770 Regular meeting of the City Council: Austin, Texas, July 27, 1911. The meeting was called to order by the Mayor : Roll called: Present Mayor Wooldridge,Councilmen Hart ,Lockridge & Powell 4 Absent Councilman Bartholomew 1/ The minutes of the last regular and subsequent recessed meeting were read and approved. Reportsof City Officers: The Mayor laid before the Council the report of the Plumbing Inspector,which was read and ordered filed. The regular order of business was suspended, and the matter of amending the Pound ordinance as asked for by Citizens of South Austin was taken up.Citizens both for and against the proposition addressed the Council and the matter taken under advisement by the Council Councilman Bartholomew entered the Council chamber. The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution : That permission is here granted the Chicago Cleaners and dyers ,a concern organized and doing business in the City of Austin, Texas, and of which O Harry Schmidt and S G Warren are the proprietors,to install in yhis City a Bower System for dry cleaning,by sinking six gasoline tanks, in the alley in the rear of 406 Congress Avenue.These tanks are to have a capacity of 170 gallons each,and are to be sunk in the alley not less than six feet,two two inches under ground,and with a surface of earth not less than two and one half feet above them .They are also not to be less than five feet from the building wall in the rear of the premises of 406 Congress Avenue and to be not less than three feet apart,and installed in the most modern and approved manner known to the art. Their installation must be made subject to the approval of the City Engineer and the Fire Marshal of this City,and the permit here granted by the City of Austin is granted subject to revocation,with or without assigned cause,whenever, in the judgement of the City Council ,cause for said revocation shall exist. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge,Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart,Lockridge & Powell 5 Nays none. Councilman Powell offered the following resolution : A resolution ordering the improvement of Fourth street from Colorado Street to SanJacinto street , also the alley from fifth street to seventh street between Congress Avenue and Colorado street and also the alley from fifth street to seventh street between Congress Avenue and Brazos street,in the City of Austin, Texas; approving specifications,proposal and contract for said improvements,and making an appropriation therefor. Whereas, it is deemed necessary to improve the following streets and alleys of the City of Austin,within the following limits,to-wit: Fourth street from Colorado street to San Jacinto street; The alley from fifth street to seventh street between Congress Avenue and Colorado street;and The alley from fifth street to seventh street between Congress Avenue and Brazos street ;and --- Page break --- 771 . Whereas, the City Engineer has filed with the City Council complete specifications for the performance of the said work,by paving the said street and alleys with wood blocks; and Whereas, Knox T Johnson,has filed with the City Council a proposal to do said work at and for the following price,to-wit: Wood Block paving according to specifications,including excavation to the depth of nine(9) inches,with concrete base and semi-cushion $ 2.325per sq yd; and Whereas, the City Attorney has prepared contracts for the said work between the City of Austin and said Knox T Johnson and also bonds for the construction and maintenance thereof by said Johnson,and has submitted same to the City Council, therefore,. Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : Section 1. That the sais streets and alleys herein above named be improved by paving the same with wood blocks,as set forth in said specifications; Section 2. That said specifications for said work prepared by the City Engineer be and the same are hereby adopted,and that the proposal of the said Knox T Johnson to perform said work be accepted and said work let to said Johnson,at the price specified in his said proposal ; that said contracts prepared and submitted by the City Attorney for the performance of said work on said street and said alleys and the same are hereby approved and the Mayor of the City of Austin be and he is hereby directed upon the taking effect hereof ,to execute said contracts on behalf of said City and in its name. Section 3. That the cost of the said improvements shall be paid as follows, to-wit: The City shall pay to said Knox T Johnson the whole cost of improving intersections of other streets and alleys with the said street above named to be improved, except so much thereof as may be occupied by the rails and tracks of any railroad company and twelve (12) inches on the outside of said rails , within which limit the cost of such improvement shall be borne by said railroad company. Said railroad company shall also bear and pay the cost of said improvements be-tween the inside of its said rails and tracks and twelve (12) inches on the outside thereof ,upon other portions of said street named to be paved,in addi-tion to said intersections.The remainder of said improvements on said street, and all of said alleys shall be paid by the owners of property abutting thereon, and assessed against them and their property in accordance with the Charter and ordinances of the City of Austin ; provided,that no assessment shall be made against any owner or his property in excess of the actual benefits to said prop-erty in enhanced value by means of said improvement,nor until after notice and hearing to said owner is had ,as is provided by said Charter and ordinances. Section 4. That the sum of One Thousand ,nine hundred and sixty three and 32/100 ( $ 1,963.32) dollars ,or so much thereof as may be necessary be and the same is hereby appropriated and set apart out of the Permanent Paving fund of the City of Austin,not otherwise appropriated ,for the purpose of paying the portion of the cost of said improvements to be paid by the City of Austin under the terms hereof. