72 Items 11 to 25 were read and adopted Item 23 was read. Alderman Crooker moved to amend same by striking out $ 233,11 and inserting in 1 lieu thereof $2415.00 which motion prevailed . Regular meeting of the City Council, Austin, Texas March 03, 1908; Hon P M Maddox, Mayor presiding; Roll called: Present Aldermen Crooker, Cuneo, Haynes, Meredith, Petri, Scott, Smith and Wilhelm 8 Absent Aldermen Armstrong, Miller, Moore, Moreland, Redd & Sutor 3 On motion the Council adjourned until 8 oclock P M Tuesday March 3rd 1908 J.O. Johnson City Clerk Adjourned Regular meeting of the City Council Austin, Texas Mch 3rd 1908: Hon P M Maddox, Mayor, presiding; Roll called: Present Aldermen Armstrong, Crooker, Cuneo, Haynes, Meredith, Miller Moore, Moreland, Petri, Scott, Sutor & Wilhelm 12 Absent Aldermen Redd & Smith 2 On motion the minutes were approved as recorded by the Clerk without reading. Petitions etc Guardian Otto Petitions, memorial etc: Schmidt et al By Alderman Haynes, petition of ,Guardian, of estate of Otto Schmidt , et al for flagging a sking pay for flagging, Read and referred to Claims & Accounts Comm. Sidewalk+awning By Alderman Haynes ,petition of G A Sievers, asking to have sidewalk repair and awning repaired, Read and referred to Paving & Street Committees. O Newburg building By the Mayor, petition of O A Newburg, for permission to erect a shed permit within the fire limits ;On motion the petition was granted. Alderman Redd entered the Council chamber. Citizens to open Red By Alderman Scott ,petition of Citizens to open Red River street through River St the old Governor Davis Homestead ;Read and on motion referred to the Stre Street Committee and City Attorney. C Q Horton pound By Alderman Wilhelm Petition of C Q Horton asking to have pound fee fee refd. refunded On the petition was granted . Lone Star Ice Co By Alderman Sutor ,Petition of the Lone Star Ice Company for permisbuilding permit sion to erect a shed witin the fire limits Alderman Smith entered the Councilm chamber. On motion of Alderman Crooker, Mr A J Zilker was invited to address the Council on the petition of the Lone Star Ice Co to erect a shed; Alderman Cuneo moved to refer the petition to the Fire Committee, which m motion was lost by the following vote : Yeas Aldermen Cuneo, Haynes Moreland & Wilhelm 4 Nays Aldermen Armstrong, Crooker, Meredith, Miller, Moore, Petri, Redd, Scott, Smith & Sutor 10 Judge Key+Dr By Alderman Meredith ,petition of Judge Key & Dr Sampson asking that Sampson the Council to take steps to complete work on 27th Street . 27th St work The petition was read, and on motion Judge Key & Dr Sampson were invited to address the Council; After remarks by these Gentlemen, the petition was referred to the Street Committee. The Mayor laid before the Council a petition from J B Nitschke Esq, --- Page break --- 73 W J [illegible]ch a skin Linen [illegible] a sking to have his assessment corrected, which was read and on motion referred to the Committee on Claims & Accounts Mrs M Stevens to By the Mayor, Petition of Mrs M Stevens, asking to have fine refunded; refund fine Read and on motion referred to the Committee on Claims & Accounts. Mrs C P Ledbetter & By Aldemran Wilhelm Petition of Mrs C P Ledbetter & H L Raven asking; remission H L Raven taxes of Taxes;Read and referred to the Claims & Account Committee. H Heuss assessment By Alderman Wilhelm Petition of H-Huss H Heuss asking; change of assessment ;Read Reai and referred to the Claims and Accounts Committee Memorial C E Leonard The Mayor laid before the Council a memorial fr: C E Leonard Ex City Engineer City Hall Sewer in regard to City Hall Sewer, which was read Alderman Meredith moved that it be referred to a special Committee of Five to be appointed by the Mayor, which motion prevailed. The Mayor announced that he would appoint on said Committee the City Hall Committee. Reports of City Officers: Reports City Officers The Mayor laid before the Council the reports of the Assessor & Collector, the Clerk, the Marshal & the Sexton for the month Feby 1908, which were on motion referred to their appropriate Committees, without reading. The City Attorney to whom was referred a resolution passed by the Council City Atty report on regarding the repair of railroad tracks by the different roads occupying the R Road. streets in the City, presented a report, submitting letters received from the Officers of the I & Gn, the H & T C and the M K & T ,roads on the subject, and Stating that he had as yet no reply from the Austin Dam & Suburban road, Alderman Cuneo offered the following resolution ; Resolved that the City Attorney City Atty to proceed be instructed to proceed at once in proceedings to forfeit the Franchise of the against Austin & Sub Austin Dam & Suburban R R Co because of failure to proceed with repairs in R R. compliance with a resolution passed by the City Council of the City of Austin. