132 Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the City Council. Austin, Texas, May 20, 1895. Hon John McDonald, mayor, presiding. Roll call. Present- Aldermen Assmann, Fischer, Glascock, Goeth, Haynes, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Schneider, Shelley, Taylor, Townes, and, Warmoth; total 17. Absent- Aldermen Anderson, Hamer, Redd, Robertson, Tobin --5. Alderman Linn moved that the reading of the minutes of the meetings of the city council, held on the 10th and 14th days of May, 1895; be dispensed with and that they be adopted as printed. Carried. Petitions, Etc. [Margin Note: Complaint of citizens on Robertson Hill, against Stock pens and dairy on Tenth St.] By alderman Haynes (by request) A petition of citizens of Austin living on Robertson Hill, on East Tenth, between Waller and Lydia streets, complaining that the stock pen and dairy on Tenth street, between the streets named, is a nuisance and requesting the removal of same. It was referred to the committee on sanitation and sewerage. Aldermen Redd, Anderson and Tobin entered the council chamber and answered to their names. Reports of City Officers. [Margin Note: Reports of Engrs Reisman and Sparks on the accident at the Powerhouse.] G. W. Sublette, engineer at the dam presented the reports of Mr. Reisman engineer at power house, and Mr. H. H. Sparks, engineer in charge of dynamos, as follows: Austin, Texas, May 19, 1895. [Margin Note: Engr Reisman's Report.] Mr. Sublette; Dear Sir: On the morning of the 18th inst. Mr Sparks (who has charge of the dynamo room at night) allowed the turbine which drives the three Wood arc dynamos to acquire such velocity, that two of the armatures went to pieces. I am satisfied if the ratchet claw, which decreases the speed of the turbine, had not been thrown out of action the bursting of the two armatures could not have happened. We find that we can give far better service by operating the wheel by hand regulation to a certain extent, that is we throw the ratchet, which increases the speed out of action; but always keep the ratchet claw, which decreases the speed, in action for safety. Now, sometimes during the night this same ratchet claw was also thrown out of action contrary to my orders, and Mr Sparks knew this to be the case. Furthermore, if he would have used proper precaution he could have called one of the men on lower floor to handle the hand wheel, while he was busy cutting out the dynamos, and avoided the accident in this way. His reasons for having the governor thrown entirely out of action, was that the speed kept constantly decreasing and he could not keep voltage at the proper point. All adjustment of the governor was made by Mr Sloan. Will state that the governor is --- Page break --- 133 not working up to its guarantee. Yours Respectfully, Max Pressman Engineer, Charge Power House. Eng'r. Spark's Report. Austin, Texas, May 18th 1895 G. W. Sublette, Const Engineer, Board of Public Works: I herewith submit detailed report of an accident at the municipal power station, which involved the destruction of the armatures of two No. 4 Wood arc dynamos employed in street lighting. At 5.10 a.m. on the morning of May 18th I threw off the load of Tower lights - machine No 1 (as enumerated in power station) and after disconnecting from arc switchboard, hurried to the wheel controlling the turbine gate, and reduced the gate opening about one-third. Machine No 2 was then thrown off as above, the flow of water being checked in due proportion to the reduction in load. The load was then thrown from machine No. 3, but before I could get from the switch board to the gate wheel the speed of the line shafting and the idle machines had risen to a very high rate. As I grasped the wheel to throttle down the turbine armature, No 1 burst with a loud report followed an instant later by armature No. 3. As far as a hasty inspection would reveal, the machines in question suffered no damage to armature core or spider; the brass wire binding the armature conductors fast to the core having given away under the strain of centrifugal force, allowing the armature conductors to come loose and tear themselves off upon the polar horns. Respectfully, H. H. Sparks." Sublette's Report as to the Machinery Belting. Mr. G. W. Sublette also submitted a report as to belting. He says the belting for the machinery is all in place, that the leather is of oak bark tannage and the cuts taken from the center solid portions of the hides and of close fibre. On motion of Alderman Linn the report was laid over for the time being. Alderman Anderson was excused. Reports of Committees. Commission Report on Asylum proposition for water and light. Alderman Tobin, for the water and Light Commission to whom was referred the following proposal: W. H. Holland, Esq, Superintendent, Dear Sir - The cost of material to construct a water main to your institution will be $800 and your rate for 5316candle power lights, 7 o'clock service, will be $10.50 per month. If you will advance $300 to pay for the material, I will recommend that the city construct --- Page break --- 134 the line and give you service, rates to be collected monthly, until you are