170 Regular Meeting of the City Council Austin, Texas, June 15, 1885 Hon. J. W. Robertson, Mayor, Presiding Present - Aldermen Pillow, Hancock, Wells, Schubert, Underhill, Maas, Warren, Carrington, Holman, Clack, Buckland, Brenneke. - 12 Absent. Aldermen Schneider, Metz, Campbell, Driskill, Crooker, Odell, Hill, and Ewing, - 8 On motion a call of the council was ordered and the marshal sent after the absentees. call of the council suspended. August Cameron The petition of August Cameron asking permission to erect platform scales in the rear of Lot 6 Block 59. Pecan street, was read and referred to the street committee. L. E. Daniels L. E. Daniels petitioned to have the taxes of 1884 assessed against the improvements on lots 15 & 16 in Block 86, East Austin, remitted, as said improvements were made after January 1st 1884. Referred to a committee of 3. Aldermen and city attorney. Citizens. water trough. Pecan & 6. avenue Alderman Clack presented a petition from many citizens asking that a water trough be erected at the corner of Pecan and East Avenue Referred to the street committee. Aldermen Metz, Crooker, Schneider, & Campbell came in. Ned Brown Ned Brown petitioned for pay for time of his back lost by being laid off to be disinfected after transporting Ned Crow from the depot to his home Referred to the hospital committee. C. S. Nitschke Repairs on cemetery C. L. Nitschke petitioned for an appropriation of $30.00 for repairs of walks and ditches in the City Cemetery Referred to the cemetery committee The trustees of the Episcopal church petitioned --- Page break --- 171 Episcopal Church have San Jacinto Streets between Bois d’arc and Hickory Trustees streets graded so as to make it passable for carriages Referred to the street committee J. M. Coope J. M. Coope petitioned the council to adopt the Harden’s Improved Grenade fire extinguisher for the protection of the City’s public buildings Referred to the Fire committee Marshalls Marshalls report for May 1885 Report for May Police force assessed 402.25 1885 Cash from fines 388.00 Worked out 198.00 Appealed 50.45 Turned over to the county 4.70 Due by scapias. 99.40 Due by prisoners. 41.80 Jury fees 3.00 Cash from Back fines 62.50 72.50 worked out 207.90 Referred to the Police committee Sextons report for May 1885 shows Total deaths 36. White 10. Colored 12. Mexicans 1. male 12. female 14 Referred to the cemetery committee. Austin Texas June 1st 1885 City Physician Hon. Mayor and Board of Aldermen smallpox Gentlemen:– In accordance with your Dr. H. C. Crow instructions on the 23rd ult, Mr. H. H. Crow who was suffering from a modified small pox or varioloid, was moved out side of the city limits. His quarters were made comfortable and he had every care and attention due a sick man. He has entirely recovered from his attack of varioloid and returned to the city. A positive and substantial quarantine was established, and notwithstanding, there had been several exposures to him before he was isolated, I am happy to report there have no other cases in the city. I hope in future no such wilde and --- Page break --- 172 June 15th 1885 sensational efforts as were recommended by some citizens, will soon meet approval or encouragement in this city. Mr. Howe's house was thoroughly fumigated and disinfected. All the clothing, carpets, trunks and etc., in his room were moved and burnt. or thoroughly disinfected. I have had the tents and the bed clothing, purchased for nurses & guards fumigated and disinfected and left them in charge of Mr. Hugh Anderson at the small pox quarters, I now ask what disposition I must make of them? as we are liable to have cases of small pox in this city at any time, it would be a wise precaution to erect a suitable building for this purpose and have them ready for any emergency. If the city will build a good comfortable house for the reception and treatment of small pox patients, I think there will be but little difficulty in removing any person so afflicted from the City. But if the city fails to make sufficient and satisfactory provisions for taking care of and treating small pox patients, then we must expect difficulties, contentions and opposition. Provide good, substantial, and secure quarters for this class of patients and the city is then in a position to ask any sick citizen to move beyond her limits. Don't forget that a man is a neighbor and citizen, though he may have small pox, and it be our duty to see him cared for in the best possible way. All of which is respectfully submitted W. J. Burt, M. D. City Physician I hand herewith the monthly report of the City and county hospital for may. Showing 1 juror in hospital may 1. 