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Aldermen Armstrong, Crooker, Cuneo, Haynes, Meredith, Miller, Moore, Moreland, Petri, Read, Scott, Smith, Sutor & Wilhelm 14 Nays none The Mayor laid before the Council the following report from the City Attorney. Austin, Texas, March 3, 1908. To the Hon Mayor and City Council of the City of Austin. Gentlemen: City Atty in Quisenberry I have carefully considered the petition of A T and L M Quisenberry of date, January 6, 1908, for permission to close the alley, running north and south through Block 10, Christian & Pelman addition to the City of Austin, situated between twentieth and twentyfirst streets and Red River and Neches, and will say that if L M and A T Quisenberry own all or the property on either side of the alley, the Council may grant them the right to close said alley and when so grant in my judgement, it will be a permanent closing and a legal closing, which cannot afterwards be set aside. Respectfully submitted W D Hart City Attorney On motion the report was ordered filed. Alderman Wilhelm moved that the petition be Not granted, which motion prevailed Reports of Standing Committees : --- Page break --- 74 It is an ord. designating Alderman Scott, for the Street Committee to whom was referred an ordinance dividing line E & W designating Lampasas street as the dividing line between the East and West Austin portions of the City, from 19th to 31st street, presented a report recommending that the ordinance do not pass .On motion the report was adopted. Alderman Scott for the Street Committee presented the following, which was read and adopted. Austin, Texas, March 3rd, 1908 To the Hon Mayor and City Council ,City of Austin, Texas. Gentlemen: We, your Street Committee and Engineer, recommend that, for the Austin Electric purpose of extending their Blind Institute line to the entrance to the Game R R Co allowed tery, a short distance beyond the Manor road, the Austin Electric Railway to alter grade on Company be allowed to alter the grade on the Cameron road fromnineteenth Blind Institute street to a point in front of Mr Jas P Harts property, about a block and line a half north, by making the grade uniform for that distance. The Railway Company has already begun the extension. The proposed change in grade involves a cut of 18 inches on the brow of the hill, and a fill of a foot between there and 19th street; the street to be left with good crown, and surface as good as at present. We also recommend that they be allowed to widen the fill previously made from a point opposite the old reservoir, north as far as the fill extends; the fill to be widened to the gutter line on each side, and properly crowned and surfaced and left in as good condition as the street now is at that point ; the intersection and approach to street north of the reservoir also to be filled in on proper grade by the Railway Company Work to be done to the satisfaction of the Street Committee and the Engineer On motion the report was adopted. Finance affairs Alderman Haynes for the Finance Committee to whom was referred the reports report of the Assessor & Collector and Clerk for the months of Dec1907, and for January 1908, and those of the Treasurer Nov & Dec 1907 , and for January 1908, presented a report stating that they had been checked and found correct .On motion the report was adopted. Et & Otto. Trohoff Alderman Petri for the Committee on Claims and Accounts to whom was Refund liquor license referred the petition of Otto. Trohoff, for refund of liquor license, presented a report recommending that the petition be granted; On motion the report was adopted. R & Alderman Petri for the Committee on Claims and Accounts to whom was R. G. Brydson referred the petition of R G Brydson to reduce assessment, presented a r report stating that the Council had no legal right to grant the petition ,and therefore recommended that the petition be not granted, On motion the report was adopted. Unfinished Business: The Mayor laid before the Council An ordinance appropriating the sum of $700. retain $ 700.00 for the purpose of repairing the Speedway; The ordinance was read Speedway the second time .Alderman Cuneo moved to amend same by Striking out $ 700.00 and inserting