Vancouver Street Railway allowed to close the Westminster Av. (Main Street) bridge for 15 days to install track. City Engineer instructed to notify the contractor(s) that they (and not the City) are responsible for damage done to others’ property while carrying out their contracts on behalf of the City. City to call for tenders for sewer system, and to extend deadline for completion of fire alarm system. Motion to allow Mayor David Oppenheimer to continue negotiations with and allow bonuses for industrialists to set up a blast furnace and rolling mills, or a beet root sugar refinery in Vancouver.
This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland
and Joy Marie Vasquez
original handwritten minutes here
City of Vancouver Archives
Series 23-A Volume 3 pages 153-162
[volume 3 page 153]
Vancouver Sept 30th 1889
The Council met on Monday September 30th 1889 at 8 P. M.
Present His Worship, the Mayor and all of the Aldermen.
The Minutes of last meeting were read and adopted.
Communications
From F. C. Stover, Agent for the California Electrical Works asking for an extension of 30 days for the erection of a Fire Alarm System. Filed.
From J. W. McFarland, Secretary of the Vancouver Water Works Co. acknowledging receipt of communication re purchase of Water Works. Filed.
From H. Abbott, declining to gravel the road South of Granville Street Bridge. Filed.
From F. W. Sentell et al asking that Robson Street be graded full width instead of 20 feet wide. Referred to Board of Works.
From H. T. Ceperley, Sec. Treas. Van St. Rail Co. requesting permission to close Westminster Ave Bridge during construction of Street Railway across same. Filed.
From H. T. Ceperley, submitting account for clearing Front Street and the Lane. Referred to B of Works.
From Frank Granville offering to lease Market Building for 5 years at $175.00 per month. Referred to Finance.
[volume 3 page 154]
From J. W. Campion asking for the Sidewalking of Barclay Street. Referred to Board of Works.
From King and Hendricks asking for a License for taking orders on Stereoscopic views. Referred
to Police Committee.
From the City Solicitor giving it as his opinion that there was no liability on the part of the City for injury done by a contractor. Filed.
From His Worship the Mayor announcing that he had purchased the City Wharf. Filed.
Reports
F. W. & L. No 18
The Fire, Water & Light Committee met on Wednesday Sept 25th 1889 at 3 P. M.
Present Aldermen Clark, Brighouse and Oppenheimer.
We beg to recommend:
1. That the following accounts be paid:-
Palmer Bros. Feed $3.00
Starrett & Leatherdale, Hack .75 cts
Godfrey & Co. Hardware 1.37
2. That D. Biggar and Wm. Hamilton be retained as members of the paid Fire Department at their old rate of wages.
3. That as Mr. Twigg has refused to work for the wages offered him that the City Clerk be instructed to notify him that Wm. Hamilton has been retained.
[volume 3 page 155]
4. That the Chairman of this Committee be authorized to sell the horse now in pasture and that the proceeds of such sale be applied to the purchase of a new horse.
5. That the Rules and Regulations framed by the Chairman for the government of the Fire Department be adopted by this Council.
Sgd. I. Oppenheimer, Chairman
Moved by Alderman Brewer, seconded by Alderman Costello. That the Report of the Fire, Water & Light Committee be adopted. Carried.
Police No 5
The Board of Police Commissioners met on Saturday September 28th at 3 P. M.
Present His Worship, the Mayor, Aldermen McConnell, Brewer and Mason.
The Auditor’s Report on Police accounts for the year ending September 18th 1889 was received, read and ordered placed with the rest of the books and papers in the City Vault, pending inquiry into same.
The Communications referred to this Committee from the Council at its last sitting were read, considered and disposed of, as follows:
1. That John M. Stewart be notified that in addition to those complaints already made known to him, the Board finds irregularities in his books and accounts.
2. That Messrs Wagg and Moore be notified that the terms of the Resolution passed respecting the closing of stores
[volume 3 page 156]
on Sunday will be rigidly adhered to.
Sgd. G. S. McConnell, Chairman
Moved by Alderman Brewer, seconded by Alderman Oppenheimer. That the Police Commissioners Report be adopted. Carried.
Health No 12
The Health Committee met on Tuesday September 24, 1889.
Present Aldermen Brewer, Costello and Mason.
We beg to recommend:
1. That Alderman Salsbury be authorized to purchase trees to beautify the hospital grounds and that said trees be planted under his directions.
2. That steps be at once taken to establish a crematory in the City according to the most approved System.
3. That 5 doz. hat and cloak hooks be purchased for the hospital, that all the lower portion with the exception of the dispensary be calcimined and the windows and doors casings repainted and that double doors be placed at the back of the yard and that a man be engaged to clean the upper ward.
4. That Mrs. Birks be paid $8.00 for 10 days work in August previous to notice of dismissal.
5. That the following account be paid:
Hong Sung Washing $29.00
W. J. Brewer Chairman pro tem
[volume 3 page 157]
Moved by Alderman Costello, seconded by Alderman Horne. That the Health Report be adopted. Carried.
Finance No 28
The Finance Committee met on Friday September 27th and Monday September 30th 1889.
We beg to recommend:
1. That the following accounts be paid:
C. P. Telegraph Co. Telegrams $18.00
H. E. Croasdaile, Premium of Bond 62.50
2. That the Reports of the Health Committee and Fire, Water & Light Committee be approved of.
3. That Joseph Huntly be authorized to expend $6.00 in printing notices under the amendments to the Health By-Law.
Sgd. W. F. Salsbury, Chairman
Moved by Alderman Brewer, seconded by Alderman Oppenheimer. That the Report of the Finance Committee be adopted. Carried.
