152 Regular meeting of the City Council : Austin,Texas, March 07, 1912. The Council was called to order by the Mayor: Roll called : Present Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart,Haynes & Powell 5 Absent none. The minutes of the last regular and subsequent recessed meetings were read and approved. The regular order of business was suspended for the present. The Mayor laid before the Council the following communication: Austin,Texas, March 7th 1912. To the Hon City Council of the City of Austin,Tx Gentlemen : M R C H Buck and I desire to sidewalk and curb in front of our property ,corner of E 12th & Trinity streets,in the City of Austin, but the Gracy & Buck Street Grade grade line given us by the City Engineerwould place part of our sidewalk and curb below the gutter, thereby causing therein water to flow over the adjoin -ing property, and as the street in front of our property ( E 12th street) is not likely to be cut down to the established grade for several years, we would respectfully ask that we be allowed to temporally curb and sidewalk according to the present conditions. Yours respectfully , D B Gracy , For self and Buck . The petition was granted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew,Hart,Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Regular order resumed. The Mayor laid before the Council the report of the Assessor & Collector of Taxes for the month of February,which was read and ordered filed. Unfinished business : The Mayor laid before the Council the resolution ordering Sidewalks on E 9th street, which was read the second time and passed by the following vote : Sidewalk & Curb E 9th Street Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew,Hart,Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. The Mayor then laid before the Council the resolution Ordering the improve -ment of portions of Colorado,Brazos and west eighth streets in the city of Austin: and approving specifications ,proposal contracts and bonds thereon The resolution was read the second time. Councilman Bartholomew moved to strike out the following: Paving Brazos Colorado street " West eighth street from the west property line of Congress Avenue to the East curb line of Colorado street " The amendment was lost by the following vote : Yeas Councilmen Bartholomew & Powell 2 Nays Mayor Wooldridge,Councilmen Hart & Haynes 3 The resolution was then adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Hart,Haynes & Powell 4 Nays Councilman Bartholomew 1 The Mayor then laid before the Council an ordinance ordering an election,to obtain the consent of the qualified voters of the City of Austin,Texas, who pay tax on property within the limits of said City ,to the issuance of bonds by the City Council ,for the purpose of : --- Page break --- 153 Bond Ordinance (1) The installation of a sanitary Sewer System for the City of Austin. (2) The permanent improvement of the streets. (3) The purchase and improvement of Public Cemetery grounds. (4) The construPion and repairing of Public Free School Buildings,and the purchasing of sites therefor. (5) [illegible] The Mayor m ved to lay the ordinance on the table, which motion prevailed by the followt -ing vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. By Mayor Wooldridge An ordinance ordering an election, to obtain the consent of of the qualified voters of the City of Austin,Texas,who pay taxes on property within the limits of said City , to the issuance of bonds by the City Council, for the purposes of : (1) The installation of a Sanitary Sewer System for the City of Austin. (2) The permanent improvement of the Streets. (3) The purchase and improvement of Public Cemetery grounds. (4) The construction and repairing of Public Free School Buildings,and the purchase of sites therefor. (5). The Construction and equipment of a City Hospital Building. The ordinance was read the first time and a motion made to suspend the the rule and place it on its second reading, which motion prevailed by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew,Hart,Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. The ordinance was read the second time and laid over until 2 Oclock P M this date. Mrs. V.F. Wimbish pound fee Councilman Hart offered the following resolution : It appearing to the City Council that five cows belonging to V F Wimbish were impound-ed in the City Pound , that she paid the fee of $ 7.50 for their release ,that the Lady has recently moved to Austin from Cuero, and has been wrongfully informed as to the pound limits, that the territory where the stock were grazing has recently been included in the pound limits,that there was also impounded one head in the same bunch belonging to T J Webb, for which he paid $ 1.50 ,under the circumstances the Supt of Police and Public Safety recommends that said pound fees be remitted; therefore, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the pound fees paid by Mrs V F Wimbish amounting to $ 7.50 ,and the pound fee paid by T J Webb b ,amounting to $ 1.50 be and the same is hereby remitted,and the City Mr. Webb pound fee Clerk is authorized and directed to issue warrants to said parties for the amounts so paid by them . The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution : Whereas, Lots Nos 1 & 2and eighteen (18)feet off of the West side of Lot 3,Block 90, of the City of Austin,Texas, have been delinquent to the City of Austin for taxes for more than thirty two (32) years ,and which delinquent taxes to the City of Austin and the interest, penalty and costs thereon amount to the sum of $ 1,577.25; and , Whereas ,said property was sold to the City for taxes on the 2nd day of April1892; and --- Page break --- 154 