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge,Councilmen Bartholomew,Hare,Lockridge & Powell 5 Nays none. Councilman Powell offered the following resolution : --- Page break --- 772 .Resolution ordering sidewalks and curbing tobe built on Colorado street from West Second street to West Eleventh street. ✓ Be it resolved by the City Council o : the City of Austin : (1) That Colorado street from West Second street to West Eleventh street on both sides of the street,be and the same is hereby ordered and directed to be sidewalked and curbed in accordance with the general specifications heretofore adopted by the City Council,regulating the width of sidewalks and the dimension of curbing. (2) That in the default of consent within thirty days on the part of the property holders on said Colorado street from West Second to West Eleventh streets to sidewalk and curb their respective properties,then the Superintendent of Streets and Public Improvementsbe and he is hereby instructed to have said property sidewalked and curbed in accordance with the provisions of the ordinances of the City of Austin,Texas, in such case made and provided. The resolution was read the first time and laid over Yeas,Mayor Wooldridge,Councilmen Bartholomew,Hart,Lockridge & Powell;x x x x Nays none. Councilman Hart offered the following resolution: Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : ✓ That the claim of W B Seckner to the amount of seven ($7.00) dollars for loss of a hog ,be and the same is hereby allowed,and the City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to issue a warrant in his favor for said amount.It appearing to the Council from investigation that the hog was running at large and was taken up by the Pound Master near the City Pound The hog was very fat ,the day was very hot and there being no shade in the pound,the hog died from some unknown cause. The Veterinary Surgeon was requested to make a post-mortem examination to ascertain the cause of death ,but was otherwise engaged and did not reach the place until the hog had been disposed of ,so leaves the matter in doubt as to the real cause of the death of the hog,inother words,whether it died from heat or from disease. Giving the applicant the benefit of the doubt ,I join in the recommendation of the Chief,for the allowance of seven ($7.00) dollars,the amount paid by the applicant for the hog. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge,Councilmen Bartholomew,Hart,Lockridge & Powell ; Nays none. .Councilman Lockridge presented a statement from the Sheriff of Travis County in regard to fees in City cases,which was referred to Councilman Lockridge for investigation and report. ✓ Councilman Lockridge presented a bid by W M Tears for hauling sick paupers,coloured ,which was read and contract awarded to him. / The Council then recessed until 10 A M tomorrow July 25th 1911. --- Page break --- Friday July 28th 1911 10 A M The Council was called to order by the Mayor with all members present ,except Cou Councilmen Lockridge & Powell. Councilman Hart presented bids for Painting at the City Hospital as follows : Brydson & Hill $327.00 T B Cheek & Co $350.00 Geo W Lucas $490.00 C M Miller $429.00. The bid of Mess Brydson & Hill being the lowest ,Councilman Hart moved that the contract be awarded to them,which motion prevailed by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge,Councilmen Bartholomew & Hart 3 Absent Councilmen Lockridge & Powell 2. On motion the Clerk was directed to return to the unsuccess ful bidders their Certified checks. The Council then recessed until 3 O'clock P M this day. Friday July 28th 1911,3 P M . The Council was called to order by the Mayor with all members present except Councilman Hart. Councilman Powell presented bids for Sidewalks and curbing on 2nd to 4th stree which were read. The bid of Knox T Johnson being the lowest bid offered ,Councilman Powell moved that he be awarded the contract ofthe said work . which motion prevailed by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge,Councilmen Bartholomew,Lockridge & Powell 4 Absent Councilman Hart 1 The Council then recessed until 10 O 'clock A M tomorrow . Friday July 29th 1911, 10 A M . The Council was called to order by the Mayor with all members present. The Mayor laid before the council an ordinance ordering an election to obtain the authority and approval of the qualified electors of the City of Austin,for the passage of an Ordinance by the City Council of the City of Austin,granting certain franchises to Wm D Johnson and his assigns ,for the purpose of provi-ding an enlarged ,more efficient and economical Water,Light and Power Plant for the City of Austin. The ordinance was read the first time and passed under suspension of therules by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge,Councilmen Bartholomew,Hart & Powell 4 Nays Councilman Lockridge 1 The Council then recessed subject to call of the Mayor. --- Page break --- 774 Monday July 31st 1911. The Council was called to order by the Mayor with all members present except Councilman Powell. Councilman Hart offered the following resolution: Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin: (1) It appearing to the Council that one ,Quintin Graham,was fined in the Corporation Court for disturbing the peace in the sum of fifteen ($15.00) dollars and costs,amounting to fifteen ($15.40) ,or a total of thirty ($30.40) and forty cents (30.40 ) (2) That one Henry Washington was fined the same amount. (3) That one Johnie Hill was fined the same amount. (4) That one E T Jackson on a plea of guilty was fined $10.00 and costs or a total of $ 21.15. (5) That a petition has been filed signed by numerous citizens,asking for remission of the fine and costs as to the defendant Graham . (6) It further appearing to the Council that the fines assessed against the above named defendantswere for the same transaction,and that they were equally guilty ,therefore,upon the recommendation of the Superin-tendent of Police and Public Safety. Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That two thirds (2/3) of the fine and costs assessed against each of the above named defendants,except E T Jackson,be and the same is hereby remitted,and that they each be given credit on the remaining one-third not remitted for the days that they have worked for the City,and as to the defendant Jackson,all of his fine be and the same is hereby remitted, except $ 7.50. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge,Councilmen Bartholomew ,Hart & Lookridge 4 Absent Councilman Powell 1 The Council then adjourned. J.O. Johnson City Clerk.