in lieu there of $350.00 The amendment was lost by the follow -ing vote; --- Page break --- 75 Yeas Aldermen Cuneo & Wilhelm 2 Nays Aldermen Armstrong, Crooker, Haynes, Meredith, Miller, Moore, Moreland, Petri, 12 Redd, Scott, Smith & Sutor The ordinance was then passed under suspension of the rule by the followin vote: Yeas Aldermen Armstron, Crooker Cuneo, Haynes, Meredith, Miller, Moore, Moreland, Petri, Redd, Scott, Smith, Sutor & Wilhelm 14 Nays none. N e w B u s i n e s s : Pay First House By Alderman Crooker An ordinance appropriating the sum of $ 25.00 for the Peace Park purpose of paying T W Powell for House and Tools in Peace Park.; The ordinance was read the first time and passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote: Aldermen Armstrong, Crooker, Cuneo, Haynes, Meredith, Miller Moore, Moreland, Petri, Redd Scott, Smith, Sutor & Wilhelm 14 Nays none. Salary Keeper Parks By Alderman Crooker An ordinance appropriating the sum of $ 40.00 for the Feby 1908 purpose of paying salary of Keeper of parks for the month of Feby 1908; The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the followig vote: Yeas Aldermen Armstrong, Crooker, Cuneo, Haynes, Meredith, Miller, Moore, Moreland, Petri, Redd, Scott, Smith, Sutor & Wilhelm 14 Nays none. G H Boyce acct By Alderman Crooker An ordinance appropriating the sum of $ 75.00 for the purpose of paying Guy S Boycean account, etc: The ordinance was read the first ti t ime and passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote : Yeas Aldermen Crooker Haynes Meredith Miller Moore ,Moreland Redd, Scott, Smith, Sutor & Wilhelm 11 Nays Aldermen Armstrong , Cuneo & Petri 3 Alderman Sutor Alderman Sutor mo ved that the Mayor appoint a Committee on Creamatory , which moti Moore & Cuneo motion prevailed, and the Mayor appointed Aldermen Sutor Moore and Cuneo; Crematory Committee On motion of Alderman Sutor the Council adjourned until 8 oclock P M , Thursday March 5th 1908; Jno. J. H[illegible] City Clerk --- Page break --- 76 Adjourned Regular meeting of the City Council, Austin, Texas Mch 5th 1908 : Hon F M Maddox,Mayor,presiding: Roll called : Present Aldermen Armstrong, Crooker, Cuneo, Haynes, Meredith, Moore, Moreland, Smith & Sutor 9 Absent Aldermen Miller, Redd, Petri , Scott & Wilhelm 5 Alderman Moore moved a call of the Council, which was seconded, and the call ordered. The Marshal was directed to bring in the absentees. Aldermen Miller, Scott ,Wilhelm, Redd and Petri, entered the Council and answered to their names, when the call was suspended. The Mayor stated that the resolution of Alderman Cuneo,in regard to the C City Engineer was the pending business on adjournment and was now the business before the Council .On motion the regular order was suspended temporarily. Express Wagon Ord. To Amend By Alderman Moore An ordinance to amend Section 1 of an ordinance entitled an ordinance prohibiting the owners, drivers or persons in charge of moving vans, express wagons ,vehicles from which wood, fruits, vegetables or other goods or produce of any character whatsoever are sold by retail from permitting such vehicles to stand for the purpose of v ending same on certain streets of the City, passed July 20th 1903. On motion Fred Carleton Esq was invited to address the Council on tho ordinance .after which a motion was made to suspend the rule and place the ordinance on its second reading, which motion prevailed by the following vote : Yeas Aldermen Armstrong, Crooker, Cuneo, Haynes, Meredith, Miller, Moore, Moreland, Petri, Redd, Scott, Smith, Sutor & Wilhelm 14 Nays none. The ordinance was read the second time; Alderman Wilhelm moved to amend same by adding at end of Section one the following: "( 4 ) On one block on 7th street between Congress Avenue and Brazos St The amendment was adopted, and the ordinance as amended was passed under suspension of the rule by the following vote : Yeas Aldermen Armstrong, Crooker ,Cuneo ,Haynes, Meredith, Miller, Moore, Moreland, Petri Redd, Scott, Smith, Sutor & Wilhelm 14 Nays none. The Mayor then laid before the Council the following resolutionoffered by Alderman Cuneo:Be it resolved that the City Attorney be requested and directed to investigate as to whether the City has a regularly elected and duly qualified City Engineer and should he find that there is not , then that he prepare an ordinance providing for the election of a City Engineer to fill the un-expired term of C E Leonard resigned On motion the resolution was adopted; The City Attorney made a verbal statement in which he stated that the selection