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Min 06/08/1916 Wichita Falls, Texas,June 8th 1916. Page,89. The Board of Aldermen of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, met on above date for the transaction of the following business, and with the following officers present, to-wit; A H Britain Mayor. J W Bradley, Aldermen. J A Richolt, J F Reed, M J Gardner, J L Lea, Jr. It City Atty Horace Nutt, City Clerk, V G Skeen, City Marshall, A J Humphris, City Assessor and Collector H F Robertson and City Engineer, L C Hinckley, in attendance. Minutes of last regular session were read and approved. Reports of the following officers were checked sad:shOwed exhibits to-wit; H F Robertson submited the following report. Delinquent Taxes Collected, $188.29 Occupation Taxes, " 287.75 Sewer Rent, 605.85 Pound Fees, " 27.45. Bicycle Fees, 3.50 Auto Fees, IT 30.00 Dog Taxes, " 51.85 Penalties etc, " 53.80 Total. 01248.49. Tress, Receipts, 1151. 1152. 1153, 1155, 1156, 1157, 124849 V G Skeen submited the following report, Fines collected $475.00 Wire Inspection fees, 65.30 House Rent, 60.00 Magnolia Petrolium Co, sect payment on Culvert end Ind Ave, 150.00 Dirt Sold, 174.43 Sanitary 7ork, 481.25 Total, $1403.98. Treasurers Receipts, No 1146, 1147, 1148, 1149. 1403.98. , J W Walkup submited the foil owing report, General Fund Balance, $12640.21 Street Fund, 5314.37 Street_lni3rovemefit Fund Bal, 8879.82 Sewer Fund Balance, 12494.43 Park Fund 1870.67 Fire'Station'Pund Bal 739.75 Int & Sink Fund, 15620.71 Hospital Fund Overdrawn $2100.85 Total Balaaee all funds 55459.11 $57559.96t57559.96 Mr J L McOonkey came before the Board of Aldermen in behalf of the Farmers Cotton Oil Co with the request that said company Permit to be allowed to string a guy wire across pecan St for the purpose string guy of supporting the smoke stack at the mill, whereupon; wire across Pecan Street.A:.motion was made by J P Bradley and seconded by J A Richolt, that the Farmers Cotton Oil Co be allowed to string a guy wire across Pecan St, same to be at least 20 feet above the street at the curb line on the north side of street, and to indemnify the city against any damages that might be caused by said guy tire by a $5000.00 bond, and work to be done to the satisfaction of the City Engineer. Motion carried. Motion was made by J L Lea, Jr and seconded by J A Richolt, that A L Muncie be refunded $3.05 amount of Taxes paid on Lot 8 Block No 255 Original Townsite, said amount having been paid heretofore by C V Bean. Motion carried. Motion was made by J F Reed and seconded by M J Gardner that a warrant be drawn in favor of H F Robertson for $52.00 in payment of commission on sewer rent collections. Motion carried. Mayor Britain and Alderman Richolt reported that they had signed Report of a contract with the Elgin Motor Street Sweeper Co for a Motor Mayor and Street Sweeper at a price of $3850.00 delivered wihhita Falls, Alderman and motion was made by J L Lea, Jr and seconded by M J Gardner Richolt of that report be received and approved. Motion carried. purchase of Street Sweeper. Page 90. A motion was made by J W Baadley and seconded by M J Gardner, that the City authorize the paving of Austin Street from the Order to pav south side of 10th street to the north side of 12th street; -Austin St paving to be done with comcrete and under the provissions of 10th to 12th a resolution heretofore adopted. hndlsaid street to be paved a width of forty feet. A:otion carried. The following resolution was then presented hnd adopted on motion of J F Reed seconded by J e Richolt, RESOLUTION. A resolution ordering the improvement of #hie Thirteenth Street, in the City of .'.ichita Falls, Texas, by the construction of Order s toeput.s ut sidewalks along the north side of said Thirteenth street in Ord si front of Lots No Nine (9) and Ten (10) of the Powell and on 13thw Block h2st Gorman Subdvission of Block 253 of the original town of Wichita Falls, Texas, and in front of Lots No F. G. H. I and J of E C Gem es Sub-divission of Lots Nos one (1) two (2) and three (3) of Block No 253 of the original town of Wichita Falls Texas, providing for the payment of the costs of such improve- ment and fixing the liability of the owners of e£ said lots and declaring a lien. Be it resolved by the Board of Aldermen of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas. That Thirteenth Street in the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, be ordered improved by the construction od sid&ewalks along the north side of said Thriteenth Street in front of and abutting the following described and located lots or parcels of land; In front of Lots Nos Hine (9) and Ten 110) of the Powell and Gormen Sub-disission of Block No 253, of the originel town of Wichita Falls, Wichita County Texas, and In front of Lots Numbers F. G. H. I. and J. of E C Gambles Sub-divission of Lots Nos ene (1) Iwo (2) and Three (3) of Block No 253 of the original town of Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas. That such sidewalks be constructed four feet wide and that they extend along the whole front of said above described lots from the West line of Holliday Street in said city to the East_lihe,of Lot No Eight (8) of the Powell and Gorman Sub-divission of Block No 253 of the original town of Wichita Falls, Texas. That said sidewalks be constructed of thoseematerials which form what is called concrete sidewalks and that the cost of the construction of same, including filling, excavating, grading and all costs incurred in connection therewith and all proceedingiin connection herewith, be assessed against said lots in equal portion and ge made a lien against said lots, and be declared to be the personal obligation of the owners of said lots, and that all siad costs be declared to to be due and payable within thirty days from date of completion of said improvements. Be it further resolved that the City Engineed of the City of Wichita Falls, be and he is hereby directed forthwith to p prepare and file with the Board of Aldermen specifications for said improvements and for the cost thereof, and the sA8•d .gineer be and is hereby instructed to so prepare such specifications of cost that the same will show severally the ost of the said improvements in front of each of said above .escribed lots. Motion was made by M J Gardner and seconded by J W Bradley, that John Sullivan pe paid for ale Street Crossing and one Alley Crossing on 18th Street amounting to $45.00. Motion carried. The proposed amendment to the Wichita Gas Co's Franchise came up for discussion and after due cinsideration on motion of J F Reed, seconded by J A Richolt, the following Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote of the Board of Aldermen; RESOULUTION. WHEREAS, the Wichita Falls Gas Company has submitted Resolution an Amendment to its Franchise, providing for an increased charge asking for for gas from a maximum of twenty6five cents per 1000 cubic feet audit of to fifty cents per 1000 cubic feet, and with a proviso that for Wichita Gas at least one year the charge sould not exce,d thirty-five cents Companys per 1000 cubic feet net to said Company, and, Books etc. WHEREAS, the Board of Aldermen are without sufficient information and facts to determine whether or not such increased charge is justifiable and necessary, and in fact has no informa- tion whatever except the general allegations and statement of the Company that such increase is mandatory and necessary, and, WHEREAS, the Board of Aldermen desire to act in the matter with entire fairness to the Wichita Falls Gas Company, and also to the consumers of said city, but cannot so act except upon a full knowledge of all the facts and circumstances surround- the matter; NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board of aldermen 1 of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, that in order that full and _ _ explicit information may be had upon which to base a.just con- , ,.age 91. elusion of the matters involved, and as to whether such increase is justifiable or necessary, that this Board propose to the Wichita Falls Gas Company the following plan to ascertain such information and facts. to-wit; 1st; That a full and complete audit of the bake of of the Wichita Falls Gas Company be made to ascertain the valuation of the physical properties of the Company, the necessary cost of operation of the business of the Company, the necessary cost of gas supplied to consumers of Wichita Falls by this Company and such other facts as may be pertinent thaBeto, and to insure fairness and disinterestedness in the matter of such audit that the auditor to do such work shall be named by this Board, but his dompensation supplied and paid by the Wichita Falls Gas Company. 2nd; That the natural gas situation in the Petrolia field be thoroughly investigated by a natural gas expert, who likewise shall be disinterested and fair both to the consumers of Wichita Falls d to the Company, which expert shall investi- gate the natural gas supply of that field, and also of the wells owned and operated by the company, the probable life thereof, the probable expense in connection with the furnishing of such gas to consumers, and such other facts as may be pertinent to a fair and full understanding of the natural gas situation in that field, and that such natural gas expert shall likewise he named by this Board, but whose compensation and expenses shall be paid by the Wichita Falls Gas Company. 3rd; In the selection of such auditor and such expert this Board would make such appoinments only of competent and capable men in whose qualifications and integrity there can be no question, and that such appointees would be wholly disinterested and fair both.tn the consumers of Wichita Falls and to the Wichita Falls Gas Company. There being ho further busiess the Board of Aldermen adjourned. Read and approved this /5- day of June 1916. Attest, Ci y Clerk. Mayor.