747 Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the City Council. Austin, Tex. July 16, 1894 Hon John McDonald, mayor, presiding. Roll call. Present. Aldermen Glass, Henne, Jackson, Nitschke, Raymond; 5. Absent. Aldermen Anderson, Assmann, Dawson, Fischer, Hanover, Rawless, Linn, North, Platt, Powell, Redd, Roberdean, Schneider, Shelley, Taylor, Townsend, Warmoth; 17 Alderman Nitschke moved that the council take a recess of five minutes. Carried. After expiration of recess the roll was again called which resulted as follows: Present - Aldermen Glass, Henne, Jackson, Nitschke, North, Platt, Raymond, Redd, Schneider, Taylor, Townsend; 11. Absent- Aldermen Anderson, Assmann, Dawson, Fischer, Hanover, Lawless, Linn, Powell, Roberdeau, Shelley, Warmoth - 11. Alderman Jackson moved that the council take a recess of five minutes. Adopted. After expiration of recess the roll was again called resulting as follows: Present- Aldermen Glass, Hanover, Henne, Jackson, Nitschke, North, Platt, Raymond, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Taylor, Townsend; 13 Absent- Aldermen Anderson, Assmann, Dawson, Fischer, Lawless, Linn, Powell, Roberdeau, Warmoth; 9 The minutes of the meetings of the city council held on the 2d 3d and 6th days of July, 1894, were adopted as printed. Aldermen Fischer, Anderson, Powell, Linn and Lawless entered the council and answered to their names. Reports of Committee. Duval property. Street. Alderman Jackson for the committee on street and alleys, to whom was referred the petition of citizens of the First Ward asking that a street be opened from West Fourth street to the International and Great Northern railroad through the Duval property, presented a report thereon, which states "that a strip of land, or a lot 50 by about 460 feet, can be had for $350, and as a street is needed in that locality, that the people living there may have an outlet to Fourth street, your committee recommends the purchasing of said lot as soon as the city is in a financial condition to do so, and as soon as any money can be expended on opening streets." The report was adopted. Alderman Schneider, for the committee on police, to whom was referred the city marshal's reports for the months of April, May and June, 1894, presented a report which states that said reports were examined and found to be correct. No action --- Page break --- 748 was taken on the report. Alderman Dawson entered the council and answered to his name. Fifth Street & c. Alderman Anderson for the special committee recently appointed to consider the question of obtaining a right of way for street purposes through the property lying between Bowie street and the intersection of West avenue and Fifth street so that the poles and wires for the electric light system might be placed on said property reported verbally that the poles and wires are now placed on the strip of land above described and that the committee had nothing further to report. Alderman North moved that the report be adopted, and the motion prevailed. Board of Equaliza- tion Orde Alderman North, for the special committee appointed to consider the advisability of amending the ordinan- ces of the city pertaining to the board of appraisers, reported an ordinance making numerous changes in the existing ordinances concerning said board and requested that it be laid over to come up under the head of new business and it was so ordered. Alderman Warmoth entered the council and answered to his name. Fifth street & c Alderman Powell moved that a special committee of three be appointed to take the necessary steps to open a street through the property lying between the intersection of Bowie and Fifth streets, and the intersection of West Avenue and Fifth streets. The motion prevailed and the chair appointed Aldermen Powell, Schneider and Fischer as the committee. Unfinished Business. License & Sale of Liquor Ord. The following named ordinances were taken up on their third reading, read and passed: "An ordinance to amend section 2 of an ordinance entitled 'an ordinance to regulate the sale of spirituous, vi- nous or malt liquors, levying an occupation tax on every person, firm or association of persons selling such liquors, to define the time and manner of collecting such tax, and fixing a penalty for the violation of the same; approved August 9, 1895" Passed by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Anderson, Dawson, Fischer, Glass, Hamecock, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Mitchell, North, Platt, Powell, Raymond, Redd, Schneider, Shelby, Taylor, Townsend, Warmoth; Total, 20. $125 Protection