Min 12/23/1929�S4
Wichita -Talis, Texas
lilemorial Auditorium
A
Bu i ld ing
W° s December 23, 1929
The Board of Aldermen cif the City of Wichita Falls met in
regular session on the above date with the following members present:
J. W . Akin, May or
J. H. Patton,
J. W. Hunt,
C. E. McCutchen, Aldermen,
J. M. Sp0onts ,
R. 0. Harvey, X
G. D. Fairtrace, City Manager,
17. E. 1,cBroom, City Clerk,
Thelber t Martin, City Attorney,
The Minutes of the previous me eti ng were read and approved.
r'he public hearing with reference to the application of
J. H. Allison for a permit to construct and operate a gasoline filling
station on Lot 1, Block 38, Floral Heights Addition, continued from
December 16th, was called, and, after a petition of protest signed
by L. E. Cowling, 0. J. Wilson, H. H. Haggard, W. . A. McCarty, F. P.
Avis, A. B . Maples, 0. I. Shockl v &�I. C lark, C. 0. Howery, A. H.
Herron HenryFord and J. H. Grut7s the following motion was nut in
order:
Moved by Alderman Harvey that J. H. Allison be denied a
permit to construct and operate a gasoline filling station on Lot 1,
Block 38, 7loral Heights Addition, for the following reasons towi t :
1. The construction and operation of said filling station will cause
a fire hazard,
2. This being a congested corner, the operation of said filling
station will be a serious handicap to traffic.
3. It will injure property values inrstrictly residential district.
4. It will be a detriment to the heal th , pease and comfort of all
surrounding property corners,
h-otion seconded by Alderman Patton and carried,
The following report of the Commission appointed by Mal or
Protem Harvey to hear evidence in the claim of TT. A. Pratt arising
from personal injuries was read:
Wichita Falls, Texas.
December 23, 1929.
The Board of Aldermen,
Wichita Falls, Texas.
Gentlemen:
Your commission, composed of the undersigned, in accordance
with your instructions, met on December l7th in the Non--Tury foom at
the Wichita County Court House, and heard the evidence with reference
1'qid �'�► �'
to the claim of Vi. A. Pratt, age 72, a widower, living at 1312 North 4th
Street, arising from injuries sustained on or about December 2nd, 1929.
The claimant produced witnesses W. A. Pratt, M. H. Coker, J. N.
Bankston and F. N. Dennis, while Dr. Douglass testified for the City of
Wichita Falls,
Briefly the facts are that Pratt, about 7 : 30 on the evening of
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December 2nd, while on his way to church, tripped on the water main which
is situated on the foot walk on the East side of Burnett Street Bridge,
and fell, his head striking the concrete f loor of said bridge. This ace i-
dent incapacitated him for several days, according to the testimony.
The f o l low ing is the report of Dr. John H. Fletcher, Y. D . who
,
made an examination of the physical condition of the claimant for the
commission at the time of the hearing:
"D e c emb er 18 , 1929
Mir. T. A. Pratt age seventy-two a widower living at 1312
f f
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I I��
Fourth Street, sustained the following injuries on or about
P
December 2, 1929,
About 7:30 in the evening, this man claims that he fell on
the concrete sidewalk of the Burnett Street Bridge and struck
his head, which incapacitated him for s ever al days. At the
time of my examination, noon, December 17, 1929, he had a
small tumor about the size of a walnut over his right eye,
which was evidently the result of a b 1 ow , causing a h e amato ma , or
blood clot, which has not become absorbed.
This man also showed evidences of having a great deal of
..
discoloration about the upper part of his f ace, which was
also the result of a blow. There was no evidence of a
fracture or deformity or disfiguration in any permanent way,
but this man evidently had received a severe blow about his
face.
He made the statement that he had not seen a doctor, so the
,
exact amount of di sab ili t-y at the ti.,.e of the injury is
undetermined. However, from the present evidence, this man
because of his advances age, will probably be incapacitated
from the date of injury to not over f our weeks. There is no
permanent disability.
This time, four weeks, being a liberal allowance according
to compensation standards. It is also advised that he be
authorized to go to the Wichita General Hospital, without
expense to him, and have the tumor on his eyebrow removed,
This ca n b e done easi ly and s of ely wit h only a f ew days hosp i -
talization..
John H. Fletcher, M. D. t'
4
The commission finds the City to be liable for damages on account
of the injury, and recommends that W. A. Pratt be given the sum of One
Hundred and. No/100 (100.00) Dollars, and further that he be provided at
the Wichita General Hospital all necessary medical attention without ex-
pense to claimant,
If it may be permitted to do so, the commission fu rth er recom-
mends that this honorable Board of Aldermen personally investigate the
condition of this river crossing, for we believe that such a examination
will result in imediate action for the betterment of the bridge, which
must be chiefly used by our citizens on the North side of town.
W it 1s our opinion znaz tine water ma in snouia ee removes
from the foot walk and be suspended, if necessary, beneath the bridge
. F
in order to effectively prevent accidents of this character in the
future; that the wooden approach be flush with the concrete part of
the bridge walk, and that the entire structure, together with the
street passing over the same, be so lighted as to prevent accidents
i of this kind and to afford protection to pedestrians from attacks of
high way men .
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) A. M. Miller
" John H. Fletcher
" xF.' al t er Ne is on Jr,
after which the following motion was put in order:
Moved by Aldermen Hunt that the above report be accepted
and approved and the Conmiss ion be discharged.
Motion seconded by Alderman Spoont s and carried.
I
Moved by Alderman McCut chen that the City Manager be in-
structed to communicate with W. A. Pratt or his physician and ascer-
tain the cost of medical treatment in connection with his personal
injuries, and be authorized to settle the claim f ctr a consideration
not exceeding $125.00.
Motion seconded by Alderman Patton and carried,
Moved by Ald erma. n McCut then that the Commission serving in
connection with the W. A. Pratt personal injuries claim be given a
q vote of thanks for the splendid services rendered in this case,
Motion seconded by Alderman Hunt and carried.
Moved by Alde_ man McCutchen that the City Manager be
authorized to contract for a demonstration of an air drill to be
used in digging graves in Riverside Cemetery, and to purchase"* drill
if the demonstration proves successful.
Motion seconded by Alderman Spoonts and carried.
Moved by Alderman Spoont s that the burial expense of Smiley
Turner and Geno Anderson, who were fatally injured in the Antlers
Hotel fire on December 12th, be approved and allowed in the amount of
$842.17 .
Motion seconded by Alderman Patton and. carried,
r
J
Loved by Alderman McCutchen that the meeting be adjourned.
Motion seconded by Ald er man HuAt and c arri ed .
The Board of Aldermen then adjourned.
READ AND APP FO VED this the 30 t h day of December 1929