There was controversy about accepting the Light Railway and Tramway Committee’s report; it was only adopted after striking out the clause recommending the placing of a street light on Richards Street near the Catholic Church. The Finance Committee recommended the City Engineer be authorized to purchase a door for the vault in the Market building (pictured above).
This transcript was made in 2021 by Transcribimus volunteer Joanne McCormick
Illustration: City of Vancouver Archives
CVA City P6 City Market Hall c. 1895
Original handwritten minutes:
City of Vancouver Archives Series 31 Volume 8 pages 27-33
to view or download images of the original minutes, click on the buttons below (two parts):
[Volume 8, Page 27]
The Council met on Monday October 11th 1897
Present: His Worship the Mayor and Aldermen Townley, McQueen, Brown, W.S. MacDonald, D.G. McDonald and Bethune. The Minutes of last meetings were read and adopted.
Communications
From Charles Slade etal asking for an electric light on the corner of 12th Avenue & Sophia St. Referred to the Light Committee.
From Carter Brothers asking for a building permit for a brick addition to Clubb & Stewart building on Cordova Street. Referred to the Board of Works.
From the Chief of Police reporting on the electric lights. Filed.
From Thomas Burfith etal asking for a street light on the corner of Quebec Street & Lorne Street. Referred to the Light Committee.
From Robert Brunt etal asking for a 6-foot sidewalk on Lorne Street. Referred to the Board of Works.
From Harris & Bull asking for compensation on behalf of Dr. McAlpine for lowering the sidewalk on Westminster Avenue. Referred to the Finance Committee & City Solicitor.
The following Reports were received and read:
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee met on ….
[Volume 8, Page 28]
…. Friday October 8th 1897 at 4pm.
Present: Aldermen Brown (in the Chair), McPhaiden, McDonald and Townley
The following accounts were recommended for payment:
Vancouver Transfer Co hack hire $4.50
BC Electric Railway Co lights $1467.35
Telephone Co rents $35.65
Communications
From the Under Secretary of State asking for the Census of the City. Resolved that he be supplied with the information when returned by the Assessor.
A deputation from the Board of Fire Underwriters waited upon the Committee in reference to the lowering of the insurance rates.
After hearing discussion on the subject, the matter was left over for a proposition to be submitted to next year’s Council.
Resolved that the City Engineer be authorized to purchase a door for the vault in the market building.
Signed William Brown, Acting Chairman
Moved by Alderman Brown;
seconded by Alderman McQueen
That the Report be adopted.
Carried.
Health Committee
The Health Committee met on Tuesday October 6th 1897.
Present: Aldermen McPhaiden, Townley, W.S. MacDonald and D.G. McDonald
Communications
From the City Solicitor advising that the City was entitled to demand payment …..
[Volume 8, Page 29]
… for the destruction of damaged fruit at the Crematory. Laid over.
From Miss Macfie furnishing monthly report also from the Medical Health Officer, Health Inspector and Milk Inspector. Filed.
From McDowell & Co asking for the payment of $11.90 which they claimed was wrongfully deducted from their account. Filed.
From Miss Macfie stating that Miss O’Connor had been nursing in the hospital since the 13th of June 1896 and asking if she were not entitled to an advance of $5.00 per month after she had served one year. Resolved that Miss O’Connor be paid the usual advance of $5.00 per month from the 13th of June 1897.
Resolved that drains {for surface water} be made at the Cemetery under the direction of the City Engineer.
Resolved that the matter of fixing a defective pipe at the Isolation Hospital be left in the hands of the Health Inspector.
Resolved that the drain at the Crematory be extended as recommended by the Health Inspector.
The following tenders were received for fencing at the Cemetery:
New Fence Old fence Bulk sum for old fence
J.H. Griffith 25 cents 15 cents $146.25
D.J. Mcsholen 17.25 cts 6.5 cents $63.38
George Brister $59.50 $59.50
F.E. Tilley 17.5 cts 84.00 $84.00
George Morgan 27 cents 77.00 $77.00
Round & Edgerton 15 cents 30.00 $30.00
John A. Donohoe 15 cents 5 cents $48.75
[Volume 8, Page 30]
C.F. Mills 18 cents 10.5 cents $107.38
Angus Fraser 15.75 cts 5 cents $48.75
It was resolved that the tender of Round & Edgerton be recommended for acceptance.
