433 Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the City Council. Austin Texas July 20, 1896. Hon. Lewis Hancock, Mayor, presiding. Roll Called. Present Aldermen Glass; Goeth, Horton, Sinn, Platt, Powell, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf; and Townsend. 18. Absent Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Glascock, Haynes, Lawless, Nitsche, Rudd, Roberdeau, and Zilker. 4. On motion of Alderman Shelley the Council took a recess of ten minutes. At the expiration of the recess the Council was called to order. Roll Called. Present Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Glascock, Goeth, Haynes, Horton, Sinn, Platt, Powell, Rudd, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin and Townsend. 18 Absent Aldermen Nitsche and Zilker. 4. On motion of Alderman Shelley the reading of the minutes was dispensed with, and they were adopted as printed. The Mayor laid before the Council the following communication. Austin, Texas July 20th 1896. To the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Austin: Gentlemen; Your employees at the Power Station request me to present to the City of Austin, through you, the little drinking fountain which they have erected at the front entrance of your Power Station. They do this believing it will be appreciated by strangers who visit the station, by you, and by the good people of Austin. Very respectfully, Jno. W. Maddox Superintendent. W & L. Supt. for employees at Power House present drinking fountain at Power House, to City. Alderman Sinn moved to accept the fountain with thanks and that the thanks of the Council be extended to the donors, which motion prevailed. Fountain accepted with thanks Alderman Tobin, for the special Committee, presented the following report; which was read, and on motion laid over to come up with the ordinance on the subject submitted by the Committee. Austin, Texas, July 20th 1896. To the Mayor and City Council of the City of Austin: Gentlemen, Your special Committee of Water, Light, plants beg to make the following report: Your Committee organized on July 1st by electing W. H. Tobin, Chairman, and had meetings on that day and on the 14th and 16th instant. Mr. Watkins, of the Old Wayne Electric Corporation met with the committee on the 17th instant. It was determined, that the committee recommend to the Council to lease from the Water and Light Company, the electric lighting apparatus, also machinery, etc. as it now is, for a term of one year, and for the payment of rental for the use of same, the monthly interest and fixed rental the sum of Two Thousand and One Hundred and Ninety Six Dollars. Report of Special Com. of W L & I plant. --- Page break --- 434 Report of Special Com. and the Superintendent was requested to procure prices, Etc. It was understood and agreed upon that the Fort Wayne Electric Corporation would put the switchboard in good operating condition; also, that said Corporation should furnish the necessary material and send an experienced Man to make new connections and re-insulate the incandescent armatures so as to bring them up to date in construction, the City to pay such man $3.50 per day of ten hours, and pay his time coming and going to Fort Wayne, Ind., and to pay the traveling and living expenses also, it being estimated that the time necessary for the work would be two weeks. Plans and specifications for connecting up the Stillwell-Bierce and Smith-Vaile pumps with the spring water supply having been prepared by the Superintendent, and proposals for furnishing the material and doing the work were advertised for, and on the 14th instant three bids were received, as follows: Jas. St. Wright, to furnish material and work according to plans and specifications as prepared by the City, $5390. Burt McDonald, to furnish material and do the work according to specifications suggested by him, $4439. Sneed and Dixon, to do all the work according to specifications, but to furnish no materials $1300. None of the bids being deemed satisfactory, they were all rejected and the Superintendent was requested to get new prices. The committee also considered the matter of the Gould Pumps, and respectfully recommending the payment of the Gould Company the sum of Six Thousand ($6000.00) dollars, the balance to be held until that the balance be held until the pumps are placed in a condition satisfactory to the City. The committee also requested the Superintendent to communicate with the Gould Company and ascertain if said Company would entertain a proposition of taking out the present pumps furnished by said Company and giving in exchange pumps having a capacity to deliver 8,000,000 gallons per day into the two locks from which the large Stillwell-Bierce and SmithVaile pumps would take the water by suction into the mains. Respectfully submitted, W. H. Tobin, Chairman. Police Coms report on City Alderman Dowell, for the Police Committee, to whom was referred the Marshals report for June reports of the City Marshal for the month of June, presented their report stating that they had been carefully examined and found correct. On motion the report was adopted, and ordered filed. Alderman Lawless entered the Council Chamber and answered to his name. Com. on Claims, Rec'd Report Alderman Blatt, for the Claims and Accounts Committee, to whom was referred on petition of Mrs. D. M. Harlan, requesting the Council to refund to her certain taxes, presented the following report: Austin, July 7th 1896. To the Hon. City Council, I. H. Day City. Com. on Claims and Accounts Com. and Respectfully Reports. Com. on Referred to them the petition of --- Page break --- 435 Mrs. S. M. Harlan and are of the opinion that your honorable body is without authority to grant the relief prayed for by her. She had the right to appeal from the action of the Board of Equalization if she felt dissatisfied. As no appeal was taken the action of said Board becomes final. Respectfully, R. Platt, J. F. Zilker G. D. Horton. Com. on