The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1882-04-12
IN SPECIAL SESSION.
Our City Sires Consider the
Pond and switch Question.

The city council met in special
session at the council chamber last
night at o'clock, Mayor Sturgis in the
chair. Present-Aldermen Wilkes, Ho-
gan, libbs, Moore, McKeen, McLaren,
Makeig, the city secretary and marshal.
Absent-Aldermen Solomon and Dun
MICA.
The reading of the minutes of last
meeting was dispensed with and the
mayor explained the object Of the meet
ing, which was to discuss the matter of
draining the ponds in East Waco, and
granting certain parties the right to
construct switches IN different parts OF
the city.
On motion of Alderman Moore, the
time of speaking on any question WAS linn
tied to five minutes, except by permission
OF the council The motion was car
ried, the entire council voting aye.
Mr.. c. NJ. Seley presented petition
on behalf OF the Texas and st. Louis
railroad, asking priv eye of building a
switch from their main track onto their
depot grounds, corner of Third and
Mary streets. The petition was re-
ferred to the street committee.
The committee appointed to investigate
the propricty OF granting switch pnVel-
eoes to the gas company to run track
from the Missouri Petite 10 their works,
reported tivoraby. Discussion arose
and Dr. Wilkes stated. after the question
came up for passage. that he wished II
understood that he would not now. or
hereafter, vote for any switch TO private
party. corporation, firm OF anyone else.
unless il could be shown to him beyond
all doubt that they would rebound to the
good OF the people. He said he cared
nothing tor what might be said OF him on
the street or in the council chamber, he
was going to 90 his duty according to
bis oath.
Alderman McLaren stated that the
request of the gas company for switch
could do no harm, as it would not be on
travelled highway, and being on the
bank OF the river, is entirely out OF the
way He thought that oil ought to be
in "a safe place, and locating the oil
tanks where they proposed no property
would be in danger except the Missouri
Pacific bridge, and that corporation was
willing to take the risk.
Alderman Makeig WAS called to the
chair and Mayor Smrgis took the floor
and explained that he had numerous
propositions to put Brush electric lights
paying for gas at the present time, and he
did not see why we should grant the gas
company exclusive or special privileges
Alderman Hogan stated that he did not
propose TO vote tor any switch or any
other thing asked TOR unless he knew
he was doing il intelligently, and that
action would be perfectly legal.
Alderman Mclaren stated that he had
not investigated legal points. but when
he knew granting switches would be q
benefit 10 the commerce or the city, and
help build it up. he would give his vote
Alderman Mckeen stated that he
favored granting requests when it would
be 10 the benefit OF the city, and Alder
man Makeig spoke in the same strain.
The question OF granting the switch
then passed TO a vote, Alder men Wilkes.
ribbs and Hogan voting no, and Moore
McLa en-, Mck, en- AID Makeig. yea.
The petition Of w. W. Seley was then
read asking for Il switch on Jackson
street between First and Second streets,
guaranteeing to improve the property at
once. The petition was grant Il by the
unanimous vote OF the council.
Alderman Tibbs presented a motion
to rescind the action III granting Il
switch to Mr.. Orman to run onto his
property, corner of Jackson aud Fifth
streets. The motion of Alderman Tibbs
was seconded by Alderman Wilkes, and
considerable discussion ensued as to
the damage to church and other prop
erty in the vicinity and the benefits that
might accrue to the city in the way Of
improvements, which will bring money
into the city by taxes. The motion
| to Tescind was carried, Alderman
| Moore voting no.
! The committee, on investigating with
! view to finding out what caused the
ponds in East Waco, reported that the
Texas and St. Louis road had damned
up the natural outlet for water just west
of the actory, causing water to stand III
front Of Mr.. Earls, while the Missouri
Pacific caused stoppage of water at the
lower pond. They doubted If the H"us-
ton and Texas Central could be made
responsible for the water standing there.
They also reported that in their belief
| the pond would, this summer, cause
| sickness and death all over the city.
Alderman Wilkes moved that a COM
mittee of three be appointed to investi-
gate as to what way the ponds can be
drained and negotiate as to the
cheapest and best plan and report at
the next meeting OF council, The com
mittee appointed were Aldermen
Wilkes, Makeig and McLaren.
~ ,yn4,,,, tba no,,poiI oJin,r,aI