153 Regular meeting of the City Council. Austin Texas May 04, 1885 Horn J. W. Robertson Mayor Presiding Present aldermen Schneider, Hancock, Campbell, Schubert, Warren, Crooker, Carrington, Oatt, Holman, Hart & Brunewll Absent. Aldermen Metz, Tillotson, Walker, Underhill, Maas, Driskill, Hill, Ewing, & Brush. On motion of Alderman Crooker a call of the council was ordered and the marshal sent, after the absentees, Aldermen Metz, Driskill, Maas, Underhill and Brush came in and answered to their names, Call of the Council Suspended Minutes of April 20, & 23 1885 adopted Pet. of Green Green Hamilton Petitioned for $36.50 damage Hamilton loss on property caused by the overflow of Waller creek. claimed to have been caused by the City building a bridge over Waller creek. Referred to the Street committee Alderman Crooker presented a petition Pet. A. H & L from Austin H. & L. Co No 1. and Colorado Engine Co & Col Eng. Co No 2. embracing a resolution passed by said Cos. locate companies, asking that their company Engine on mkt house house be located on lots 10. 11. 12. Block 98 part of market house hill, provided that the council will have Hickory street graded. On motion the petition was granted. reconsider On motion of Alderman Hancock the vote purchase by which the motion was carried authorizing of lots from the mayor to purchase from Dock Day lot "H" Day, erect an engine house. was reconsidered. --- Page break --- 154 May 4th 1884 regular order of Business Suspended The regular order of business was suspended by a two thirds vote, to take up the ordinance locating the engine house on market house hill Ordinance locating Ladder Co. No 1. and Fire Eng Co. No 2. Providing for the grad- ing of Hickory Street to Congress avenue? the erection of a suitable buil- ding Alderman Crooker introduced an ordinance entitled an ordinance locating Austin Hook & Ladder Co. No 1. and Colorado Steam Fire Engine Co No 2, Providing for the grading of Hickory Street to Congress Avenue? the erection of a suitable building and making an appropriation of $2500. therefor refer ord. to com. Alderman Oluth moved to refer the ordinance and the matter of locating the fire department to a committee On motion of Alderman Hancock the motion to refer was laid on the table The ordinance was read first time then read second time under suspension of the rules. amendment Alderman Hancock offered the following amendment in lieu of section one, which was adopted That Fifty feet front by one hundred feet deep off the east side of Lots 10, 11, & 12 of Block 98. be set aside for the purpose of erecting thereon an engine, meeting and other rooms, for Austin Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1. & Colorado Steam Fire Engine Co No 2. Amendment Alderman Hancock offered the following amendment to section 2: and moved that all after the words "City Engineer" be struck out, amendment and motion adopted. The chief of the Fire Department and one member from each company, to be selected by their respective companies as a building committee amendment Alderman Campbell moved to further amend section 2 by striking out all after the word, "Provided" amendment adopted. --- Page break --- 155 The motion to strike out section three was adopted. Amendment Alderman Hancock offered the following amendment to section 4. which was adopted, and the sum of $1000. or as much thereof as may be necessary, shall be used for the excavation therefor and grading Hickory Street. Passage of Ordinance' The ordinance was read the third time under suspension of the rules and passed by the following vote, Yeas aldermen Schneider, Under hill, Metz, Hancock, Campbell, Schubert, Maxve, Warens, Driskill, Crooker, Odell, Barrington, Leshman & Brennen Nays, Alderman Plath. Marshal Lee ask for com to investigate deficiencies in mar. office To the Honor's the Mayor and Board of Aldermen Gentlemen: — I would most respectfully ask that you appoint a committee to investigate certain deficiencies appertaining to the marshall's office Respectfully H. G. Lee City Marshal His Honor appointed as the committee the Police Committee. The market house committee submitted the Market house Com. on need of Mkt limits following report, To Hon J. W. Robertson, mayor, and Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin. Your committee on market houses, most respectfully beg leave to call your