.egular meeting of the City Council: Austin, Texas, November 16, 1911. The Council was called to order by the Mayor: Roll called: Present Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Lockridge & Powell 5 Absent none. The minutes of the last regular and subsequent recessed meetings were read & adopted. Councilman Hart offered the following resolution: Name "Cameron Road" City limits Changed to East Avenue Whereas, it appearing to the City Council that the street extending north from the intersection of Eat Avenue and Nineteenth street (is now) known and designated as the " Cameron Road ", and it being made to appear to the City Council that the Citizens living in the territory adjacent to said street are desirous of having the name of said street changed so as to indicate to the public that they are in some way connected with the City of Austin, and said street known as the " Cameron Road " being a continuation of East Avenue should bear the same name to the corporate limits, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the name of the street now known and designated as the " Cameron Road ", beginning at the intersection of East Avenue and 19th street and extending north to the corporate limits, be and the same is hereby changed and shall be hereafter designated and known as East Avenue. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Lockridge & Powell 5 Nays none. Councilman Hart offered the following resolution: E A Alley pound fee refunded Whereas, it appearing to the City Council that two horses belonging to E A Alley, were impounded in the City pound for which he was required to pay $ 3.00, the penalty required by law for their release ,and it further appearing that the pound limits have recently been extended and it has not been the policy of the Police Dept to rigidly enforce the ordinance in this new territory until the citizens have become more familiar with the new boundaries, and Mr Alley promising to see that the law is not violated in the future by him ; upon the recommendation of the Supt of Police and Public Safety, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That said pound fee of $ 3.00 collected from said Alley ,be and the same is hereby remitted and ordered returned to him. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Lockridge & Powell 5 Nays none. Councilman Hart offered the following resolution: Tom Tumey fine remitted Whereas, it appearing to the City Council that one Tom Tumey was fined in the Corporation Court in the sum of ten & 80/100 dollars ( $ 10.80 ) ,fine and cost imposed for being drunk ; it appearing that this is a first offense ,and the man being poor with a family to support and promising not to repeat the offense; upon the recommendation of the Supt of Police and Public Safety, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That said fine and cost be and the same is hereby remitted . The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Lockridge & Powell 5 Nays none. Councilman Hart offered the following resolution: Gus Basnett pound fee refunded Whereas, it appearing to the City Council that Gus Basnett, who resides outside of the City limits, had paid the sum of $ 7.50 for the impounding of five cows, that the pound limits have been recently extended and it has been the policy of the Police Dept to exer -cise as much leniency as possible so that the citizens would become accustomed to preser --- Page break --- 58 .conditions before ridigly enforcing the law ,and Mr Baunett promising that he will see that the law is not violated in the future ; upon the recommendation of the Supt of Police and Public Safety, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That said pound fees of $ 7.50, be and the same are hereby remitted and said amount ordered returned to him. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Co noilmen Bartholomew,Hart, Lockridge & Powell 5 Nays none. Mayor Wooldridge offered the following resolution : Transfer funds Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the sum of one thousand dollars out of the miscellaneous Park fu nd of the City of Austin for the year 1911, be and is hereby appropriated and set apart to the improvement of East Avenue Park. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew,Hart, Lockridge & Powell 5 Nays none. Councilman Lockridge offered the following resolution : Resolution to pave 3rd st. Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : with Wood Blocks Section1. That the paving with wood blocks of third street from the property line on the west side of Colorado street to the property line on the west side of Brazos street,be and is hereby ordered. Section2. That the Supt of Streets and Public Improvements is here instructed to at once institute the necessary legal proceedings for the carrying into effect of the provisions of the first section of this resolution. The resolution was referred to Councilman Powell for investigation and report. Final report The Mayor laid before the Council report of Councilman Lock ridge as follows: Councilman Lockridge Austin,Texas, Nov 16 th 1911. To the Hon City Council, City of Austin,Texas. Gentlemen : I beg to submit my final report as follows: The books of the City Assessor and Collector,City Clerk, Clerk of the Corpora-tion Court,City Engineer and Plumbing Inspector have been examined from April 20th ,1911,to October 31st, 1911, My predecessor reported the examination of these accounts to April 20th 1911. The books of the departments mentioned are in goo d condition. A superficial audit of the books in the Water, Light and Power office from January 1st 1911, to October 31st 1911,was made and they were found to be apparently correct. The stock ledgers and stookeatrthenWater,Light& Power store room and else-where ,were not examined for the reason that the end of the fiscal year is near and I desire to make the following recommendations with reference thereto effective at December 31st 1911. (1) That at the close of the fiscal year the stock of material on hand in the store-room and elsewhere be inventoried. (2) That the results as shown by the inventory be compared with the stock ledgers and discrepancies ,if any, noted. (3) That the balance or value of the stock as shown by the stock ledgers be compared with the balance or value of stock as shown on the stock account in the controlling ledger kept in the Water,Light and Power office,and the dis-crepancy ,if any, noted. --- Page break --- 59 (4) That a full and complete report of all discrepancies ,if any, developed by the exam-ination recommended to be made be reported to the Council . (5) That in taking the inventory some competent person be appointed to represent the City and to assist the store- keeper in complying with the foregoing recommendations. I would further recommend that a suitable check be placed on the cash receipts at the City Hospital from pay patients witout reference to who,from time to time, may be in charge of that particular branch of the service. Cash in the City treasury at the close of business ,November 15th 1911,as follows : Earnings fund $ 102,,468 .20 General fund 5,768.60 Street Improvement fund 11,573.52 Interest and Sinking fund 34,923.10 City Park fund 1,883.41 City Cemetery fund 1,253.75 Fred Sterzing Collector 2,094.15 Permanent Paving fund 3,305.46 Total $ 1636341.20 Sanitary. After having transferred to the Paving fund $ 500.00 for Commissioner Powell’s use, and $ 250.00 to the City Hospital fund for Commissioner Hart’s use ,out of the Sanitary Dept appropriations, there will be left in these appropriations at the end of the year, some $ 1,000.00 or $ 1,200.00 if the same economy is used in the future as has been in the past. I recommend that this unused proportion be expended as a first payment on the erection of a William H McGuire Sanitary Furnace. One of these furnaces will be adequate for the present to take care of all dead animals of the City, and will relieve the dead animal burying ground ,which has been such a source of annoyance to the good people in the Southeastern part of the City. This furnace can be built ,with a guarantee that it will do the work, for $ 2,500.00. I have used the strictest economy to save funds for this furnace and am glad to say that after allowing for other departments $ 750.00 of my allowance ,there will still be $ 1,000.00 to apply on it. The Dam. I recommend that a seperate and itemized account be kept of all expenses incurred in the rebuilding of the dam ,that the people may know what the dam cost. Expenses to date have been $ 1,033.19,as follows: Prof T U Taylor ,Expert services and advice in dam matter $ 50.00 Prof A C Scott ,Expert service and advice in dam matter .50.00 Hack hire for Prof Taylor,account of sickness 2.50 Statesman Pub Co ,advertising dam ordinance 38.60 Tribune Pub Co ,advertising dam ordinance 37.65 Gregory Battsand Brooks,Legal service Assisting City Attorney Rector on dam contract 250.00 Prof A C Scott ,Expert services in helping to draw up specifications in dam contract 300.00 P L Richardson etal, Cost of holding dam election 214.50 Tribune Pub Co , Advertising dam ordinance and proclamation 98.88 Total $ 1,033.18 I do not consider that my report would be complete without a word of commendation for Tax Assessor and Collector Fred Sterzing and his two able assistants ,Henry Ziller and C C Graves .Rarely has any City secured more able men to watch over its collections and the fact that the Department of Receipts, Disbursements and accounts has collected 96& 14 /100per cent of the taxes assessed for the present year,that not a single --- Page break --- 60 .criticism has arisen as to their plan of operation,and that their faithful work has been commented upon favorably by all , will long be a monument to them and will serve as an illustrious example to those who may follow in their footsteps in years to come. Assistant City Attorney, J A Richardson also deserves thanks, for he has faithfully aided the Department in a number of ways,especially in regard to the tax collection. At all times he has shown willingness and competency. Milton Morris, our auditor and Book-keeper,has no superiorsand