Whereas, in addition to the taxes owing to the City on said property, there is is due the State of Texas and County ,including costs, amounting to $ 505.32 and, City to take charge property for stables Whereas, said above described propertyhas been abandoned by its former ownersand at the present time and many years prior hereto,has not been pro -ductive of revenue to anyone; and Whereas, the City of Austin, for Sanitary stables,needs just such a piece of groundas the above described propertytherefore , Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the City of Austin hereby ,under its aforesaid judgement and for its aforesaid debt for taxes,takes possession of said lots Nos 1 & 2,and 18 feet off of the West side of lot 3 ,Block 90 of this City ,and directs the Supt. of Receipts, Disbursements and Accounts ,temporary in charge of the Sanitay Department of this City, to take possession of said premises and make such needed improvements thereon as he may reasonably deem best for theuse of the City Sanitary department. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew,Hart,Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. . The Council then recessed until 2 P M this day. Thursday March 7th 1912,P M The Council was called to order by the Mayor with all members present. The Mayor laid before the Council the ordinance ordering an election ,to obtain the consent of the qualified voters of the City of Austin,Texas who pay taxes on property within the limits of said City ,to the issuance of bonds by the City Council ,for the purposes of : (1) The installation of a Sanitary Sewer System for the City of Austin. (2) The permanent improvement of the streets. (3) The purchase and improvement of Public Cemetery grounds. (4) The Construction and repairing of Public Free Schoool Buildings,and purchasing of sites therefor. (5) For the construction and equipment of a City Hospital Building. Councilman Bartholomew moved to amend the ordinance by "striking out the pro propositions to issue bonds for Streets,Sewers,Schools and Hospital " The amendment was lost by the following vote : Yeas Councilman Bartholomew 1 Nays Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Hart,Haynes & Powell 4 Mayor Wooldridge moved to suspend the rule and place the ordinance on its third reading and final passage, which motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge ,Councilmen Bartholomew,Hart,Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. The ordinance was read the third time and passed by the following Vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Hart,Haynes & Powell 4 Nays Councilman Bartholomew 1 --- Page break --- 155 Transfer funds Mayor Wooldridge offered the following resolution : Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin: That the sum of thirteen hundred and seventy four ($ 1,374.00) dollars be and the same is hereby transferred from the general contingent fund of this City to the Street fund of this City ,and there made available for the purpose of contributing to the construction of a storm sewer on Comal street between fourth and seventh streets in this City. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge,Councilmen Hart ,Haynes & Powell 4 Nays Councilman Bartholomew 1 Appro for Storm Sewer & Trust The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution : Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the sum of thirty four hundred and seventy four ($3,474.00) dollars ,not otherwise appropriated, be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the Street Improvement fund of of this City,for the purpose of paying Ray McDonald for building a storm sewer on Comal street. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Hart,Haynes & Powell 4 Nay Councilman Bartholomew 1 The Mayor laid before the Council the following communication : Austin,Texas, March 1st 1912. Hon City Council, Austin,Texas. Gentlemen : Day Suits ordered filed I would advise that suits be brought against the following named parties or their assignees. I find in a number of instances that suits have been filed against some of these parties ,but on account of improper service ,the judgements are of no value. : L H Daniel,L M Crooker, and Wife Lula,L L Clayton,Nancy Dickerson,Mrs Nellie Haigler, Sarah E Herbert, Frank Glover,et al Mrs M F Jones D B Gracy(suit will be brought at Mr Gracy's request) In most instances ,other parties to these suits will be named in the petition,and in some instances ,the Assignees will be named as defendant. Yours very truly , J W Maxwell. On motion the suggestions of Mr Maxwell were adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew,Hart,Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. The Mayor laid before the Council the following communication : March 4/12 To the Hon City Council. Gentlemen : S.L. Wooldford assessments corrected The undersigned your petitioner,would respectfully state in assessing his proper-ty for the year 1911,to the City Assessor,he intended to give it in at $1,000.00,as total value and when getting ready to pay me taxes ,I find that I was charged with $ 1,300.00 -Ground $ 300.00 and the improvement $ 1,000.00,I ask your honorable Board to correct the value and place at $1,000. ,as my house only cost me $ 700.00. S L Woolford The petition was granted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew,Hart,Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. --- Page break --- 156 Bartholomew reasons for Vote on Bond Issue - Councilman Bartholomew files the following as his reasons for voting against the issuance of bonds: Streets. I do not believe it necessary to issue bonds for streets.The work in past years has been paid for with money