The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-04-08
Proceedings Of the City Council.

City Council met on Monday evening,
April 9TH. All the council was present ex-
cept councilman Eddings.
The mayor bcingabsent councilman Daniels
was elected president pro tenn.
The minutes of the last meeting were read
and approved.
Accounts to the following amount were
allowed, viz:-$4l.l4.
The bill of witness fees in the case OF city
VS.. Pulsky and Mrs. Hill was returned, ac-
companied by the remission of the fees by
the witnesses, whereupon the council passed
a resolution of thanks, as follows:
Resoiced, That the thanks of the city be
and they are hereby rendered to d. NJ Hast.
ings, James McGnnis, r. Rooney, Louis
Wise George Weeden, John Jaggy and Jos.
L. McAlister, for kindly renting their
charges against the city as witnesses in the
case of the city VS.. Pulsky and Hill.
The committee on streets, public build
ings and Improvements, to which was re-
ferred the Short claim matter, reported the
following opinion as having been rendered
concerning the claim to streets, public park
and public levee, to-wit:
We consider the title of the public to the
streets, public square and levee of that por-
ton of the city of Vancouver laid off by
Esther Short as perfect for the purposes for
which they have been used. The town plat
of Vancouver made and recorded by Esther
Short on the 2Sth of July, 1855, on page 81,
of book "a of deed records, contains no d-
rect dedication or Acknowledgements, and
may be considered solely as evidence of a
prescriptive right. In it the streets, public
park and levee are plainly marked, and the
city has kept the property; and from that
day to this it has been used for the purpose
indicated. Under the statutes of Washing
ton Territory Esther Short and those claim
ing under her had twenty years in which to
assert her right, but not having done so
they are now forever barred. This matter,
in part at least, has been judicously deter
mined to the same effect in your district
VS.. Hannah F. Short" The streets now
used are the streets we refer to, and in this
the prescriptive right viii govern as regards
, boundaries. These streets as they now are
and have been used cannot be altered except
in the same manner as new streets can be
laid out or old ones altered or vacated under
your city charter. In addition to the judg.
meut OF your own court. we have upon this
point the decisions of the L. S. Supreme
Court, 6 Peters. pages 43l and 1875 The
report was accepted and ordered to be placed
on file.
The committee on streets, public buiding'
and improvements submitted a report to cal
that several persons are obstrnctine the
streets in front of their property by planting
shade trees and building fences, claiming til,
right to do so by virtue Of a new survey
Your committee having no legal knowledg,
OF any such survey respectfully request the
city council to take such measures as will
prevent any more distractions being placed
in the public streets and lemovo those al
ready in them. They would also suggest
the propriety OF having public notice in
the city paper that there has been no such
new survey, to notify the pubic OF the fact.
The report OF the committee was accepted
AMI adopted.
The committee on health and police re-
ported in reference to the petition of John
Denny as follows: Your committee to
whom was referred the remonstrance OF John
Denny demonstrating against interments
within the city limits respectfully report
that after diligent investigation into the
merits OF the case, they are unable to find
any law prohibiting such interments, and
therefore recommend it be laid on the table
On motion the report was adopted.
The assessment roll of the city for 1850
was presented to the council, in which the
total property assessment was represented
at 1912, ll4.CO. On motion the roll was ac
ceptcd, and the clerk directed to make and
have published notice of the assessment, and
that the council at its next meeting would
hear aud consider the petitions of any per-
sons who might consider themselves ag-
grieved in said assessment
The semi-annual report of the city treas
urer was presented and read stating total
receipts from Nov. 20 to April at Ss6l 0S;
disbursements for the same time, s2SS "a;
cash on hand, s1274. Report was ordered
to be placed on file.
Claims against the city to the amount of