66 Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the City Council. Austin, Texas, Oct. 3rd 1898. Hon. Jno. D. McCall, Mayor, presiding. Roll Called. Present, Aldermen Brown, Crooker, Fischer, Haynes, Kuhn, McLamore, Miller, Morris, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Townsend and Zilker 17. Absent, Aldermen Beaty, Horton, Maddox, Titschke and Widenbrand 5. Minutes adopted as recorded. On motion of Alderman Calvin the minutes were approved as recorded without reading. Petitions, Memorials etc. Pet. of Citizens to have State Str. repaired. By Alderman Crooker, Petition of Citizens asking to have State Street repaired. Read and referred to the Street Committee. Pet. of Mrs. W. J. McLean for erect frame building. By Alderman Kuhn. Petition of Mrs. W. J. McLean for permission to erect a frame building on Lot 10 Block 42, within the Fire limits Read and referred to the Fire Commissioners. Communication from S. A. Brush abt. appointing a Comittee to test new filtering ditches. The Mayor laid before the Council the following communication from Mr. Geo. A. Brush: Austin, Tex. Oct. 1898. To the Honorable City Council: As it was the understanding with the Committee from the City Council and Water Light and Power Commission, that they would have a Committee appointed to test the new filtering ditches at the New Pumping Station: I ask that such Committee will be appointed to test same at once, commencing Friday morning of this week, as the Water, Light and Power Commission meet Thursday, and that such test be continued day after day, so as to practically demonstrate how much water the filtering ditches furnished. Respectfully Geo. A. Brush. Aldermen Beaty and Titschke entered the Council Chamber. Alderman Zilker moved to indefinitely postpone the petition. Alderman Taylor moved that the whole matter be laid on the table. Taylor's motion to table withdrawn temporarily. Alderman Calvin offered the following resolution as a substitute: "Resolved, That the request of Geo. A. Brush as to testing Water pumps and the appointment of a Committee etc., be granted, provided that the Committee so appointed shall use their discretion as to making the tests, and if they so desire, shall be authorized to decline to make same." Alderman Taylor renewed his motion to table, which was lost by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Beaty, Haynes, Powell, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Townsend 7 Nays. Aldermen Brown, Crooker, Fischer, Horton, Kuhn, McLamore, Miller, Morris, Titschke, Platt, Redd, Rosengren and Zilker 13. Alderman Zilker withdrew his motion. Alderman Shelley moved to postpone action until the next regular meeting, which was lost. Alderman Horton moved to amend the resolution by providing, that the test shall be made within Thirty days. The amendment was accepted by Alderman Calvin, and the resolution --- Page break --- 57 as amended adopted by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Belvin, Booker, Fischer, Horton, Kuhn, McLemore, Miller, Morris, Nitschke, Pratt, Reid, Rosengren and Zilker 13. Nays Aldermen Beaty, Haynes, Powell, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor and Townsend 7 City Officers The Mayor laid before the Council the reports of the City Officers for the month of September 1898, which were on motion, referred to their respective Committees without reading. Assessor & Collector The following is a synopsis of the reports: By the Assessor and Collector. To Collections as follows: From General Revenue $2341.10 " Interest & Sinking Fund W & I Bonds. 1356.77 " " " Old Bonds. 140.59 " School Tax 641.26 Total Collections $4479.72 Referred to Finance Committee. City Clerk By the City Clerk. Total amount of Warrants issued against the General Fund during the month $5345.99 Referred to Finance Committee City Treasurer By the City Treasurer. Balance on hand Sept 2nd 1898 Account of General Fund $14223.58 " " " " " " Int & Sinking Fund Old Bonds. 