received from taxes.A larger per cent has been set apart this year than heretofore,and that department will have about $ 70,000.00 to expend in street work. The Superintendent of that Department does notasbonds for ordinary street work,and the large amount of paved streets shows that something has been going on in his department,without any issuance of bonds. Sewers. The principal portion of the City now without sewers is inhabited by people owning small homes ,and who depend on their daily wages for a livelihood. The expense is large to instal proper plumbing,make necessary repairs,and pay sewer rental,greater than required to pay for both water and electric lights. The most of the City now unsewered is a gravelly and sandy formation and easily kept in sanitary condition. I do not consider the present an opportune time to purcha the existing sewer ,and to go so extensively into sewering the City . The proposed issue of $ 250.000.00 in bonds for sewers,is acknowledged to be only a beginning. Schools. The School buildings erected previous to that of the High School were paid for out of the school tax.When the bonds amounting to $ 45.000.were voted to to erect the High School Building,the School Board promised that the intere-rest and sinking fund would be paid out of the school tax.Instead of that being done ,the debt was merged into the Refunding bonds and the debt shif-ted to the General Revenue. It was generally understood the $ 75,000.voted in 1910 were sufficient for all purposes. The High School Building is needing repairs ,but the general tearing out of the inside as proposed by the School Board,in my opinion is bad policy. It is a good building ,without a crack in the walls .The expe -diture of $ 70.000.on that buildi ngand in purchasing adjacent property fo for a High School at this time.I deem extravagant . With the addition of the two large school buildings recently erected ,it would seem the pupils of Austin can be accommodated. Hospital. Our present Hospital is in better condition and better equipped than ever before.It has been renovated from top to bottom and many modern medical appliances have been purchased.The appropriation for this department for th the current year is liberal.I cannot see need for another building at this time. Cemetery. Nearly all the lots in Oakwood Cemetery have been sold,only parts of lots are left. Additional ground is absolutely necessary .There is no way for the City to purchase additional grounds for cemetery purposes,except by sale of bonds,. Under the Charter the Council is prohibited from creating a debt. We must have a place to bury the dead.Hence I favor the bond issue for ceme -tery purposes. --- Page break --- 157 City Bonds. The City of Austin now has $ 1,547,000.00 in outstanding bonds on which it is paying 4 % interest. The interest increases to 5 % in 1916. The City has not provided for the payment of these bonds by levying a sinking fund ,as required by law. The annual interest on these bonds ,at 4 % ,is $ 61,880.00 . If sinking fund were levied there would be an annual tax of $ 92,280.00. Add interest and sinking fund on the propose issue of $ 750,000.00 (which would be $ 52,500.00 ) and the annual tax for bonds and interest and sinking fund ,would be $ 145,820.00 ,at the present rate of interest. The City has purchased $ 57,500.00 of these 4 % Refunding bonds during the present administration. Furthermore this administration with money on which it receives 6 2/10 % on daily balances. This appears a poor business proposition in face of a proposition to sell $ 750,000.00 of 5 % bonds ,which in all probability will go at a discount. The Mayor has spent much time in figuring out how MUCH money the City can legally borrow. It is discreet for a wise business man to see how LITTLE he can borrow. Why should not a City act on business principals? A business man borrows to carry on his business, out of which he expects to make a profit. A City borrows ,not to invest in business for a profit, but to make improvements, which bring little or no financial profit,and which usually add to the expense of the Government. When pay day comes the money is taken from the pockets of the taxpayers. We have contracted for rebuilding the dam across the Colorado River. The contractor has not done much thus far, but indications, the past few days, are that it will soon be rebuilt. We have a promise that it will be completed this year. This enterprise may throw additional burdens on the City. For the above reasons ,and Many ,Many more ,which I have not time ,or inclination now to offer,I deem it unwise, unbusiness like ,and unnecessary ,to create the debt against the City of Austin proposed in the ordinance offered by the Mayor, except that for Cemetery purposes. Mar 7th 1912. E C Bartholomew The Council then recessed subject to call. --- Page break --- Magdelena Nauert Tax refunded Transfer funds Appropriation for paving 4th st Resignation Lewis Mayfield --- Page break --- . And.my future employer needs my services immediately. Yours very respectfully. Lewis Mayfield. The resignation was accepted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Councilman Hart presented the following communication : Austin,Texas, March 12th 1912. Hon Jas P Hart, Supt Police & Public Safety. Austin,Texas. Dear Sir : I most respectfully recommend that John Beck be appointed Assistant Pound Master to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Lewis Mayfield. Very Respectfully. J T Laughlin, Chief of Police. The nomination was confirmed by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 4 Not voting Councilman Hart 1 Jno Buell approved with Powell motion The Council then adjourned. Jno. J. Johnson City Clerk.