Regular meeting of the City Council Austin Texas, Feby 2nd 1903. Hon W. S. Shelley, President of the Council presiding. Roll Called Present Aldermen Crooken Davis Low Mortimer Nitschke Redd and Shelley Absent Aldermen Hume Maddock Schneider Shinnault 7 Strumpf Weich On motion of Alderman Mortimer the Council adjourned until Friday Feby 6th at 8 o’clock P.M. 6 Jno. S. Johnson City Clerk Adjourned Regular meeting of the City Council Austin, Texas, Feby 6th 1903 Hon R. E. White Mayor presiding Roll Called Present Aldermen Crooken Davis Low Maddock Mortimer Nitschke Redd Schneider Shelley Shinnault Strumpf Weich 12 Absent Alderman Hume 1 On motion the minutes were approved as recorded by the Clerk, without reading Petitions, Memorials etc Pet Betheseda By Alderman Weich Petition of the Beth Israel Congregation Conveyances for asking for a drain pipe to be put in the City addition to the City drain pipe in Cemetery Cemetery On motion of Alderman Nitschke the petition was granted Reports of City Officers Reports City The Mayor laid before the Council the reports of City officers for the Officers month of Jany 1903, except that of the Marshal, which were on motion referred to their appropriate Committees without reading. Reports of Standing Committees Com reports Alderman Nitschke to whom was referred the Petition of Street & Bridge Citizens of Austin to have the bridge on fifth Street not removed and placed across Waller Creek on four teenth Street, presented a report recommending that the petition be granted. On motion the report of the Committee was adopted. Finance Alderman Maddock for the Finance Committee to whom was referred the reports of the Assessor-Collector, the Treasurer and the Clerk for the month of Dec. 1902, presented a report stating that they had examined same and found them Correct! On motion the reports were adopted Reports of Special Committees Alderman Nitschke for the special Committee appointed to Visit other Texas Cities and investigate --- Page break --- 754 Their Street work to present the following report. Austin, Texas, M.C.S. To the Honorable R.B. Love, Mayor, and Board of Aldermen City of Austin We your Special Committee appointed to visit San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Uvalde, and to meet with the City officials of said Cities, and learn from them their experience and practice, and what would be their Material furnished for Paving, beg to report as follows, Viz: We left Austin for San Antonio on the evening of January 24th and spent Monday, January 26th, in going over the streets of San Antonio with Engineer Trusheart, examining the streets and storm sewer work of that City. San Antonio has streets paved with Vitrified blocks, asphalt, and Vitrified brick. The block paving Cost $3.00 per square yard The asphalt paving Cost $1.90 per square yard The Vitrified brick paving Cost $2.10 per square yard, the asphalt used being the Uvalde, or Rock asphalt and the Sheet asphalt (The City has quit using block paving, and we find the same as in other Cities) therefore we will not further Consider the block paving. Both the asphalt and brick paving are laid on from four to six inches concrete, and a cushion of one and a half to two inches of sand on the Concrete where asphalt is used it is laid to a thickness of two inches The City has several miles of asphalt streets which have been laid from one to four years. Our observation and information obtained from the City Officials convinces us that streets paved with asphalt require constant care to keep them in order, which is necessary and expensive. The City, in making the contracts for asphalt paving, requires a ten years guarantee, and in all contracts for brick paving, retain fifteen per cent of the contract price for security. The brick paving done in San Antonio has given entire satisfaction, and thus far has given very little trouble in any way The only objection to the brick is the noise, but our observation is that with the exception of wheel vehicles with iron tires the noise is about the same as that on a street paved with asphalt. San Antonio has only a limited amount of storm sewers, but feel the need of same. From San Antonio we went to Houston where we spent Tuesday January 27th, going over the streets, the paving done and material used being the same as in San Antonio. Block and Vitrified used two and a half inches or two inches with both asphalt and brick. The Contracts for asphalt and brick require the City to give a guarantee of five to ten years, retaining a fifteen to ten percent of the contract price. sewer in Dallas. --- Page break --- 755 is putting in more, using brick for construction. The streets paved with asphalt are wearing in holes and where water shows deterioation. It requires constant care and attention to keep in repair one street in the five year guarantee will expire in March, and is in such condition that the Contractors have been given notice to repair