Sanitation & Sewerage On motion of Alderman Linn the report of the Committee was adopted. report on Swills & Slops Ord. Alderman Glass for the Committee on Sanitation and Sewerage to whom was referred an ordinance limiting the time in which slops, and swills can be moved by garbage carts, wagons and other vehicles in the City, presented their report recommending the passage of the ordinance. On motion, the report was laid over to come up with the ordinance. Alderman Zilker entered the Council Chamber and answered to his name. Special Com. majority report Alderman Dorth, for a majority of the special Committee to on suggesting names for election suggest names of Citizens for election as Board of Equalization, as Board of Equalization presented their report, suggesting the names of six Citizens as follows: Sam Dr. Lordes, Wm. W. Rosenberg Jr., Henry Hirsch, J. T. Fields, Frank Brown Sr., Judge James Smith and W. M. Thomson. + Alderman Zilker, from the same Committee, presented a minority Special Com. minority report, suggesting the following names: Joe Cloud, J. I. Nunn, report on above W. H. Randolph and Dave Wilson. On motion of Alderman Redd the reports were laid over to come up under the head of new business. Unfinished Business Ord. amending certain The chair laid before the Council an ordinance amending cerSections of an Ord. providing tain sections of an ordinance entitled, "An ordinance providing for management & operations of for the management and operation of the Water Works and Electric W. S. & Power plants Light and Power plants of the City." The ordinance was read a second time. Substitute Ord. offered for Alderman Horton offered the following as a substitute for the above. original ordinance. "An ordinance to provide for the management of the Water Works Electric Light and Power plants of the City of Austin. Whereas the proper management of the City's great enterprise is of paramount importance; and Whereas reasonable compensation should be given to those who devote their time to the City's interest, and, under the City Charter, no compensation can be given for such service to a Water and Light Commission chosen from the members of the City Council; now Therefore, Section 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Austin, That the City Council shall elect three Citizens, no one of whom is in the City Council, nor is the Mayor, by a --- Page break --- 136 Substitute Ord. Chairman and shall perform all the duties of the Water and Light Commission scribed and fixed under the ordinance governing the Water Works, Electric Light and Power plants of the City of Austin, and approved Janmary 7th 1895; and said commission so constituted shall serve until the next annual City election, and shall receive Five dollars for each day they shall devote to the City's interest; provided, that the sum paid each commissioner shall not exceed the sum of Five dollars per week, and provided further, that said commissioners shall meet for the transaction of business twice a month, at least one day before each regular Council meeting. Section 7. And so much of an ordinance entitled "An ordinance providing for the management and operation of the Water Works, Electric Light and Power Plants of the City of Austin; and establishing rules and regulations for the government thereof, and fixing rates for service" approved January 7th 1895, as in conflict with this ordinance be and the same is hereby repealed. Alderman Goeth moved that the substitute be laid upon the table. Alderman Zilker moved as a substitute that the original ordinance and the substitute be laid upon the table, which motion was lost by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Linn, Cowell, Bradd, Rosengran, Schneider, Townsend and Zilker 8. Nays Aldermen Fischer, Glass, Goeth, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Platt, Roberdran, Shelley, Stumpf, Saylor and The Mayor 11. A vote was then taken on the motion of Alderman Goeth to lay the substitute offered by Alderman Horton, which motion was lost by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Goeth, Haynes, Lawless, Cowell, Bradd, Roberdran, Rosengran, and Saylor 10. Nays Aldermen Glass, Horton, Linn, Platt, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Tobin, Townsend Zilker and The Mayor 11. Motion to adopt substitute The motion to adopt the substitute offered by Alderman Horton was Ord. lost. then lost by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Glass, Horton, Schneider and Tobin 4. Nays Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Linn, Haynes, Lawless, [illegible], Bradd, Cowell, Glass, Goeth, Lawless, [illegible], Rosengran, Shelley, Stumpf, Saylor Townsend and Zilker 16. Original Ord. to be acted upon Alderman Platt moved that the original ordinance be acted upon section by section, adopted. Section 1 amended. section by section, which motion prevailed. Section one was read. Alderman Saylor moved to amend by inserting after the word "that" in second line, the following: Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 15, 16, 17 and 18, of an ordinance entitled "An ordinance providing for the management and operation of the Water Works Electric Light and Power Plants of the City of Austin, and establishing rules and regulations for the government thereof, and fixing rates for service." The amendment was adopted. --- Page break --- 437 Yeas. Aldermen Fischer, Glass, Goeth, Haynes, Lawless, Blatt, Roberdean, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin and Townsend. 13. Nays. Aldermen Beaty, Horton, Linn, Powell, Redd, Rosengram, Schneider and Zilker. 8. Alderman Schneider offered the following amendment: Amend, Sec. 1, after the word vested," strike out all after the word vested, and insert "a standing committee of the City Council to be called the Water and Light Commission, subject to the control of the City Council." The amendment was lost. Sec. 1 adopted The section as amended was then adopted. Sec. 2 adopted Section 2 was then read. Alderman Tobin moved to strike the word "three" and insert in lieu thereof the word "five". The amendment was lost by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Linn, Powell, Schneider, Stumpf and Townsend. 