The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-06-19
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

stJ reports Oh Ino CelnbIcTy COlHHlIIS6
were introduced and read at the regu-
lar meeting of the council, June IL,
1884, and ordered published. and action
on the matter postponed until the
next regular meeting of the city
council.
To the honorable mayor and board
of aldermen of the city of Austin:
Gentlemen: Your committee to whom
was referred the matter of selecting
suitable site for cemetery, beg leave
to state that they have performed that
duty to the best of their ability, and
herein present statement OF the
number of tracts of land visited ex-
amined, together with the conclusions
arrived at, viz: One tract of land
miles east of the capitol with extern
sion of College avenue. containing 1O4
acres, price $500, offered by E. w.
Stands, agent.
One tract of land Immediately
north of the residence of Mrs. Pease,
fronting shoal creek, containing 80
acres, price 5000. Offered by Messrs.
ID nCordova 81 son.
One tract of land containing 1870
acres, lying 2 miles east of the city,
owned by Dr. VIM. Stiles, price sup
posed to be $1,000. Offered by M. b.
Sweeney, agent.
Three tracts of land containing i'll
the aggregate 300 acres, adjoining
each other, being portions of Daniel
Gilbert survey, and lying about three
miles northwest of Austin, and one
mile southeast of Mount Bonnell.
This is a portion of the extensive
tract of land formerly owned by Judge
Townes, price $40 per acre or for the
whole $4,000. Offered by Col. Fred
Carlton, agent.
One tract of land 2 miles west OF
the city of Austin, with extension OF
Pecan street, containing 800 acres
known as the Cook farm, price $12C
per acre, payable in 10 annual i'll
stallments, the first note of 1900 be-
ing due April l, 1885, the last note
April 1, 1894. All notes to bear inter
est at the rate of per cent. after ma.
turity. In this offer Mr.. Bracken-
ridge obligaJes himself to pay the city
$1,000 for acres to be selected by
himself after the grounds are laid off
which he will pay at once, If desired
to enable the city to properly enclose
the grounds and for the purpose OF
building a bridge if necessary.
Your committee have spent much
time in visiting and examining The
different tracts offered, and find that
at least four of them present attrac
lions worthy of consideration, viz:
The Stiles, De Cordova, Carlton ant
Breckenridge tracts. Our objection
to the land offered by Col. Stands be
ing it's distance from the city, and The
further objection that some parts have
been sold off, which leaves it in an un
desirable shape. Also the surround
ings are not as attractive as that o.
the other tracts offered.
The De CordoYa tract Is very beau
tiful and very suitable, but it is too
small, there being only 80 acres.
The Stiles tract is very beautiful
and presents in a remarkable degre,
the requirements necessary for a
beautiful cemetery.
The Carlton tract Is also very suita
BILE, one important item in its favor il
the price at which it is offered, alsC
the direction from the city, it being
northwest, but it is not as easily
reached by ordinary conveyance Oh
street cars in the future as some 9th
ers examined, and also the distance is
too great, and cost of water supply
Objectionable.
We have also examined the land of
fered for sale adjacent the present
cemetery, and considered the proprie
ty Of extending the same by the pur
chase of land adjoining it on tn,
south, but IN consideration of the OBJ
jections urged by the citizens living
in the vicinity the value of Whose
property would depreciate, in case O.
its extension, and the further fac
that the present cemetery is in a. Ssau
tiful and populous part of the city, in
side the corporate limits, and deS
tined in the near future to be almost
in the centre OF the city, and also thai
the price asked is $500 per acre, WI
consider its further extension would
be unWise, and we respectfully an(
earnestly protest against it.
In seeking for land for cemetery
purposes we have kept in view,
LIST. Its accessibility.
2nd. The distance from the city.
Bird. The direction from the city.
4th. The chances for water supply
5th. The character of the soil anC
It's drainage.
9Th. The general beauty of the To-
caiity and its surroundings.
In comparing these different tracts
of land we have come to the conclu.
sion that the tract offered by Colonel
Breckenridge combines within itself
more of the attractions and require.
ments necessary for cemetery pur.
poses than any other examined, and is
by far the most suitable for many
reasons, among which we mention
the following:
LIST. 1t is west of the city, the most
suitable diredtion In case of an cpl
demic, as the prevailing wind in
summer is from the south and south
east.
End. 1t is within easy reach of the
city by carriage or street cars, or by
railroad, if necessary.
Srd. 1t is so located that it will be
within easy reach of the water works.
Also, 1t fronts Immediately on the
Colorado river, and on it are located
the Sand springs, which furnish suffi-
cient water in our opinion, for a city
as large as the city of New York, and
in our Judgment, the vein from these
springs runs directly through this
tract, and might be- tapped higher up
and form a flowing fountain which
would furnish sufficient for cemetery
purposes for all time to come, and at a
small cost to the city.
4th. The soil is gravelly, and free
from black waxy soil; the surface I'M
dulating and Astounding 10 beautiful
sites for monuments, drives and
walks. All along the banks of the
Colorado river a street car line might
be run to the cemetery, and a magnifi-
cent place of resort established, that
in time might make this cematery
not only the pride Of Austin, but
worthy of the capital of this great
state,
VIM. ERWIN.
j. NJ. ODELL.
AUSTIN, Tex, January l, 1884.
VIM. sf,ir, ESQ.,, Chairman Of Cemetery Com
mittee, Austin, Tex.
- DEAR SIR:-I will sell you what is
known as the Cook farm, on the
river, west of the city OF Austin, coz
tanning $50 acres of land, for the use
Of the city as cemetery, for $3.50 per
acre. payable in ten years, with six per
cent. interest per annum after the first
day of April, 1885. Notes and pay
Inenfs will be as follows:
April 1. 1885, with per cent. interest af-
tef hasei,i.s - Sfuoo