Back to Archives

Old Austin: Sewer Fees & Segregated Burials

Friday, June 28, 1918 special called
  • Austin citizens received refunds for deposits made to extend sanitary sewer lines, as the service had become free in 1917.
  • The city awarded contracts for essential supplies for the next six months, including newspaper printing, hospital provisions, cement, and lumber.
  • Notably, distinct contracts were issued for the burial, transportation, and graves of "white paupers" and "negro paupers," revealing segregated city services.

Full Transcript

17 RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS: 1. That the sum of Fifty-four Dollars ($54.00) out of the One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) deposited by W. H. Richardson for the extension of the sanitary sewer main to his premises on West Sixth street in this city, be and the same is hereby ordered to be refunded to the said W. H. Richardson as a balance owing to him for the unused part of his deposit when sanitary sewer service was made free to the citizens of Austin on January 1st, 1917. 2. That the sum of Fifty-four Dollars ($54.00) be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the sanitary sewer fund of this city as a refund to the said W. H. Rich- ardson in pursuance of the first provision of this resolution. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. APPROVED, June 27, 1918: A. P. Wooldridge, Mayor. The Council then adjourned. V. T. Main City Clerk SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, June 28, 1918. The Council met with all members present. After the reading of a statement of P. W. Powell, Superintendent of Streets and Public Improvements, and sworn statements of C. Wendlandt, F. H. Smith and J. F. Pillow, the Mayor laid before the Council the following Resolution: Whereas, it appears from the attached statement under oath of Carl Wendlandt; and Whereas, it appears from other sources of information within the knowledge of the City Council that Carl Wendlandt, F. H. Smith and J. S. Pillow, who contributed respectively $150.00, $300.00 and $50.00 for the extension of sanitary sewer mains on West Ninth street in this city and through Terrace Park in this city are entitled to a refund of the unused part of their individual deposits, which unused parts from the attached statement of P. W. Powell, Superintendent of Streets and Public Improvements of this city, are as follows: For F. H. Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $221.85; For Carl Wendlandt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89.20; For J. S. Pillow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.00. Now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS: That the sum of Two Hundred Twenty-one Dollars and Eighty-five Cents ($221.85) be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the Sanitary Sewer Fund of this city as a refund due to the said F. H. Smith; That the sum of Eighty-nine Dollars and Twenty Cents ($89.20) be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the Sanitary Sewer Fund of this city as the refund due to the said Carl Wendlandt; That the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the Sanitary Sewer Fund of this city as the refund due to the said J. S. Pillow. The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas, Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes, and Powell, 5; nays none. APPROVED, June 28, 1918: A. P. Wooldridge, Mayor. --- Page break --- 18 On the recommendation of the heads of the various departments to whom the bids (when opened on June 27) were referred, contracts for city supplies for the six months' period ending Dec. 31, 1918, were awarded to the following: Newspaper printing, The Statesman (Capital Printing Company); Meats for City Hospital, Excelsior Market; Portland Cement, Austin Builders' Supply Company; Hardware, The Walter Tips Company; Lumber, Caloasieu Lumber Company; Coffins and transportation for white paupers, S. E. Rosengren; Coffins, transportation and graves for negro paupers, Rhambo & Woodard; Feed, Robinson Bros.; Laundry for City Hospital, Troy Laundry; Milk and butter, King's Sanitary Creamery; Prescriptions and medical supplies, Spalding's Drug Store. The Council then adjourned. V. S. Martin City Clerk SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, July 2, 1918. The Council met with all members present. Councilman Anthony nominated E. E. Arnold to be a special policeman without pay. The nomination was confirmed by the following vote: Yeas, Mayor Woold- ridge, Councilmen Bartholomew, Haynes, and Powell, 4; Councilman Anthony not voting. The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution: RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS: That the sum of Ninety-seven Dollars ($97.00) be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the General Contingent Fund of the City of Austin, Texas, for work and labor done by the Chamber of Commerce on the Penn Landing Field at Austin, Texas, under an authorization of this Council. A detailed statement of the items making up this appropriation is attached to this appropriation and made the basis of the same; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the warrant for this appropriation be and the same is hereby directed to be made payable to W. E. Long, Secretary of the Austin Chamber of Commerce. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. APPROVED, July 2, 1918: A. P. Wooldridge, Mayor. The Council then adjourned. V. S. Martin City Clerk