of Mr Iredellas acting Engineer was only temporary, and that the Council could proceed at any time to the election of an Engineer; Alderman Cuneo offered An ordinance providing the manner for electing City Engineer to fill the unexpired term caused by the resignation of C E Leonard; The ordinance was read the first time and passed ,under suspension of the rules by the following vote : Ordinance to elect City Engineer --- Page break --- 77. . Y eas AldermenCrooker Cuneo,Haynes,Miller,Moreland,Petri,Redd,Smith,Sutor & Wilhelm 10 Nays Aldermen Armstrong,Meredith,Moore & Scott 4 Alderman Crooker moved that the Council now proceed to the Election of an Engineer to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of C E Leonard,which motion prevailed. Alderman Redd nominated Mr G S Iredell;Alderman Redd moved that nominations be closed,and that the Clerk be directed to cast the unanimous vote of the G. S. Iredell Elected City Engineer Council for Mr Iredell,which motion prevailed;The Clerk cast 14 votes for Mr G S Iredell and the Mayor declared him duly and legally elected City Engineer, to fill the unexpired term of Mr C E Leonard. Alderman Moore moved that the Council take up appropriation ordinances,which motion prevailed By Alderman Scott An ordinance appropriating the sum of $ 500.00 for the $500. To Contingency purpose of paying for extra street labor & teams;The ordinance was read the first time and passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote: Y eas Aldermen Armstrong,Crooker,Cuneo,Haynes,Meredith,Miller,Moore,Moreland, Petri,Redd,Scott,Smith,Sutor & Wilhelm 14 Nays none. $350. To improve West 5th By Alderman Cuneo An Ordinance appropriating the sum of $ 350.00 for the purpose of improving West 5th street ;The ordinance was read the first time, and a motion made to suspend the rule and place it on its second reading,which motion was lost by the following vote : Y eas Aldermen Armstrong,Crooker,Cuneo,Petri & Smith 5 Nays Aldermen Haynes,Meredith,Miller,Moore,Moreland,Redd,Scott,Sutor & Wilhelms 9 At the suggestion of the Mayor,the Council returned to the matter of petitions Pat. of J. A. & Amos Maupin to use ground for Camping purposes The Mayor laid before the Council a petition from J A & Amos Maupin asking the use of a piece of ground near the dam for camping purposes .Read and on motion referred to the Water & Light Committee. The Mayor laid before the Council a petition from Miss Kate Bernhart,asking to have pound fee refunded;Read and referred to the Committee on Claims &accts; Alderman Haynes ,by request offered the following resolution; . B eit resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin that the following Mullins Health Ordinance rules and regulations shall to the rules and regulations which govern the Board of Health and their appointments and inspections,and said rules shall be carried out as so prescribed. On motion Drs Matthews,Bennett & Granberry were invited to address the Council on the adoption of the rules;After remarks by these Gentlemen,on motion of Alderman Scott the resolution and rules were ordered printed in the Daily Statesman on Sunday March 4th 1908,and the matter lie over until the next regular meeting, of the Council Annual reports Water & Light Commission The Mayor laid before the Council the quarterly report of Dec 31st 1907,and the annual report for 1907, of the Water & Light Commission. Alderman Moore moved that the reports be printed in the Statesman; Alderman Cuneo moved as a substitute that they be referred to the Finance Committee ,and that they be authorized to employ two expert accountants to check up these reports ,and report back to the Council;On motion the substitute was adopted. --- Page break --- 78 Alderman Moore for the special Committee, to whom was referred the communi-cation of C E Leonard, presented the following, majority and minority reports: Majority report Austin, Texas March 5th 1898 To the Hon Mayor and City Council of the City of Austin Gentlemen: We, your Special Committee, to whom was referred the communication Reports of special committees on City Hall Sewer of Mr C E Leonard, hereto attached, beg leave to report that, after hearing witnesses for two days in the presence of Mr Leonard, and after hearing exha ustive statements of the matter from Mr Leonard, from the Mayor of the City of Austin, also after hearing testimony from Mr Guy A Collett, Jno R Donnerlym and G S Iredell, we have come to the conclusion that Mr Leonard did not err in his capacity as an Engineer in selecting the grade at which the the sewer ran, and