H. Co. No 3. An ordinance appropriating the sum of $125 for the purpose of repairing and painting hose carriage of Protection Hose Co No 3. Passed by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Anderson, Dawson, Fischer, Glass, Hamecock, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Mitchell, North, Platt, Powell, Raymond, Redd, Schneider, Shelby, Taylor, Townsend, Warmoth; Total 20. --- Page break --- 749 $157.70 E. A. H. Co No 4. An ordinance appropriating the sum of $157.70 for the purpose of repairing and paving in front of East Austin Hose Company, No 4, passed by the following vote: Yeas- Aldermen Anderson, Dawson, Fischer, Glass, Hancock, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Nitschke, North, Plath, Powell, Raymond, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Taylor, Townsend, Warmoth; total 20. $18,165.42 Expenses of W & L system. An ordinance appropriating the sum of $18,165.42 for the purpose of paying certain expenses connected with the construction of the Water and Light system for the city of Austin. Passed by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Anderson, Dawson, Fischer, Glass, Hancock, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Nitschke, North, Plath, Powell, Raymond, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Taylor, Townsend, Warmoth; total 20. $140 Fairview Bridge. An ordinance appropriating $140 for the purpose of repairing bridge in Fairview park. Passed by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Anderson, Dawson, Fischer, Glass, Hancock, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Nitschke, North, Plath, Powell, Raymond, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Taylor, Townsend, Warmoth; total 20. $500 Streets. An ordinance entitled "an ordinance appropriating the sum of $500 out of the revenue derived from the dog tax for extra labor on the streets" was taken up on its third reading and read. Alderman Linn by unanimous consent, moved to amend the caption and section one thereof by striking out the words "dog tax" and inserting in lieu thereof "general revenue". The amendment was adopted by the following vote: Yeas- Aldermen Anderson, Dawson, Fischer, Glass, Hancock, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Plath, Raymond, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Taylor, Townsend, Warmoth; total, 17. Nays- Aldermen Nitschke, North, and Powell; 3. The ordinance was then passed by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Anderson, Dawson, Fischer, Glass, Hancock, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Nitschke, Plath, Powell, Raymond, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Townsend, Warmoth; total 18. Nays, Aldermen North and Taylor; total 2. New Business. $11456.88 Expenses of W. & L. System. By Alderman North. An ordinance appropriating the sum of $11,456.88 for the purpose of paying certain expenses connected with the construction of the Water and Light system for the city of Austin. It was first time, after which motions were made to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its second and third readings and that it do now pass, each of which was a- dopted by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Anderson, Dawson, Fischer, Glass, Hancock, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Nitschke, North, --- Page break --- 750 Platt, Powell, Raymond, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Taylor, Townsend, Warmoth; total 20. The following proposals were read: Proposal [illegible] Elec Co. Austin, Tex, June 18, 1894. Hon John McDonald, Mayor and President Board of Public Works. Dear Sir: Our contract with you dated January 6, 1893, covers four multipolar generators of 100 K.W., i.e. 130 H.P. capacity each, wound for 500 volts, together with the usual station equipments. As a supplementary proposition we propose to ship you one-half of the equipment covered by said contract as follows: Two (2) multipolar generators of 100 K.W., or 130 H.P., each, wound for 500 volts, Two (2) bed plates, Two (2) field rheostats. Two (2) main switches, Two (2) ampere meters, Two (2) volt meters, Two (2) lightning arresters, Two (2) main cut boxes, and Two (2) circuit breakers. And in exchange for the other one-half of the equipment covered by said contract and as itemized above we will furnish: One (1) three phase alternating generator of 180 K.W. or 241 H.P. capacity, wound for 2,700 volts, One (1) 1 1/2 K.W. exciter with bed plate, Two (2) rheostats, One (1) tripple pole main line switch. Three (3) ampere meters, One (1) volt meter, Three (3) lightning