Called meeting of the City Council Austin Texas, Feby 20th 1904 Howell C. White, Mayor presiding Roll Called Present Aldermen Crooken, Haynes, Hume, Waddell Miller, Moore, Nitschke, Shelley, Thumale, Smith, West. 11 Absent Aldermen Macken, Redd, Schneider 3 Call of Council The foregoing Call of the Council was read, A Special meeting of the City Council of the City of Austin is hereby Called to meet in the Council Chamber at City Hall at 8 oclock PM, On this 20th day of February AD 1904, for the purpose of receiving and acting upon the report of the Special Committee appointed to inspect and report upon fire escapes etc. from Operahouses and other public buildings in the City of Austin; and for the further purpose of extending on behalf of the City of Austin an invitation to the Odd Fellows to meet in said City on March 9th 1905 H.C. White Mayor L.M. Crooken 3rd Ward J.W. Thumale E.W. Moore I hereby Certify that the following named Aldermen have been served with a true Copy of this Call by having it read to them in person; viz: H.C. Redd, F.W. Waddell, J.P. Schneider, Waddell, L.M. Crooken, Joe Macken, Ed Hume, W.A. West, J.W. Thumale Harry Haynes, E.W. Moore, J.O. Smith, S. Miller. A true Copy I was left at the residence of Mr J.B. Nitschke he not being able to be found. H. Montgomery City Marshal Alderman On motion of Alderman Waddell, Alderman Macken excused Macken was excused from attendance at this session of the Council on account of sickness in his family. Alderman Crooken for the Special Committee presented the following report: Austin, Texas, Feby 20th 1904 To the Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Austin, Texas. Gens: Report Special Your Committee appointed for the purpose of Committee on investigating the Houses (Opera House and other places Fire escapes of public Amusement in the City of Austin as to fire escapes etc beg leave to report as follows: After a thorough investigation of the Houses (Opera) House we recommend that the owner of said building be requested to make the following changes and additions as soon as possible. --- Page break --- 154 First That a steel or Asbestos fire proof Curtain be placed in front of the Stage, properly hung and with Built in Automatic Attachments for operating Same. Second, That proper rollers be placed under all main entrance doors. Third, That an iron platform be built at the exits from first and second floors or galleries on the East side to be of suitable length and not less than four feet wide and connected with proper iron Stairs to the Street and to be so arranged that they can be used for exits at All times. Fourth, That a suitable fire escape be placed on the west side near the south west corner to accomodate exit from the first and second floors or galleries. Fifth That three doors be placed in south wall in proper place for exits from second floor or gallery to the roof. Sixth In reference to exits from the first floor on the west side we would Say that we have petitioned the United States Government, through their Webster Flanagan, Custodian of the U.S. Post office and Courthouse building and grounds asking for permission to remove a portion Section of the iron fence running parallel with the Courthouse building so as to leave a proper opening from the exits on the west side to the Streets. We further recommend the passage of an Ordinance providing for a Special officer whose duty it shall be to attend each and every performance at the Hancock Opera House or any other place of Amusement where fire escapes are necessary and See to it that all exits and fire escapes are kept in proper Condition, Also providing for penalty in case they are not so kept by the Owners or management of Such buildings. If all the recommendations made by your Committee carried out, we can unhesitatingly say that the Hancock Opera House will be as Safe and as easy for the exit of an audience as any Opera House in Texas. Respectfully Submitted L.M. Booker. E.W. Moore J.B. Nitschke A.L. South Geo. Riegal. J.A. Roper. On motion the report of the Committee was adopted. Alderman Booker offered the following resolution which was adopted by the City Council of Austin: "That the report of the Special Committee appointed for --- Page break --- Resolution on fire escapes. the purpose of investigating the Hancock Opera House and other places of public amusement in the City of Austin, as to fire escapes, etc, be and is, hereby approved: and the recommendations of Said Committee Concerning Contemplated improvements at the Hancock Opera House are hereby Specifically adopted, and the Council hereby authorizes Said improvements to be made as described in Said report of February 27, 1904: And hereby authorizes the Mayor to so advise the owner of the Hancock Opera House Alderman Redd entered the Council Chamber By Alderman Borden an Ordinance providing for the protection of persons and property against fires in the City of Austin. Ordinance fire escapes, public buildings The ordinance was read the first time Alderman Ulit moved that it be referred to the Police Committee, which motion prevailed. Alderman Schneider entered the Council Chamber Alderman Woddan offered the following resolution which was read and adopted Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, that the Mayor and the City Marshal of Austin be and are hereby directed to take Such action as they deem necessary for the safety of the public attending any place of amusement in the City of Austin, until further action of the City Council or an ordinance now pending before it. Grand Lodge I. O. O. F. invited to hold annual Session 1905, in this City By Alderman Moore petitions of Committee I.O.O.F asking the Council to invite the Grand body of the State to hold its Annual Meeting in 1905. in this City Alderman Shumate moved that Judge Patterson be invited to address the Council on the subject which motion prevailed. After the remarks of Judge Patterson, Alderman Moore offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted Resolved that a Committee of 3 be appointed by the Mayor to co-operate with the Committee of OddFellows in securing proper quarters for the visitors, and that the City Clerk draw up a cordial invitation on behalf of the Council to the Grand Lodge of I.O.O.F here and extending to them a cordial invitation to visit the City and hold their next annual meeting in 1905. On motion the Council adjourned Jno. G. Watson By C. C. A.