it, and they are now at work doing so. The River paving laid with Vitrified brick has given entire satisfaction and requires little or no repairs since paving done with Common brick has been down several years and shows considerable wear. Houston has adopted the plan of widening sidewalks on all streets in the residence part of the City, the side walks are from twenty to twenty two and a half feet wide, which leaves a road way of thirty five to forty feet. On Mainstreet the side walks have been widened to eigthteen feet which leaves a roadway of fifty four feet. We spent Thursday January 29th, at Waco, This City, like Austin, has done little in street work. She has one street paved with rock Asphalt which has been down about one year. This is the best asphalt paving we saw. She has done little storm sewers and is a strong advocate of same. We spent Friday January 30th, 1903, in Fort Worth. This City has done and is doing much street work, using Vitrified brick. This work is well done and as a whole is for the best street paving we saw. She has considerable storm sewerage constructed out of concrete, and strongly advocates this. Only in carrying for storm water before paving. The brick paving being $1.85 per square yard. Saturday, January 31st, we spent in Dallas. This City has done much street work, a great deal of which is asphalt, but it wears in holes and takes constant care and patching to keep in repairs. What brick work she has done gives satisfaction. Her storm water is cared for by storm sewers, which method is highly favored by the officials. The work done in San Antonio and Houston is paid for by the City out of funds from sale of bonds at Waco, Fort Worth, and Dallas the work is paid for by the abutting property owners and the street car lines. The City having for the street crossing the same in all the [illegible] is about Vitrified brick paving being from $1.85 per square yard laid in Ft. Worth to $2.10 per square yard laid in San Antonio. We make the following recommendations. First Put in bricked storm sewers. Second By all means use Asphalt. Third Our paving is done in inches [illegible], we use [illegible] Fourth The [illegible] action of the storm --- Page break --- 756 Sewers, that the avenue and Sixth streets be macadamized with Cement Gravel, Walsh or as Good Gravel, Said work to be done in such manner as to make the foundation and advisable for having thereon with Vitrified Brick when the City is financially able to so pave. I. The work to be paid for as follows. I. The City to pay for putting in the storm Sewers and setting out the Curbing and tidlines in between the red and the new Curb Line and the street crossings. B. - The Street Car Line to pay as required by its Charter the work along its line. C The abutting property owners to pay for the work between the new Curb Line and the street Car Work. Fifth In our opinion the side walks Can be materially widened and greatly reduce the Cost of Carrying for the streets, and at the same time add much to the beauty of our streets. From information obtained we estimate the cost of the work outside of work done by the street Car Line and the City to be approximately as follows, Viz: For Vitrified brick laid on Cement gravel $1.25.⁰⁰ per 23 foot front or $6000.⁰⁰ per block For Vitrified brick laid on Concrete $1.75.⁰⁰ per 23 foot front, or $9200.⁰⁰ per block For Cement or Walsh gravel $30.⁰⁰ per 23 foot front or $120.⁰⁰ per block. In Concluding we desire to thank the officials of the Various Cities for their generous Courtesies and information given your Committee. We desire to especially thank Mr. Engineer C.S. Dodson heart of San Antonio, F.L. Dorment of Stockton, Geo. B. Durley of Waco, John B. Hawley of Fort Worth and Hugh Haines of Dallas. We have an unexpended balance of $28.75 out of the $200.⁰⁰ appropriated, which amount we have deposited to the Credit of the General Revenue fund with City Assessor and Collector Fred Storying, and attach his receipt hereto for same. All of which is respectfully submitted. To Council by Engineer J.G. Klockke 7 Special Committee J.M. Thumman 7 on Paving J.M. Madden Alderman Redd moved to adopt the report of the Committee which motion prevailed. Alderman Madden moved to reconsider the vote by which the report of the special Committee was adopted which motion prevailed. Alderman Simmian moved that the report of the special Committee be published in full in the minutes of the Council which motion was adopted. --- Page break --- 757 On motion of Alderman Ans [illegible] added ordered published in the Daily Statesman, provided they charge the regular price now paid for newspaper printing. Alderman Mortimer moved that the thanks of the Council be extended to the Committee for the able manner in which they have discharged the duty imposed upon them. The motion was adopted by a rising vote. New business $1500. for Stone Culvert 5th St. across Sts By Alderman Schneider An ordinance