few equals. His his watchful eye,his sound knowledge of accounting and general business,his expert knowledge as an auditor,and his willingness and general abilitymake him invaluable to the City of Austin. His advice has been most helpful and to him I wish to express my deep appreciation. We have been fortunate,too, in retaining as City Clerk,Jno O Johnson, . Rarely has any City found one more faithful,more conscientious,and more skilled in his work.At all times he has displayed ability and has ever been on hand to do his duty.One of the most pleasant duties I have performed was to vote for his retention. Sanitary Inspector R W Patterson, has gathered around him a faithful corps of men ,all hard workers,working for the best interest of the City ,and willing to do anything to improve the sanitary conditions. They have worked in good weather and bad without a murmurand their faithfulness, as if they had no other recommendation,should be commended. They have made strenuous efforts to please both the Commission and the people and should be rewarded for their good work. City Councilman E C Bartholomew,who as a most successful manager of the City's Water and light property ,has gathered around him an able corps of Assistants to look after the business end of his affairs,and has indeed been fortunate. Under Councilman P W Powell, a worthy campaign has been waged for better stre streets and improved sidewalks, two essentials for theproper civic develop-ment . The City has been fortunate in securing some able men for its Police Force and the department of public charities under the supervision of Mrs Nellie W Holden ,is proving a most successful branch of our government . Mrs Holden is indeed a capable head and of her it may be said that she is the right person in the right place. Howard Warner ,too, as stenographer and Clerk for the Commission deserves the thanks of all for his willingness and ability. The City Employees are a faithful set of men of whom any City should be proud. They have assisted me in every way and I leave the Commission with the belief and hope that I may number them among my friends and that they will not hesitate to call upon me ,if I can be of service to them . In retiring from the City Commission ,I wish to express to those who have honored me by election and tothose who have assisted me during my term of office ,my sincerest appreciation and thanks. If, in the future ,I can in any way serve them ,they should not hesitate to call upon me. For twenty years I have had the best interest of our City at heart and in the future will continue to wish for its advancement, be willing to make sacrifices that may benefit if necessary. I regret that my views as a business man were such that I felt that I could no no longer conscientiously serve upon the Commission and approve accounts under the present dam contract.Yet, I realize that business men often differ and I hope that the burdens I have anticipated under the present dam contrast may no not fall upon the shoulders of our Citizens. --- Page break --- 61. Austin adopted the Commission form of government for the purpose of securing a business-like administration. During my brief public service I have attempted to give her people that which they demanded in the way of economy and strict business ethics. When I found that I was entirely out of sympathy with a proposition involving the expen-diture of vast sums of the City's money and that of her citizens ,there was but one course left for me, to resign as any conscientious public servant should do when he finds that his people are not being served best. This is said in no reflection upon my colleagues, for as I said before ,business men often differ. We all want the dam, but we merely disagree as to the plan to be pursued in getting it. In conclusion I again wish to thank all who have assisted me and to express my willing-ness to aid any proposition that appears to me to be for the best interest of the City for whose welfare and people I have the kindest of feelings. Respectfully, I P Lockridge. Supt Receipts, Disbursements and Accounts. On motion the report was received and ordered filed, and published in the Daily papers. Councilman Powell offered the following resolution .: Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin: That the thanks of this Council be extended to Councilman I P Lockridge ,retiring, for his valuable services and earnest co-operation at all times in all matters pertaining to the welfare and upbuilding of the City . That the best wishes of this Council be extended to him ,and that success may crown his efforts in all his undertakings. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Woolridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart & Powell 4 Councilman Harry L Haynes was then presented and took the Oath of Office as Councilman Councilman Haynes Sworn in to succeed Councilman Lockridge. On motion ,to Councilman Haynes was assigned the duties of Supt of the Sanitary Dept, in addition to his other duties. The Council then adjourned. Jno. Q. Johnson City Clerk.