules and passed by the following vote. Yeas Aldermen Pillows, Hancock, Wells, Campbell Schubert, Warren, Driskill, Crooker, Odell, Carrington, Holman & Platt. --- Page break --- 139 Sexton for March 1885 Motion for the report of the City Sexton for march 1885 shows Total deaths for the month 21, white 14 Colored 7 male 11, Female 10. Referred to the Cemetery committee Marshal for March 1885 Marshal's report for march 1885 Total arrests 15 Turned over to the County 8. Total Fines $1438.70 Cash from Fines $561.80 worked out $284.00 Amount of Fines on appeal $506.70 " " due by escaped $10.00 " " discharged on Orders $14.70 " " brought forward $290.50 Jury fees $3.00 $1438.70 Referred to the police Committee Treasurer for march 1885 Report of the City Treasurer for the month ending March 31st 1885 Balance on hand Feb 28. 1885 $21,001.48 Received from assessor & collector. $15902.78 $36,904.26 Credits. Paid non interest warrants, $2,449.45 " 6% " " 12.00 " 10% coupons due July 1 275.00 $2,736.95 Cash balance $34,167.31 Unappropriated balance $25,444.13. Referred to the Finance Committee Physician for march 1885 The report of the City Physician for march, 1885, was read and referred to the Hospital Committee Pet Com on Pet of working men. loss. The street committee reported back the petition of Dr. worthington in regard to widening West avenue. The motion to lay the petition on the table was carried Mkt house Com / contract City Clerk Alderman Campbell for the market house com mittee stated that the committee had made a [illegible] --- Page break --- 140 April 6th 1880 Contract with A Palm to take care of the City Clock for the next two years, On motion the action of the committee was adopted. Report of Hospl. Com. rept of C&C Hosp. for Quarter ending Mar. 31, 1880 The hospital committee submitted the following report. To the Mayor and City Council Hospital committee report for the Quarter ending March 31, 1880 Your committee beg leave to report that for the Quarter ending March 31, 1880 there has been expended for permanent improvements at the City and County hospital the sum of $172.75. Current expenses $874.00 $1046.75 as per vouchers rendered and on file at the Office of the City Clerk half of the above amount $523.38 Deduct from appropriation of $1000 made January 5. for the present Quarter leaves an unexpended balance of $476.63 Your committee would most respectfully submit, that in order to carry on the hospital in the most economical way there should be a sufficient amount appropriated for the Quarter ending June 30. to continue to administer its affairs in a strictly cash basis as heretofore and have prepared an ordinance appropriating $600. or so much thereof as may be necessary Respectfully submitted Warren Schuber } Hospital Ervin Committee Ordinance No. 144 expenses appropriating $600. C.C. hospital The ordinance accompanying the report appropriating $600. for expenses of the City & County hospital for the Quarter ending June 30. 1880 was read a second time and on suspension of the rules the motion to read the ordinance a third time was lost. --- Page break --- 141 Mayors Mess. pags. 81-al Improvements Cholera Sanitary matter The Mayor submitted the following message Gentlemen of the Council: I beg leave to call your especial attention to a few matters of public interest that, in my opinion, demands action on the part of our municipal authorities. 1. The sanitary condition of the City is not what it should be. It is now the beginning of the hot season, and it is apparent to the most casual observer, in passing through the City, that the rules of sanitation are not properly observed. Apprehension of epidemic diseases, especially cholera, whether well founded or not, seems to prevail throughout the country. In the Cities, north and south, the most stringent measures to insure cleanliness are being adopted. The duty devolves upon us to see to it, that the city is at once placed in a proper sanitary condition to insure the health of our people. If this is done and disease comes, we are prepared for it; if it does not visit us, we will not have lost nothing and have discharged a public duty. I would recommend that measures be immediately adopted as will place the City in a cleanly and healthy condition. To this end I would recommend a thorough Police inspection of the entire City, that the owner and occupants of all premises be requested to place them in a proper sanitary condition at once. That all ordinances relating to nuisances be enforced, that all filth and uncleanliness be abated, and that necessary regulations for the preservation of health be strictly enforced such measures will produce comfort, as well as a guaranty of safety. 2. The City and County hospital is at this present without regular management, except on the part of the County Judge in behalf of the County, and hospital committee in behalf --- Page break --- 142 April 6th 1886 of the City it is necessary to its successful management that it have a distinct head to control it. The County Judge, Hon. Z. Fillmore makes in substance the following proposition for your consideration: 1. The City and County to make appropriations to fully furnish and fit up the building and grounds each to furnish one half as heretofore 2. The County to turn over to the City the entire management of the hospital and to pay to the City $5000. per annum as its share of the expenses Patients to be admitted as heretofore. The expenses of fiting up the buildings and grounds would require only a few hundred dollars. This arrangement can be made for from one to five years. I believe this proposition or something similar should be accepted. If this proposition is not satisfactory, I believe that an agreement can be arrived at that will prove beneficial to all concerned. 