The following accounts were recommended for acceptance:
G. Drysdale supplies $11.20
City Grocery Co supplies $85.27
City of Victoria care of lepers $29.86
Clarke & Stuart supplies $12.98
E. Clough express hire $1.00
Champion & White scavengering $.75
Miss J. Brown nursing $7.65
William Templeton disbursements $7.00
G.W. Thomas labor $30.00
St Luke’s Home board $20.00
Pioneer Steam Laundry washing $72.03
W.J. McGuigan inquests $20.00
J.M Maclean medical evidence $5.00
J.M. Lefevre post mortem $10.00
Knowdell & Co plumbing $112.50
Hang (Chinese) cooking $9.00
Evans, Coleman & Evans supplies $9.91
Signed by D. McPhaiden,
Chairman
The Health Committee met on Saturday October 9th 1897 at noon to consider tenders for the new wing of Hospital.
It was resolved that Brown Brothers be instructed to proceed with the wiring under their first tender viz $54.00.
Signed D. McPhaiden,
Chairman
Moved by Alderman W.S. MacDonald;
Seconded by Alderman Townley
That the Reports be adopted.
Carried.
[Volume 8, Page 31]
Water & Market Committee
The Water and Market Committee met on Tuesday October 5th 1897.
Present: Aldermen Brown, McQueen, McPhaiden and D.G. McDonald
Resolved that a vault door be purchased for the vault to be constructed for the City Treasurer in the Market building.
The following tenders were received for wiring the Market Hall:
Ivan Bushong $100.00
Brown Brothers $108.00
Resolved that the tender of Ivan Bushong be recommended for acceptance.
Signed William Brown,
Chairman
Moved by Alderman Brown;
Seconded by Alderman McQueen
That the Report be adopted.
Carried.
Light Railway & Tramway Committee
The Light Railway & Tramway Committee met on Tuesday October 5th 1897.
Present: Aldermen Brown, Townley, McQueen, McPhaiden and D.G. McDonald
It was recommended that the following lights be installed:
- On the north end of Carrall St, south of CPR track
- At the north end of Gore Avenue
- At St James Church, Oppenheimer Street
- At the Baptist Church, Dunsmuir Street
- At the Catholic Church, Richards Street
- At the corner of Hastings & Burrard Streets
- At the corner of Hornby & Pender
- At the corner of Westminster Ave & 5th Ave
- At the corner of Scott & 8th Ave
- On Cordova St between Cambie & Abbott Streets
- On Alberni Street between Thurlow & Bute
- On the corner of Denman & Haro Streets
- On the corner of Cambie & Pender Streets
[Volume 8, page 32]
- On the corner of Georgia & Denman Streets
- On the corner of Bute & Burnaby Streets
- At the corner of 3rd Avenue & Fir Street
It was recommended that the following lights be moved:
- From the corner of Thurlow & Scalon Streets to brow of the hill on Scalon Street
- From the corner of Whitham Block to Sick’s corner.
{“Alderman Townley was in favor of giving all the churches equal privileges in placing lights on adjacent corners. Of course, some churches might need light more than others (Laughter)”}.
The application of A. Kitt-Ledger was laid over.
Signed William Brown;
Chairman
Moved by Alderman Townley;
Seconded by Alderman Brown
That the Report be adopted.
Carried.
Motions
Moved by Alderman McQueen;
Seconded by Alderman Townley
That Alderman Bethune be placed on the following Committees:
Board of Works
Board of Health
Board of Finance
That Ald. McDonald be transferred from the Finance Committee to the Fire and Police Committee.
Carried.
Moved by Alderman W.S. MacDonald;
Seconded by Alderman Brown
That the Report of the Light Railway & tramway Committee be reconsidered.
Carried.
Yeas – Aldermen Brown, W.S. MacDonald, D.G. McDonald and Bethune.
Nays – Aldermen Townley & McQueen
[Volume 8, page 33]
Moved by Alderman Townley;
Seconded by Alderman McQueen
That the Report of the Light Railway and Tramway Committee be adopted as read.
Moved in amendment by Alderman W.S. MacDonald.
Seconded by Alderman Brown
That the Report of the Light Railway and Tramway Committee be adopted after striking out the clause recommending the placing of a street light on Richards Street near the Catholic Church. Amendment carried;
Motion lost.
leave of absence granted Alderman Clandening be extended one month more.
Carried.
Moved by Alderman McQueen;
Seconded by Alderman D.G. McDonald
That the City Clerk be instructed to notify the Electric Light Company that their lights are dim and asked that same be rectified.
Carried.
Moved by Alderman McQueen;
Seconded by Alderman Townley
That the Council stand adjourned until Tuesday the 12th instant at 9pm to consider smelter propositions.
Carried.
The Council accordingly adjourned.
Thomas Francis McGuigan
City Clerk
W. Templeton
Mayor
Note
Comments in parenthesis { } denote further illumination provided by the writer and from The Vancouver Daily World Newspaper; City Council, October 12th 1897, pg 3