8813.01 Receipts during the month. Account of General Revenue 2341.10 " " Sinking Fund Old Bonds 140.59 $25,518.28 Disbursements Remitted Account Interest on $78,500.00 Funding Bonds. $2175.00 Paid Warrants Dept. Account General Fund. 4645.97 Balances. Account of General Fund 11918.71 " " Interest & Sinking Fund Old Bonds 6778.60 $25518.28. Account Interest & Sinking Fund W & I Bonds. Balance Sept. 2nd 1898, Account Interest Fund 28252.40 " " " " " Sinking " 10000.00 Receipts during September 1356.77 $39609.17 Disbursements Remitted to pay October Interest $16312.50 Balance Account Interest Fund 13296.67 " " Sinking " 10000.00 $39609.17 Account of Earning Fund. Balance on hand Sept 1st. 1898. $4147.50 Received from Supt. Patterson during Sept. 1898. ~166.15 Disbursements Paid Warrants for Sept. 1898 6609.68 Balance on hand 5303.97 $11,913.65 --- Page break --- 68 City Marshal Referred to the Finance Committee. By the City Marshal. Total amount of Fines assessed in Recorders Court. $300.00 Paid in Cash 188.00 Worked out. 97.00 Escaped 4.00 Carried forward 11.00 Collected on back fines 300.00 Pound fees collected 6.50 Total number of arrests 50 39.85 City Physician Referred to Police Committee. By the City Physician. Number of Patients in Hospital Sept. 1st 1898 16 " " admitted during " " 16 " " dismissed " " " 11 " " remaining " 30th " 21 " " Visits to Paupers " " " 113 " " Prescriptions to Paupers " " " 146 " " Cases of Diptheria reported " " " 5 No other contagious or infectious diseases reported. City Sexton Referred to Hospital Committee. By the City Sexton. Total number of Deaths 15 White 13 Colored 2 Male 6 15 Female 9 15 Referred to Cemetery Committee. W. & L Comtee. report on Alderman Zilker's charges preferred. Report which was by G.W. Brush Reports from Standing Committees From the Water & Light Committee, presented the following report which was read and adopted. Austin, Sept. 20th 1898. To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Aldermen, and Members of the Water & Light Commission. We, your joint Committee appointed to investigate the charges of Mr. Geo. W. Brush which were in effect, that water was being subverted from the Lake, into the filtering ditches of the New [illegible], same, and beg to report that we have found nothing to sustain said charges. Respectfully. A. P. Zilker Jeff McLemore } For the Council J. W. Crooker Francis Fischer Geo. Siegel } For the W & L Commission. Alderman Powell from the Police Committee, to whom was referred the reports of the City Marshal for the month of August, presented a report stating that the reports had been examined and found correct. Report adopted. Alderman Hall, for the Claims and Accounts Committee, to whom was --- Page break --- 69 Alderman Morris introduced a resolution authorizing the Assessor and Collector, to credit O.P. Kinney with $19.50/100 on his Assessment for taxes, this being the amount of tax on a certain property which he had been compelled to take under vendor's lien note. The Claims and Accounts Committee, to whom was referred the above, presented a report, recommending the adoption of the resolution. On motion, the report was lost. Claims & Accts. Com. Alderman Platt, for the Claims and Accounts Committee to whom was referred refrd a petition the petition of A. W. Yavington requesting the Council to correct an error A. W. Yavington in his Assessment as fixed by the Board of Equalization, presented a report stating that the Committee had no authority to act in the matter, and therefore referred the matter back to the Council for such action as they may deem proper. On motion the report was received and filed. Unfinished Business. Ord. granting right of The Mayor laid before the Council an ordinance granting right-of-way way to E. A. Ellis et. al. to E. A. Ellis, his associates and assigns, to construct, furnish, and operate to build St. Railway. Street Railways, maintained in and along certain Streets and Avenues of the City of Austin. The ordinance was read the third time and passed by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Crooker, Haynes, McLemore, Miller, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Shelley, Taylor, Townsend and Mr. Mayor. 11 Nays. Aldermen Beatry, Belvin, Fischer, Horton, Huhn, Morris, Redd, Rosengren, Stumpf and Zilker. 10. New Business. Ord. Approp. $1023.64 By Alderman Morris. An ordinance appropriating the sum of $1023.64 to to pay Approved Accts. pay Approved Accounts. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Beatry, Belvin, Crooker, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Huhn, McLemore, Miller, Morris, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Townsend and Zilker. 