5. Nays. Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Glass, Goeth, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Blatt, Redd, Roberdean, Rosengram, Shelley, Taylor, Tobin and Zilker 15. Sec. 2 adopted Section 2 was then adopted. " 3 amended " Section 3 was amended by striking out the words "Finance Committee". Adopted. " 4 adopted " Section 4 as amended was then adopted. " 9 " Section 9 was read and adopted. " 11 " Section 11 was read and adopted. " 15 " Section 15 was read and adopted. " 16 " Section 16 was read and adopted. " 27 " Section 27 was read and adopted. " 28 " Section 28 was read and adopted. Motion to suspend rules Alderman Shelley moved to suspend the rules and place the & place Ord. on 3rd reading ordinance on its third reading which motion was lost by the followLost. ing vote: Yeas. Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Glass, Goeth, Haynes, Lawless, Blatt, Roberdean, Rosengram, Shelley, Taylor, Tobin and Zilker 13. Nays. Aldermen Horton, Linn, Powell, Redd, Schneider, Stumpf and Townsend. 7. Ord. approp'g $150 to buy The Mayor laid before the Council an ordinance appropriating land for reservoir site the sum of $150.00 to purchase a reservoir site. laid over 'til next meeting On motion the ordinance was laid over until the next meeting of the Council. Ord. approp'g to pay The Mayor laid before the Council an ordinance appropriatextra Sanitary laborers ing the sum of $76. to pay Extra Sanitary laborers for the month of July, with the favorable report of the Committee on Sanitation and Sewerage. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Linn, Blatt, Powell, Redd, Roberdean, Rosengram, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin, Townsend, and Zilker 20. Nays. Goeth. 1. There being no ordinance [illegible] division, one ordinance appropriat- --- Page break --- 138 Ord. limiting time to move The time for moving slops and swill by carts, wagons and other vehicles. Slops & Swills The ordinance was read second time. Ord. Amended Alderman Bowell moved to amend by inserting the following: "Provided, that this ordinance shall not apply to persons hauling such slops in odorless tanks at any time of the day." The amendment was adopted. Ord. passed as amended The ordinance was then passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas Alderman Aratyt, Fischer, Glass, Goeth, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Linn, Pratt, Cowell, Auld, Roberdeau, Rosengran, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Saylor, Tobin, Townsend and Zilker 20. Nays - none. Fire Comis report on Alderman Roberdeau asked that the Fire Committee be permitted to petition of East Austin Hose Co. No 1 present a report. Granted. to be refunded money paid Alderman Roberdeau, for the Fire Committee, to whom was referred for repairs the petition of East Austin Hose Company No 1, requesting the Council to refund to them money paid for repairing their hall, presented a report recommending the payment of the sum of $135. and submitting an ordinance appropriating that amount. The report of the committee was adopted and the matter laid over to come up under the head of new business. Cemetery Comis report on Alderman Horton, for the Cemetery Committee, presented a report award of contract for cleaning stating that they had let the contract for cleaning the old part of old part of City Cemetery. the City Cemetery, to E. Olson for the sum of $150. Comis action confirmed Alderman Fischer moved that the action of the Committee be confirmed, which motion prevailed. New Business. Report from Supt. Maddox Alderman Haynes presented a report from Superintendent Maddox read by himself by request and asked that the Superintendent be permitted to read the report consent of Council himself, which motion prevailed. Superintendent Maddox then read the following communication: Austin, Tex. July 30th 1896. To the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Austin: Gentlemen, About six weeks ago I took occasion to say that the Fort Wayne Corporation has not the reputation of making the best Electrical machinery, and then stated that the incandescent switch board is neither adopted to a 1000 than to a 2000 volt current; that the light wires connected to it do not give protection; that the main fuses do not interrupt the service; that the switch guys are too light and that atmospheric currents and short circuits tear up and abuse their blades and that the instruments are so close together that excessive currents are from one to another to their damage and injury; and that the metal frame of the board is a source of danger. I also informed you that improper insulating material was used in the armatures and field coils of the dynamos, causing short circuits and burn-outs that greatly impede good service; that the exciters had no switches which made it necessary, in order to kill the machines in case of accident, for an operator to throw the bell at great risk of persons. --- Page break --- Supt. Maddan's Report injury; that the copper exciter brushes wore away the commutators so that it was often necessary to turn them down and true them up in the lather; and that the shunts, as placed in the dynamo frames, became overheated and were not readily accessible. I informed you also that the operating force had made and put switches upon the exciters which obviated the dangerous necessity of throwing a belt in case of accident; that they had made carbon brushes and put them on, so that it is no longer necessary to turn and true the commutators; and that the resistance coils had been removed from the frame of the dynamos to a cooler and more accessible position. Are these facts true? Has the Fort Wayne Corporation they refutation of making the best