attention to a few facts in connection with the market houses. The city owns a house and sheds erected for market purposes that cost in the neighborhood of fifteen thousand dollars. This property if properly managed could be made to pay a revenue to the City of fifteen hundred or two thousand dollars per annum; whereas it now pays but a trifle and even that amount, the butchers who rent the stalls. feel that it is a --- Page break --- 156 May 4th 1885 hardship to pay, because of they have no protection and we think we are warranted in saying that when the time expires for which they have rented the stalls they will move out unless some sort of ordinance is adopted and enforced, which will protect them. The majority of the butchers in austin would rent stalls in the market houses if suitable regulations were adopted and rigidly enforced. If a suitable number of butchers were to come to the market houses, that would bring the vegetable dealers to the vegetable stalls, which would enable the marshal to rent the coffee stands, all of which would be a convenience to the public, a source of income to the City, and a matter of economy to the butchers and vegetable dealers who are now paying very high rents for market stalls on private property, and of course charge it up to the consumers who buy their products. Another thing which seems to have been lost sight of is the condition upon which the city holds its title to the ground upon which the market house is built. The act of the legislature granting this property to the City, expressly provides that when it is converted to any other use than for a market house and city hall, the property shall revert to the state. Should the butchers all abandon the market houses, certainly there would be no market held on the property and let not those who are opposed to having a market house "lay the flattering unction to their souls" that we can build a market house on market square. That property was deeded to the state in part payment for this market house property, and it would require a special act of the Legislature to cancel the deed, which, in the opinion of our committee, would be a great while before it was done. These suggestions are made for the consideration of your hon orable body, and most respectfully submitted. Campbell Brush market house lessees May 11th 1885 --- Page break --- 157 The market house committee and city attorney were requested to draw up an ordinance in regard to markets and market limits and submit the same at the next meeting. Sexton for april The sextons report for april 1885 Total death 18 white 11. colored 7. Male 10. Female 8. Referred to the Committee of Cemetery Marshal for april City Marshals report for april 1885 Total Fines for April $280 25/100 Cash from fines $65 52/100 Fines worked out $218 25/100 appropriated carried forward $57 62/100 Cash from back fines $92 50/100 Referred to the Police Committee Assr & Col for Qr ending April Assessors & Collectors report for the Quarter ending April 1885 By Income of Advalorum Tax 1884 $31,312.84 '' '' '' 1883 8.40 '' '' Back Taxes 1.70 '' '' Licenses 1,598.91 '' '' Cemetery 250.00 '' '' Recorders Court 1,147.90 '' '' Ground rents 55.00 '' '' Miscellaneous 45.75 $34,090.44 By Treasurers receipts $34,090.44. School tax for the Quarter collected and Turned over to the Treasurer of Public Schools. $10,055.28 Treasurer for april Report of the City Treasurer for april 1885 Balance on hand March 30. 1885 $34,167.31 received from the assessor & Col. 7,921.76. $42,088.57 Credits $10,518.34. Balance 31,570.23 Total $42,088.57 Referred to the Finance committee Clerk for Qr end. April 1885 Report of the City Clerk for the Quarter ending April 30. 1885 shows total warrants issued for the Quarter $18,955.89 referred to the finance com mittee --- Page break --- 158 May 4th 1885 Street Com estimate cost of Bridges To the Hon. Mayor and City Council of the City of Austin Gentlemen— We, the street committee would most respectfully submit for your consideration the following estimate made by the city engineer of amounts necessary to repair or rebuild Bridges in the City damaged by the late heavy rains Wing Wall on Red River Street $800.00 Bridge on shoal creek Walnut street $400.00 Bridge on east walnut street $240.00 Foot bridge on North Avenue $100.00 Foot Bridge on ash street $80.00 Wagon bridge on east