The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-02-09
CITY COUNCIL.
Favorable Action on tho Farmers
Alliance Memorial.
Refusal to Reduce the Assessment
of the Drlskill Hotel.
Mayor Males Action as to the
Arsenal Lot Endorsed.
Report of the Printing Committee
Adopted, but Land Over
The Arc Light Ordinance, and
Other Matters.

There was a meeting of TIE city coun-
Gil last evening. Mayor Male and a
quorum present.
Minutes of the last meeting were
adopted.
Mr.. Fisher presented memorial from
the Farmers Alliance, which came through
a committee of the board of trade, asking
from the city the use of south half of
block 80, in the rear of R. H. Smiths
store, for building a warehouse for the
Alliance for storing cotton and other
farmers products.
Mr.. Ray, of the association, by request
ex planned what the Alliance wanted and
proposed to do. We expect, he said, to
have branch exchange on the plan of
the one at Dallas, for storing and selling
cotton, etc.
On motion of Mr.. Fisher, a special COM
mittee of three, with the mayor and city
attorney, was appointed to enter into the
necessary contract with the Alliance.
Messrs. Fisher, Haigler and Graham were
appointed the committee.
Mayor Male presented the opinion of
City Attorney Pendexter as to resolu-
ton offered at last meeting to reduce the
assessment upon the Driskill hotel prop
erty, which had been rendered at $27,500
for the lots, and $72,5O0 for the improve
ments, and was increased by the board of
equalization to $4,000 for the entire
property.
Mr.. Pendexter advises that if the owner
was not satisfied, he had the right to ap-
pear before the board and show cause why
the value should not be increased. Fail
ing to avail himself of that opportunity,
the city attorney concludes that the city
council has no authority to afford any re-
lief. To do so would be to make a private
donation to private party on private
property, for which there is no warrant in
law.
The report was adopted.
Mr.. Platt, for the street committee,
presented report of the committee, city
engineer and street commissioner ap-
proving the work of Capitol Contractor
Wilke in restoring the street on which the
capitol railroad was laid to its proper
condition.
Report, with accompanying resolution,
was adopted.
Mr.. Platt reported that the McAnally
claim against the city had been with
drawn.
Mr.. DeGress, for the finance committee
reported in favor of a settlement with the
Gas company, by which the latter is tC
5 pay, the city for twenty old lamps ant
posts at 81 for each post and $3.50 fol
, each lamp. Report adopted.
Report of the printing company was
; adopted, and as to the contract with
The STATESMAN, without objection
but there being some objection
, as to the contract with the Hutching
, Printing house, the whole report wen
E over under reconsideration.
Mr.. Caldwell, for the cemetery COM
mittee, reported recommending that thu
: city sexton be authorized to furnish lock
for the gates, and recommending that tel
? lots be laid off, twelve and half b!
= twenty five feet each, to be sold at $2
each lott $12,50 for each half lot, and s.
for single grave.
Report adopted.
The ordinance, providing for city sec
t rotary, was adopted on second reading b,
:, a vote of IL to 8, but the council refuse,
to suspend the rules for its final passage
!, The ordinance to contract with tn
J. Austin Water, Light and Power compan
t for twenty. five arc lights and 100 incon
Q descent lights for five years was pre-
Q scented.
Mr.. DeGress offered substitute provi6
ing for contract for fifty arc lights fo
7. five years at $1.50 per annum, to TAX
= effect July 18th.
IS Mr.. Campbell moved to change the tim
It to one year, but subsequently withdre
Z, the motion.
S. The ordinance passed with amendmen
,; by Mr.. Fisher, providing that the com pan
t. shall not charge over $3.50 for any furthe
l. lights for the city.
i; Mr.. Pillow moved the appointment of
s. committee to locate the lamps. Adopted
The company agree to put up numbt
of the lamps without charge for the use {
'. them from the time they are placed unit
p: the interstate drill.
9 Resolution by Mr.. Graham was adopte
y, giving notice to the Capital Gas Ligl
!. com pany to discontinue their light
l. where the electric lights are substituted
q. Mr.. Phillips submitted the following:
n: Whereas, A bill has been passed by til
m national house of representatives VIII ereb
is the government OF the United State
at cedes to the city of Austin for educa
IF tional purposes block of land situate
l. in the city of Austin heretofore coded
n: the state of Texas to the United Stat
8. for military purposes; and
Whereas, We believe it to be the desil
ri of the citizens of Austin that the Unite
tv States government should return owne
ne ship and possession of said block in ord'
te that negotiations now pending lookin
g. toward the re-establishment of militaI
IN post at this point may be successful
consummated; and
s. Whereas, We believe that the acceptanc
of the proposed donation would perm;
l., nently and effectuslly dispose of any hoI
ne of securing in the near future the T
m establishment of said military post, a
IDENTIFY desired by all our people, irrespec
o. i've of class or condition; and
al Whereas, The Hon. Joseph Male, OF
of mayor, has notified the Hon. Richal
er Coke and Hon. ]. D. Sayers, by Telegram
is of the opposition of this community
ri the proposed donation; therefore, be it
Resolved, By the city council of the ci
ID, of Austin, that we hereby endorse the q
tiOr, oF Tho Hon Joaenh NaIla and aor