that his engineering was correctly and properly done so far as it was an engineering propositon C W Moore Henry Petri J M Meredith Tom D Smith A E Cuneo We, the undersigned members of the Committee, however, do believe that Mr Leonard was guilty of neglect of duty in not notifying the City Officersof not having connected the sewer with the main sewer. C W Moore Henry Petri Tom D Smith J M Meredith Minority report: Austin, Tex 3/5/98 To the Hon Frank Maddox, Mayor of the City of Austin, and the Board of Aldermen Gent: We, a part of your special Committee, to whom was referred a communiaction from Ex-City Engineer Leonard, beg leave to make this minority report, that your special Committee, after a careful and unbiased investigation of the questions presented by Mr Leonard, petition, beg leave to report that we find Mr Leonard guiltless of laying the City Hall sewer in a manner impracticable, and contrary to the general rules applicable to laying of such sewers. And further, that we find the cause of the sewer having been choked and blocked because of the fact that one end of same was closed there being no possible outlet for the exit of offal, together with the extreme pressure forced in said sewer, and furthermore find that the proper Officer, namely, the City Plumber, made his inspection of this sewer, as he is required in the laying of sewers in the City of Austin, then such a stoppage would not have occurred. With a desire to do no harm to any person and in the discharge of what we consider to be our sworn duty, we beg leave to make this report Cuneo --- Page break --- A lierman Moore moved the adoption of the majority report; Alderman Cuneo moved as a substitute to adopt the minority report; Alderman Moore moved that Mr L A Palmer, Plumbing Inspector be allowed to address the Council on the reports, which motion prevailed; Mr Palmer submitted the following written statement, which was read, and on motion was ordered recorded in the minutes of the Council, as was also a written statement of Mr G S Iredell City Engineer. Statement of Mr L A Palmer, Plumbing Inspector,: Austin, Texas March 4th 1905; To the Chairman Special Committee. For the purpose of explaining the situation in reference to the City Hall sewer, would state; This sewer leading out from the building to Colo street, thence north to 9th street, thence east to point of connection with public sewer, was put in by the City under the supervision of City Eng Leonard; the sewer after it had been in use a short time for the drainage of City Hall plumbing system became choked choked up, and in consequence the fixtures throughout the building being higher than jail floor, when used, caused jail closets to overflow; when the first stoppage occurred, I had a plumber come up with sewer rod, and after running rod down sewer, working it back and forth a few times, the water started to flow down the line again, but very slow; after the obstruction was all removed it worked all right for a short time, and finally became clogged up again, which caused jail closets to again overflow, we had sewer rod run down sewer in same manner, it was was used first , but failed to remove the obstruction, we then had a hole cut in sewer at area way, and after running rod down pipe for about 30 or 50 feet, the water started to flow again; the fire hose was then used to flush with, allowing the water to be turned on as fast as it would go down the sewer, the water however, could not be turned on very fast, for the reason when turned on too fast the pipe would fill up full and water run out at the opening, we had made to put the hose into; after using the sewer rod and flushing as stated, the sewer worked all right for a few days again, and as the sewer had been choked up two different times, and it being a new system, I thought there must be something seriously wrong, and in consequence reported the matter to the Mayor. The Mayor asked how much pitch the sewer had. I stated that Mr Leonard had said that the pitch was one per cent, but after the sewer had been flushed I noticed that the pipe stood half full of water, which would indicate that it had no pitch whatever at this end. The Mayor stated that he had been advised by some one, the name of whom he could not recall, that the sewer had but very little, if any, pitch, and as we had no record of the fall of pitch, the Mayor called in City Engineer Iredell, and told him to dig some test holes and find out what the pitch really was, and if it was not sufficient to give the sewer a proper pitch, to dig it out and give it the