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Austin's Focus: Health, Rail, and Auto Speeding

Thursday, January 30, 1919 regular
  • Public Health Call:

    The city's Food Inspector urged an increase in sanitation staff and better coordination among agencies to improve public health.
  • Early Driving Enforcement:

    A resident received a refund for half of a speeding ticket for fast driving of an automobile, showing early traffic rules.
  • Railroad Track Adjustments:

    An ordinance was proposed to allow the Houston & Texas Central Railroad to relocate parts of its main tracks on Fourth and Fifth Streets to improve track curvature.

Full Transcript

144 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, Jan. 30, 1919. The Council was called to order by the Mayor. Roll call showed the following present: Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes, and Powell, 5; absent none. The minutes of the meetings held on Jan. 23, 27 and 28 were read, and approved 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: H. H. Finch That the sum of $7.40 be and the same is hereby appropriated Refund of fine out of the General Contingent Fund of this city as a refund to H. H. Finch in accordance with a resolution passed December 14, 1918, remitting one-half of a fine assessed against the said H. H. Finch, for fast driving of an automobile, in Cause No. 13168, Corporation Court of this City. The resolution was passed by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. APPROVED, Jan. 30, 1919: A. P. Wooldridge, Mayor. Mrs. Gardner, Food Mrs. Charles W. Gardner, Food Inspector, addressed the Inspector: Council in amplification of her written annual report. She emphaneed for more sized the need for more inspectors and for unification of effort inspectors among the several agencies concerned with sanitation in the city. The December, 1918, report of the Superintendent of the Water, Light and Power Department was read and ordered filed. Sale of lumber The Mayor read to the Council the amounts realized from the from Tabernacle. sale of lumber from the old Tabernacle and the expenses connected with the dismantling of it, etc. The Mayor laid before the Council "An ordinance authorizing H & T C R.R. Co. the Houston & Texas Central Railroad Company to change the location Ord. to change of its main line track along Fourth (4th) Street where it crosses main line track. East Avenue by moving the same north a short distance, thus lessening the curvature in the track; and also to change the location of said line along Fifth Street where it crosses Comal Street, by moving said track a short distance south, as per blue prints attached, and declaring an emergency." The ordinance was read the first time and laid over for further motion. The Council then adjourned. J. M. [signature flourish] City Clerk