Electrical machinery? The City has six Fort Wayne incandescent dynamos in the station, and has paid that company a large sum for repair material. Three General Electric machines are also in the power station, and the repair material therefor has cost very little, and this was procured as a precaution against possible accidents and not to repair damage already done. One of the General Electric machines was shut down for a few hours once only, and the service of the other two has never been interrupted, while there is not one of the six Fort Wayne machines but what has been many times shut down and repaired. And, while Mr. Hunting says the operating force is ignorominous and incompetent, they have had no trouble in operating the General Electric dynamos without accident or injury. But Mr. Hunting, from conviction of necessity, urges that Mr. Hunting be allowed to name an operator to be employed by the City who understands his machines while the General Electric Company has not seen the necessity of making a similar request. Is the Switchboard efficient? Is it better adapted to a 1000 than a 2000 volt current? Mr. Hunting has returned to Fort Wayne, as he says, to take the matter up with Mr. Wood, who designed the board, and has promised the Special Committee to make the board what it should be, a good and serviceable one. He says that the lightning arresters are not inherently defective; still he has determined to replace them by others made by the Westinghouse Company. The instruments are not, he claims, too close together, but while he and Mr. Wood determine what permanent changes must be made, I am under his request, leaving the arresters off the board altogether, and placing them on the wall behind. And I am under his supervision, changing the location of other instruments on the board so as to give more air space/insulation between them. And, while the metal frame of the board may not be a source of danger, still, by his request, I am removing the brass mounts as entirely from the board. Is Mr. Hunting theoretical or practical? The chief engineer of the Fort Wayne Company was with us two weeks, and after expressed regret that Mr. Hunting had not been so fortunate as to see the electrical manifestations produced upon his switchboard --- Page break --- 40 Supt. Maddox' Report by a thunder Storm. I sincerely shared in Mr. ity of Mr. Huntington's regret was clearly shown on the Sunday morning before he left for Fort Wayne. He was in the Power Station, giving Mr. Stucky, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Murphy and other employees verbal instructions as to temporary changes which he desired made on the switchboard and I bring them in possession of his diagram and written directions. About 1:30 on that morning, I was very much gratified by the heavy rain storm which was coming up from the northeast. I called Mr. Huntington – attention to it and informed him that I believed we should have some severe lightning, and thinking that he would be pleased by the opportunity apparently at hand to see what he had so often expressed a desire to see, I requested him to take charge of the dynamo floor and operate or direct the operation of the plant until the storm had passed. He replied that if I desired it he would do so. I told him that I especially desired it, and I informed Mr. Johnson and Mr. Murphy in Mr. Huntington's presence that he had taken charge of the plant until the rain storm was over and that I wished them to take orders from him. The rain about this time began to fall in torrents and Mr. Huntington walked by the switchboard, but to my surprise he passed by and on down to the extreme south end of the pump floor and seemingly became much interested in the Stillwell Bierce and Smith Vaile pumps. By my directions Mr. Johnson went to the pump floor and offered Mr. Huntington a pair of overalls and asked him to return to the dynamo floor that he might be near the switchboard to observe its efficiency. The overalls were declined and the request to return was refused with the statement that no one could operate the dynamo floor better with the switchboard as it is than my employees had done and were doing. And though urged to return to his alleged command of the dynamo floor Mr. Huntington positively refused to do so, and continued his contemplation of the big pumps until the rain had ceased. Unfortunately no lightning came with the rain. I was disappointed that it did not and I was and am disappointed in Mr. Huntington. I went to the Driskill that night to say good bye to him and asked him whether he had ever operated a plant. He replied, "I have been in the office of the company," but, when informed that I considered the operation of a plant very essential to electrical knowledge, and urged him to give me a direct answer, he said he had installed and operated a plant at Bloomington, Ill. for about two three months and that he had subsequently operated it for about three months. A thunderbolt. Mr. Huntington contends that it is a ridiculous impossibility that the switches should be fused to their clips by atmos- pheric currents, but while he says any electrical Engineer knows that such currents are of enormous potential, but of small quantity, and that lightning discharges were never known to melt copper bars so large as his switches; still, Carl Herring, of the University of Pennsylvania, in his "Principles of Dynamo Electric Machines" page 17 says: "Recent authorities have calculated the electro motive power of a flash of lightning to be about 3,500,000 volts, and the current to be about --- Page break --- Supt. Maddox Report. 