Click on any headline to see the full transcript of that day’s meeting, and pictures of the original handwritten minutes.

Vancouver City Council 1887
Mayor: M. A. MacLean Aldermen: L. A. Hamilton (Ward 1) John M. Lefevre (Ward 1) Joseph Humphries (Ward 2) Joseph Manion (Ward 2) Richard H. Alexander (Ward 3) Robert Clark (Ward 3) Edwin Sanders (Ward 4) George H. Lock (Ward
Vancouver Committees for 1887 formed – January 3 , 1887
Standing Committees for the year to be five members each with the Mayor as Ex Officio member of each. Newly-elected Alderman David Oppenheimer moves that the Finance Committee put together a plan “for a general loan to be floated for
Charles G. Johson and John Devine to audit Vancouver’s 1886 accounts – January 10, 1887
Use of City Hall for County Court granted to the Provincial Government free of charge. Two bidders present plans to supply water works to Vancouver: E. A. Wilmot of the Coquitlam Water Works Company and G. A. Keefer of the
Vancouver to set aside $2,400 for hospital, seeks property owner to donate site – January 17, 1887
Hospital will need $2,400 for the current year. Board of health recommends Council grant $2,000 toward new hospital building, and solicit provincial government to grant the same; also to solicit property owners to donate site for a building. City Council
Police Magistrate refuses to act, charges Stewart – January 31, 1887
From John M. Stewart; calling the attention of the Council to his inability to hold a Police Court for the trial of H.L. Edson “on account of the Police Magistrate refusing to act.” As Mr. Gallagher has declined to carry
Council meets to make changes to the City Charter – February 11, 1887
Special meeting to consider amendments to the City Charter
Lawyer J. Boultbee appointed to take Charter changes to Victoria – February 17, 1887
A Special Meeting to authorize John Boultbee to go to Victoria to carry through the amendments to the City Charter.
Correspondence from Yung Chung asking for “protection from mob” – February 28, 1887
Petition asking for protection from the mob was filed. Motion carried to “exempt from taxation for a period of twenty years, the yards, workshops, round houses of the Canadian Pacific Railway…on the North Side of False Creek”. Salary of City
Vancouver opposes provincial takeover of city police – March 1, 1887
Special Meeting to “represent” to the Lieutenant-Governor that it will not be necessary for the Province to take over police jurisdiction of Vancouver ..Twenty additional police to be hired at a salary of $2.25 per day.
Health By-law for Vancouver finalized – March 4, 1887
Special Meeting to finalize Health By-Law
Vancouver requests B.C. to appoint Commissioner of Inquiry on “alleged Chinese Riots” – March 14, 1887
City requests Province to “appoint a Commissioner with full power to call on, subpoena, and examine on oath any person or persons in relation to the facts of the alleged Chinese Riots or outrages said to have recently taken place
Council sits to review appeals on tax assessment – March 15, 1887
Assessments on several properties were reduced, because the amount of land owned was less than assessed, or the land was used for hospital purposes and exempt from taxation. One honest citizen, Jas. M. Fox, pointed out they did not assess
Vancouver City Officials’ salaries will total $12,600 this year – April 4, 1887
Salaries for all City Officials expected to total $12,600 for 1887. Thos. Quann asked Council for “relief” (welfare benefits) for Neil Nicholson, and D. McLeod. Abrams & Co. submitted bills to the Board of Health; $35 for bedding and $14
C.P.R needs more room for switches – April 11, 1887
H. Abbott of the CPR required a tract of land extending east as far as Carrall Street “to give sufficient length for switches” exempt from city taxation. City Engineer E.B. Mohun to survey and make a contour map of the
San Francisco engineer Schussler asked to examine Vancouver’s Water Works – April 15, 1887
Special Meeting to review the draft agreement between the City and the Coquitlam Water Works Company and to consider two pamphlets; the “West Shore”,and “Hand Book”. The draft Water Works agreement went to the City Solicitor. Council also to contact
Vancouver forms a Board of Commissioners of Police – April 18, 1887
Chairmen of all Standing Committees plus Alderman Mannion appointed to form the Board of Commissioners of Police. The Board of Works recommended the $500 deposit of contractor William Harkins be declared forfeit, as he had not completed his contract on
Council goes over CPR agreement, sets date for referendum – April 21, 1887
Special Meeting to review proposed agreement with the CPR exempting certain of their lands from taxation. Date for taking the votes of the electors on this issue, and appointment of returning officers established. 100 copies of the agreement with the
Well and drain to be put in at the foot of Carrall Street – May 16, 1887
A well and box drain to be installed at the foot of Carrall Street, near Sprott’s Cannery.Police Commissioners have interviewed applicants, but delayed appointment of Police Officers for one week. Vancouver accepted the News-Advertiser’s offer for printing for the next
Grant sues City of Vancouver for “wine drank by the police” – June 20, 1887
Claim from A.M. Grant for compensation for “wine drank by the police”. Order from J. H. Gray, Judge of Supreme Court ordering to pay (City Clerk) T. McGuigan ten dollars for “services connected with the Revision of the Voter’s List”.
