Final Meeting of Council for 1898 – January 16, 1899
Final reports and accounts from 1898 were received. A letter from the Health Inspector re J.T. Abray’s claim regarding blocking of Cosmopolitan {Hotel} sewer (pictured here) was referred to the City Solicitor.
Water Works Contract Approved – January 9, 1899
Council approved a contract with Mssrs Armstrong and Morrison “for the furnishing of steel riveted mains for the Water Works Department”. The Finance Committee and the City Solicitor had previously vetted the contract.
Vancouver Hospital Rules Amended – January 7, 1899
The only proposed amendment that “cannot be agreed to” by Council was “on the approval of the Medical Board” after Council’s decision.
Council Has Questions for the C. P. R. – April 12, 1898
Council wanted to know how much of the construction materials for the new CPR Terminal would be spent outside British Columbia. The soap factory above was on Georgia Street (at that time called Harris Street), a few blocks from the “unsanitary premises” mentioned in the Board of Health report [421 Harris Street].
Vancouver Supports Letter Carriers’ Demand for $2 per Day – March 14, 1898
Council “endorses the petition of the Carriers to the Government for an increase of pay and also an annual holiday of two weeks without suspension of salary“. Council also put an order to McClary Co. for 1,000 enamelled street signs, white with blue lettering, 4.5 inches wide, at 40 cents each.
Colonel Warren Asks for Repairs – March 7, 1898
From Col. F. Warren (picture featured above, biography at end of this page), asking that a pane of glass broken by the Wardmen at his house be repaired, and referring to dangerous condition of part of sidewalk on south side of Robson Street.
Jail Expansion Approved, Music Hall Vote Looming – February 21, 1898
Communication received “from the Jews of the city” asking that no permit be issued for interments in the Jewish Cemetery [shown above, ca. 1910] without their written consent.
Will Licensed Music Halls Be Allowed? – February 14, 1898
In this 1888 illustration with the Vancouver Volunteer Fire Department, William McGirr and son are pictured within. McGirr, a pioneer in Vancouver later took up as a tobacconist at the Sunnyside Hotel, Gastown. McGirr, a night watchman at the time of these minutes, had his allowance increased to $20.00 by the Police and Fire Committee. Meanwhile, a vote was established on whether to license beer and light wine in Music Halls.