161 Regular meeting of the City Council. Austin Texas May 18, 1885 Hon. J. W. Robertson, Mayor Presiding Present aldermen Schneider, Parsons, Hummell, Campbell, Schubert, Vonderhiel, Warren, Odell, Holman, Brush & Brenner, 11 Absent Aldermen Mily, Wells, Mead, Driskill, Crooker, Currington, Hill, Clark & Ervin. 9. On motion of Alderman Schubert a call of the council was ordered and the marshal sent after the absentees. Alderman Clark came in and answered to his name On motion a call of the council was suspended Alderman Odell presented a petition City of from G. W. Weavord asking that permission G. W. Weavord be granted him to erect platform scales on East Pecan arc street, three blocks from the Avenue front of Block 87. Referred to the street committee for location of said scales under direction of street committee and City engineer, Petition granted. A. W. French on fire cisterns A communication was read from A. W. French chief of the Austin Fire department suggesting that all fire cisterns be inspected and repaired, Referred to the Street Committee and City Engineer. Alderman Wells came in St. Com. on Pet of Green Hamilton The Street committee submitted the following report on the petition of Green Hamilton asking for damages caused by the overflow of Waller creek. To the Hon. Mayor and City Council of the City of Austin Gentlemen – your committee to whom --- Page break --- 162 May 18th 1885 was referred the within petition, beg leave to report that they have had the same under due consideration and would most respectfully recommend that petition be not granted for the following reasons Viz: The ground where said house was built on is as low as the creek side by about three feet and certainly was known to said party that said property was subject to overflows. Petitioner further states in his petition that it would not have washed away his house if said bridge had been properly constructed, by claiming that said bridge was built perpendicular, all of which is not the case said bridge being built parallel with red river street and at right angles with Mesquite street. Respectfully J. Schubert Chairman Street Committee The report was adopted by the following vote: yeas aldermen Schneiders, Pillow, Hancock, Wells, Campbell, Schubert, Underhill, Warren, Coleman Brush & Brenner, 10. Nays aldermen Odell & Plath Finance The Finance committee submitted the following report on an ordinance providing salaries on ord. to for officers of the Fire Dept. to wit: Pay officers To the Hon. Mayor and City Council of of Fire Dept the City of Austin. Gentlemen:- Your committee to whom was referred the within ordinance, allowing pay to the Chief, assistant chief, and Recorder of the Austin Fire Department, also pay to one tillerman each for Hook & Ladder Co. No 1, and Hook and Ladder company No 2, beg leave to report that they have carefully considered the matter and recommend the passage of the ordinance so far as it relates to paying two tillermen but unfavorably as to paying the Chief, assistant chief & Recorder; Respectfully J. M. Odell Lewis Hancock R. Plath --- Page break --- 163 Further time Mkt. house Com. on ord. Mkt. limits The market house committee were granted further time in which to report an ordinance in regard to markets and markets limits Alderman Veit moved to lay the whole matter on the table motion to table lost. Police com. on ord. to amend an ordinance hog pound & roving hogs. Report of the Police committee on an ordinance amending an ordinance in regard to impounding hogs. To the hon. J. W. Robertson, Mayor of the City of Austin: Sirs- your committee on Police to whom was referred the within ordinance, beg leave to report the same back with the recommendation that the same do not pass. Respectfully J. P. Schneider R. J. Hill W. J. Brennen Report laid over. Police Com. on Pet. of Geo. H. Carrington asking pay for hog impounded and sold by the City. for hogs. Report of the Police committee on petition of George H. Carrington asking pay for hog impounded and sold by the City. Report adopted. To the hon. J. W. Robertson, Mayor of the City of Austin: Sirs- your committee on Police to whom was referred the within petition beg leave to report the petition and recommend that the same be refered back to the petitioner and for him to seek recourse against said officers in the Accordine court. Respectfully J. P. Schneider R. J. Hill W. J. Brennen Report of the water & Gas committee on lighting the streets. To the Hon. Mayor and City Council of the City of Austin: --- Page break --- 164 May 18th 1885 Water & Gas Your committee to whom was referred a Comb. on Lighting proposition of the Capital Gaslight Company the streets to light the streets of the City at the price of $1.75 per lamp per month, respectfully recommended that the same be accepted and that the mayor be authorized to enter into a contract for said street lighting for a period of not less than two years. Respectfully Lewis Hancock R. Plath The report was adopted. Alderman Metz, came in and answered to his name. Ordinance Alderman Odell for the Finance committee levying ad valorem submitted an ordinance levying an ad valorem new tax for Tax of one per centum on all property real and 1885 personal within the City of Austin made taxable for State and county purposes for the year A.D. 1885. The ordinance was read first time. The rules were suspended and the ordinance read second time under suspension of the rules by the following vote yeas, Aldermen Schneider, Metz, Pillows, Hancock, Wells, Campbell, Schubert, Underhill, Warren, Odell, Holman, Plath, Brush & Brenner 14. On motion to suspend the rules and read the ordinance third time was carried by the following vote yeas Aldermen Schneider, Metz, Pillows Hancock, Wells, Campbell, Schubert, Underhill, Warren, Odell, Holman, Plath, On motion the ordinance passed by the following vote yeas Aldermen Metz, Schneider, Pillows Hancock, Wells, Campbell, Schubert, Underhill Warren, Odell, Holman, Plath, Brush & Brenner Ordinance Alderman Odell submitted an ordinance levying tax entitled an ordinance levying an advalorem for schools tax of one third of one percentum on all property for 1885 real and personal within the City of Austin --- Page break --- 165 made taxable for state and County purposes for the year A.D. 1885; (for the support of the pub lic free schools in said city. The ordinance was read, Then read second and third times under suspension of the rules by the following vote. Yras Aldermen Metz, Pilow, Hancock, Welles, Campbell, Schuber, Underhill, warring, Odell, Holman, Platt, Brush and Brennen Schneider 14. The ordinance passed by the following vote Yras Aldermen Schneider, Metz, Pilow Hancock, Welles, Campbell, Schuber, Underhill, warring, Odell, Holman, Platt, Brush, & Brennen. Ordinance Alderman Hancock introduced an ordinance authorizing a entitled an Ordinance authorizing a contract contract with the with the Capital Gaslight company for lighting Capital Gaslight Co to light the streets streets The ordinance was read second and third times under suspension of the rules and passed by the following vote: Yras Aldermen Metz, Schneider, Pilow, Hancock, Welles, Campbell, Schuber, Underhill, warring, Odell, Holman Brush Platt and Brennen 14 Board of The Mayor submitted the following appraisers nominations as the board of appraisers for 1885 and Equalization for the year 1885 on motion of Alderman Hancock the nominations were confirmed. Austin City May 18th 1885. Gentlemen of the City Council. I respectfully ask your consent and advice to the following appointments to-wit; Aldermen J. Schuber, B. warring, and R. J. Hill and Messrs. Halen Crow and John P. Kirk as the board of appraisers & equalization on the assessment of City property for taxes for the year A.D. 1885. Respectfully J.W. Robertson Mayor --- Page break --- 166 May 18th 1885 Ord #704. to providing for paving gutters Alderman Schneider call up an ordinance providing for paving the gutters on congress avenue and appropriating therefor. The ordinance was read second time, The motion to suspend the rules and read the ordinance third time, was lost. Resolution police force from 12. Alderman Breverzin introduced a resolution providing for the increase of the Police force to twenty members, exclusive of the Marshal & Sargeant of Police. The motion to lay the resolution on the table was lost. Read first time and then referred to the Police committee. Resolution on stoppage of Water supply Alderman Hancock offered the following resolution which was adopted Be it resolved, That the City Council view with great concern and apprehension, the present entire stoppage of the City's water supply, and can see no excuse for the existence of such a state of affairs. Be it resolved, That the mayor is requested to investigate the matter and report to the council what steps if any can be taken to prevent a reoccurrence of this calamity, and to compell the water company to supply the water for which City and citizens pay so high a price On motion the Council adjourned F. G. Purnell City Clerk