14,000,000 amperes, the time of the bolt being measured at one twenty-thousandth part of a second. And Mr. Herring adds: "A simple calculation shows that this amount of energy set free in that short time is about as much as that of a 100-horse power engine for almost ten hours. Think of this wonderful manifestation of energy and then say whether I have made a ridiculously impossible statement. Calculation shows that the energy that is equal to 3,600,000 horse-power for a second, and that for the time of the bolt, the twenty-thousandth part of a second, it is equal to that of sixty-five thousand million horse-power. Mr. Hunting has not the practical knowledge to enable him to operate the Fort Wayne dynamos. He at least showed a theoretical appreciation of the inefficiency of his switchboard, and indicated, wittingly or unwittingly, that while a thunder bolt possesses high potential or voltage, it is not entirely barren of electric quantity or amperage. If you multiply 3,500,000 volts by 14,000,000 amperes and divide the product by 746, the result will be 65,000,000 amperes (watts) or the horse power energy of an atmospheric current, which is exerted in the twenty-thousandth part of a second. Mr. Hunting deliberately stated in his report to the Mayor that his company never put a switch upon an exciter, and that he had never known any other company to do so, as I have had done. The General Electric Company placed a switch on the exciter of your triphase power machine and it was to be seen on the dynamo floor when Mr. Hunting was here and he says it is not desirable to do so, but that it is much easier and safer to kill the machine with the rheostat, but when on the dynamo floor with the Special Committee I asked him to explain how it could be done under the existing conditions of the board, he frankly and explicitly said, "It can not be done". Mr. Hunting contends that the insulation used in the alternating dynamos is the best, still he admitted to me that his company do not use the insulating material of which I complain; and he agreed with the Special Committee to furnish better material and send a man down to re-insu- late them and, as he expressed it "bring them down to date in construction". Referring to burn-outs in the armatures from improper insulation and bad joints Mr. Hunting says a competent man would not await for the same trouble to happen more than twice before he would immediately take steps to remedy the defects in all the machines. Mr. Hunting says, "Good common sense would dictate such a course", Mr. Hunting, being the chief Engineer of his company, the inquiry may arise, why was the work not properly done at the shops? And it may occur to you, as it does to me, that good business would dictate such a course, and that had the work been done in the shops as it should have been done, there would be no necessity for incompetent dynamo tenders to rebuild the machines, and Mr. Hunting's company would not have been under the necessity of sending him to Austin to write a report in defense of Dr. Fort Wayne machinery. Nor would it have been necessary to write a defense that none existed. In general, on the grounds on which he makes his statement, Mr. Hunting says my criticism is Dr. Fort Wayne machinery. --- Page break --- 42 Supvr. Maddock's Report machine is a woeful exhibition of my ignorance of electricity and of electrical engineering. I might return this compliment in the same general terms, by the broad assertion that Mr. Hunting's three column effort is not creditable to the Fort Wayne company nor to him as their Chief Engineer of that Corporation. But I prefer to be more specific, that others may judge of the justness of my criticisms. And it is evident that I have stated with such particularity the criticisms I have made of the Fort Wayne machinery for Mr. Hunting appreciates the defects I pointed out and undertakes to cure them. Some days since Mr. Hunting informed me that my report put his company on the defensive, so I was not entirely unprepared for what he has said in defense of the Corporation he is paid to represent. He admits the existence of some defects, which he proposes to cure, and charges these to unfavorable local conditions. But the burden of his defense is that I am not an expert, that I have no electrical information and that my criticisms therefore, are not worthy of consideration; and that the operating force is inharmonious and incompetent. It is true that I am not an expert. I make no pretensions to expert knowledge. But is a condition changed or a fact less true because stated by one who makes no pretensions to expert knowledge? When I see a condition state my opinion as to the cause of that condition, and give a reason therefore, is my opinion not to be considered because an interested expert expresses a contrary opinion? That the operating force is inharmonious was for Mr. Hunting, in a few days, to discover, while I, after daily intercourse with these men for many months, do not even now suspect it. And their failure to satisfactorily operate the Fort Wayne electrical machinery, in its present condition, is not to my mind an evidence of in- competence, even though the Chief Engineer of that corporation may entertain a different opinion. While the Mayor, as I am informed, says Mr. Hunting is a man of good information and that he is such a man as your plant needs; and while Mr. Hunting fully agrees with the Mayor as to the necessity of other management of your plant, and doubtless also as to his qualifications for the po- sition, still I think you will agree with me that it would be most unwise to make such a selection. Had I been an expert, a Chief Engineer, I could scarcely have accomplished more than I have already done or brought about in the interest of Austin. For, by making what I then thought, and still believe, to be a truthful statement of facts, and by publishing that statement at my own expense, against the wishes of the Mayor and of those who believed it to be more harmful than good for the cities great enterprise, I brought Mr. Hunting to Austin, without the usual to-do, in due time that attends the coming of an expert. While he was made a vigorous three column effort to defend his company by calling frequent attention to the fact that I make no pretensions to expert knowledge, still the fact that nothing