198 nayes, none, Upon the recommendation of J. H. Rogers, City Marshal, Councilman Nolen appointed E. R. Swanger as Special Policeman, with duties as nightwatchman at the Main University Library. Motion prevailed by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, and Searight, 4; nayes, none, Councilman Nolen not voting. The Council then recessed, SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL. AUSTIN. TEXAS, OCTOBER 20, 1923. The Council was called to order by the Mayor. Roll call showed the following members present: Mayor Yett, Councilmen Haynes and Avery, 3; absent, Councilmen Nolen and Searight, The bide of E. L. Steck & Company and Tobine for printing and furnishing supplies for the election to be held October 27th, 1923, were opened and Councilman Haynes moved that the bid of Tobins be accepted as the lowest and best bid. Motion prevailed by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery and Haynes, 3; nayes, none, Councilmen Nolen and Searight absent. The Council then adjourned, Juess formabey City Ceterk REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, October 25, 1923. The Council was called to order by the Mayor. Roll call showed the following members present: Mayor Yett, Councilimen Avery, Haynes, Nolen and Searight, 5; absent, none. The Minutes of the last meeting were read and adopted by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, Nolen and Searight, 5; nayes, none. The following communication of the City Attorney was read and ordered filed: "Austin, Texas, October 23, 1923. The City Council, Austin, Tехав. Gentlemen: The matter of the petition of Chas. Ing and Christina Ing to close the platted alley running north and south between Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the west, and Lots 15, 16, 17 and 18 on the east, in Block 3 of the Subdivision of Outlet 73; in Division "D", City of Austin, which was referred to me for attention, is reported back to you as follows. I find that the Abstractor made a mistake in the plat furnished petitioners, upon which information they based their petition, and that, on the contrary, the record of the County Clerks office shows a "blind" alley, terminating 88 feet fe north of the 29th street intersection, Therefore I would recommend that the application be granted, in so far as vacating the alley between Lots 3 and 4 and 15 and 16, in view of the fact that there can thereby be no impairment of any rights of the owners of property in the north end of the blook. Yours very truly, (Sgd) J. Bouldin Rector, City Attorney" Councilman Searight introduced the following resolution: WHEREAS, Chas. Ing and Christina Ing have petitioned the City Council to vacate the alley running between Lots 3 and 4 and 15 and 16, in Block 3, of the Subdivieion of Outlot 73, in Division "D" of the City of Austin, Texas; and WHEREAS, it appears that said alley is only a platted alley and does not run entirely through said blook, and has never been laid out nor used by the public, and that the portion of same sought to be vacated by said petitioners could not subserve any public convenience, and that petitioners are the owners of the above mentioned lots abutting on both sides of said alley; therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: That the portion of the alley as originally platted between Lote 3 and 4 and 15 and 16 in Block 3 of the Subdivision of Outlot 73, in Division "D" of the City of Austin, Texas, be and the same is hereby perpetually vacated, The above resolution was adopted by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, Nolen and Searight, 5; nayes, none. D. A. Gregg Attorney for B, W. Somers, et al, appeared before the Council and presented the following petition: To the Honorable Mayor, and City Council of Austin, Texas. Gentlemen: "Austin, Texas, October 22nd, 1923. We, your petitioners whose names are hereto signed respectfully request that the City Council of Austin grant to the undersigned the right to construct, operate and maintain, mains, laterals and conduits, upon and along the streets, alleys and public thoroughfares of the City of Austin for the purpose of sale of natural gas to the people of Austin, and the right to construct and operate an artificial gas plant for the purpose of manufacturing artificial gas, and the sale of same through its mains, laterals and conduits. We respectfully represent that some of the parties whose names are hereto signed are now engaged in the prospecting for and developing oil and gas within a short distance of the City of Austin, and that it is their intention to put down several wells in the Del Valle section, near Austin, for the purpose of developing large gas deposits which your petitioners believe exist in this section. Your petitioners state that they have a large acreage of leases in this section, and that the opinion of geologists and geological engineers is that almost an unlimited supply of natural gas underlies certain sections of this territory and that it is their purpose and intention to develop such natural gas deposits and to conduct same through their pipe lines to the City of Austin for the purpose of selling same to manufacturing and industrial enterprises and to the citizens for their private use. We further represent that in asking for this franchise we have placed same under the City Council of the City of Austin, so far as its operation and maintenance is concerned, subject to review by the District Courts of Travis County. We most respectfully request your honorable body to grant to us and our associates this franchise as a public enterprise. Respectfully submitted, (Sgd) B. W. Somers, (Sgd) J. O. Reese, 10 W. S. Daniel Chas. G. Jones." 199 200 1 Counoilman Haynes moved that action upon same be deferred until the next regular meeting of the City Council, Motion prevailed by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, Nolen and Bearight, 5; nayes, none. The application of the Austin American to erect an electric bulletin board on the front wall of its building on Congress Avenue for the purpose of posting news bulletins was granted, provided same be erected under the supervision of W. E. Seaholm, City Electrician, by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, Nolen and Searight, 5; nayes, none. The petition of B. L. Staples, asking that he be allowed to erect a stone wall in front of his lot on 33rd and Duval Streets was read and referred to C. E. Leonard, City Engineer, by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, Nolen and Searight, 5; nayes, none. . Councilman Nolen nominated Mr G. B. Caldwell as special policeman of the City of Austin, with duties as night watchman during the construction of the Biology Building at the University of Texas. Nomination was confirmed by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, and Searight, 4; nayes, none, Councilman Nolen present but not voting. Councilman Haynes introduced the following resolution: WHEREAS, the Scottish Rite Holding Association is delinquent in city taxes on West One-half of the North One-half of Outlot 41, Division "E", City, for the years 1917 to 1922, both inclusive, and on all of Outlet 32, Division "E", for the years 1921 and 1922; and WHEREAS, penalties have accumulated against said Association for all of said years on account of the non-payment of said taxes within the time prescribed by ordinance; and WHEREAS, during said years there existed a state of uncertainty as to whether or not said properties were taxable under the laws of the State and City, and for said reason said Association withheld the payment of said taxes, and same was not insisted upon by the City, Therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: That the accrued penalties against said Association for said years on account of the non-payment of taxes against said properties, respectively, be and the same are hereby remitted. The above resolution was adopted by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, Nolen and Searight, 5; nayes, none. Councilman Nolen nominated A. P. Campbell as bookkeeper at the City Hospital to succeed Joe T. Oliver term effective October 22nd, 1923. Nomination was confirmed by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes and Searight, 4; nayes, none, Councilman Nolen present but not voting. The petition of Paul 0. Simms Company, asking that certain lots on East 7th Street , be excluded from the fire limits was read and Councilman Haynes moved that same be referred to the Safety Committee. Motion prevailed by the following vote; Ayes, Liayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, Nolen and Searight, 5; nayes, none. The Council then adjourned. : Betest