8 were admited during the month - 1 died from consumption and 9 have been discharged leaving in hospital June 1st, 12 patients --- Page break --- 173 There is but 16 public beds for patients - 4 for male and female colored, 3 for female white & 9 for male white, it is impossible to accommodate all the sick-poor, deserving charitable care and treatment with this number of beds Yours Respectfully W. J. Curts, M. D. City Physician E. D. Johns. Codify ord. A communication was received from E. D. Johns, Recorder, recommending that the council have the ordinances of the City codified and published at the earliest day possible as it was almost impossible to ascertain which are in force and which are not, as many have been amended, repealed, changed and reenacted Referred to the ordinance committee Treasurer for May 1885 Report of the City Treasurer for the month of May, 1885 Balance on hand April 30. $1,576.13 Received from Assessor & Collector $30,579.40 Credits $4,937.72 cash balances May 31st $27,687.91 unappropriated $6,793.70 Referred to the Finance committee Police com' on Resolution Report of the Police committee on a resolution fixing the number of regular Policemen at 20. Report adopted Hon. J. W. Robertson, Mayor Your committee on police to whom was referred the within resolution, recommend the same, but as it involves a matter of finances would further recommend that the same be referred to the Finance committee Respectfully etc, J. P. Schneider A. J. Hile W. J. Brennen --- Page break --- 174 June 15th 1885 Report of Mayor on purchasing the Reilly tract purchase of for cemetery purposes Riley tract of land. Austin Texas June 15, 1885 Gentlemen of the City Council Upon receiving the report of the special committee on cemetery grounds some weeks ago, you directed me to make arrangements for the purchase of twenty acres of ground lying south of the present cemetery as recommended by the committee. In obedience to this instruction, I have endeavored to make such terms with the owner of the land as would enable the City to conclude the purchase, but I have failed. The price asked is $600. per acre, amounting to $12,000.00 and this amount in full is required before any sale can be made. The condition of the treasury and the demands from other quarters is such that we cannot spare this large sum of money at this time, I therefore report that the purchase cannot be made at present. Perhaps it would be well to refer this question back to the same or another select committee for their further action. Very Truly, ect, J. W. Robertson, Mayor. Resolution Brush com; of one purchase Riley tract Alderman Hancock introduced the following resolution which was adopted: Be it Resolved that alderman Brush be appointed a committee of one to confer with Mr. Reilly or his agent, and to arrange a trade for the purchase of the land adjoining the cemetery on the south side, trade to be reported to the council for its confirmation $10,050.31 accounts The Finance committee introduced an ordinance appropriating the sum of $10,050.31 for the payroll for June, 1885, and approved accounts. The ordinance was read second time under suspension of the rules. On motion of alderman Crooker The ordinance --- Page break --- 175 was amended by adding $200.00 for W. J. Burt to reimburse him for losses incurred while attending small pox patients. Alderman Plath moved to further amend by adding $40.00 for Ned Green hire of hack laid up while being disinfected after transporting Mr Crow from depot. to his home. Alderman Booker moved to amend Alderman Plath's motion by inserting $35.00 instead of $40.00. The amendment to insert $35.00 was adopted. The ordinance was read third time under suspension of the rules, and passed by the following vote. Yeas- Aldermen Schneider, Metz, Pilsen, Hancock, Wells, Schuber, Unsoeld, Thomas, Warren Booker, Carrington, Holman, Plath, Brush, & Brenneman. Nays Alderman Campbell, 1 Ordinance trespassing to prevent upon R.R. property. Alderman Hancock introduced an ordinance to prevent minors from trespassing upon Railroad property in the corporate limits of the City of Austin, and prescribing a punishment therefor. The ordinance was read second and Third times under suspension of the rules & passed by a two thirds vote. Ordinance authorizing the transfer of licenses Alderman Schuber introduced an ordinance authorizing the transfer of occupation licenses Read first Time and then referred to the ordinance Committee. Alderman Plath moved that the City Physician be authorized motion to sell tent at small pox camp to sell tent at lately purchased for use at small pox camp. The motion to table the motion of Alderman Plath was lost. Alderman Hancock offered the following resolution as a substitute for the motion of Alderman Plath. adopted. Resolved that the City Physician be authorized to burn all articles actually exposed to infection and to store the balance in the hospital. On motion the council adjourned P. L. Pilsen City Clerk