arresters, Three (3) single pole, or one (1) tripple pole cut-out boxes. In addition to these we will furnish you twenty seven (27) transformers, each having a capacity of 7,500 watts, for reducing the voltage from 2,700 volts to 110 volts. It is understood that all of this apparatus is to be delivered by us to you at Austin, Tex, and that we shall set up the generators ready to belt to in your power station located at the dam across the Colorado river, two and a half miles west of the city of Austin. We will guarantee the practical and successful operation of the three phase system in transmitting power to be the most economical of any method now in use. The price and terms of payment specified in contract of Jan 6, shall remain unchanged. General Electric Company. By Edward J. O'Beirne. Austin, Tex, July 1, 1894. Honorable John McDonald, Mayor and President Board of Public Works, Austin, Tex: --- Page break --- 751 Dear Sirs In connection with the proposal of the General Electric Company submitted on the 18 ult., and our communication of same date, we would say to you that in view of the fact that one portion of the business center of the city is not receiving a fair and equal distribution of the tower lights, and in consideration of difference in cost of exchange of tri-phase for direct current generators, we will agree to furnish one tower 150 feet high, same as those called for in our contract with the City of Austin, free of charge to the city, in the event of your accepting the proposal submitted by the General Electric Company for the exchange of the power generators. This proposition on our part to furnish a tower free of charge is conditional that it will be located on the corner of Eighth and Brazos streets. We will also furnish three arc machines, "Wood" standard generators rated as 80 lighters each, each of which will run 100 lights if necessary, in lieu of the two 100 light arc machines called for in our contract. We will also waive the priviledge of using ground return on power circuit, as provided in our contract and confine ourselves to metallic circuits only, and will wire the power circuit at a loss not to exceed 10 per cent instead of 20 per cent as specified in our contract. Without considering these concessions we think it would be far better for the city to make the exchange, as the phase system has great advantages for distributing power over low pressure direct current, and the additional economy with which the current can be delivered is of itself a most important factor. There will be no additional cost to the city for any of the changes proposed by either the General Electric Company's proposition or this proposition. Trusting that this will receive your prompt and favorable consideration. Very truly yours, Ft. Wayne Electric Corporation By Edward J. O'Beirne I hereby certify that the foregoing propositions were accepted by the Board of Public Works at a meeting of said Board held July 10, 1894, and that they were referred to the city council, with the recommendation that the mayor be authorized to enter into contract in accordance with the terms of same. Milton Morris Acting Secretary Board of Public Works. Alderman Horn moved to refer the propositions to the committee on Water and Lights. Alderman Warmoth moved that the recommendations of the Board of Public Works be adopted. --- Page break --- 752 Alderman North moved to amend the motion made by Alderman Warmoth by adding thereto, "provided consent of all sureties to the existing contracts be first obtained." The amendment was accepted and the motion as amended was then adopted by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Anderson, Glass, Hancock, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, North, Platt, Powell, Shelley, Taylor, Townsend, Warmoth; total 13. Nays. Aldermen Dawson, Fischer, Linn, Nitschke Raymond, Redd, Schneider; total, 7. Board of Equaliza- tion Ordinance By Alderman North- An ordinance entitled "an ordinance to regulate and prescribe the powers and duties of the board of equalization, fix their number and compensation, and to consolidate into one ordinance the ordinances now existing on the subject of the Board of Equalization and to repeal the same." It was read, after which a motion was made to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its second reading; which was adopted by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Anderson, Dawson, Fischer, Glass, Hancock, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Nitschke, North Platt, Powell, Raymond, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Taylor, Townsend, Warmoth; total 