20. Nays. None. Ord. Approp. $90.00 to By Alderman Crooker. An ordinance appropriating the sum of $90.00 to purchase of Sanitary purchase a new Cart, for the Sanitary Department. Carts. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Beatry, Belvin, Crooker, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Huhn, McLemore, Miller, Morris, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Shelley, Stumpf, Townsend and Zilker. 19 Nays. Alderman Taylor. 1. Bill from W L & P. Com. The Mayor laid before the Council a bill from the Water Light and Power for W & L furnished Commission for water & light furnished the East Austin Schools, for July to September 30th 1898. E. Aus. Schools. On motion, the bill was referred to the Water & Light Committee. The Mayor also laid before the Council a communication from the Water, Light & Power Commission, stating that the request for an itemized statement of running expenses of the plant had already been furnished in the quarterly report. On motion the communication was ordered filed. The Mayor then laid before the Council an estimate of receipts and expenditures for the fiscal year ending Dec. 1st 1899. Also recommendation as to tax levy for the year 1898. On motion, the matter be referred to the Finance Committee without reading, and that it be printed in full in the minutes, and it was so ordered. But its publication was afterwards reconsidered. --- Page break --- 70 Mayor's Message on tax levy for year 1899 Mayor's Office, Austin, Texas, Oct. 3rd 1898. To the Hon. City Council: Gentlemen: I have the honor to submit herewith the certificate of the City Assessor and Collector, showing the total value of taxable property in the City for the year 1898, to be $10,751,846.00 This is a decrease from last year of $777,873.00 The question now before us is to determine the tax rate for the fiscal year ending December 1899. To do this it will be necessary to determine what the estimated expenses of the City will be for the next year. Taking last year as a basis, we have the following: Estimated expenses of the City Government for the year ending Nov. 30th 1899. Salaries. Mayor. $600.00 Assessor & Collector 1800.00 Marshal 1500.00 Attorney 1500.00 Clerk. 1500.00 Engineer 1700.00 Auditor 900.00 Treasurer 600.00 Physician 600.00 Sexton 245.00 2 Assts. to A & C Office 2100.00 Asst. Clerk 900.00 Sanitary Inspector 876.00 Pound Master 876.00 Porter 480.00 Dept. of Police *$15,707.00 Park Clerk. 1080.00 Bridge Keeper 900.00 5 Mounted Policemen @ $876.00 each 4380.00 8 Foot " " " $720.00 " 5760.00 Officers & Employes City & County Hospital. 2040.00 Fire Department 6 Drivers & Tillerman @ $600.00 4200.00 2 Drivers Street Scrapers " $480.00 960.00 4 " & Gutterman Sanitary Dept. 2400.00 Aldermen 2640.00 Sanitary Department 1000.00 Fire " Feed & Repairs Etc. 2183.22 Extra Wagons, Drivers Hose etc. 2500.00 Rent of Engine House 600.00 " " City Prisoners 500.00 City & County Hospital, for medicine, 3000.00 Printing, stationery, books etc. 1000.00 Lighting, Street & Bridge 1700.00 --- Page break --- 71 Mayor's Message (Continued) Water & Light $ 15000.00 3rd Installment of Judgement due Old Water Co - say - 12325.00 Expenses of City Election 175.00 Board of Equalization 450.00 Miscellaneous 3000.00 Making a total of $ 83790.33 The Assessor & Collector estimates receipts, on account of General Revenue from sources other than Ad valorem Taxes, as follows: From License Tax 10000.00 " Recorder's Court 1400.00 " Pound fees 550.00 " Interest & Costs 600.00 " Travis County (Hospital) 2000.00 " Miscellaneous 135.00 " Dog Tax _________ " Pay Patients City Hospital. _________ " Tax prior years of 1898. 4500.00 Making a total of $ 19,185.00 Leaving a balance of $64,605.33 to be provided for by taxation. To this amount should be added the following: There is now in the hands of the City Clerk, a warrant for $3660.00 drawn on the 5th day of March 1896, due the Water & Light Plant, for the quarter ending Feb. 29th 1896, which has not been paid, the Clerk tells me, for want of funds. In addition to this, there will be due on Nov. 30th 1898, $14,967.00 for Water and Light furnished the City from April 1, 1897 to Nov. 30, 1898. The City Engineer estimates that it will take $4500. this year to repair the Bridges over the City which are in a dangerous condition, making in all the amount of $95,432.33 to be provided for out of the