thereby, on the contrary, Mr. Hunting, to the Fort Wayne company, have, without any legal obligation to do so, undertaken, to give entire satisfaction and to, in short, to run the works in such a manner as to, undo, by this means, the harm --- Page break --- Supt. Maddox Report 443 as undertaken to be done, I shall be content with the result of my efforts and shall not only feel grateful to the City Council who, believing I am right, stood by me and enabled me to do what I have done; but I shall thank the Mayor for his persistent and unfair opposition, which has compelled me to make the fight which has resulted in good to the City. It has been said by the Mayor that "We do not so much want a man to tell us who makes errors in the past and explain how disasters occur after they have happened, as a man who can look forward and prevent them before they occur". I fully agree with the Mayor and desire briefly to call attention to some betterment work accomplished by your employes, which avoided disaster, and I especially wish to mention some important work which, through recommended and urged, has not been done. Much betterment work has been done, too much to be stated here, and some remains to be done. It was early shown that your live shafts are entirely too light for the work they do, and that it was bad construction to suspend them from the dynamo floor. But it was not until I had urged the danger of the situation and called attention to a very much larger shaft in the San Antonio light plant that, with every clutch and pulley upon it, had been twisted and broken into a shapeless mass, that I procured permission to cut these shafts loose from the floor and support them on pillow blocks from below. This was an imperative necessary improvement, and, had it not been done, the shafts, in all probability, would have been wrecked long ago. Then this improvement was made, andfrequently since, I called attention to the insufficient strength of these shafts. But it was not until a few days ago, when my views were concurred in by an unpaid expert, that the necessity of larger shafts was considered. Had the suggestion of your employes been acted on, this work would long since have been done. And now that the necessity is being considered, prudence would dictate that it be done at once. It was also early shown that the dynamo floor is not sufficiently rigid under the machines, and while much work has been done to remedy this defect more should be done. The Stillwell-Bierce and Smith-Vaile pumps developed a weakness in their suction chambers and your employes provided a temporary remedy, and, at their suggestion, the makers were required to furnish new covers for these pumps, that iron bolts in the yokes of the valves which were liable to corrode, break off, and give much trouble. And your operating force suggested that the makers be required to furnish longer bronze bolts, which they did, and they have been put in place. Owing to the fact that these pumps are under seven foot head, difficulty was experienced to keep the air chambers properly filled with air, but, by a simple and inexpensive arrangement, your employes utilizing the power of the turbine waste, which drives the pumps to keep the broken air chambers, or air chambers, which it was found, or, if the air [illegible] continued unsupplied, conditions are now entirely satisfactory. --- Page break --- 14 Supt. Madden's Report pipes, at small expense, were run between the four air chambers of each pump, which uniformly distribute the air to all. So that, so far as seen, all defects in these pumps have been remedied, and at minimum expense, save this one; the valves are of bronze and are seated in the cast iron bed. The seat corrodes and necessitates cleaning and adjusting to keep the valves in good working X condition. This defect, chargeable to the designing engineer, while very bad construction, is not a source of danger, but one of annoyance that necessitates labor to keep the valves in dutiable condition. When other more pressing betterment work is accomplished rubber valves X should be substituted for the present bronze valves, and they should be seated in bronze by tapping out the cast iron seats. When this has been done you may well be proud of these pumps, for they are massive, durable and efficient. Only one other thing remains which may interrupt the service of these engines, and attention has long since been called to it. Wooden steps inside the turbine cases support the turbine shafts, and these wear away, especially when the lazy is muddy. And the time has been and may come again when it will be necessary to put in a new step; and, as there are no valves between the penstock and the turbine cases, this necessitates shutting down both pumps until the work is done. Many months ago X I called attention to this construction, I procured a [illegible] on two special valves and recommended that they be put in. This is not so necessary, however, as some other things which should be done. It has been proposed by the Mayor, and it has been insisted upon, that you should employ a skilled machinist, who is an expert electrician, to have charge of your plant; that he be paid 3000 to 4000 per annum; that he be backed up in his management, and that he be held responsible for the successful operation of the plant. The compensation given the present Superintendent is not nearly so much, and, while he may not be the best man for the place, still, as he is held responsible for the successful operation of the plant, does it not seem wise that fairness demand, that he also should have co-operation in his effort to make your plant what it should be, or a more perfect one? The imperative demands of your plant are a new main to the city and the utilization of the surplus spring water. When your employees recommended the utilization of the surplus spring water, they suggested that power be taken from the [illegible] of the spring water, they employes recommended the