The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-04-30
City COUNCIL.
REPORT OF THE SPECIAL GENE
Terry O0MMITTEE-FIXING
FOR ANOTHER "KIOK."
The Mayor Instructed to Buy
Ground for the Fire
Company.

Eleven Aldermen responded to the
roll call at regular meeting of the
council last night. A report was read
from the City Engineer giving a de-
tailed account of the bridges that were
washed away or damaged by the late
rains. 1t winds up by stating that the
streets were in better condition
than could be expected from the
heavy rain fall.
A petition was read from William
s. Read asking to lease a certain
piece of ground below the toll bridge,
known as the river walk, on which to
erect house. Referred.
the council to reimburse her for q
small sum paid the City Water Com
pany for repairing water pipe
that was broken by work
men in the employ of the city,
while grading the streets in the Vi
cinity of her home; also referred.
A petition from Col. Driskill was
read, asking the council to permit
him to widen the sidewalk two feet
On the west side of BRACES street, from
the corner of Bots dare to the corner
of Pecan. Petitioner agreed TO leave
a sidewalk fourteen feet in width en-
Pecan, and an alley thirty feet wide.
The reason alleged was in order
to conform to the plans of his building
(the new hoteD without any detriment
to the public good. The request was
granted after some slight debate and
the City Attorney instructed to draw
up an ordinace.
The reading Of the report of the
special committee in charge of
the cemetery question caused
extended talk. The report, in
brief, recommended the purchase
of a twenty acre tract from Mr..
Reilly, adjoining the present Cemetery
on the south. A number of reasons
were adduced therefor. 1t was urged
that a great many citizens had COM
!. paratively few buried in their lots in
the present grounds; hence that for a
number of years the majority of the
city's dead will continue to be buried
there. 1t was urged further
that the purchase of a
new and larger tract would
necessitate costly improvements. The
history of older and larger cities
proves that the sanitary objections
are not so great as to demands change
In the present policy. Another reason
was that of sparseness of population
in that quarter of the city. The re-
port stated that the tract of land offer
ed by Mr.. Stands was too far from
town to be available.
Mr.. E. w. Stands being pres
ent addressed the council
on the subject of private enterprise
in the management of the cemeteries.
He argued, that it was best for indi-
viduals to purchase and control burial
grounds rather than for the city to do
so. The grounds would be better
kept up and ornamented as shown by
experience of other cities. st. Louis
was cited for an example
A few citizens of Austin were ready
to take hold of the matter, but did not
want to come into any competition
with the city. The report of the spe-
cial committee was adopted by vote
of six to five.
Alderman Campbell wondered if
Jacob had such monkey and parrot
time in trying to purchase a burying.
ground, He thought it was time to
settle it and favored the adoption OF
the report.
Alderman Hill was opposed to ex-
tending the cemetery in the direction
proposed. He thought the cemetery
should be more remote.
The subject of providing two of the
fire companies-Colorad and Hook
Ladder No. with suitable quarters,
came up for discussion. Alderman
Platt was in favor of locating them
somewhere near the business center
of the city, where the bulk of property
was. Councilman Cr9oker differed
from this view. There was plenty of
water along the Avenue, and no need
of engines there. He thought it bet
ter for them to be further off from
the center of the city. Alderman Han
cock remarked that the houses occupied
by these companies had been sold
over their heads. Something had to
be done speedily in their behalf. He !
moved that the Mayor be empowered
to buy from Doc Day 32x92 feet on
Pine street at price not to exceed
$3.50. The motion prevailed.
In regard to the judgment held
by r. kranse against the city, the
Mayor was instructed Co compromise
ut 81, 500 the amount he agreed to take.
A couple ofTesolutionS, one to es-
tablish market limits and another Gre.
ating pound ordinance. were laid on
hetable and the council adjourned.
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