20 The ordinance was accordingly read, after which Alderman Schneider moved to amend the same in section four, line five, by striking out the words "five days" and inserting instead the words "two weeks; as the length of time notice shall be given of the convening of the second session of the board, which shall be held for the purpose of hearing complaints of persons aggrieved at the valuation fixed by the board. Alderman Schneider also moved to amend the ordinance in section four, line thirteen, by striking out "ten" and inserting "five" days or more as the length of time the board may remain in session to hear complaints. Alderman Schneider also offered an amendment to section five, line five of the ordinance, by striking out "thirty" and inserting in lieu thereof "twenty" as the number of days the board shall remain in session for the purpose of fixing valuations. The amendments were offered as one amendment and were adopted as such by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Anderson, Dawson, Fischer, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Raymond, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Taylor, Warmoth; total, 15. Nays. Aldermen Glass, Hancock, Linn, North, Townsend; total, 5. Alderman Nitschke moved to amend the ordinance in section 5, last line by striking out "six" and inserting 'eight' hours as the number of hours --- Page break --- 753 each day such member of the board shall be required to attend the sessions of the board in order to be entitled to compensation. The amendment was adopted. Alderman Linn moved to amend section 2 of the ordinance in line two by striking out "three" and inserting in lieu thereof "five" as the number of citizens required to constitute the Board of Equalization. The motion was lost by the following vote: Yeas - Aldermen Hancock, Hume, Linn, Shelley, Townsend; 5 Nays - Aldermen Anderson, Dawson, Fischer, Glass, Jackson, Lawless, Nitschke, North, Platt, Powell, Raymond, Redd, Schneider, Taylor, Warmoth; 15. Alderman Anderson was excused from further attendance on the session of the council. A motion was made to suspend the rules and place the last above named ordinance on its third reading, which was adopted by a two-thirds vote of the whole council. The ordinance was then accordingly read and on motion passed by the following vote: Yeas - Aldermen Anderson, Dawson, Fischer, Glass, Hancock, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, Nitschke, North, Platt, Powell, Raymond, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Taylor, Townsend, Warmoth; total 18. Nay - Alderman Linn. The City Attorney was granted leave of absence for 10 days from July 19. inst. Alderman Nitschke moved that the city council do now proceed to elect a board of equalization. The motion prevailed and the chair appointed Aldermen Linn and Jackson as tellers. The following named persons were then placed in nomination: By Alderman Nitschke - Wm Wellman, J. B. Rogers. By Alderman Powell - R. C. Shelley. By Alderman Warmoth - E. V. Davis. By Alderman Fischer - R. M. Castleman. By Alderman Platt, by request of cit- izens, E. C. Brenmond, Lewis Hanover and Mr A. Taylor. By Alderman Shelley - F. L. Wren. By Alderman Schneider - A. R. Morris. By Alderman Linn - E. W. Carleton. Nominations were then declared closed. Alderman Glass moved that the three persons receiving the highest number of votes, being a majority of all the votes cast, be declared elected. The motion prevailed and the result of the balloting was reported by the tellers as follows: Board Elected. --- Page break --- 754 W: | | Fourth Ballot Votes Received | Third Ballot Votes Received | Second Ballot Votes Received | First Ballot Votes Received | |---|---|---|---|---| | W W Wellman | | | 4 | 3 | | J. B. Rogers | | | 1 | | | R. C. Shelby | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | F. V. Davis | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | | R. M. Castleman | 7 | 9 | 8 | 6 | | C. Bremond | | | 1 | | | Lewis Hancock | | | 4 | 1 | | M. A. Taylor | | | | | | P. L. Wren | | 12 | | | | A. R. Morris | | 8 | 8 | 12 | | C. W. Carleton | 6 | 3 | 1 | | After the third ballot Alderman Fischer moved that the three persons receiving the lowest number of votes be dropped. Carried. The mayor declared P. L. Wren, A. R. Morris and R. C. Shelby duly elected members of the Board of Equalization for the ensuing term. Alderman North offered the following: Resolved, That the City Clerk be requested to notify the persons elected of their election and request them to organize. Adopted. The Council then Adjourned. Milton Morris City Clerk.