415 Regular meeting of the City Council : Austin, Texas, December 26, 1912. The Council was called to order by the Mayor : Roll called : Present Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Haynes & P well 5 Absent none. The minutes of the last regular and subsequent recessed meetings were read and approved. Petitions, etc : Petition Citizens The Mayor laid before the Council a petition from Citizens asking that the wages of Firemen and Coal Passers at the Water and Light Plant, be increased, which was read and filed. To increase Wages Engineers Councilman Bartholomew presented a petition from the Engineers and Firemen at the Water and Firemen at Light Plant asking an increase of wages, which was read and filed. W & L Plant The Mayor presented a petition from A E Hancock asking permission to erect an Electric sign at his place of business at 909 Congress Avenue, which was read. Mayor Wooldridge offered the following resolution : A.E. Hancock Sign Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That permit be and is hereby granted to A E Hancock Company to install and maintain at its place of business, 909 Congress Avenue in this City , an electric light sign, above the awning. The general description of this sign is that it is to be of a metal frame, approximately eight inches through, twelve inches high and six feet in length. In this metal frame work glass panels are to be placed, upon which are to be painted appropriate signs, which signs are to be illuminated within by electric lights. The permit hereby granted, is to be carried out under the Supervision of the Asst Supt of the Water, Light and Power Department, and is granted, held and to be accepted as revocable at any time in the pleasure of the City Council . This permit is to be deemed a substitute for the petition heretofore made by said A E Hancock Co, in which petition the sign hereby authorized to be placed was petitioned to be extended beyond the curb and across a portion of the street, which privilege this Council declines to grant. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Reports of City Officers: The Mayor laid before the Council the report of the City Sexton for the month of November 1912, which was read and ordered filed. The Council then recessed subject to call. --- Page break --- 416 Saturday Dec 2 27th 1912. The Council was call to order by the Mayor with all Members present Li. A. Caswell Loves The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution: Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin: That the appeals of R.A. Caswell from a tax for runs 80 Because 'axed for the Austin Oil Manufacturing Co. are disallowed as to the Value of the property complained of as overtaxed by the Board of Equalization; but the appeals as to the Values of the improvedments, consisting largely of Machinery, are allowed and fixed as follows: The improvements upon Block 2, out Lot 6, Division "O" are fixed at $6000.00. The Value of the machinery upon same Block is reduced from $4000 to $3000, and the Values of the Machinery, Engines, etc. and other improvements upon the three acres at the North East Corner of, out Lot 6, Division "O", are reduced from $18.000 to $15.000, and the excess above said figures in the report of the Board of Equalization is hereby cancelled. Be it further Resolved: That the Assessor & Collector is authorized and instructed to take credit in accordance with the figures herein in a tax roll out. The resolution was adopted by the following Vote: Yeas: Mayor Throvardaye, Councilmen Batchelor Stant, Hays & Powell 5 Nays None approved The Mayor laid before the Council the following Resolution: Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin: That the appeal of Gale Brothers from the action of the Board of Equalization of this City, increasing the Value of Lots 37, 38, 39 Block 8, out lot 6, Div "B" from $800 to $1000, be and the same is hereby disallowed. The resolution was adopted by the following Vote: Yeas: Mayor Throvardaye, Councilmen Batchelor Stant, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none approved A Throvardaye, Mayor. --- Page break --- The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution: Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin: That the appeal of P. Hawley from the assessment of the Board of Equalization against his Land Values as fixed by said Board of Equalization for the year 1912, be and the same is hereby disallowed; but Be it further resolved: That his appeal as to the value of the improvements upon the north fifty feet of lot 7, 8 & 9 of Block 126, in this city, be and the same is hereby allowed, and the Value of said improvements is fixed at the sum of $2500.00 Be it further resolved: That the Assessor & Collector of this City, be and he is hereby authorized to take credit upon his rolls for the year 1912 in accordance with the provisions of this resolution. The resolution was adapted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Haynes & Powell 5 The Mayor approved A P Wooldridge, Mayor. The .Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution : B.b Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the appeal of E C Gaines from the action of the Board of Equaliza-tion in assessing him thirty acres of land in the northeast corner of the Jno D McCall survey in south Austin at $ 40.00 per acre be and the same is h hereby disallowed. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved , A P Wooldridge, Mayor. The Mayor laid before the Council the following resol ution : Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the appeal of A B Palm from the report of the Board of Equa liza-Equalization as to the value of Lots 2,3 & 4, in Block 112, be and the same is hereby disallowed. .The resolution was adopted by the following vote : .Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew Hart & Powell 4 Nays Councilman Haynes 1 Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. The Mayor laid before the Council the following re & Resolution: Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the appeal of Mrs Clara Franklin from the action of the Board f of Equalization of this City as to the Value of a twenty-five & --- Page break --- 418 . feet strip along the north side of lots 17 & 25,in Block 18,Out lot 45, Division " B ",Brass Addition ,is in part allowed,and the val value of said strip is hereby fixed at $ 500.00 Be it further resolved : That the Assessor and Collector of this city is hereby authorized t o to take credit upon the rolls for 1912 in accordance with the terms of this resolution . The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart,Higgs & Haynes,Powell Nays none. Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution : Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : Wm Mary C Moore That the appeal of Mrs Mary C Moore from the action of the Board [illegible] of Equalization in increasing the value of her lot ,situated at the corner of East 17th and Comal streets in this City be and is hereby disallowed. The resolution was adopted by the following vote Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Hart,Haynes & Powell 4 Absent Councilman Bartholomew 1 Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution: Wm Stacheley That the appeal of Mrs Sophia Stacheley from the action of the Bd [illegible] of Equalization as to the value of the north half of Lots 5& 6, Block 150 in this City,be and the same is hereby disallowed and the the value of the said improvements is hereby fixed at $ 2,250.00. Be it further resolved: That the Assessor and Collector be and he is hereby authorized to take credit upon his rolls for the year 1912 in accordance with this resolution . The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew,Hart,Higgs & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Councilman Hart offered the following resolution : Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : Pound fees That the following pound fees be remitted,to-wit: remitted C N Bustin $ 1.50 Mrs E J Allen ,1 cow 1.50 Mrs C M Thompson ,1 cow 1.50 Jno King ,2horses 3.00 It appearing that all of said stock was out through unavoidable accident on the part of the owners,and as to Mr King,he having paid a number number of pound fees,assures me that hereafter he will keep his gate locked,and said fees being still in the hands of the Clerk of the Corporation Court,said Officer is authorized and directed to refund same. --- Page break --- 419 N C Schaffer Refunded Check Order from payroll Bierer Supplies . The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge & Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Councilman Hart offered the following resolution : It appearing to the City Council from the attached affidavit that H C Schaeffer was the owner of a certain mule impounded in the City pound on the 1st day of August 1912, that said mule was unclaimed, was duly advertised and sold by the City Marshal as required by law, for the sum of $ 43.50, that after deducting all fees there remained the sum of $ 33.10, which was paid to the City tax Collector to which the owner is entitled; therefore: Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the City Clerk be and is hereby authorized and directed to draw a warrant in favor of said H C Schaeffer for said sum of $ 33.10, in full settlement of of his claim. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved , A P Wooldridge, Mayor. The Council then recessed. Monday Dec 30th 1912: The Council was called to order by the Mayor with all members present: Councilman Haynes presented the following report: Austin, Texas, Dec 30th 1912. To the Hon Mayor & City Council ,of the City of Austin : Gentlemen : We your committee beg to report that ,with the as & assis ance of the City Engineer, we have carefully compared the various bids for City Supplies, for the six months ending July 1st 1913, and find the fob following named parties the lowest bidders for the supplies mentioned, to wit: N & Nalle & Co ,for Cement & Lumber, Robinson Bros ,for Feed, W H Richardson & Co for Hardware, Swan Martin ,for Blacksmithing & Repairs, V O weed, Transportation of remains of paupers etc (White) and fr furnishing coffins , W M Tears For transporting remains of Paupers (Colored ) Respectfully, P W Powell, H L Haynes. The report was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. --- Page break --- 420 . The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution : Whereas, taxes on lots 9 & 10, in Block No 7, in the City of of Austin ,in Travis County, Texas, due the City of Austin, are unpaid unpaid for the years 1895, 1897, 1899,1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907,1908, 1909,1910 & 1911, besides interest, penalties and costs, and, Whereas, judgement was obtained in the Dist Court of Travis County, Texas, on the 14th day of May 1903, for the sum of $ 5661.10, besides and penalties for the years 1895, 1897,1898, 1899,1900 & 1901, besides Caves WB Frannolic cost of Court, and said lots were ordered sold to pay said amounts, subject, however, to redemption by the owner thereof within two years from from the date of such sale, and, Whereas, said lots were sold under Judgement , on the 4th day of August 1903, to the City of Austin, for the sum of $616.64 as the amount of said taxes , interest, penalty & cost, and a deed deed executed to said City for same bearing date 9th day of September ,1903 , and, Whereas, said lots not being redeemed within said two years as on 18th of March 1912, the said City of Austin filed suit in the District Court of Travis County Texas, against Sallie G Brush, and Wm B Brush her Husband, who claimed to be the owners of said lots praying for title and possession of said lots and for damages and costs, etc., and by decree of said Court rendered on the 2nd day of April, 1912, the title and possession of said lots were divested out of the said Sallie G Brush and Wm B Brush and vested in the said City of Austin, and, Whereas, the taxes now due on said lots at this date, together with interest, penalties and costs amount to the sum of $ 2,044.46, and, Whereas, Mrs Sallie K Brush, claiming to be the owner of said lots desires to pay said amount of $ 2,044.46, and obtain a deed from the City of Austin of all the rights, title and interest of said City of Austin in said lots, and, Whereas, said City of Austin does not desire to acquire property property owned by any of its citizens, on account of their non-payment of taxes ,but desires all property in the boundaries of of the City of Austin ,to pay the taxes assessed against the same. Therefore, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin , Amount due, Opts. Ch. in that upon payment by the said Mrs Sallie K Brush to the City Collector of the City of Austin ,the sum of $ 2,044.46, besides taxes for the current year 19 12, on or before Dec 31st ,1912, the Mayor of the the City of Austin ,be and he is hereby authorized and directed to to execute to Mrs Sallie K Brush ,any and all instruments in writing necessary and proper to vest in the said Mrs Sallie K Brush, all the rights ,title and interest of the City of Austin ,in and to and to said lots 9& 10, in Block No 7. Approved J B Ouldin Rector, City Attorney. Approved A P Wooldridge, Mayor The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Hart, Haynes & Pawall 5 --- Page break --- Mrs. M. H. Mitchell protest & Grade . The Mayor laid before the Council the following Communication : To his Honor the Mayor & Gentlemen of The Council: Gentlemen : I have good reason to believe ,that the grade ,as established , west of my property at corner of 8th & Lavacca,will result in damage to the property. I have protested as strongly as I know howagainst the unjust grading ,and I write to say that, if any damage, small or large,shall result from the work now being done,I will bring suit against the City. Yours truly, Mrs Mary H Mitchell. The communication was received and ordered filed. Geo. Johnson City Clerk The Council then adjourned.