proper fall. Mr Iredell proceeded, and found that the first 75 feet had very little fall and that the entire line to 9th street had a fall of less than one per cent. Knowing this to be a fact I proceeded to dig out the line, for the purpose of giving it a sufficient grade; and as there was no map, or profile to show the location and grade of sewer and its connection to Coletts sewer, and thinking that Mr Bell or might know something about the matter, I rang up Mr Balgeranu asked him if he knew the exact point where connection was made below alley with Colletts sewer. He stated about 30 or 35 feet below alley. After experimenting, --- Page break --- 80 Digging down at about that point,and in two other places,the end was found,and it was also found to be closed up with bricks and cement,and not connected with Colletts sewer.This being closed it was found that the water which had been going into the sewerwas leaking out through bottom of joints.We had no notice of the fact that the sewer had not been con-nected to Colletts sewer;but considering the fact that the sewer was not connected,this feature gave us no trouble,for the reason the chokage occurred between building,and stairway and first turn down Colorado street, being about 50 feet out from building.The bricks and cement at end of sewer were removed,and the water and solids allowed to run out.The entire line was then flushed in good shape.After the system had been used for a few days,it choked up again.This chokage,however,occurred while the end of the sewer was in plain view,and after the bricks and cement had been taken off the end of pipe,and after the line had been thoroughly flushed We removed the obstruction and found it to be between the first bend on Colorado street and building. The trench is now being made deeper,for the purpose of giving sewer more pitch,and in doing so it was necessary to dig out the entire line,in order to properly proportion the grade.As to the sufficiency of pitch or house sewers,it has been my experience that the fall,or pitch,for ordinary purposes should in no case be less than one foot in one hundred feet,laid on true grade.According to the best authority on house sewers,the inclination should be enough to give the water a velocity of about 275 feet per minute. Less velocity will fail to carry the solids that usually accompany the water and for a six inch pipe the proper pitch would not be less than one foot in sixty feet. Respectfully Sgd L A Palmer Plumbing Inspector Part 2 Referring to Mr Leonards statement: He states he made surveys himself and personally superintended the work. I wish to state ,in view of this fact,and as it was street sewer,and being put in under the superintendence of the City Engineer,for the City I had nothing to do with the sewer whatever;It is not my duty to inspect street sewers,or plumbing work,unless I have been notified in writing,xxxxx, and also it is not my duty to inspect any sewer for plumbing work until I have first been notified in writing that the work is ready for inspection. The plumbing work in the building was inspected by me ,and given special attention,but outside of the building I had nothing to do with the sewer. My duties consist of inspecting all plumbing and house drainage within buildings,and to street or alley,at which point my jurisdiction ceases, unless ordered to do so by the City Council. Mr Leonard states,his purpose in not connecting with the main sewer,was to prevent the deadly sewer gas from entering the building.One or two things to do ,either make the connection,or seal up the upper end.Claims he followed the practical course.I differ with him on this,as I would make the connection and seal the upper end . He also states he left Austin before building was occupied ,and forgot to --- Page break --- I gave notice of the fact that end of sewer was sealed,and not connected with main line .That proper Officers should have observed this fact;that there were no traps or anything to resist the entering of sewer gas into building,and yet there was no gas entering same.Answering this,there was sewer gas entering the building before openings for closets had been closed up.Mr Belger notified me onemorming that the sewer gas was so bad in the building that the workmen could hardly stand it .I notified Mr Donnerly to immediately solder up openings,which he did. You might ask the question,if after finding the sewer was not connected,where did the sewer gas come from.In answer would say,from Colletts sewer,which was found to be leaking into ditch. Says when sewer became offensive,the