REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, Oct. 17, 1918. The Council was called to order by the Mayor, all members answering to roll call. The minutes of October 10 and subsequent recessed meetings were read and approved by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. The Mayor laid before the Council "An ordinance to amend an ordinance entitled 'An ordinance to amend and condense into one ordinance all ordinances of the city pertaining to the right of way over the streets of Austin to M. K. Shipe, his associates and assigns, which enured to the benefit of the Austin Rapid Transit Railway Company.'" The ordinance was read the second time (having been read the first time one week ago) and laid over. A number of physicians and others were present at the invitation of the Mayor to discuss the influenza epidemic and the existing embargo on public gatherings. The medical officers of the three military Physicians schools were among those present. Major F. A. Johnson of the School discuss of Military Aeronautics reported that although a large percentage of Influenza the cadets at his school had been down with the prevailing malady, discussion and that pneumonia had developed in a number of cases, there had so far been no fatalities. Capt. T. P. Martin of the Radio School said that 50 per cent of the young men in that school had contracted the disease and that pneumonia cases numbered about 50. There had been three deaths, he said. Capt. C. M. Kent reported that there had been 1500 influenza cases among the 3000 or more young men in the School of Automobile Mechanics, including 100 cases complicated with pneumonia. There had been 31 deaths. Dr. Joe Gilbert, University physician, reported that he had had about 300 cases among the student body, includ- ing five of pneumonia. There had been no fatalities. There were 12 girls and five boys now in the hospital, he said. There had been 40 a week ago. Dr. J. W. McLaughlin stated that there had been 300 cases of influenza among the 425 pupils of the State School for the Deaf. These included two pneumonia cases. There had been one death. One hundred and fifty of the children were now under treatment for influenza. It was the opinion of those physicians and others who addressed the Council that conditions were improving in the army camps but that they were getting worse among the civil population. All advised strongly against lifting the embargo. President R. E. Vinson of the University spoke to the same effect. The Council consequently took no action in the direction of raising the embargo. The Mayor requested the physicians to communicate with him when in their opinion the time should arrive for the action indicated. The August and September reports of the Water and Light DepartFire Chief. ment, and the September reports of the Police Matron and City Sexton, also the financial report for September of the Street and Sewer Department, were read and ordered filed. --- Page break --- 80 W. J. Patton Service car License. A. E. Hancock Elec. Sign. Ordinance Ordering Election on Unit System The application of W. T. Patton, 2110 Oldham street, for public service car license on his Chandler car, No. 170320, was laid before the Council and granted by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution: RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS: That subject to revocation at any time in the judgment of the City Council, A. E. Hancock is hereby authorized to erect and maintain at the corner of Fifth street and Congress avenue in this city, an electric street sign of the following dimensions: Height, 32 inches; length, 12 feet; lighted with 44 electric lights, 22 on each side; said sign is to be fastened to the building with two heavy V iron hangers fastened into the wall with long lag bolts and expansion shields and is fastened from outer end by four steel cables (two on each side) running back to and fastening onto the building. Said sign and hangings are all to be within the curb line and said sign is to be at least nine feet above the level of the sidewalk. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. APPROVED, Oct. 17, 1918; A. P. Wooldridge, Mayor. The Mayor laid before the Council "An ordinance ordering an election to obtain the approval of the qualified voters of the City of Austin of the passage of an ordinance by the City Council of the City of Austin, authorizing, empowering and instructing the Mayor to enter into a contract with J. Ben Stoner for the purpose of installing the Unit System of ascertainment and equalization of real estate values and making an appropriation, which ordinance is hereinafter set out in full." The ordinance was read the first time and the Mayor moved a suspension of the rule and the placing of it on its second reading. The motion prevailed by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. Upon the second reading of the ordinance the Mayor moved a further suspension of the rule and the placing of it on its third reading. This motion carried by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. The ordinance was read the third time and then the Mayor moved its final passage, the motion carrying by the following vote: Yeas, Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes, and Powell, 5; nays none. The Council then adjourned. V. S. Martin City Clerk