appropriating the sum of $15000 for the purpose of building a Stone Culvert across Little Shoal Creek at the intersection of Nueces & 5th Streets. The ordinance was read the first time and on motion was referred to the Street Committee. Charter Amendment City Treasurer Alderman Low offered the following resolution Whereas, The custodianship of the public funds of the City of Austin is a valuable privilege which might be let out to the highest bidder with great advantage to the revenue of the City; and Whereas, many other Cities have successfully accepted the plan of electing as their respective Treasurers the bank which will bid highest for the privilege of keeping the public funds; therefore, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin; Section 1. That it is the sense of the Council that the City Charter should be so amended as to permit the City funds to be kept by the person or bank which will offer the highest responsible bid for said privilege; such custodian to enter into a good and sufficient bond for the faithful discharge of the duties of Treasurer, and to be elected by the Council every two years. Section 2. The Mayor is hereby requested to appoint a special Committee consisting of three members of the City Council, who, together with himself and the City Attorney, are hereby instructed to take the necessary steps to procure the enactment of a charter amendment of the nature above stated. Section 3. That our local Senator and representatives are hereby respectfully requested to aid us in obtaining such Charter amendment. Alderman Mortimer moved the adoption of the resolution Alderman Schneider moved as a substitute that it be referred to the ordinance Committee which motion was lost by the following vote Yeas Alderman Boyle Madday Read Schneider Shelley 5 Nays Alderman Davis Low Mortimer Thueme Shumate Trump 7 Failed $450.- [illegible] Bridge & 5th. On motion of Alderman Theiring the resolution was referred to the ordinance Committee with instructions to report at the next regular meeting of the Council By Alderman Theiring An ordinance appropriating the sum of $45000 for the purpose of rebuilding the bridge on East 5th Street and making the same was read. and a motion made The ordinance was read the first time and a motion made to suspend the rule was failed by a rising vote. --- Page break --- which motion prevailed by the following vote Yeas Aldermen Crooker Davis Low Waddox Mortimer Witschke Redd Schneider Shelley Shumate Strumph Wileit Nays None. 12 The ordinance was read the second time, Alderman Shelley, moved to amend by inserting after word "bridge" the following words "not now in use". The amendment was adopted, and the ordinance as amended was passed under suspension of the rule by the following Vote. Yeas Aldermen Crooker Davis Husema Low Waddox Witschke Redd Schneider Shelley Shumate Strumph Wileit Nays None 12 Salaries of By Alderman Waddox An Ordinance appropriating the sum of Policemen $187.00 for the purpose of paying the salaries of special Policemen for the month of Jany 1908. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote. Yeas Aldermen Crooker Davis Husema Low Waddox Witschke Redd Schneider Shelley Shumate Strumph Wileit Nays None. 12 $375. to repair By Alderman Davis An Ordinance appropriating the sum of market shed $375. for the purpose repairing the market shed on the block on Primrose known as the "Alliance Yard" Corner 5th and Primrose Streets. The Ordinance was read the first time, Alderman Shelley moved to refer it to the Market Committee and City Attorney, which motion was lost by the following Vote. Yeas Aldermen Waddox Schneider Shelley Strumph Nays Aldermen Crooker Davis Low Mortimer Witschke Redd Shumate Wileit 4 8 Alderman Davis moved to suspend the rule and place the Ordinance on its second reading, which motion was lost by the following Vote. Yeas Aldermen Crooker Davis Low Mortimer Witschke Redd Shumate and Wileit 8 Nays Aldermen Waddox Schneider Shelley Strumph 4 $200. to grade By Alderman Crooker An ordinance appropriating the sum of Ruiz & other $200. for the purpose of grading portions of Ruiz and other Streets. Streets The Ordinance was read the first time. Alderman Schneider moved to refer it to the Streets Committee which motion was lost by the following Vote. Yeas Aldermen Waddox Schneider Strumph 3 Nays Aldermen Crooker Davis Low Mortimer Witschke Redd Shelley, Shumate Wileit 9 Alderman Crooker moved to suspend the rule and place the Ordinance on its second reading, which motion was lost by the following Vote. Yeas Aldermen Crooker Davis Low Mortimer Witschke Redd Shelley, Shumate Wileit 9 Nays Aldermen Waddox Schneider Strumph 3 --- Page break --- 739 $350. To spend By Alderman Weit an ordinance appropriating the sum of Sewer in City $350. for the purpose of extending the Sewer into the City addition Cemetery to the City Cemetery. The ordinance was read the first time Alderman Schneider moved to refer it