207 Regular meeting of the City Council Austin Texas August 17, 1885 Hon J. W. Robertson Mayor, presiding. Present-Aldermen Pillow, Hancock, Eells, Turnblott, Schuber, Underhill, Maas, Warren, Brooker, Ovrell, Carrington, Holman, Hill, Clark, Brennen - 15 Absent-Aldermen - Mortz, Schneider, Driefit, Beuths and Ervin - - 5. Minutes of Aug 3rd 1885 adopted. Pet. Citizens Alderman Hill presented a petition signed by grade East citizens living east of east avenues asking that mesquite an appropriation be made to grade Mesquite street St. east from east avenue for two blocks so as to make a direct route to congress avenues by way of the new bridge over waller creek, on Mesquite street. Referred to the street committee Alexanders On recommendation of the mayor, balance of fine fine remitted due by Charles Alexander was remitted. Glen Drummen On recommendation of W. J. Rush, City Physician, release The city marshal was authorized to release Glen Drummen from prison. Pet. of S.J. Alderman Brennen presented a petition from Candleberry S.J. Candleberry, asking permission to be allowed to moorhouse move a house on the town walk, near the old tannery, [illegible] stating he would pay a rental for the same, and vacate the land when ever notified by the council so to do. Referred to the street committee. D.W.French D. W. French Chief of the Austin Fire department, 800 feet petition for $800. feet of new hose and four new of hose nozzles, for use of the fire department. Referred to the Fire committee. Street on Report of the street committee on the petition Petition of A. K. Sheldon, Joseph Fischer, and Earnest Mayer Alley Byrd E. --- Page break --- 208 Regular Meeting August 1885 To the Hon. Mayor and City Council of the City of Austin. We the committee to whom was referred the petition asking the opening of alley in Block 4, div. E, have had the same under due consideration and would recommend that petition be granted, and the city engineer is and is hereby instructed to have said parties notified to open the alley prayed for Respectfully submitted Schubert Chairman of the Street committee Report adopted. Appropr- Alderman Crooker presented the following report on the commission petition of A.H. Carrington, to erect a shed on Lot 6, Block 60. on Part of A.H. would recommend that the within petition be granted Carrington Respectfully submitted G. W. Crooker, Chairman of Fire committee A.M. French, Chief of A. F. Dept. Wm. Von Rosenberg, Assistant Chief A. F. Dept. Wm. Salge, Foreman of H. & L. Co. No. 1. P. A. Smith Foreman of H. & Ladder Co. No. 6 Report adopted, and permission granted to erect shed Specom on Alderman Orell for the special committee submitted Act of S.E. the following report on the petition of S.E. Daniels: Daniels To the Mayor & City Council: Gentlemen:- Your committee to whom was referred the within petition of S.E. Daniels, beg leave to report that they have made proper investigations and believe his petition should be granted; we submit herewith Mr. Daniels affidavit as to the truth of his claim as set forth in his petition, and recommend that his petition be granted. Respectfully J. M. Orell, L. Hancock, Report adopted. D. J. Hill Special committee --- Page break --- 209 spec. com on Alderman Platt submitted the following report of charges against the Special committee to whom was referred the petition Chenneville of H. Benjamin: To the Hon. City Council. Your special committee to whom was referred the charges and complaints of H. Benjamin against Police Sergeant Chenneville, beg leave to report that, after a careful examination of the written charges, and due consideration of all outside information on the subject, and from what your committee have been able to learn of the complaints, that in the opinion of the committee, the charges are with out substantial foundation, and the complainant a distinguished member of the grand army of "cranks;" wherefore the committee beg to be discharged. Respectfully R. Platt B. C. wells B. S. Pillow. Adopted, and committee discharged. S.H.Wheles Alderman Hill submitted a communication elling from S. H. Wheles, working recent proposition to land for sell to the city his place for a cemetery, and submitcemetery ting instead a proposition to sell to the city his tract of land at $600. $000. payable April 1st 1880 the remainder of the purchase money to be paid out of the sale of lots and the entire price to bear interest from date at 10 per cent per annum, and making a transfer of said land without retaining vendor's lien on the same. Laid over. Dept. of Erwin The following report of Alderman Erwin, on purchase chairman of the cemetery committee, was read of land for and laid over. cemetery To the Mayor & City Council of the City of Austin. Gentlemen:- At the last regular meeting of the city council, there was a report made by each of the two members of the cemetery committee --- Page break --- 210 D.W. August 17th 1885 as to the advisability of purchasing the eight acre tract adjoining the present Cemetery- from Mr Palm for cemetery purposes. The subject is of such vital importance to the health and well being of the city, that I feel it an imperative duty to give expression to my views and feeling on the subject, more so as I am a member of the cemetery committee. I will not attempt to discuss the subject from a sanitary point of view, for I believe some months ago, almost every prominent Physician in the city signed a petition against the purchase of this very tract, testifying that it would endanger the lives of all the residents of the eastern portion of the city. If the advice of our most noted medical men fail to move us to reject this proposition to perpetuate a cemetery in our midst, surely it is useless to add any thing more on this point. But there is an other point of view from which it should be looked at viz: A large number of our best citizens live in that part of the city and many more will soon build if the proposed purchase is abandoned Otherwise they will not build, property will depreciate in value, and many how have invested their small means in a home will not only lose the expected profit on their investment, but may be compelled to leave their homes entirely, as they surely would in case of an epidemic of cholera, which is so very likely to have- Certainly by next year. I cannot see why why aldermen will persist in voting to perpetuate a nuisance so horrible and so burdensome to our citizens, why cant we compromise our differences by purchasing the Stiles or Wheeler tract, or better than either, give encouragement to the syndicate that has been formed, provided they will furnish the best land in the best locality on the best possible terms, I most certainly say with all the emphasis possible, do not buy the Palm tract. Very Respectfully Wm Erwin Chairman Cemetery committee --- Page break --- 211 Ordinance Alderman Hill submitted an ordinance entitled to purchase an ordinance providing for the purchase of wherlin land for the purpose of a new cemetery and but for providing for certain regulations with reference cemetery thereto, and making an appropriation to carry the same into effect. The Ordinance was read first time. The motion to suspend the rules and read the ordinance a second time was lost. Ordinance An Ordinance entitled an Ordinance providing addition for the purchase of land and the enlargement of to cemetery the city cemetery, and providing for certain improvements and regulations in reference thereto, and making an appropriation to carry the same into effect, was called up. Alderman Crooker moved to lay the ordinance on the table. Motion lost by the following vote Yeas-- Aldermen Pillow, Crooker, Odell, Carrington, Holman, Clark, & Punnell -- 7 Nays- Alderman Hancock, Wille, Campbell, Schubtz, Underhill, Maas, Warren, & Hire - 8 On Motion the Council adjourned P. H. Punnell City Clerk