fire hose was brought into play,with result that joints were broken.In answer would state,fire hose was not used until after the matter had been reported to the Mayor,and City Engineer I reordered to dig the test holes and see what the grade was .He also states in attempting to find the trouble,Officers went at their work backwards. As to going at the work backwards,we did remove the obstructionat this end and sufficient for the water to flow down line ,and it was proper to trace line from this end,as we knew nothing about connection not being made,and as sewer gas had been discovered coming into building,we naturally supposed connection was made Sgd L A Palmer Plumbing Inspector. Statement of G S Iredell,City Engineer: Austin,Texas,March 2, 1903. To the Chairman of Special Committee. Dear Sir: I beg to make the following report in regard to the City Hall sewer: I had nothing whatever to do with the sewer or plumbing work of the New City Hall prior to the developement of the trouble,as the Mayor and City Hall Committee well know. The matter was first called to my attention when the Manager of the Austin Sewerage Company asked permission to attach his sewer coming from the alley north of Eighth street to the City Hall sewer. The Plumbing Inspector at that time asked me if I knew what the grade of the sewer was.My opinion then was that such a connection would be liable to cause trouble in the City Hall by the backing up of sewage in case of obstruction,on account of the light grade. I was not able to find any map or data in the office which gave the true location,depth or grade of the sewer. The Company's sewer was not connected to the City Hall sewer. When my predecessor was next in the City I asked him about the grade,and he stated it was approximately one in one hundred to Ninth street and greater beyond there. The Plumbing Inspector,also, I understand,asked him about this grade. The sewer later on stopped up,and was rooted and flushed out from the areaway at the building by the Plumbing Inspector,who informed me of the trouble. This stoppage occurred the second time,and the sewer was again flushed out. In each instance the water ran through after the obstruction was removed. The Mayor then instructed me to have holes dug at intervals, so that we might determine the grade of the sewer and locate any possible pocket where stoppage might occur. This was done,and levels were carefully taken in each hole as a small portion of the pipe was exposed. These level readings showed the following result: --- Page break --- 82 From area at building to 1st hole, there was a rise of .015 ft. Between 1st and 2nd hole, .20 ft., fall a grade of 1.15 in 100. " " 2nd " 3r' ".20 ft. .045 ft fall a grade of .225 in 100 " " 3rd " 4th " 20 " ".31" " " 1.55 " " " " 4th " " " 40 " " .455 " " 1.15 " " " " 5th hole & hole at 9th st , about 100 ft , fall .841 .845 " " In the first stretch of pipe of 70 to 75 feet, between the building and the first bend in the sewer, is where the stoppage occurred. The average fall in the first 70 feet was only .814 in 100, with the first 10 feet on a slight rise, and another run of 20 feet with a fall of less than a quarter of one per cent, and a pocket in the pipe reaching to the area outside of the building, about three inches deep, formed by some permanent obstruction . The total fall in 210 feet to 9th Street was 1.88 ft , which is an average grade of one in 111.7, or 9' 9/10 of one percent. In view of the fact that a sewer from a jail is pretty sure to be abused, this is a slight grade for a six inch pipe. This being an emergency case, the Mayor then instructed me to have the pipe dug out and relaid on a better grade, say about two per cent. This I at once proceeded to do. About this time the contractor who laid the sewer pipe was asked to indicate where it was connected to the pipe of the Austin Sewerage Company. He indicated where he thought the connection was made, and a hole was dug East of the alley on 9th street. This proved to be the wrong place, and other holes were dug to find the connection. When the end of the City Hall sewer was laid bare, it was found that no connection had ever been made, but that the end of the pipe had been bricked up. After the pipe was cleaned out and thoroughly flushed, and while the excavation was going on to uncover it preparatory to taking it up, the pipe continued to be used. Notwithstanding the fact that it was then wide open at the end , and had been very thoroughly flushed out with the fire hose, and the pipe joints remained in tact and properly