reimbursed without interest. The water and light commission and the city council will have to approve this proposition before the city is bound. Respectfully Jno W. Maddox, Superintendent presented a report thereon recommending that the proposal "be ratified by the city council on the lines to the city limits, provided that all the balance of the line be constructed at the entire expense of the State." Alderman Nitsche moved that the report be adopted. The motion was lost by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Assmann, Fischer, Lawless, Nitschke, Powell, Schneider Shelley, Taylor, Tobin – 9 Nays. Aldermen Glass, Glasscock, Goeth, Haynes, Jackson, Linn, Platt, Reid, Townsend, Warnock – 10 Alderman Linn, for the committee on finance, presented the following report: Austin Texas May 20, 1895. To the Honorable City Council of the City of Austin, Texas. Referring to the report made by the undersigned committee to your honorable body on the 10th day of this month, we have the honor, now, to report that the following "Austin City Funding Bonds" have been sold and disposed of at par and accrued interest, by your committee up to date, viz: "Austin City Funding Bonds", numbered 58 to 112, both numbered inclusive, $500 each, aggregating the sum of $27500, a detailed report of which will be made by the city treasurer as to dates of sales and amount of accrued interest. The following 10 per cent bonds heretofore issued by the city have been redeemed, viz: Nos. 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 114, 137, 138 and 139, dated February 23, 1875, $500 each $8000.00 Nos. 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 147, 148, 155, 157, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164 and 165, dated June 21, 1876, $500 each 8000.00 No 185, dated June 15, 1877 500.00 Total $16,500.00 The said thirty-three (33) bonds thus redeemed by your committee are hereby delivered with this report, with the request that they may be destroyed in the presence of the council. We beg further to report that the sale of the remaining funding bonds in our hands have been contracted at par and accrued interest and that the outstanding 10 per cents are being called as rapidly as we can ascertain the parties who hold them. We would suggest to the council that the city treasurer be required to publish that interest on the remaining outstanding --- Page break --- 135 10 per cent bonds will cease after a date to be named by the council. Respectfully submitted, Henry S. Lince A. C. Goeth Thos F. Taylor, The report was adopted. Special Comt. to examine and destroy canceled bonds appointed. Alderman Goeth then moved that a special committee of three be appointed to examine and destroy, in the presence of the city council, all the bonds presented with the report of the committee. The motion was adopted and the chair appointed Aldermen Glass, Schneider and Nitschke. Notice, by publication to be given as to the cessation of interest after July 5. on all bonds called in. Alderman Fischer moved that the city treasurer be instructed to give due notice by publication as recommended by the report of the committee, that the bonds called in will cease to draw interest after July 1. 1895. Carried. Alderman Powell moved that the council take a recess of ten minutes. Carried. After expiration of recess Alderman Glass presented the following: To the Hon. Mayor and City Council: Report of special committee above. Gentlemen Your special committee appointed to burn the 83 10 per cent $500 bonds of the city of Austin, as reported by the Finance Committee, beg leave to report that they find the report correct and have burned the bonds. Respectfully W. A. Glass, Chairman Committee. X The report was adopted. Alderman Anderson entered the council chamber and answered to his name. Committee report, favoring C. A. Newning's proposition in regard to taxes of '91-2-3. Alderman Taylor, for the committee on Finance, presented the following report: Hon. John McDonald, Mayor: "Your committee to whom was referred the proposition of Mr. Chas. A. Newning to compromise with the city of Austin for taxes due for the years 1891, 1892, and 1893, beg leave to report that they have considered the same and recommend that the proposition be accepted, if paid within 30 days from this date, and that the city assessor and collector is hereby authorized to take credit for the difference between the amount of taxes due for those years and the amount compromised for when paid." The report was adopted. City marshal's report of Apl.... Alderman Powell, for the committee on police, to whom was referred the city marshal's reports for the month of April, 1895, submitted a report thereon, which states that the reports were examined and found to be --- Page break --- 137 thousand (30,000) dollars of 5 per cent water and light gold bonds of the city of Austin, as per the recommendation of the Finance committee, adopted by the city coun- cil, and report their action back to the city council at the next regular meeting. The resolution was adopted. Ord. ordering Election on the question of extending the bonded indebtedness of the City, in the sum of $200,000 - passed. By