1890 Vancouver City Council Minutes

This document was transcribed by volunteer Gerald Soon in July of 2018. These election results were published in the “Vancouver Daily World” on December 10, 1889.  The winners took office in January of 1890 for a term of one year. 

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 here City of Vancouver Archives Series 23-A Volume 3 pages

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 as possible in cleaning up the streets in the business

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 intensity as to be dangerous to human life”. The License

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 such a petition is fraudulent, many of the [supposed 1800

Cattle shed to be built in city Pound facility at a budget of $35. Robert Hemphill to be appointed pound keeper at a salary of $35 per month, he to furnish his own horse and “devote his whole time to

Letter received from Joseph Dixon, President of the Trades and Labor Council asking the Council to discontinue Prison Labor on the Streets and to reduce the time of corporation Day Laborers to nine hours. Arrangements for the Roger’s Sugar Refinery

Representatives from the Hackmen have met with Police Committee and set standard fares to apply at all times except public holidays. Health department has tested the milk supplied to the Hospital and determined it is not up to the specified

Request from Robert Dickie and others asking the Council to allow them to use the Common South of Nelson Street for herding their cattle. Meanwhile, “…while everything possible is being done by the Council to put a stop to animals

Looking into whether the City “can compel the owners” of the lots in the low lands on the North side of Water Street in the Old Granville Townsite to “fill them up to high water mark to abate the disagreeable

Council, having reviewed the cost of last year’s celebration, will hold a public meeting regarding this year’s July 1 celebration. Mr. Herman Schussler, C.E of San Francisco to come to Vancouver to test the water works. Sansom and Dawson have

All unlicensed dogs running at large to be seized. Request from G. Perrie & Matsado Sora Kiche asking Council to cancel the License imposed on wrestlers. Aldermen Doering, Costello, Horne, Sentell and Browning form a committee to look into increasing

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” to be present at sod turning ceremony for future Temperance

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 and runaway sailors. Several sites were proposed for a city

City Clerk instructed to reply to Harbour Master’s complaint about the City’s dumping of waste into the harbour would soon be replaced by burning it. Burning site to be established along False Creek. Letter from John Crabb asking to be

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 cut-off, so that when firemen entered a building the water

This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteer Donna Kynaston and sponsored by Arnold Silber original handwritten minutes here City of Vancouver Archives Series 23-A Volume 4 pg 39 only [volume 4 page 39] Vancouver September 9th 1890 The

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 either remove the bridge or “have a draw span inserted

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 cents if for a period of less than one month,

$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 of underground pipes for water supply. 62 electric lights, 400

Mr. M.H. Hirschberg, President of The Vancouver Free Reading Room and Library requested $125 per month in order to rent a suitable room – $25 per month to rent a room and $100 for expenses. Decision referred to “Messrs Charles

The Fire Water and Light Committee report suggests Council put the Vancouver Street Railway and Light Company on notice that the present lighting is unsatisfactory and the City does not intend to pay for any light which is out for

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 having to send for a writ to the Sheriff in

A Special Meeting to resolve to offer financial incentive to any company who could build a “graving dock” (dry dock) for less than $100,000. A By-Law was drafted, and a date and time fixed for an election to ratify the

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 handwritten minutes here City of Vancouver Archives Series 23-A Volume