walnut street $308.00 Plum st. Bridge shoal creek $1,800.00 Bridge on street near Boccuti's store 60.00 Grading at East Mesquite Street Bridge Waller creek $1100.00 Foot Bridge on Bois d'arc Street Waller creek $30.00 Total $4,918.00 we especially call your attention to the item of $800. for the wing wall of the Bridge at the crossing of Waller creek and red river street. unless repaired at once may cause serious damage to the Bridge. We herewith submit an ordinance appropriating the amount necessary to make the above repairs and would respectfully ask that the ordinance do pass. Schuber Holman Streets on Pet of Mrs anderson Report of the street committee on the Petition of Mrs Mary. W. Anderson. asking pay for water pipe. placed across street gang working on that street. report adopted. would recommend that the petition be not granted Schuber Streets on Pet of H.E. church Report of the street committee on Petition from H.E. church. asking a drain in Block 160. be repaired, opened, and cleaned. would respectfully recommend that petition be granted and the city Engineer be instructed to have the drain so repaired. Schuber Chairmn --- Page break --- 159 Streets on Pet of W.A. Read. Street committee report on the petition of Wm. C. of W.A. Read for leave of part of river walk at foot of avenue. Report adopted Would recommend that petition be granted. Schuber Appropriation $3,974.17- The Finance committee submitted an ordinance appropriating the sum of $3,974.17 for the pay roll for May 1888 and approved accounts The ordinance was read second time under suspension of the rules. The bills of the City water company and Hartigan & Thrall were referred to the Finance committee for approval of the city engineer. The ordinance was read third time under suspension of the rules and passed by the following vote yeas. Aldermen Mitz, Hancock Campbell, Schuber, Maas, Warren, Dickie Brooks, Odell, Carrington, Holman, Cleary, Bush & Brennen, Thys, Aldesken Schneider & Underhill. Ordinance rebuild bridges The street committee submitted an ordinance appropriating the sum of $4668.00 for repairing and rebuilding certain bridges in the City. The ordinance was read Second Time under suspension of the rules. The ordinance was then amended by striking out. $1100.00 for grading East Musquite street at the bridge and inserting $850.00 The ordinance was read Third Time under suspension of the rules and passed by the following vote yeas. Aldermen Schneider, Mitz, Hancock, Campbell, Schuber, Maas, Warren Dickie, Brooks, Odell, Carrington, Holman, Cleary, Brennen. 14 Nays. Aldermen Underhill & Platt. 2. The Mayor. submitted the following proposition for lighting the street with gas (Referred to the street com and gas committee. --- Page break --- 160 May 4th 1880. Proposition To the Hon Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin Gentlemen: we beg to submit the fore-going propo sition, namely -- To erect at once lamp posts, keep gaslight them in repair, furnish the gas, light and extinguish & light on every dark night at the rate of $12- per lamp post per month; Beginning on Live Oak street at the corner of Trinity street, west to Congress avenue, thence up Congress avenue to mesquite street, west on mesquite street to Lavaca street, thence north on Lavaca street to the university, and beginning at west avenue on Pecan street, thence easterly to the bridge on east Pecan street, and on each corner east and west of congress avenue, between Live Oak and Mesquite streets; the lamp posts to be located as your committee shall direct, and as we extend our mains, it shall be optional with you to locate additional lamps on the same terms, Respectfully Capital Gaslight Co. B. Van Steinberg Presdt On motion to Alderman Brennisen Submitted the following add to communication which was adopted, affid to examine Resolved that the mayor appoint Two members marshals of the City Council and the City attorney to act Books with the police committee in the examination of the Books of the City Marshals office His honor appointed as the Committee Aldermen Maas & Hoffman Committee Committee on locating the Fire Department, to locate building on market hill and Trading Hickory Street, Fire dept. Aldermen Schuber & Crooker. Building. On motion the Council adjourned. on Mkt hill T. H. Purcell. & traded Hickory St. City Clerk Read and approved May 18th 1880.