Alderman Tobin- An ordinance entitled "An ordinance ordering an election to obtain consent of the property tax paying qualified voters of the city of Austin to the extension by the City Council of the bonded indebtedness of the city of Austin, in the sum of two hundred thousand dollars for the purpose of completing the system of water works now in course of construction and furnishing lights for the city of Austin". It was read the first time after which a motion was made to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its second reading. The motion was adopted by the following vote: Yeas- Aldermen Anderson, Asmann, Fischer, Glass, Glasscock, Haynes, Jackson, Linn, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Tobin, Townsend and Warmoth; total 17. Nays Alderman Goeth, Lawless, Taylor. 3 X The ordinance was then read a second time after which Alderman Linn moved to amend the caption and sections 1 and 5 of the ordinance by striking out $125000.00 and inserting in lieu thereof the sum of $200,000.00. Alderman Anderson offered the following as a substiX tute for the amendment offered by Alderman Linn; Strike out $125000 and insert $200000 to be voted for as follows, $125000 for extension of mains and payment of balances on outstanding contracts and $75000 for constructing reservoir. Accepted. The substitute was then lost by the following vote: Yeas- Alderman Anderson, Asmann, Fischer, Haynes, Jackson, Linn, Powell, Shelley, Tobin and Warmoth - 10. Nays - Aldermen Glass, Glasscock, Goeth, Lawless, Nitschke, Platt, Redd, Schneider, Taylor, Townsend. Mayor- 11. Alderman Nitschke then moved to amend the Caption and section 1 and 5 of the ordinance by striking out $125,000.00 and inserting in lieu thereof $200,000.00. The amendment was adopted by the following vote: Yeas- Aldermen Anderson, Asmann, Glasscock, Haynes, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Nitschke, Powell, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, and Warmoth - 13. Nays - Aldermen Fischer, Glass, Goeth, Platt, Taylor, Tobin and Townsend - 7. A motion was then made to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its third reading which was adopted by the following vote: --- Page break --- 139 Yeas - Aldermen Anderson, Apmann, Glasscock, Haynes, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Nitschke, Powell, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Tobin, Townsend and Warmoth - 15. Nays - Aldermen Fischer, Glass, Goeth, Platt, Taylor - 5. The ordinance was then read a third time, after which Alderman Taylor moved to lay it on the table. The motion was lost by the following vote: Yeas - Aldermen Fischer, Goeth, Taylor - 3. Nays - Aldermen Anderson, Apmann, Glass, Glasscock, Haynes, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Tobin, Townsend, Warmoth - 17. The ordinance was then passed by the following vote: Yeas - Aldermen Anderson, Apmann, Glass, Glasscock, Haynes, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Tobin, Townsend, Warmoth - 17. Nays - Aldermen Fischer, Goeth, Taylor - 3. Aldermen Taylor, Tobin, Glass and Lawless were excused from further attendance on the session of the Council. [Margin Note: Finally passed] [Margin Note: Ord. appropriating $1500 for int on bonds issued prior to 1890 papers.] By Alderman Linn - An ordinance appropriating the sum of $1500 for the purpose of paying interest on bonds of the City of Austin issued prior to May 1, 1890, and now being cancelled. It was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas - Aldermen Anderson, Apmann, Fischer, Glasscock, Goeth, Haynes Jackson, Linn, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Townsend, Warmoth - 16. Nays, Alderman Tobin - [Margin Note: Lunatic Asylum proposition for water and light - and accepted.] By Alderman Tobin - Austin, Texas, May 20, 1895. W. H. Tobin, Chairman Water and Light Commission, Austin, Texas: Dear Sir: - The Lunatic Asylum board will pay $3600 per annum for water and light, the City to make a 10-inch connection with the stand pipe and put in shut-off valve. The pipe required will be about 135 feet. The valve and 60 feet of pipe is in the yard and we can get the remainder of the pipe from the penitentiary. The Asylum wants a contract for a year, with the privilege of two or more years Respectfully Submitted. John W. Maddox Superintendent. A report from the Water and Light Commission recommending that the rate named be approved and that a contract in accordance therewith be authorized, accompanied the Communication. Alderman Anderson moved that the report be adopted and the mayor authorized to enter into a contract in accordance therewith. Carried. By Alderman Tobin - Austin, Texas, May 20, 1895. [Margin Note: H. & T.C. & A. & N. W. Ry. Co's prop. for water accepted.] W. H. Tobin, Chairman Water and Light Commission, Austin, Texas. Dear Sir: - The Houston and Texas Central and Austin and North- --- Page break --- 139 western railways are willing to pay $75 per month for water service which I recommend as a fair rate. Respectfully submitted. Jno. W. Maddox Superintendent. A report from the water and light Commission recommending that the rate be approved and a contract