to the Cemetery Committee which motion was lost by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Maddas, Schneider 2 Nays Aldermen Crooker, Davis, Lora, Mortimer, Nitscheke, Redd, Shelley, Shumate, Strumpff, Weit. 10 On motion the rule was suspended and the ordinance placed on its second reading by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Crooker, Davis, Lora, Maddas, Mortimer, Nitscheke, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Shumate, Strumpff, Weit 12 Nays none. The ordinance was read the second time Alderman Shelley moved to amend same by inserting "that the work be done under the supervision of the Cemetery, and Street Committees and the City Engineer, and that the water be conducted by the most practicable route." The amendment was adopted and the ordinance was passed under suspension of the rule by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Crooker, Davis, Lora, Maddas, Mortimer, Nitscheke, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Shumate, Strumpff, Weit 12 Nays none. City Treasurer Alderman Maddas offered the following resolution which directed to was read and adopted. transfer Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, that certain funds the City Treasurer of the City of Austin be and is hereby directed to transfer from the General Fund to the Street Improvement Fund the sum of $275.00 to reimburse said Street Improvement Fund for that amount paid Mr. McNeill for land for Cemetery and other purposes. Plans Alderman Crooker offered the following resolution to change To the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Austin. Charter Every large advantage possessed by a municipality should be availed of for the economic administration of its affairs in order that its citizens should be supplied with Water and Lights at the very lowest rates, by taking advantage of its local Water Power, especially since electrical power has been rendered practical; any water power available rather than Coal and Oil to generate that power The neglect from any cause to use that water power is a most suicidal policy in any City government. The City of Austin is now paying about $60.000." per annum for oil as a substitute for water power, lost by the destruction of the dam, and the probability is that we will advance in price and we may be compelled to pay more than that amount for us a generating, for electricity It is estimated by competent Electrical Engineers that --- Page break --- 760 The dam across the Colorado river at Austin can be rebuilt, and $500.000, and there are numerous construction companies in this community that would become competitors for that sum, for the rebuilding of the dam, if such an offer as made by the City of Austin The $60.000. that we now pay for our annually, after the first year, would, in eleven years pay the interest and the principal, $500.000, and the city would supply its citizens with water and light at almost a nominal price, and this could be done without any taxation. The use of water power rather than coal or oil, for generating electricity, is so economical that it is obvious to every intelligent man in Austin who has the interest of its citizens at heart, and for the purpose of inaugurating a practicable plan for the rebuilding of the dam, I offer the following resolution: Resolved, That a Committee composed of the Mayor, the City Attorney, and three Aldermen, be appointed The Aldermen by the Mayor, To Confer with the water and Light Commission, or a committee appointed by that body, to consider the practicability of rebuilding the dam upon the plan herein proposed and to ascertain what legislation by the Legislature of the State, now in session, would be necessary for the consummation of the plan proposed; and, that the said Committee of the Council report the conclusions of said joint-Committee to the Mayor and City Council of Austin at its very earliestconvenience. On motion of Alderman Nitschke the resolution was adopted, and the Mayor appointed Aldermen Crooker City Engineer Madday and Shelley as the Committee provided for in to value and the resolution. number certain Alderman Nitschke offered the following resolution which Streets was read and referred to the street Committee. Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, that the City Engineer be and is hereby authorized and instructed to value and number all of those streets of the City east of Corral street. [illegible] Alderman Madday moved to reconsider the vote by which the Council refused to suspend the rules and place the ordinance appropriating the sum of $200. To grade Ruiz and other streets, which motion prevailed. Alderman Shelley moved to suspend the rules and place the ordinance in its second reading which motion was lostby the following vote Yeas Aldermen Crooker Low Madday Nitschke Redd Shelley Shirer Uhlit Nays Aldermen Davis Warriner [illegible] On motion the Council adjourned Geo. Johnson City Clerk