664 Regular meeting of the City Council : Austin, Texas, December 11, 1913. The Council was called to order by the Mayor: Roll called: Present Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Absent none. The minutes of the last regular and subsequent recessess meetings were read and approved: Reports of City Officers : The Mayor laid before the Council the reports of the City Treasurer, the Fire Marshal, the Asst City Clerk & the Sexton, which were re ad and ordered filed . The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution : Done J M Lowright Corrected ✓ Whereas, J M Lowright makes affidavit ,which affidavit is filed herewith, accompa-nied by the legal opinion of his attorneys ,Messrs Hart & Patterson, in which legal opinion the City Attorney of this City , Mr J B Rector, concurs, that he, JM Lowright , in November 1910 became endosser onf an interest bearing note for From Date $ 14,500.00, due at 6years, upon which note there are credits of $ 3,000.00; now, therefore, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That in the opinion of this Council ,as advised by the City Attorney , said said interest bearing note to the extent and amount that it is unpaid shall be deemed and held to be a legal offset against any credits assessed against the said J M Lowright for municipal taxation during the legal life of said note so endorsed by said J M Lowright. Be it further resolved : That the City Assessor & collector is hereby instructed to allow. credits against the securities against the said J M Lowright for municipal taxation in accordance with the provisions of this resolution . The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved, A F Wooldridge, Mayor. The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution : Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the City Sexton at Oakwood Cemetery be and he is hereby authorized and White paupers to be interred in new section instructed to inter the remains of White Paupers in a second step above the ✓ remains of such other white paupers as have heretofore been interred in the South-eastern and Eastward portions of Oakwood Cemetery in this City; provided that no no second burial shall be made upon any burial space properly and decently cared for by the friends or relatives of any deceased white pauper. The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none . Improvements of Alley between The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution : 5th & 6th Streets A resolution ordering the improvement of the alley between 5th & 6th streets from Trinity Street ordered ✓ the East line of Brazos street to the West line of San Jacinto street, and from the East line of San Jacinto street to the West line of Trinity street , in the City of Austin : and approving specifications , contract and bond therefor: The resolution was read and laid over for one week. --- Page break --- Contract with Lewis Hancock read. ✓ Pound fees Aug. Mayer. remitted. ✓ Harrells Sign. ✓ Assessment Austin dam & Suburban Ry fixed. ✓ Assessment I & G N Ry Co ✓ --- Page break --- 666 Assessment Dr F L Griffith Cancelled The Mayor laid before the Council the foll wing resolution : Whereas, it appears from the affidavit of Dr F L Griffith, which affidavit id filed herewith, that during the very last days of December 1912, he borrowed $ 500.00 from the National Bank of this City, for emergency uses, giving his note therefor on demand, and deposited said $ 500.00 with the Austin National Bank, but used no part of it prior to its re-payment to the Austin National Bank, which was about January 10th 1913; and, Whereas, said $ 500.00 was assessed against said Dr F L Griffith, for taxa-tion as money on handJanuary 1st 1913; and, Whereas, to tax money under such conditions seems to the City Council as both inequitable and unreasonable; Now Therefore, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the assessment of $ 500.00 of money on handagainst said Dr F L Griffith, as of January 1st 1913, be and the same is hereby cancelled and annulled. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Assessment Geo W Littlefield fixed The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution : Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That upon sufficient evidence to it submitted the valuation for taxation purposes of the 27 feet front on Congress Avenue at the intersection of West 7th street ,running back 160 feet , with an offset widening said tract of land at the West end thereof, and which property belongs to Geo W Littlefield of this City,be and the same is hereby fixed at the sum of $ Thirty Thousand ( $ 30,000.00)dollars the improvements thereupon to be assessed at Four thousand ( $ 4,000.00) dollars . The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Assessment Jacob Wattinger cancelled The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution : Whereas, it appears from the affidavit of Jacob Wattinger, which affidavit is filed herewith , that the $ 17, 136.of promisory noted executed by the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chapter House ,in this City, were made sometime in October 1912, and secured by Mechanics lien in advance as is required by law, in anticipation of work to be done later ,and that no considerable part of which work under s id contract was done prior to the 1st day of January 1913; and Whereas, if said notes did represent existing values on the 1st day of January 1913, which is not believed by this Council , they were offset by liabili-ties against the same, as is shown by the affidavit of said Jacob Wattinger,herew -with filed; Now Therefore, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the assessment of credits against Jacob Wattinger for the year 1913, in the amount of $ 17, 136.00 , be and the same is hereby cancelled and annulled. The resolution was adopted by the following vote; Yeas Mayor Wooldridgem, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 --- Page break --- 667 x .The Mayor.laid before the Council the followine resolution: Whereas, from testimony in the way of oral evidence of Fred C Von Rosenberg, General Henry Hutchings, and Mr Jno H Robinson Jr , the City Council of the City of Austin believes That Lots 1,2,3,4,5,6, 27,28, 29, 30, 31, 32, in Block 10, Out Lots 15,17 & 17, Div 1sion For Tax in Lot assessment against "D" in the City of Austin, heretofore assessed against the Church Corporation of the Episcopal Church. Protestant Episcopal Church of Texas, in the amount of $ 11,850.00 ,for the year 1912, Cancelled ✓ were then and are now in fact,good faith and sincerity used by said Church Corporationof the Protestant Episcopal Church of Texas as recreation grounds for Grace Hall, an educational institution conducted by said.Church Corporation of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Texas; Now, therefore, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That said Lots 1,2,3,4,5,6,27,28,29,30,31& 32, Block 10 ,Out Lots 15,16 & 17, Division "D" of the City of Austin, Texas, be and the same are hereby declared exempt from taxation for the years 1912 & 1913. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none, x Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Councilman Haynes offered the following resolution : Whereas, it appears from the affidavit of Herman F Gerhard ,which affidavit accompanies this W.H.Gerhard assessment resolution, and is made the basis of the same, that Harry H Gerhard , against whom credits Cancelled ✓ in the amount of $ 4350.00,were assessed by the Assessor & Collector of this City, for the year 1913, did on the 1st day of January 1913, and for about two years prior thereto, have his permanent domicili in the City of St Louis, Mo, and also according to the affidavit of said Herman F Gerhard had himself disposed of said creditsin good faith prior to the 1st day of January 1913; Now, therefore, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the assessment against Harry H Gerhard of credits for the year 1913, in the amount of $ 4,350.00 be and the same is hereby cancelled and annulled. The resolution was adopted by the following vote: YeasMayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Councilman Haynes offered the following resolution : Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That in consideration of the affidavit of Wm H Gerhard, which is filed with this resolution and made the basis of this resolution, the assessment against Wm H Gerhard of $ 4,000.00 for the year 1913, be and the same is hereby cancelled and annulled,it appearing to the satisfaction of the City Council that said Gerhard was not the owner of said creditson the1st day of Ja nuary,1913, and that he had in good faith and for a valuable consideration sold and transferred them before that date. The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none.Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. --- Page break --- 668 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 Dr Margaret Holliday from the assessment fixed by the Board of Equalization of this City of 40 acres of land belonging to her on the Dam Boulevard , at $ 6,600.00 , be and the same is hereby refused. The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 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 : That permit be and is hereby granted the Dillingham Shoe Co to suspend an electric sign in front of their storehouse at 610 Congress Avenue; Said sign has been recommended by W L Eyres , Sign Inspector, and is to double faced , built of sheet steel , lighting is to be bull's eyes. Said sign is to contain a 40 -25 Watts Turngsten globeson the inside. It is to be built of two main sections, one of 18 feet vertical , which shall read " Dillingham" , and one at right angles to this, which shall be 9 feet, 8 inches horizontal , and to read " Shoe Store". Said sign is to be placed above the awningx within the curb line and securely braced to stand at least a fifty- mile wind. Be it further resolved : That this permit is revocable at the pleasure of the City Council. The Resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew & Haynes 4 Absent Councilman Powell 1 Approved , A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Councilman Haynes offered the following resolution : Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the City Treasurer and Book-keeper of the Street Dept be and they are hereby instructed to transfer the sum of $ 1.75 from the Permanent Street Improvement fund fund to the General Street Improvement fund to reimburse said fund for amount erroneously drawn out by warrant No 36779. The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved , A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Councilman Haynes offered the following resolution : Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That H L Haynes, Supt , in charge of the Sanitary Dept, be and is hereby authorized to make the following transfers in the appropriations for said Dept for 1913, to-wit Transfer from the appropriation for "Feed" $ 260.18 to the account for "Disinfec-tants" and $ 195.43 from the same account to the account for "Miscellaneous" The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved , A P Wooldridge, Mayor. --- Page break --- Roadway Guadalupe 24th & 27th St. fixed ✓ Councilman Powell offered the following resolution : Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas : That the roadway between 24th & 27th streets on Guadalupe street be and the same is hereby permanently established 46' in width from Curb to Curb, thus placing the curbs 23' from the center line and allowing approximately 12' for sidewalks and parking on each side. The resolution was adopted , Dec 16th 1913, by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Hynes & Powell 5 Nays None. The Council then adjourned. Geo. J. Johnson City Clerk