General Fund. A tax of 90 cents on the $100. valuation will meet this demand. The Streets of the City are in bad condition owing to the fact, that little work has been done upon them for several years. The Avenue and Pecan or 6th Street, should be paved, either with Asphalt or Concrete. By this means we will get rid of the dust, which is most hurtful to the Merchants' goods, than mud. This will never be accomplished unless we make a beginning, and if we only pave a few blocks each year this much will have been accomplished. I earnestly recommend a levy of 10 cents on the $100. valuation out of the General Levy to provide a fund for this purpose. The Bonds issued to build the Water & Light Plant, now out-standing, are as follows; $200.000. 6 p. and $1,205,000. 5 p. The interest and 2 p. Sinking Fund on these Bonds amounts to $104,350. annually. It is as necessary to collect the Sinking Fund as the Interest, and if the Bonds had been issued with the 2 p. Sinking Fund in each Coupon, this trouble we have had with the Sinking Fund would not have occurred; besides not only would the principal have decreased each year, but the interest would have been lessened also, and this would have made it lighter upon the Tax-payer. To pay this interest and Sinking Fund we will have to levy 104 & 35/100 c. Of this amount, there is now due to the Plant from New City, $38,622.40. Amount estimated to be due for the fiscal year ending Dec. 1898, $15.000. Amount estimated to be turned over by the Commission, to --- Page break --- 72 Mayor's Message } the fund, for the year ending Dec. 1899, $10,000.00, making a total of $53,627.50 leaving Continued, } a balance to be raised by taxation, of $53,755.50. A tax of 60 cents on the $100. valuation will meet this amount. It will have a levy of 33 cents on the $100. valuation for School purposes. This will make a tax rate as follows: General Revenue $1.00 on the $100. Valuation School Tax 33 1/3 " " 100. " Water & Light Bonds 60 " " 100. " For Bonds issued prior to 1890, the valuation in the Old City limits is not yet complete. Respectfully, Jno. D. McCall, Mayor. Ord. regulating sales & } By Alderman McLemore. An ordinance regulating the sale and use of Cocaine in use of Cocaine. } the City of Austin, and prescribing penalties. The ordinance was read the first time, and a motion made to suspend the rule and place it on its second reading, which motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Beaty, Belvin, Crookey, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Huhn, McLemore, Miller, Morris, Platt, Powell, Redd, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Townsend, Zilker 18. Nays. Aldermen Ditsche and Rosengren. Y. The ordinance was read the second time. Alderman Haynes moved to amend the ordinance by inserting in Sec. 4 lines 3 & 4, after the word "Physician," the words "or Dentist." The amendment was accepted. Alderman Fischer moved to postpone further action on the ordinance, until the next regular meeting which was lost The ordinance was then passed under suspension of the rule by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Beaty, Belvin, Crookey, Haynes, Horton, Huhn, McLemore, Miller, Morris, Platt, Powell, Redd, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Townsend and Zilker 17. Nays. Aldermen Fischer, Nitsche and Rosengren. 3. Ord. Appr $117.00 to } By Alderman Crooker. An ordinance appropriating the sum of $117.00 to pay pay Salary of Gutterman, } Salary of Gutterman, Sanitary Dept. for Sept. Oct. and Nov-1898. Sanitary Dept. } The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Beaty, Belvin, Crooker, Fischer, Haynes, Horton, Huhn, McLemore, Miller, Morris, Nitsche, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Townsend and Zilker. 20. Nays. None. Ord. to prevent the } By Alderman Zilker. An ordinance to prevent the disturbance of public disturbance of Public } worship by the rapid driving of vehicles. The ordinance was read the first time worship. } and a motion made to suspend the rule and place it on its second reading which was lost by the following vote: Yeas. Aldermen Belvin, Fischer, Horton, Huhn, Miller, Nitsche, Rosengren, Stumpf, Townsend and Zilker. 10. Nays. Aldermen Beaty, Crooker, Haynes, McLemore, Morris, Platt, Powell, Redd, Shelley and Taylor 10. On motion, the Council adjourned. Jno D. Johnson C. Clk.