in accordance therewith be authorized accompanied the communication. Alderman Anderson moved that the report be adopted and that the mayor be authorized to enter into a contract in accordance therewith. Adopted. Ord. appropriating $5500 to pay expenses connected with construction of W. & L. system By Alderman Tobin. — An ordinance appropriating the sum of $5500 for the purpose of paying expenses connected with the Construction of the water and light system of the City of Austin. The items are: Wingfield Bros. Amount allowed on estimate No 8 on pipelaying $3000 For payment of claims for submerged lands, engineering and miscellaneous expenses $2500. The ordinance was read the first time, after which a motion was made to suspend the rules and place it on its second reading, which was lost by the following vote; Yeas — Aldermen Anderson, Assmann, Fischer, Goeth, Haynes, Jackson, Simms, Nitschke, Powell, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Townsend — 13. Nays — Aldermen Glasscock, Platt, Hartshorn — 3. By Alderman Schneider Resolution to transfer $3000 to the W & L fund from the general fund, adopted. Be it resolved, That the City Treasurer be authorized to transfer three thousand dollars, heretofore transferred from the water and light fund to the general fund, to the water and light fund. Alderman Nitschke moved to refer the resolution to the water and light commission. Lost. The resolution was then adopted. By Alderman Glasscock — Resolution to appoint Com. to investigate the accident to Electric plant. Whereas, The recent accident to the City's electric plant is causing criticism and discussion as regards the real cause— whether of neglect, incompetency or want of adequate force, and the probable loss to the City; therefore be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the Council that the matter be fully investigated, and a statement of facts made and that the mayor shall appoint a committee of three (3) to make such investigation and that the committee be instructed to interview Mr. H. W. Driftmeyer, the expert electrician of the Fort Wayne Electric Company, as regards his views of what caused the accident and any suggestions he may have to make on the subject and to report to the Council at the next regular meeting. Be it further resolved, That the water and light commission be requested to furnish said committee with a list of employees now in service, and that the committee be instructed to investigate and inquire into the qualifications and fitness of the --- Page break --- 140 several employes for the position they occupy. The resolution was adopted and the mayor Appointed Aldermen Investigating Committee appointed. Glasscock, Nitschke and Anderson as the Committee. The following was read: Austin, Texas May 7th. 1895. E. C. Bartholomew, Receiver's communication To the Mayor and City Council of Austin, Texas: Gentlemen: I beg leave to inform you that as Receiver of the City Water Company and the Austin Water, Light and Power Company, I recovered, on the 8th. day of March 1895, in the Federal Court at Austin a judgment against the City of Austin for the sum, gross (or Consoli-dated suits) of twenty-five thousand, eight-hundred and eighty-five and eighty-four one-hundredth dollars and Costs of Court. The City of Aus-tin not having as yet been proper to remove the judgment to a higher Court for review and the time in which an execution against said City may properly be issued having expired; and not desiring to create useless Cost through the issuance of an execution, and not desiring to bring ancillary suits to enforce the collection of the judgment rendered, I now very respectfully apply to you for payment of said judg-ment and to submit to you this my request that you make the proper appropriation of money to pay off and discharge the said judgment: In the event of refusal I must take the Course the law allows me. E. C. Bartholomew, Receiver City Water Company and Austin Water, Light and Power Company. Referred — Alderman Nitschke moved to refer the Communication to the Com-mittee on claims and accounts, and the motion prevailed. Ord. appropriating $5,500 (above) reconsidered and passed. Alderman Glasscock moved to reconsider the vote by which the Coun-cil refused to suspend the rules to place on its second reading an ordinance entitled "An ordinance appropriating the sum of $5500 for the purpose of paying expenses connected with the Construction of the water and light system of the City of Austin". Carried. The ordinance was then passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas – Aldermen Anderson, Aßmann, Fischer, Glasscock, Goeth, Haynes, Jackson, Linn, Nitschke, Rall, Powell, Raatz, Schneider, Shelley, Townsend, and Warmoth – 16. Resolution, to sell old plunder stored in City Hall, adopted. By Alderman Aßmann – A resolution directing the City Marshal to advertise for sale and to sell to the highest bidder for cash any or all of the old fire aparatus and all other plunder now stored on the first story of the City hall, that the fire Com-mittee may order sold. Adopted. Resol. directing sale of Cemetery fence, &c, adopted. By Alderman Nitschke – Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, That the Cemetery Committee be and are hereby empowered to sell the fence on the north and east sides of the City Cemetery and repair the fence around the other part of the City Cemetery with the proceeds thereof. Alderman Powell moved to adopt the reso-lution. Alderman Goeth moved to refer it to the committee on the Cemetery, --- Page break --- 141 which was lost by the following vote: Yeas - Alderman Goeth, Haynes, Jackson, Redd, Schneiders, Townsend - 7 Nays - Alderman Anderson, Apenan, Fischer, Glasscock, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Shelley, Warmoth - 9. The resolution was adopted. Resolution to investigate the action of the Dummy road in regard to their use of the poles of the Electric light plant. By Alderman Haynes ~ Whereas, the management of the "Dummy road" are now using the poles of the City's Electric light plant to suspend their trolley wires; therefore be it Resolved, That the Mayor instruct the street committee to investigate the matter and ascertain by what authority said poles are being used by the "Dummy road" management and if they have any proposition to submit to the Council for the use of said poles, and to report at the next regular meeting. Alderman Glasscock moved to adopt the resolution, and the motion prevailed. Appropriation of $749. to pay for iron pipe + expansion joints. passed By Alderman Tobin ~ An ordinance appropriating the sum of $749.45 for the purpose of paying for iron pipe and expansion joints. It was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas - Alderman Anderson, Apenan, Fischer, Glasscock, Goeth, Haynes, Jackson, Linn, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Schneiders, Shelley, Townsend, Warmoth, ~ Total 16. Resolution restricting con- tracts with corporations re. for water and light to a period not longer than 2 years. By Alderman Glasscock ~ Whereas, the rate now charged by the City of Austin for water and light are exceedingly low, and in view of the fact that the City may not be able to maintain these rates, therefore injustice to the smaller takers of water and light, be it Resolved, That the Water and Light Commission be and are hereby instructed not to enter into contract with any State institution, corporation, or other large water and light taker for a longer period than two (2) years. Referred to the water and light Commission. Report from Superintendent and W + L. Com. on certain matters Called for. By Alderman Linn ~ Resolved, That the Superintendent of the Austin water and light system, or the water and light Commissioners, or both, are hereby requested to report to the City Council as follows: First - The name and character of occupation of each employee of the Austin water and light system now employed on said system. Second - The time of the employment of each, and the time for which employed, and the amount of salary paid to each employee. Third - The authority for employment in each case, the authority for fixing the salary of each employee, and the reasons if any, why the acts of said Superintendent and water and light Commissioners have not been reported to the City Council for confirmation. Adopted. --- Page break --- 142 By Alderman Tobin - Austin, Texas, May 20, 1895. W. H. Tobin, Chairman Water and Light Commission, Austin, Texas: Dear Sir: Herewith I hand you the statement of Mr. Max Reissman as to the destruction of the two Light dynamo armatures showing that it resulted from disobedience of positive instructions. Mr. Reissman has relieved Mr. Sparks from further work. On Saturday the mayor wired the Fort Wayne Electric Corporation to express two new armatures, and they should arrive tomorrow or next day. My information is that it will cost from $150 to $200 to rewind the two injured armatures, and the Express charges will be about $100, making a loss of all told about $250 to $300. The Cost of the new ones cannot be considered as a loss because we should have duplicates anyway. The turbine governors have not given satisfaction and I am satisfied that street car service cannot begin with such governors, and I would suggest that steps be taken to secure an electric governor for the turbine which drives the power counter shaft. Respectfully submitted, John F. Maddox, Superintendent. (The statement of Mr. Reissman is same as given above) Alderman Shelly moved to refer the report to the special Committee appointed above to investigate the cause of the breakage of the armatures. Carried. By Alderman Schneider - An ordinance appropriating the sum of $25 for the purpose of retouching the photographs of ex-mayors of the City of Austin now in the Council Chamber. The ordinance was read the first time, after which Alderman [illegible] moves to lay it on the table. Lost. Alderman Anderson moves to refer it to the Committee on markets. Carried. The Council then adjourned. Milton Morris, City Clerk. [Side note, left margin, top] Statement of Max Reissman in regard to the destruction of the two dynamo armatures. [Side note, left margin, middle] Referral to investigating Com. [Side note, left margin, bottom] Ordinance appropriating $25. to retouch photographs of Ex mayors - referred