3 The present finances condition is such that in my opinion that we can easily spare several thousand dollars for improvements on the streets A great deal of work has been done on the streets and at a comparatively trifling cost since the present system was inaugurated, I think the distribution of this improvement fund should be general over the City as is practicable having due regard to population, the amount of travel over the street and to public necessity and convenience. In other words that all the people who support the City Treasury by their substance should as nearly as may be practicable, share in the benefits of such public improvements. I would recommend that an appropriation of $5000. for the general improvement of the streets of the City be made $500. for each of the ten wards to be expended under the direction of the street committee and the aldermen of the respective wards, and all the work to be done under the supervision of the Engineer. --- Page break --- 143 4 The stone work of the bridge on East Mesquite street is completed, but it will prove utterly worthless, unless the street is filled and graded. I recommend that this work be let out by contract to the lowest bidder by the street committee, upon specifications to be prepared by the City Engineer, and that the dirt for filling be taken from neighboring streets in need of grading. I make this recommendation in view of the fact that the teams and street force are needed in other portions of the City and upon other necessary works. I submit these suggestions for your consideration and ask your careful investigation of the same. I am very truly your obedient servant. J W Robertson Mayor Mayor + hospital The mayor and hospital Committee were authorized Com. to confer to confer with Judge Fulmore and make necessary with County offices arraingments for runnring the City & County hospital Alderman Maas moved that the mayor's message be referred to the proper committee motion adopted. Ord. $5000 for Alderman Schuher introduced an ordinance Street Imp. appropriating the sum of $5000 for the improvements on the streets of the City of Austin. The ordinance was read, Then read second and third times under suspension of the rules and passed by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Bellow, Wilde Campbell Schuher Vanderbilt, Maas, Warren, Driskell Crooker Odell Carrington, Holman, Erwin & Brennen, 14 Nays Alderman Pluth. Aldermen Hill, Metz and Brush came in and answered to their names The mayor submitted the following report of --- Page break --- 144 April 6th 1880 Communication of The formen of Colorado engine Cos and H. & L. Co No 1 in regard to the purchase of lots for Engine houses for said companies Engine houses Austin Texas April 6th 1880 To The Hon. City Council The undersigned appointed by the mayor as a special committee to select a suitable site for engine houses for Colorado Engine Co No 2 and Austin Hook & Ladder Co No 1. would respect fully report, that after a full and carefull exam ination, they have selected as the most suitable property for the purpose named the following, to wit; Thirty two feet by ninty two feet of Lot No 8 in Block 42 fronting Pine street which property is owned by Dock Day, and can be purchased for $1500. Mr Day proposes that one half of the wall shall be built on his land and he shall have the privilege of joining the same Very Respectfully Th. C. Jones Foreman Colorado No 2s. Wm H. Rulge Foreman H & L Co No 1. above report to Committee Alderman Underhill moved that the report be referred to a committee to consist of the chairman of the Fire Committee City Attorney and three alder men and that the committee be authorized to make necessary arrangements for the purchase of a site, select plans. etc. for a house for the Fire Companies Motion adopted. His honor appointed as the committee Alder men Underhill, Platt, & Crosker. Resolution about Street lamps in 7th ward Alderman Odell called up the following resolution which was adopted. Resolved, That the street committee in connection with the aldermen from the seventh ward are hereby instructed to locate in the seventhward Six street lamps. --- Page break --- 145 Alderman Platt moved to refer the matter of Gas supply and. contracts, to the water and Gas. Committee motion adopted. The water and. Gas Committee submitted the following report Austin Texas April 6" 1885 To the Hon. Mayor and City Council of the City of Austin. Your committee on Water & Gas to whom was referred an ordinance appropriating $5050. for payment of the water company's bill for the last half of the last year, and an ordinance appropriating $400. for connecting water closets, urinals etc. in City Jail etc with City sewer, respectfully report that they recommend that both ordinances do pass. Lewis Hancock R. Platt J. W. Driskill Alderman Crooker moved to take up the Ordinances as reported by the committee An Ordinance appropriating the sum of $5050. payment of hydrant rental due the City Water Co. from July, 1st 1884 to Jan 1st 1885 was taken up and read second Time Alderman Hill moved to amend the ordinance by striking out $5050. and inserting $4062. Alderman Crooker moved to lay the amendment on the table, motion to table carried by the following vote yeas Metz, maas, warren, Driskill, Crooker, Odell, Carrington, Colman, Platt, Erwin, Brush & Brennen. 12. Nays Aldermen Pillows, Wells, Campbell, Schubert Underhill & Hill, 6. The ordinance was read third Time under suspension of the rules and passed by the following vote yeas. Aldermen Metz, Pillows Wells Maas warren, Driskill Crooker Odell, Carrington Colman Platt, Erwin, Brush Brennen, Nays Aldermen Campbell Schubert Underhill and Hill, **[Left Margin Notes]** water & Gas Com on ord $5050. hydrants $400. sewer $5050 for hydrant rental. --- Page break --- 146 April 6th 1880 $400. to connect An Ordinance appropriating the sum of $400 for waterclosets connecting water closets and urinals, in the City with sewer Jail & City offices with the City sewer. Was called up and read second time. amendment. Alderman Pillows offered the following amendment. to be advertised. which was adopted. That the committee on sewers have charge of this work and that the same shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder after the usual advertisement. The ordinance was read third time under suspension of the rules and passed by the following Vote yeas aldermen Metz, Pillows, [illegible], Maas Warren, Diehl, Crooker, Odell, Carrington, Holman, Hill, Platt, Ervin, Brush, & Brenner, Nays Aldermen Wells, Campbell, Schubert & Underhill $5578.92. The Finance Committee introduced an ordinance acct. april appropriating the sum of $5578.92 for the april pay pay roll. roll and certain approved accounts. The Ordinance was read second and third time under suspension of the rules and passed by the following vote yeas Aldermen Metz, Pillows, Wells, Campbell, Schubert, Underhill, Maas, Warren Diehl, Crooker, Odell, Carrington, Holman, Hill Platt, Ervin, Brush, & Brenner, On motion the Council adjourned J. L. Purnell City Clerk.