Called Meeting of the City Council Austin Texas, June 23, 1902 Hon R.E. White, Mayor presiding Roll Called Present Aldermen Crocker Hume Low Maddox Mortimer Nietscke Shelley Shumate Struff Weit Absent Aldermen Dahs Redd Schneider The following Roll of the Council was read. Austin, Texas, June 26th 1902 A Called meeting of the City Council of the City of Austin, is hereby Called to meet in the Council Chamber at City Hall on Monday, June 30th 1902, at 8:30 o'clock P.M. for the purpose of Considering and Ordinance providing for the sprinkling of Certain streets in the City of Austin R.E. White Mayor Jun Shumate Alderman Cuppord Joseph Shumff Geo Low. 7th Ward Austin, Texas, June 26th 1902 I hereby Certify that all of the Aldermen have been served with this Call by having it read to them in person, with the exception of Alderman Davis he being out of the City, a true Copy was left at his place of business Geo Lowens Sergeant of Police Alderman Shumate for the special Committee, to whom was referred an Ordinance to provide for the sprinkling of Certain streets in the City of Austin, presented the following report To the Hon Mayor and City Council, of the City of Austin: Your special Committee appointed for the purpose of looking into the Report of practicability of sprinkling Certain streets of Austin beg leave to submit Special the following proposition. Committee It is undoubtedly a fact that the question of sprinkling, on sprinkling has given the members of this Council and the Citizenship of Austin considerable Concern, it is a matter which requires immediate action and we trust the honorable members will adopt the suggestions, as it will bring our people relief at a nominal Cost The duty delegated to this Committee, was to ascertain if possible if there were any available funds that Could be used for the purpose of sprinkling the streets. As is known by your honorable body practically all the revenues of the City have been budgeted, and we have tried to meet this Condition by recommending a plan that will involve only a nominal outlay and which we trust will be acceptable to you It has been Claimed by some that this Council has not the power to sprinkle Certain streets to the exclusion of Certain others, not withstanding the fact that the thoroughfares, namely, Congress Ave. & 6th street, have ninety nine one hundreds of the travel and Exceed ninety nine one hundreds --- Page break --- 680 of the dust throughout the entire City, After Consulting with the City Attorney, we find that Council has the power to sprinkle such streets as their discretion and judgement dictates. For the sake of suffering humanity, we therefore recommend the following resolutions, and trust that You will adopt Same, and authorize that the work be done without delay so as to abate a Nuisance that is not only detrimental to the Comfort, but health of the Community. A Conference has been had with Mr. Sanitary Officer, Mr Schneider, who states that he would do the work in accordance with the following resolution, provided this Council authorizes him to do so. Resolved – That the City Council of the City of Austin do hereby Authorize the Sanitary department to proceed to sprinkle with five hose on Congress Avenue from and including 11th Street to first Street, And Sixth Street From Red River to Lavaca Street and all the intervening Streets so far as the Water from the hose can be made to reach That he use any means at his Command so long as the work of the Sanitary Department is not in any manner interfered with That he make application to the fire department who are hereby authorized to give him such hose as is not in Service in the Austin fire department, including Couplings so that it can be attached to the fire hydrants That the work be done between the hours of 11 o’clock at Night and Seven o’clock in the Morning That if the Sanitary officer cannot do the work without in any manner crippling his department, that he be allowed to expend not exceeding $4.00 per week for the purpose of sprinkling as herein provided for J. Thumate Chairman J. B. Nitschke Alderman Schmieder entered the Council Chamber. On Motion of Alderman Nitschke, Mr & Mrs Scarborough who was present in the Council Chamber, was invited to address the Council, on the matter of sprinkling Streets. After remarks by Mr Scarborough the report of the Committee together with the resolution submitted by them, were adopted. Alderman Thumate offered the following resolution which was read and adopted. Resolution authorizing the use of Oil To Sprinkle Certain Sts. Resolved that the City Council of the City of Austin do hereby grant the Merchants of Austin at their own expense the privilege of sprinkling Certain Streets here in after mentioned with Oil, Same to be made in the nature of an experiment The Street was from Congress Avenue to Colorado thence North to 10th thence West to Lavaca thence North to 19th --- Page break --- 681 West 6th from Lavaca to west Avenue. East 6th from Red River 3 blocks east East 1st from Congress Avenue 2 blocks each Alderman Mortimer called attention of the Council to a case of destitution in the eastern portion of the City The Mayor stated that the matter would be investigated On Motion the Council adjourned. Geo. I. Johnson City Clerk