362 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the City Council Austin Texas April 20, 1896. The Hon. Lewis Hancock, Mayor, having been called upon to preside at the Cotton Mills mass meeting, the Hon. Henry C. Lumm, president of the Council, called the Council to order. Roll called. Present, Aldermen Haynes, Horton, Lumm, Nitsche, Platt, Powell, Redd, Globerdeau, Schneider, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin, Townsend and Zilker 14. Absent, Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Glass, Glasscock, Smith, Lawless, Rosengren and Shelley. 8. Alderman Platt moved to correct the minutes of the last meeting where they state that "Alderman Platt moved to reconsider the vote granting the petition of Martin & Robinson for correction of assessment," and that the petition be referred to the Committee on Claims and accounts," stating that he did not make the motion to refer. The motion prevailed and the minutes as corrected were then approved. Alderman Taylor moved that Dr. R. S. Graves, City Physician, be granted leave of absence for ten days from April 21st which motion prevailed and the leave granted. Dr Graves granted 10 days leave of absence. Invitation from A.F. Dept. to attend Annual inspection accepted. The following communication was read and the invitation accepted: Austin, Texas April 20, 1896. To the Hon. Lewis Hancock, Mayor, and Board of Aldermen: Gentlemen: You are most cordially invited to attend the Annual inspection of the Austin Fire Department on April 21st at 10 A.M. to be held at Fireman's hall on west Eighth Street; also a grand department ball to be given at night. Yours respectfully Tom. D. Smith Recorder, A. F. D. Aldermen Beaty, Fischer and Glass, entered the Council Chamber and answered to their names. Petition of Citizens asking that a special Policeman be appointed for City Cemetery. By Alderman Nitsche, Petition of citizens asking that a special Policeman be appointed to take care of the City Cemetery, was read and referred to the Police and Cemetery Committee. Pet. of L. Beck to move houses on S. Cong. Ave. Granted. By Alderman Glass Petition of Leonard Beck, asking permission to move houses in South Austin. On motion the petition was granted, providing the Street Committee and City Engineer approve the same. Pet. of Citizens of 11th Ward asking that a special election be held to elect an Alderman in place of L. H. Glasscock Referred to a special Com. of three. By Alderman Glass, Petition of Citizens of the Eleventh Ward, asking that a special election be called to elect an Alderman for said Ward in place of L. H. Glasscock who has left the City. On motion the petition was referred to a special committee of three, together with the City Attorney. The Chair appointed as the special committee Aldermen Redd, Beaty and Schneider. Alderman Powell for the Police Committee presented the following report which was read and adopted: Austin, Texas, April 18, 1896. --- Page break --- 363 To the Hon. Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin: Gentlemen: Your committee on Police, to whom was referred the City Marshal's reports for the month of March, 1896, beg leave to report, that said reports were examined and found to be correct. G. W. Powell, H. L. Haynes. Committee on Police. Aldermen Gorth and Rosengren entered the Council Chamber and answered to their names. Ord. appropriating the sum of $400. for work at City Cemetery. The Chair laid before the Council an ordinance appropriating the sum of $400. for work at the City Cemetery, with the report of the Cemetery Committee recommending the passage of the ordinance. The report of the Committee was adopted and the ordinance read a second time, and on motion of Alderman Horton the rules were suspend ed and the ordinance placed upon its third reading, by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Gorth, Haynes, Horton, Limm, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Schneider, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin, Townsend and Zilker. 17. Nays Aldermen Glass and Redd. 2. Alderman Lawless entered the Council Chamber and answered to his name. Passed. The ordinance was then read a third time and passed by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Glass, Gorth, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Limm, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Schneider, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin, Townsend and Zilker. 