205 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, Apr. 30, 1919. The Council met at 4 o'clock P. M. Roll call showed the following present: Mayor A. P. Wooldridge, Councilmen W. B. Anthony, E. C. Bartholomew, H. L. Haynes, and P. W. Powell, 5; absent none. There were also present Mayor-elect W. D. Yett and Councilmen-elect C. F. Alford, J. W. Graham, H. L. Haynes, and Jno. S. Ward. The minutes of April 24, 29 and 30 (morning session) were read, and were approved by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. There was laid before the Council the following resolution: RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS: That the sum of One Hundred Thirty-three Dollars and Thirtythree Cents ($133.33) be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the Surplus Earnings of the Water, Light and Power Department in full payment for all damage done, if any, by the setting of water and light mains over gas mains in front of George W. Walling's residence at 2614 Rio Grande Street in this city. Mrs. Geo. Walling to city of Austin Residence The resolution was passed by a vote of 4 yeas, no nays, Councilman Powell being out of the room when the roll was called. APPROVED, Apr. 30, 1919: A. P. Wooldridge, Mayor. The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution: RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS: That the tabulated results of the municipal election of April 7th, 1919, as certified to by the City Clerk of the City of Austin, Texas, show as follows: Municipal Election 1919 W. D. Yett received 2826 votes for Mayor. C. F. Alford " 2492 " " Councilman. John S. Ward " 2423 " " " Harry L. Haynes " 1708 " " " J. W. Graham " 1701 " " " RESOLVED, therefore, further, in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the City of Austin, Texas, the said W. D. Yett is hereby declared to have been elected Mayor of the City of Austin, Texas, at said municipal election of April 7th, 1919, and said C. F. Alford, John S. Ward, Harry L. Haynes and J. W. Graham, respectively, are hereby declared to have been elected Councilmen of the City of Austin, at the said municipal election of April 7th, 1919. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. APPROVED, Apr. 30, 1919: A. P. Wooldridge, Mayor. After an explanatory statement by the City Attorney, the Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution: Whereas, on the 5th day of January, A. D. 1910, J. W. Graham filed a certain plat for record in the office of the County Clerk of Travis County, Texas, which said plat is recorded in the plat records of Travis County, Texas, in Book No. 2, page 191; and Whereas, said plat purports to dedicate a certain strip of land as a street, same being a continuation westwardly of Twentyeighth Street from its intersection with San Pedro Street to the east line of a north extension of San Gabriel Street and lying between outlots 65 and 66, Division "D" of the City of Austin; and Whereas, it has been represented that said plat has been in --- Page break --- 208 Vacating certain strip of land from [illegible] St. releasing San Pedro St. Central Church from City taxes Exemption loyalty the possession of J. W. Graham for over thirty years, during which time same has not been recorded until the date above named and during which time the said strip of land shown on said plat has not in any part been used as a street, and same is not now used as a street; and WHEREAS, it has been satisfactorily shown that it was not the intention of said J. W. Graham in filing said plat to dedicate said strip of land to be used as a street, but that said plat was filed solely for the purpose of correcting a certain error in the description of certain property situated in Outlot 64, Division "D" of the City of Austin, which said property is not abutting upon nor contiguous to said strip of land; and WHEREAS, it would be wholly impracticable to use said strip of land as a street and the opening of same for such purposes would result in no public benefit, on account of the fact that west of San Pedro Street and running through said strip of land there is a high bluff marking the eastern boundry of certain bottom land lying on the east banks of Shoal Creek, a portion of which is contained in said strip, which bottom land is about forty or fifty feet below the land lying immediately east of same contained in said strip; and WHEREAS, in order to improve said strip of land that same may be put in proper condition for traffic and to maintain same as a street it would necessitate the expenditure of a large sum of money on the part of the City of Austin; THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: That the said strip of land hereinabove described be vacated as a street and that the dedication, if any, for such purposes be and the same is hereby refused, and the Mayor be and he is hereby authorized and instructed to execute and deliver to said J. W. Graham an acquittance of whatever right, title and interest the City of Austin may have in and to the above described strip of land, by and on account of the acts of said J. W. Graham in recording said plat. The resolution was passed by the following vote: Yeas, Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes, and Powell, 5; nays none. APPROVED, Apr. 30, 1919: A. P. Wooldridge, Mayor. There were read to the Council a communication from J. Bouldin Rector/addressed to the Mayor and a communication from Ed H. Weiser addressed to the City Attorney, both relative to exemption of certain property from taxes, as claimed by the Central Christian Church. There was then laid before the Council the following resolution: WHEREAS, the Central Christian Church of Austin has heretofore rendered all of lots 4, 5 and 6 in Block 99 in the City of Austin as exempt from taxation; and --- Page break --- 207 Whereas, there has been some question as to whether or not, under the facts and law, lot No. 4 and the west half of Lot No. 5 in Block 99, should be entitled to such exemption; and Whereas, said matter was referred to the City Attorney, who has investigated the facts and law, and has submitted his opinion that said property should be exempted from taxation; therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: That the rendition as made by the Central Christian Church of Austin to the Assessor and Collector of taxes is hereby approved, and said Assessor is instructed to receive and file said rendition as made. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 5 yeas, no nays. APPROVED, Apr. 30, 1919: A. P. Wooldridge, Mayor. Words of friendly greeting to the incoming members of the Council were then spoken by Mayor Wooldridge and Councilmen Bartholomew, Powell and Anthony, after which the oath of office was admin- istered by Mayor Wooldridge to his successor, Hon. W. D. Yett. The oath of office was then administered by J. Bouldin Rector to the four incoming Councilmen: C. F. Alford, J. W. Graham, Harry L. Haynes, and Jno. S. Ward. Mayor Yett thereupon assumed the chair, and Councilman Haynes moved that the Council adjourn until 10 o'clock May 1, 1919. The motion carried. V. E. Martin City Clerk