Regular Meeting of the City Council Austin Texas April 20, 1885 Hon L. M. Brooker President of the Council presiding Roll call present Aldermen. Hancock, Odees, Hill & Marx Absent Aldermen, Schneider, Nolz, Pillow Wells, Campbell, Schubert, Underhills, Mack, Warren, Driskill, Carrington, Holmady, Ervin, Brush, Brennen & No quorum present. On motion the Council adjourned until Thursday April 23d 1885 at 8 o clock P.M. J. L. Purnell City Clerk --- Page break --- 148 Adjourned Regular meeting of the City Council Austin Texas April 23rd 1885 Hon. J. W. Robertson Mayor Presiding Present Aldermen Metz, Pillow, Hancock, Campbell, Moore, Warren, Crockett, Odell, Holman, Hicks, Plack 11 Absent Aldermen Schneider, Will, Wheeler, Under hill, Dinkie, Carrington, Erving, Brooks & Brennen 7 Engineer on Report of City Engineer condition of bridges in the condition City Read and referred to the Street committee of bridges To the Hon. City Council of the City of Austin Gentlemen- I would most respectfully by leave to submit to your honorable body a report of damages, sustained by the City to the streets and Bridges caused by the heavy rains of yesterday I have visited and inspected all the bridges in the City and find that the following have been damaged: Stone arch bridge on Plum/et shore creek, gone wooden bridge on Cedar street. . . Wagon bridge on Walnut street Little Shoal Creek, gone Bridge on Chestnut Street across waller creek: one half of the east wall gone wooden Bridge on Mulberry St over waller creek, gone Bridge on waller creek on Ash Street, gone foot bridge on waller creek crossing [illegible] & arc. Street partly gone north west wing wall of Arch bridge on Red River Street crossing waller creek, gone. South wall of the bridges on Robinson hill, near Barlezes Store, gone. I find the streets in a much bitter condition than could have been expected, owing to the heavy rains J. R. P. McGee April 23rd 1885 City Engineer Out of town Alderman Hancock presented a petition from R. Read was O'Brady asking the council to lease to him river walk part of the river walk at the foot of congress avenue for the purpose of building a house therein Referred to the Street committee --- Page break --- 149 Pet. of Mary Alderman Ourel presented a petition from Mrs Anderson Mary. A. Anderson. asking the council to refund to her $3.00 amount paid the City water company for mending water pipe blowed up by hand working on the streets for the City. Referred to the street committee. Pet. of J. S. Alderman Platt presented a petition from Driskill to wid- J. S. Driskill, asking that the council pass en. an ordinance granting him permission to widen the sidewalk two feet on the west side of Brazos street, from the corner of Bois D'arc to the corner of Pecan Street. On motion of Alderman Platt the grant Pet. Petition was granted and the city Attorney of Driskill was instructed to draw up an ordinance providing for the changes. asked for by Mr. Driskill Alderman Hancock; for the special committee appointed to select ground for cemetery purposes submitted the following report: Report of To the Mayor and City Council of the spec. Com. City of Austin on land for Your special committee to whom Cemetery pur- was referred the selection and recommendation poses. of land to be used for additional cemetery purposes, beg leave to report that they have had the same under consideration and recommend that the City make a proposition to Mr. Riley for the purchase of his twenty acre tract adjoining the present cemetery on the south. They believe, that notwithstanding the sanitary objection to burying the dead in or near a town, it is a wise policy for the city to extend the present cemetery than to purchase a new and larger tract, and call attention to the following reasons therefor: 1st The number of families already supplied with lots on which but few interments have been made assure us that for a number of years the majority of the cities dead will be buried in the old cemetery although a new one was opened. --- Page break --- 150 April 23, 1880 2nd The purchase of a new and larger track would necessitate costly improvements, which the size of the City and its prospection growth do not warrant 3d. The history of older and larger Cities prove that the sanitary objections to a well regulated cemetery are not so great as to demand at this time a change in the City's policy. 4th That portion of the City in which the cemetery is situated is the least densely populated and in view of the fact that the latter cannot be removed, is likely to remain so. Your committee report that the tract of land proposed by Mr Shands in this connection is too far from town to be available. Believing that certain changes should be made in the management of the Cemetery, your committee beg leave to offer and earnestly recommend to your attention the following suggestions, applicable to any ground used for cemetery purposes First- That all graves shall be required to be at least six (6) feet deep Second- That lots be graduated in value, ranging from $50. to $150. per lot, according to choice of location Third- That a certain number of lots be set apart to be sold in single graves Fourth- That no person be allowed to buy or own lots for the purpose of speculation, and that proof of such owner ship shall result in a forfeiture to the City. Fifth- That stringent regulations be adopted for securing for all lots sold. Sixth- That in case of purchase of the Riley tract, the north east corner be used for single graves, and the south east corner be used for paupers. Hancock, Bush, Barrons, Wilmer, Committee. --- Page break --- 151 Alderman Hancock submitted the following report on additional grounds to be used for the burial of persons of color Land for To the mayor and City Council of the City cemetery. of Austin burial of The undersigned members of your Special negroes. committee to whom was referred the matter of recommending a site for additional cemetery facilities, beg leave to report that they recommend that the City make a proposition to the proper parties for the purchase of the three and one half acres, more and less, belonging to the Bucket heirs, and lying north of that part of the present cemetery used for the purpose of burial of negroes, the said land to be used for the burial of persons of color Hancock Barron. adopting The reports were adopted by the following reports vote yeas aldermen Mitz, Pillow, Hancock, Campbell Martin & maas 6 nays aldermen Crocker, Odell, Holman, Heil, and Clark 5. Discharge Alderman Hancock moved that the Com. on committee appointed to purchase a site for house Lot. Engine houses be dismissed and that the for engine Mayor be authorized to purchase from Mr. Day house mayor the lot recommended by the foremen of Colorado to purchase Engine Co. & Austin H.&L.Co. at a price not to Day lot exceed $1500.00 Motion adopted. On motion of Alderman Hancock the Police Com. Police committee were requested to report on retaining to report on an ordinances amending an ordinance prohibiting and to pound hogs from running at large ord Alderman Heath moved that the mayor be authorized [illegible] to and requested to settle the case Krause vs. the City of settle Krause case --- Page break --- 152 April 23d 1868. Austin as he may deem best, at a sum not to exceed $500.00 Motion adopted. Resolution A Resolution offered by alderman Campbell, directing Mkt limits the City Attorney to draw up an ordinance establishing tabled. market limits, was laid on the table. Resolution A Resolution offered by alderman Hancock Council O.d requesting the ordinance committee to draw up tabled. an ordinance establishing a pound, was laid on the Table. Alderman Maas introduced the following resolution which was adopted: Resolved by the City Council of the City of Resolution Austin moo jus That the market house committee be requesto convrsion ted to make an estimate of the expense of remov- ing the City jail to the first floor of the Market House and to frame an ordinance accordingly and report at the next meeting of the council and remodel the second story. Place globes The City Marshall was instructed to have ngas jets globes placed over the gas jets in the council chamber