utilization of the 4,000,000 gallon pump and that they be employed to force the water to the City. This suggestion was referred to Mr. Fanning, who recommended that McCormick turbine and the Gould pumps which we now have, and which cost about 8500. Mr. [illegible] whom Mr. Austin to advise you how to supplement the spring water supply. He spent eight days here looking into matters and three days returning from and three days return- ing to Boston, and some weeks in making up his report as to preliminary, Mr. [illegible] reported, I think, in drawing from a Mr. [illegible] Mr. [illegible] bill, not yet been seen by the [illegible] Mr. [illegible] bill was about 1000, as he was to be [illegible] 50. Mr. [illegible] expenses [illegible] was --- Page break --- 445 Supt. Winans' Report received, however, your employes picked up an old centrifugal pump, connected it into the river discharge of the spring, tapped a small shaft through the river wall, took power from the turbine which lights your towers and in two days, at an expense less than one single per diem of Mr. Hagen, they demonstrated that the spring would supply enough water for the City, hence it is not necessary to supplement the spring water supply. When your employes had thus demonstrated a sufficient quantity of water in the spring, they again recommended its utilization, as in the first instance, by taking power from the pump turbine shafts; by forcing the water into two of the idle pumps; or by an inexpensive shunt, and by using the two 4,000,000 pumps to deliver the water to the City. This again this recommendation was referred to Mr. Danning and also to Mr. Hagen; and these gentlemen both reported in favor of a new turbine and another pair of 3,000,000 gallon Gould pumps, to cost about $9000. And when the utilization of the spring water, was urged and suggestion was made that the recommendation of Mr. Danning and Mr. Hagen be reconsidered in connection with the more economical one of your employes to cost less than $3000 you authorized a special committee to utilize the spring water by the latter plan, carefully estimated to cost $2648. When the special committee met, at the suggestion of the Mayor, as I understand, a member of the committee moved to postpone action and invite an Alderman and the Captain of the Ben Hur to give the committee the benefit of their sug gestions. I did not think the advice of the Captain necessary or desirable in view of the fact that both Mr. Danning and Mr. Hagen had been consulted; and in view of the fact also that our employes had been authorized to the carefully considered plan of your employes had been authorized by you. So I called attention to the complaint of the City, we should expect muddy water, when the lake was low, as it now is; and also to the fact that we should expect muddy water when the river is busting in; and I urged the necessity of promptly utilizing the spring water, as you have authorized. And this should be done without delay. Two mains, one a 16 and the other a 20-inch, were originally con templated. And we now have one, a 20-inch main, which has a littleless than half the capacity of the two contemplated. I have several times called attention to this, and urged the necessity of another main from the dam to connect with the 20-inch main on Nineteenth street. This would cost about $4000. Three times, within six weeks, your system has been in such condition that not a single fire stream could have delivered anywhere in the City. This occurred once, when a plug was blown out of a 4-inch near the power house; a second time when two lead joints were forced out of the 4-inch pipe in the park; and a third time, when a hydrant was blown off in the boulevard. This was the result of the high pressure necessary to deliver a sufficient supply of water through the 20-inch main during dry, hot weather. In delivering 6,000,000 gallons of water to the intersection of Sixth street and the Avenue through --- Page break --- 146 Supt. Maddox Report The 20-inch main, there is a loss of 56 feet head, and the pumps must exert a correspondingly high pressure to meet the friction loss under the increased velocity necessary to deliver the quantity of water required. Mr. Hazen recommends a $3,000,000 reservoir, 8500 feet beyond the State Lunatic Asylum, and proposes to fill it, through the 20-inch main to the Avenue, the 16-inch main to Nineteenth Street, the 12-inch main to the Asylum and a 16-inch main to be extended 8500 feet beyond to the reservoir site. Owing to the want of capacity in these pipes and the great distance, about seven miles and the resulting frictional loss, I can not endorse Mr. Hazen’s plan as feasible, nor do I believe that, if carried out, it would be of any practical utility. I regret that the most imperative needs of your plant are the utilization of the spring water and the construction of a new main from the dam to Nineteenth Street. In time, and the time is not far distant, you will find it advantageous to build your dam higher to give greater head and more storage above the service line of your hydrants. The crest of the dam has ample thickness for increased height, the cost would be comparatively small and the advantages great. Very respectfully submitted, Geo. W. Maddox, Superintendent. Total 114141 [illegible] 2-27 Alderman Goeth moved that the Council stand adjourned until 8:30 o’clock tomorrow night. Lost by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Goeth, Lawless, Blatt, Roberdrau, Rosengren, Beaty, Fischer, Glass, Haynes, Horton, Linn, Powell, Bradd, Townsend and Zilkens. 16. Nays, Aldermen Engram, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin, and Goeth. 7. Supt’s report adopted & Alderman Powell moved to adopt the report ordered printed in minutes of the Superintendent, and that it be published in full in the minutes, which motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Beaty, Glass, Haynes, Horton, Linn, Blatt, Powell, Bradd, Rosengran, Schneider, and Townsend. 