alligned, the sewer again choked up on Wednesday last, February 25th. It was neces-sary to rod it out in order to open it, as the obstruction could not be forced out with the fire hose. Nothing but paper and waste matter was seen to come out of the pipe when a passage was opened through. This is, therefore, conclusive evidence that the trouble would have developed, even if the sewer had been connected. Inasmuch as the hardest use this sewer gets is from the jail closets, which are very little above the level of the beginning of the sewer, there should have been at least a two per cent grade at the start, so as to give the water a sharp impetus and enable it to scour out the sewer As it was the water from the jail was too sluggish to force out waste matter through the pocket and over the level and light grade. In addition to the meager grade at the beginning of the sewer, there was evidently some fault in the laying of the pipe, in the way of projections or cementon the inside at the joints, or deposited of cement --- Page break --- 83 . in the pipe,as the joint of pipe in the area at the building,which was opened at the top,always stood about half full of water.There was,therefore,a pocket in the building end of the sewer about three inches deep. Referring to Mr Leonards statement that the sewer had a fall of 7"in 70 feet,I wa would like to ask how he knows this from the levels he took after the pipe had been removed,and the sand and dirt excavated from the bottom of the ditch down to the rock.The men who did the digging tell me that there was as much as a foot of sand in some places,and that there was not less than six inches at any place.His statement,therefore,that he had "at least "4 inches of sand under the pipe,and calculating his grade from this uncertain factor is only a guess pure and simple,and cannot be considered against actual level reading: taken on the pipe itself when the test holes were first dug,and the pipe had not been disturbed. The difficulties in regard to the sewer seem to have been caused,therefore,by the following facts: 1st No information whatever was given to any one in authority,by those who had ch charge of laying the sewer,that the end on 9th street had not been connected, but instead had been sealed up ,and no map or data has come to light in the office bearing on the subject.When the former City Engineer was questioned in regard to the grade of the sewer,which might have reminded him of the sealed end, he failed to say anything about it.When the contractor was asked where the sewer was connected,he made no mention of or a failure to connect.When the sewer was flushed the water disappeared through it.Therefore,there was nothing to indicate that a connection had not been made. 2nd: Even if the sewer had been properly connected,the trouble would still have developed,on account of the slight grade at the building end,and the pocket caused by permanent obstruction in the pipe.This is proved by the fact that it did clog up after being opened through and thoroughly flushed until clear water run through it . It is possible,though not at all certain with the abuse it gets,that if the sewer had been laid on a uniform grade with a perfectly smooth bore without obstructions,the fall given it might have sufficed,with an occasional rodding out or some unusual obstruction,but with a pocket of three inches in the pipe to begin with,and the grade not uniformly distributed,the least fall being at the start where it is most needed,it is reasonably certain that the sewer would have given continuous serious trouble under the existing conditions,and it was the mo most advisable course to take it up and relay it on a better grade. Respectfully submitted G S Iredell Acting City Engineer. The vote was then taken on the motion of Alderman Cuneo to substitute the Minority report for the majority ,which motion was lost by the following vote : Yea Alderman Cuneo 1 Nays Aldermen Armstrong,Crooker,Haynes,Meredith,Miller,Moore,Moreland,Petri, Redd ,Scott,Sutor & Wilhelm 13 The motion of Alderman Moore to adopt the Majority report was then adopted by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Armstrong,Crooker Haynes,Meredith,Miller Moore ,Moreland,Petri, --- Page break --- 84 . Redd, Scott, Smith, Sutor & Wilhelm Nay Alderman Cuneo On motion of Alderman Cuneo Mr C E Leonard was given permission to file with the City Clerk a written statement in regard to the City Hall sewer which the Clerk was authorized to place in the minutes of the Council. On motion the Council adjourned Geo. Johnson City Clerk 13 1