Contractors must complete work for City of Vancouver on time, or pay – July 4, 1887
City Clerk to advise all present and future contractors that if contracts with the City are not completed in the specified time, City Council will take them off the contractors’ hands, complete them, and bill the contractor for the cost.
City of Vancouver needs a road from Fraser River to False Creek – July 11, 1887
City Clerk to write to the Provincial Government asking that a road be constructed “from the North Arm of the Fraser River in a direct line from Sea and Lulu Islands to False Creek”. City Solicitor T.T. Black advises Council
Owen Hughes rewarded $25 for fire bravery – July 18, 1887
Mr. Owen Hughes, steward of the Hospital, granted $25 in compensation for loss of money and property during his efforts to save the hospital building during the May 31 fire. Mr. E.J. Clark of Toronto’s offer of a lot for
Fifty foot fire hose needed for Vancouver – August 1, 1887
Board of Works recommend that the Contract for Granville Street be awarded to McDonald and Cameron; Cambie Street to Wm. Harkins; Park Avenue and Johnston Street to Henry Bowers; Georgia Street to Wm. Harkins, Seventh Avenue to W.L. McDonald, Fire
Dupont Street well will be allowed until Council needs it filled in – August 8, 1887
Appointment laid off for one week. James Hartney allowed to sink a well on Dupont Street (now Pender Street) on the understanding that it must be filled in when Council requests it. Council unable to make a grant of money
Standard Oil wants to build a warehouse in Vancouver – August 16, 1887
W.P. Johnson, Manager of Standard Oil Company, asked permission to build a warehouse. Board of Works recommended a budget for improvements to a number of streets, totalling $15,734.00 Alderman D. Oppenheimer introduced a by-law to offer a bonus to anyone
60 Vancouver street corners to have electric lights – September 5, 1887
Board of Works identified sixty street corners to have electric lights installed. By-law formed to raise $10,000 to build a road around Stanley Park. This transcript was made in 2014 by Transcribimus volunteer Darrin Pezer/Proactive Building Maintenance original handwritten minutes
Vancouver Fire Department to build its own stable – October 3, 1887
The Fire Department to build or purchase a stable. Dr. Beckingsale paid $10.00 for conducting a post-mortem. Vancouver Gas company allowed to lay pipes under city streets, providing they do not interfere with sewers, and that the streets be left
Pawn brokers and second hand stores to be licensed at once – November 14, 1887
Pawn brokers and second hand stores to be licensed pro-rata until the end of the year. Lamp lighter hired at $1.50 per day until electric lights are installed. Requests for a bonus for a shoe factory, and a rebate for
Vancouver street names to be posted at each corner – November 21, 1887
Board of Works recommends street signs with 4 inch letters painted on wood or tin with white letters on black background. W. L. MacDonald appointed as cemetery keeper; a three room house to be built for him and his family
Canada’s Minister of Defense Sir A. Caron to visit Vancouver – November 24, 1887
A Special Meeting to organize the reception for Sir A. R. Caron, Minister of Militia & Defense (Government of Canada), and to hire enough taxicabs for the occasion.
Vancouver must stop boarding chain gang prisoners in private homes, say Police Commissioners – November 28, 1887
The Police Committee recommended the City immediately end the present system of boarding chain gang prisoners in private homes. Eleven pairs of blankets were purchased for the cells, and a stove for the jail corridor. Tenders were received for painting
Trounce Alley improvements must wait as Works budget for 1887 exhausted – December 5, 1887
Council unable to grant the petition of A.W. Sullivan and others for the improvement of Trounce Alley, as the Works budget was exhausted. Among other accounts to be paid are subscriptions to the Leadville (Colorado) Herald, the Denver Republican, and
Many City hospital contracts awarded, but plumbing & gas fitting must wait – December 12, 1887
City Clerk to find out from P. Fewster’s about the proposed capacity of the mill he intends to build. The Board of Works instructed the Chief of Police to have the Chain Gang improve a lane. E. Cook awarded contract
Contractor William Harkins’ employees cry foul at Council meeting – December 19, 1887
A number of complaints received about (street contractor) William Harkins’ granting of Power of Attorney to Dunn & Co. J. H Wert appreared before council on behalf of Harkins’ employees to report on the situation. Legal opinion requested from City
Outgoing Mayor M. A. MacLean granted seven hundred fifty dollars – December 30, 1887
Outgoing Mayor M. A. MacLean paid seven hundred fifty dollars, according to By-Law number 53. Fred Munro draws the attention of Council “to the employment of Chinese on the Gravel Contract.” The contractor will be called upon to explain.