The transcription of the Vancouver City Council minutes of 1890 was funded by Arnold Silber.
Click on any headline to see the full transcript of that day’s meeting, and pictures of the original handwritten minutes.
Council of 1889 concludes; John Clough awarded $50 – January 6, 1890
Final reports received, Council for 1889 retires. This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie Vasquez and sponsored by Arnold Silber original handwritten minutes…
Floating cabins to be removed – Jan 6, 1890
Floating cabins and other “public nuisances” built along English Bay, Burrard Inlet, Coal Harbour and False Creek to be removed. Council to establish a “crematory” for burning garbage and a…
Chain gang labour to be seen on city streets – Jan 20, 1890
Licensed “hackmen” (horse-drawn public cab drivers) ordered to post standard fares in some conspicuous place in their vehicles. The Sergeant of Police is instructed to use prison labor as much…
Vancouver to acquire its own Water Works – January 27, 1890
Council agrees to acquire the Water Works from its current private owners. It was agreed to request the provincial government not to dissolve the current Small Debts Court Act until…
Recommendations needed to guard against electrical accidents – February 3, 1890
The Fire, Water and Light Committee directed to recommend safeguards against accidents “from the wires of the Telegraph, Telephone and Electric Light Companies when the Electric currents are of such…
Rogers sugar factory bonus drafted – February 10, 1890
Council specifies that their grant of a bonus “in aid of the establishment of the said [Rogers] Sugar Refinery is enacted …on the condition that the Company…shall not at any…
Post office petition draws Dominion Government wrath – February 17, 1890
The Minister of Public Works is reported to be “naturally irritated at the imposition and misrepresentation” in a petition for a Post Office in Vancouver, “that to a great extent…
Changes to liquor license by-law – April 26, 1890
A Special Meeting was held to consider the liquor license by-law This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie Vasquez and sponsored by Arnold…
Fire department salaries established – May 5, 1890
Salaries set for 23 fire department employees ranging from $15 to $75 per month. All sewer connections to be seen by Health Inspector before pipes can be laid. C.B. Higginson…
City of Vancouver work day reduced to nine hours – May 26, 1890
Labourers for the Corporation of the City of Vancouver’s work day reduced from ten to nine hours daily. The fountain donated to the City by the Foundry and Machine Shops…
License fees for wrestlers reduced to $10 per show – June 30, 1890
License fees for wrestlers reduced to $10 per exhibition. Cemetery caretakers’ salary increased to $50 per month. $1,000 set aside for Dominion Day celebration July 1. Council accepts “kind invitation”…
City band gets $400 for musical instruments – July 14, 1890
$400 set aside to purchase musical instruments to form a city band as petitioned. City was advised by legal counsel to have the morgue moved away from its present location.…
Police may keep all outside rewards – July 21, 1890
Rule 48 of the Police Regulations was amended so that Police Force officers be allowed to keep all rewards offered by persons outside the city for the arrest of criminals…
Morley gets $200 reward for info on Sunbury murder – August 25, 1890
Chief of Police recommended George Morley for $200 reward for information on Henry T. Sunbury murder. Mr. Wetzler suggested that the nozzles of fire hoses should be furnished with a…
CPR bridge must have a draw, Council affirms – September 22, 1890
The CPR bridge across False Creek “… offers a serious obstruction to the passage of steamers and sailing vessels.” City to “communicate with” Canadian government to “cause” the CPR to…
Garbage burning crematory will cost $6,000 – September 30, 1890
Vancouver to contract with the Dominion Sanitary and Cremating Co. to build a garbage burning facility at a cost of $6,000. H.B. Warren appointed City Engineer. BC Government informs Council…
City Market rents established – October 13, 1890
Rents for the new City Market – five cents per front foot per day for a stall in the market building for a period of one month or more (six…
Cemetery Road to be made passable for “the upcoming wet weather” – October 27, 1890
$3,500 allocated to make the Cemetery Road passable “so that funerals can reach the cemetery…in the upcoming wet weather.” Proposal received from the Phoenix Water Works Company to lay system…
Library budget increased, building planned – December 1, 1890
Budget for library increased to $125 per month from $60. A Committee of four Aldermen and the Mayor find a site and develop a building suitable for a Reading Room,…
Police, firemen to get free first aid training – December 15, 1890
St. Johns Ambulance Association offers free first aid training to police and fire departments. The Police Committee request that W.S. Patterson be authorized to receive and execute writs, rather than…
Chinese citizens to be buried separately – December 29, 1890, 7:30 pm
Chinese community granted separate plot in Cemetery. Telephones needed to connect the Sheriff’s office in Vancouver and in the New Westminster Courthouse to “facilitate the processes of the law.” A…
Final reports received, Council of 1890 concludes – January 5, 1891
Final committee reports and audit for 1890 received. Council then adjourned Sine Die. This transcript was made in 2016 by Transcribimus volunteer Donna Kynaston and sponsored by Shirley Barnett original…