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Austin Tackles Food Safety, Licenses Early Taxis

Saturday, May 25, 1918 special called
  • New Food Safety Regulations Proposed:

    The Council began drafting an ordinance to define food products and establishments, requiring permits, setting sanitary rules, and outlining penalties.
  • Early Taxi and Bus Services Emerge:

    Multiple individuals and the Liberty Motor Bus Company were granted licenses to operate "public service cars," indicating the rise of commercial ride-sharing and bus transportation.
  • City Officials Granted Leave:

    The Fire Chief received approval to attend an international convention, and the Chief of Police was granted a ten-day leave of absence.

Full Transcript

2 international convention of Fire Chiefs, to be held at Chicago beginning June 4, and the Council agreed that he should be permitted to attend. AFTERNOON SESSION: All members present. The Mayor presented the application of W. H. Bradfield, 1513 West Ninth street, for public service car license on his 7-passenger Hudson car, No. 144071, which was granted by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. The Mayor laid before the Council "An ordinance defining "Food Products" and "Food Products Establishments", requiring a permit for the operation of such establishments, providing for sanitary regulations of the same, and prescribing penalties." The ordinance was read the first time and laid over. By a vote of 5 yeas, the Council granted to W. J. Morris, Chief of Police, leave of absence for ten days beginning June 8. The Council then adjourned. V.E. Martin City Clerk SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, May 24, 1918. The Mayor presented the application of Matthew Edwards, 2104 Rosewood avenue, for public service car license on his Ford automobile, No. 133388, which was granted by a vote of 5 yeas. The Council then adjourned. V.E. Martin City Clerk SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, May 25, 1918. The Mayor presented the application of Jesse Roby, 901 East Nineteenth street, for public service car license on his Ford car, No. 184696, which was granted by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. The Council then adjourned. V.E. Martin City Clerk SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, May 27, 1918. The Mayor presented the application of Roy Griffin, 406 Rio Grande street, for public service car license on his Overland car, No. 131347, which was granted by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. The Mayor presented also the applications of the Liberty Motor Bus Company, Camp Mabry, Texas, of which W. J. Jones is president, for public service car licenses on a Republic machine, No. 248423, and a Nash, No. 26000, which were also granted by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. The Council then adjourned. V.E. Martin City Clerk