11. Nays, Aldermen Fischer, Goeth, Lawless, Roberdrau, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin and Zilkens. 9. Ord. Approp’g 6000. to pay The Mayor laid before the Council an ordinance offered by the the Gould Co. on acct. Special Committee appropriating the sum of $6000. to pay the Gould Company on account. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Beaty, Fischer, Glass, Goeth, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Linn, Blatt, Powell, Bradd, Roberdrau, Rosengran, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin, Townsend and Zilkens. 20. Nays, None. Alderman Lawless moved to adjourn until 8:30 o’clock tomorrow night. Lost by the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen Fischer, Goeth, Lawless, Blatt, Roberdrau, Rosengren, Shelley, Taylor and Tobin. 9. Nays, Aldermen Beaty, Glass, Haynes, Horton, Linn, Powell, Bradd, Schneider, Stumpf, Townsend, and Zilkens. 11. Alderman Glass moved that the Council now proceed to the election of the board of equalization. Lost. --- Page break --- Alderman Saylor moved to adjourn. Lost by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Fischer, Dorth, Lawless, Robineau, Shelley, Saylor & Tobin, Nays. Aldermen Beaty, Glass, Haynes, Horton, Sinn, Platt, Cowell, Redd, Rosengren, Schneider, Stumph, Townsend and Zilker 13. Aldermen Fischer & Lawless, were excused from further attendance on this session of the Council. By Alderman Schneider, An ordinance, appropriating the sum of $148.85 to reimburse Austin Hook and Ladder Company No 1 and Colorado Hose Company No 2 for money advanced to repair fireman’s Hall. On motion the ordinance was referred to the Fire Committee. The Mayor laid before the Council an ordinance offered by the Fire Committee, appropriating the sum of $135. to reimburse East Austin Hose Com- pany No 4 for money expended for repairs. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Beaty, Glass, Dorth, Haynes, Horton, Sinn, Platt, Cowell, Redd, Robineau, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumph, Saylor, Tobin, Townsend and Zilker 18. Nays. None. Alderman Sinn moved that the Council now proceed to the election of the board of equalization, and that three tellers be appointed by the Mayor. Carried, and Aldermen Redd, Stumph and Haynes appointed tellers. The following Gentlemen, in addition to the names proposed by the committee were placed before the Council, viz: A.A. Rutherford, J.M. O’Dell, T.R. Morris, D.D. Kinney and Jos. Schuber. Nominations were then declared closed. The following was the result of the first ballot: A.A. Rutherford 6 votes, T.S. Wren 5 votes, J.M. O’Dell 5 votes, W.H. Randolph 13 votes, Sam De Cordova 4 votes, Jos. Smith 1 vote, Frank Brown 2 votes, D.M. Wilson 5 votes, Geo Schuber 7 votes, Jos. Cloud 4 votes, Wm. Von Rosenberg Sr. 3 votes, A.R. Morris 1 vote, A.M. Thomson 1 vote. W.H. Randolph having received a majority of the votes cast was declared elected. Alderman Beaty was excused from further attendance at this meeting. The result of the second ballot was as follows: A.A. Rutherford 5 votes, T.S. Wren 5 votes, J.M. O’Dell 3 votes, Sam De Cordova 5 votes, Frank Brown 1 vote, D.M. Wilson 6 votes, Jos. Cloud 4 votes, Wm. Von Rosenberg Sr. 4 votes, A.M. Thomson 1 vote. No one having received a majority, another ballot was ordered. The following was the result of the third ballot. A.A. Rutherford 5, Wren 5, O’Dell 4, De Cordova 4, Smith 1, Wilson 8, Cloud 4, Von Rosenberg 1, Morris 1, Thomson 1, No one having received a majority another ballot was ordered. Alderman Saylor moved to adjourn until 8: o.m. Thursday night, Lost by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Dorth, Shelley, Stumph, Saylor and Tobin, 5. Nays. Aldermen Beaty, Haynes, Horton, Sinn, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Schneider, Robineau, Townsend and Zilker 12. --- Page break --- 148 Alderman Horton moved that all candidates be dropped who have receivedless than four votes; Adopted. Alderman Horton moved that the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes on all subsequent ballots be dropped. Carried. The following was the result of a fourth ballot: Rutherford 6; Wren 7; Odell 11; DeCordova 3; Wilson 7; Cloud 7. The name of Mr. DeCordova was dropped. The following was the result of the fifth ballot: Rutherford 6; Wren 8; Odell 6; Wilson 9; Cloud 5 D.M. Wilson elected. D.M. Wilson having received a majority of all the votes cast was declared elected. The sixth ballot resulted as follows: Rutherford 5; Wren 7; Odell 5. No one having received a majority, a new ballot was ordered. Alderman Booth moved to adjourn until 8:30 A.M., Thursday; Lost by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Booth, Roberdeau, Shelley, Stumpf and Taylor 5. Nays Aldermen Glass, Haynes, Horton, Simms, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Schneider, Tobin, Townsend and Zilker 17. The following was the result of the seventh ballot: Rutherford 4; Wren 8; Odell 3; Schuber 3. No one having received a majority, a new ballot was ordered. Alderman Tobin moved to adjourn until 8:30 A.M., Thursday night. Lost by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Booth, Platt, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Tobin 6. Nays Aldermen Glass, Haynes, Horton, Simms, Powell, Redd, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Schneider, Townsend and Zilker 11. The following was the result of the eighth ballot: Rutherford 3; Wren 9; Schuber 7; No election. S.W. Wren elected. The ninth ballot resulted as follows: Wren 9; Schuber 7; Mr. S.W. Wren having received a majority of all the votes cast was declared elected. Special Com. report on W.W. Aldermen Tobin called up the report of the regarding lightning arresters Water and Light, regarding lightning arresters, and on motion of called was adopted. Alderman Shelley, the report was adopted. On motion of Alderman Powell, the Council then adjourned. Jno. Geo. Lurcock City Clerk.