20 Nays none. On motion of Alderman Tobin the Council stood adjourned until 8 o'clock P. M. Friday, April 24, 1896. Jno. C. Johnson City Clerk. --- Page break --- 304 Minutes of an adjourned Regular meeting of the City Council. Austin Texas. April, 24th 1896. Hon. Lewis Hancock, Mayor, presiding. Roll called. Present Aldermen Avery, Barnes, Beaty, Haynes, Norton, Simkins, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Robt. Cochrane, Rosemyder, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend 15 Absent Aldermen Fischer, Glascock, Glass, Goeth, Lawless, Tobin & Zilker 7 On motion of Alderman Linn, the reading of the minutes of the last meeting was dispensed with and they were adopted as printed. The Mayor laid before the Council the following communication: Galveston, Texas, April 22, 1896. Communication from the State Hon. Mayor and City Council, Austin, Texas. Good Roads Association Gentlemen: The Committee in charge desire to make the State Good Roads inviting the Council to send Convention which convenes at Galveston June 9 to 13, a large and represent delegates.- ative body. It is believed the attendance will embrace delegates from every City and County in the State. We would urge upon your Honorable body the importance of assisting in a work which will materially advance the interests of all the people, and to that end we suggest that your City make a modest appropriation with which to send one or more duly accredited delegates to the convention. One of the subjects that will be exhaustively discussed will be street paving. Upon this branch especially you can doubt- less impart and receive information of great value. The movement is started, and, by unity and co-operation, tangible results can be accomplished. Awaiting an early and favorable reply, we are yours truly, Committee on Invitation State Good Roads Convention. Geo. M. Courts, Chairman. On motion of Alderman Linn, the communication was received and referred to the Street Committee. Report of Special Committee Alderman Haynes, for the Special Committee, presented the following in regard to suit brought by report: State of Texas to recover To the Honorable Mayor and City Council: possession of River Walk. Gentlemen: your special Committee, to whom was referred, the communication from the City Attorney, in regard to a suit brought by the State to recover possession of River Walk, or River Avenue on West side of Congress Avenue and fronting on the River, have carefully considered and advised with the City Attorney, Conducter, in regard to the matter, and have to report, that we find no evidence of title in the City to the property in question other than shown by the official map of the City, and while in the opinion of our City Attorney, the City would most likely win the case, the grounds, being public property, can not in his opinion, be legally diverted to private uses under lease, as is now being done, and the location of the property, is such that, it would, in our opinion, be impolitic as a leader. On the other hand, it is a proposition of the State, made through the Attorney General, in writing, viz; in consideration of an open Street of corresponding width to the street on the east side of the Avenue between the land here in question and the dam, to which we are to make certain important work, that, the State --- Page break --- 365 only a narrow margin of land between said Street and the river and this small strip of disputed territory, passing to the State would probably be used for the general good and a better class of buildings be erected on it than can be done under the existing conditions of title. It would, therefore, seem advisable for the City to accept the proposition offered. Respectfully submitted, H. L. Haynes Chairman. Henry A. Linn, J. W. Powell, J. M. Beaty. Special Committee. Aldermen Forth and Fischer entered the Council Chamber and answered to their names. Com's report adopted. Alderman Linn moved to adopt the report of the Special Committee just read and that the City Attorney be authorized to effect the compromise offered, which motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Forth, Haynes, Linn, Platt, Powell, Redd, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf - and Townsend 14 Nays Aldermen Horton, Nitschke and Taylor 3 New Business Ord. authorizing Austin Rapid Transit Railroad Co. to construct switch on 4th St. Passed. By Alderman Forth, an ordinance authorizing the Austin Rapid Transit Railroad Company to construct a switch on South Street. Alderman Zilker entered the Council Chamber and answered to his name. