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Austin Takes on Gas Safety, Billboards, and Wires

Monday, May 31, 1926 special called
  • New Gasoline Safety Rules:

    An emergency ordinance was immediately passed to regulate gasoline sales and delivery from tank wagons. New rules mandate specific delivery methods, use of approved safety cans, and special permits for construction site deliveries to prevent fire hazards.
  • Billboard Advertising Approved:

    The Duplex Advertising Company received permission to erect new bulletin boards at several key locations, including Congress Avenue and the intersections of 34th/Guadalupe and South Congress/Barton Springs Road.
  • Electrical Code Overhaul Considered:

    A major new ordinance was introduced, aiming to comprehensively regulate electrical work. This included defining an electrical inspector's role, licensing master electricians, requiring permits, and adopting the "National Electrical Code" for public safety.

Full Transcript

Carrier, respecting among certain things a certain pipe line for conveying sewerage across right of way at Austin, Travis County, Texas, true copy of said agreement being attached hereto as part hereof. The above resolution was adopted by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, Nolen, and Searight, 5; nayes, none. The Council then recessed. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: ! Austin, Texas, May 31, 1926. The Council was called to order by the Mayor. Roll call showed the following members present: Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, and Nolen, 4; absent, Councilman Searight. Councilman Haynes nominated Simon Gillis and E. J. Barclay as members of the Board of Equalization for the term. of one year, beginning May lat, 1926, and ending May 1st, 1927. Nomination was confirmed by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, and Nolen, 3; nayes, none, Councilman Searight absent, Councilman Haynes present but not voting. The application of T. W. Wilkerson, Manager of the Duplex Advertising Company, asking permission to erect bulletin boards in the 1200 block on the east side of Congress Avenue, at 34th Street and Guadalupe Street, and South Congress Avenue and Barton Springs Road, was read and Councilman Nolen moved tha the application be granted as recommended by R. F. Rockwood, City Marshal. Motion prevailed by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, and Nolen, 4; nayes, none, Councilman Searight absent. The Mayor laid before the Council the following ordinance: BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: Section 1. It shall hereafter be unlawful for any person to sell or deliver gasoline from a tank wagon or other moveable tanks, except as hereinafter provided for. Section II. Such tanks may deliver direct to underground storage tanke by means of a hose. Section III. Such tanks may deliver to persons or parties having five gallon safety cans bearing the label of the underwriters' laboratories, such cans to be filled by regulation tank wagon bucket, and to be filled only at the curb. The tan wagon bucket shall not be carried into buildings. Section IV. Such tanks may deliver to persons engaged in street building or in construction of large buildings. Such delivery to be made into regulation iron barréls furnished by the party selling the gasoline, and the said barrels may be filled by means of a tank wagon bucket. The purchaser must produce a special permit from Fire Marshal before gasoline can be delivered into said barrels. Section V. Any person selling, delivering, or purchasing gasoline in violation of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined in any sum not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars. 567 568 Section VI. Whereas, on account of the great demand for protection of the public and property and the lives of the citizens against the hazards of fire arising out of the improper handling and selling of gasoline creates an urgency and an emergency for the immediate preservation of the public peace and safety that this Ordinance be in effect immediately and it is accordingly so ordained that this Ordinance be and the same shall take effect immediately as in the Charter in such casеs іs made and provided. The ordinance was read the first time and Councilman Haynes moved that the rule be suspended and the ordinance placed on its second reading. Motion prevailed by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, and Nolen, 4; nayes, none, Councilman Searight absent. The ordinance was read the second time and Councilman Haynes moved a further suspension of the rule and the ordinance placed on its third reading and final passage. Motion prevailed by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, and Nolen, 4; nayes, none, Councilman Searight absent. The ordinance was read the third time and Councilman Haynes moved that same do now finally pass. Motion prevailed by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, and Nolen, 4; nayes, none, Councilman Searight absent. The Council then adjourned. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Clerk Austin, Texas, June 3, 1926. The Council was called to order by the Mayor. Roll call showed the following members present: Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, Nolen, and Searight, 5; absent, none. The Minutes of the last meeting were read and adopted. The Mayor laid before the Council the following ordinance: AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING THE "POWER AND DUTIES OF INSPECTOR OF ELECTRICAL WORK; DEFINING MASTER ELECTRICIAN AND PROVIDING FOR THE BONDING AND LICENSING OF THE SAME AND FOR THE FORFEITURE OF SUCH LICENSE; REQUIRING OF PERMITS FOR ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION OR WORK OF ANY Y CHARACTER; PROVIDING THE MANNER AND WAY IN WHICH ELECTRICAL WORK SHALL BE D DONE, THE "KIND AND CLASS OF MATERIAL TO BE USED IN SUCH WORK; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE "NATIONAL ELECTRICAL"CODE" AS PROMUL ROMULGATED BY "THE" NATIONAL BOARD OF FIRE UNDERWRITERS; PROVIDING FOR" THE" INSPECTION OF ELEC LECTRICAL WORK; PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF BOARD OF MOTIO 'ION' PICTURE OPE ERATOR EXAMINERS AND FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT AND LICENSE TO MOTION PIC ICTURE OPERATORS; PROVIDING FOR THE SCALE OF FEES TO BE PAID FOR" ELECTRI RICAL INSPECTION; PROHIBITING UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS, FIRMS OR CORPORATIONS FROM CUTTING, MOVING OR ATTACHING TO ANY OUTSIDE OR INSIDE WIRE, SWITCH OR OTHER APPLIANCES BELONGING TO OR CONTROLLED BY CITY WATER AND LIGHT DEPARTMENT, OR ANY PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION; AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE AND REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH. The above ordinance was read the first time and Councilman Avery moved that same be laid over until the next regular meeting. Motion prevailed by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Avery, Haynes, Nolen, and Searight, 5; nayes, none. The Mayor laid before the Council the following ordinance: AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLES 605 AND 606 OF TITLE 27, CHAPTER I AND ARTICLES 608, 609, 610, 612, 613, 616, 617, 618, 620, 621, 623, 624, 625, 626,632,639,640, 641 and 642, CHAPTER 2 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN? TEXAS. The ordinance was read the first time and Councilman Avery moved that same be laid over until the next regular meeting. Motion prevailed by the follow-