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Forth, Haynes, Horton, Linn, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Townsend and Zilker 17 Nay Alderman Roberdeau, 1. Com. of Citizens of 11th Ward granted permission to address Council On motion a committee of Citizens from the Eleventh Ward were granted permission to make a statement and file evidence concerning the vacancy of Alderman in said Ward. The evidence offered by the committee was on motion referred to the Special Committee appointed to investigate the matter. Com. District on 11th Ward pet. ordered to report at next Meeting. Alderman Horton moved that the Special committee to whom was referred the petition of citizens of the Eleventh Ward in regard to a vacancy, which is claimed exists in said Ward in the office of Alderman be instructed to report at the next, regular meeting, of the City Council. Alderman Schneider moved to lay the motion on the table. Lost by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Forth, Haynes, Nitschke, Powell, Rosengren, Schneider and Zilker 8 Nays Aldermen Horton, Linn, Platt, Roberdeau, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend. 9. Motion adopted. The motion of Alderman Horton was then adopted by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Horton, Haynes, Linn, Platt, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Townsend and Zilker 13 Nays Aldermen Forth, Powell, Schneider and Nitschke 4 Alderman Redd was excused from voting. [illegible] [illegible] --- Page break --- 366 Resolution authorizing City Clerk to deliver Warrant to Widow of Wm. Chambers Col. S. E. Hughes in regard to Claim for damages. issue Warrant, issued to Wm. Chambers, to his widow. Carried. The Mayor laid before the Council and had read, a communication from Geo. S. Walton, Attorney for Wm. E. Hughes, in regard to claim for damages to land submerged by the dam, which, on motion of Alderman Nitschke, was referred to the committee on Claims and Accounts. An Ord. approp'riating $95.00/100 to rebuild a bridge in So. Austin By Alderman Zilker. An Ordinance appropriating the sum of $95.00/100 to rebuild a bridge in South Austin On motion of Alderman Schneider, the ordinance was referred to the Street Committee. Ord. Appropriating $11.00/100 to repair and repaint the roof of the So. Austin Fire Hall. By Alderman Redd. An ordinance appropriating the sum of $11.00/100 to repair and paint the roof of the South Austin Fire hall. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Goeth, Haynes, Horton, Lumm, Nitschke, Blatt, Dowell, Redd, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Townsend and Zilker. 18 Nays None An Ord. Appropriating $100.00/100 to pay extra street Laborers. By Alderman Zilker An ordinance appropriating the sum of $100.00/100 to pay extra Street laborers The ordinance was read first time and Alderman Redd moved to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its second reading, which motion was lost by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Goeth, Haynes, Powell, Redd, Roberdeau, Rosengren Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Townsend and Zilker 12 Nays Aldermen Fischer, Horton, Lumm, Nitschke, Blatt, and Taylor 6 Ord. amending Art. 118 Title 3 Chapter 3 of Revised Penal Ordinances. By Alderman Lumm An Ordinance amending Article 118, Title 3, Chapter 3 of the Revised Penal Ordinances of the City. The ordinance was read first time and, on motion of Alderman Fischer, the rules were suspended, and the ordinance read a second time, On motion of Alderman Nitschke the ordinance was referred to the ordinance committee. Ord. authorizing redemption of Real Estate sold for taxes. By Alderman Townsend, An Ordinance authorizing the redemption of Real Estate heretofore sold for taxes and bid in by the City. On motion of Alderman Goeth the ordinance was referred to the ordinance Committee. Alderman Simm moved that the Council do now adjourn. Lost. Resolution in regard to Employees of the City who do not patronize City Water & Light system. Presented, etc. by Ald. Schneider Referred, etc to W & L Com. Alderman Schneider offered the following resolution which was read and referred to the Water and Light Commission: Whereas, there are employees of the City of Austin that are not patrons of the City's Water and Light system; therefore be it Resolved, that it is the opinion of this Council that all Officers and employees of the City, who take water from any water Company should patronize the City's Water and Light systems or send in their resignations. On motion, Blatt, Ord. amending an Ord. to prevent persons from leaving open cellars, etc in the streets, alleys, etc. By Alderman Simm, An ordinance amending an ordinance to prevent persons from leav- ing open cellars, areas, pits, vaults, cisterns and excavations in the Streets, alleys and squares of the City. --- Page break --- 367 Streets, Alleys & Parks of the city. The ordinance was read and on motion of Alderman Blatt was laid on the table. On motion of Alderman Fischer the Council adjourned. Jno G Johnson City Clerk.