Works No 28
The Board of Works met on Thursday September 26th 1889.
Present Aldermen Brighouse, Horne, McConnell and Oppenheimer.
We beg to recommend:
1. That the City Engineer be instructed to notify the contractor on the basement drain that he is responsible under his contract for all losses or damages claimable by any
[volume 3 page 158]
person or persons or corporation whatever occasioned by the performance of his work.
2. That the Old Hastings road marked yellow on plan submitted be declared closed.
3. That Lansdowne Street be graded from Westminster Av to Scotia St. $180.00 Quebec St graded from 14th Av to 15th Av, 90.00, Westminster Av repaired from the Bridge to Johnston St, $200.00 Keefer St. Sidewalked from Westminster Av to Jackson Av. $280.00 lane in Block 3, 196, repaired
35.00 lanes graded in Blocks 34, 35 & 36 in 541, six ft sidewalk on Pender St from Howe to Burrard St. $120.00 that the Sidewalk on 5th Av be altered from 2 to 3 ft $30.00 and that one block of the old 4 ft sidewalk on Granville St be lifted and laid on Seaton St. $30.00.
4. That the fountain donated by the Vancouver City Foundry be erected at the intersection of Water and Cordova Streets and that tenders be invited for plans of a stone fountain to be erected at the corner of Carrall and Hastings Sts and that drinking troughs be ordered at the foundry and placed at the above named corners.
5. That the City Engineer be granted 4 days leave of absence.
6. That the following accounts be paid:
H. F. Keefer, Market building $2,000.00
S. Conner, Hack hire 5.00
M. A. Harvey, Hack hire 7.00
Sgd. S. Brighouse, Chairman
Moved by Alderman Horne, seconded by Alderman McConnell. That clauses 3 and 4 be
[volume 3 page 159]
laid over and the balance of the Report adopted. Carried.
Consideration of By-Laws
Moved by Alderman Whetham, seconded by Alderman Brewer. That the amendments to the Health By-Law be read a third time and engrossed, signed, sealed and gazetted. Carried.
Motions
Moved by Alderman Oppenheimer, seconded by Alderman Clark. Whereas the road shown on the annexed map or plan and marked yellow is not located in accordance with the road shown on the map or plan deposited in the Land Registry Office at New Westminster in the original plan or survey of the Easterly portion of Lot 196 in group one (1) New Westminster District which road in said original plan is shown in the plan hereto annexed and colored red.
And whereas it is desirable and necessary that the said road so colored yellow should be declared closed.
Therefore be it resolved by the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Vancouver in Council assembled.
That the road colored yellow on the annexed map be and the same is declared to be closed and no longer a public street road or highway within the corporate limits of the City of Vancouver and that no public monies shall be hereafter expended thereon. Carried.
[volume 3 page 160]
Moved by Alderman McConnell, seconded by Alderman Oppenheimer. That His Worship, the Mayor call a Special Meeting of the Council to consider the proposed amendments to By-Law No 79.
And further that the reading of the said By-Law be deferred until the first regular meeting of the Council after the Special meeting. Carried.
Moved by Alderman Clark, seconded by Alderman Costello. That the Vancouver Street Railway Company be allowed to close up for any period not exceeding 15 days that portion of the east side of Westminster Avenue Bridge 10 ft from the Centre thereof for the purposes of constructing their Street Railway over said bridge and that the said Vancouver Street Railway put the said Bridge in a safe and good condition for the purposes of their traffic purposes. Carried.
Moved by Alderman Brighouse, seconded by Alderman Oppenheimer. That the following account be paid:
P. Atkinson et al, Street Work $33.10 Carried.
Moved by Alderman Oppenheimer, seconded by Alderman Mason. That the City Officials be allowed a holiday to attend the Provincial Fair at New Westminster during the present week as may be arranged by such officials. Carried.
Moved by Alderman McConnell, seconded by Alderman Costello. That the City Auditor
[volume 3 page 161]
prepare a financial statement of the several departments of the City, as soon as possible. Carried.
Moved by Alderman Oppenheimer, seconded by Alderman Salsbury. That the California Electrical Works be allowed thirty days extension of their contract for the erection of the fire alarm system. Carried.
Moved by Alderman Horne, seconded by Alderman Oppenheimer. That the City Clerk be instructed to call for tenders for the construction of the Sewers, such tenders to be received up to Saturday November 9 at noon. Carried.
Moved by Alderman Salsbury, seconded by Alderman Horne. Whereas the encouragement of manufactures of all kinds in the City of Vancouver is a duty of this Council and of the Citizens at large.
And whereas amongst the kinds of manufactories which will be of the greatest advantage as they furnish employment to so many other hundred manufactures in the City and Province are a Blast Furnace and Rolling Mills, or a Beet Root Sugar Refinery.
And whereas his worship the Mayor has been negotiating with Companies of Capitalists in Europe with a view to secure the erection of these industries in this City.
And whereas it would be judicious to offer a Bonus to such company or companies as would erect such works in Vancouver.
———– that the Council
[volume 3 page 162]
authorizes His Worship the Mayor to continue the negotiations already begun and enter into such arrangements to be approved of this Council with any company or companies which will induce them to erect and operate a Blast Furnace and Rolling Mills or a Beet Root Sugar Refinery in Vancouver. Carried.
Moved by Alderman Salsbury, seconded by Alderman Costello. That a Committee consisting of
Aldermen Horne, Brewer and Whetham be appointed to interview Mr. Lowe, Deputy Minister of Agriculture on his arrival here with a view of advocating the establishment of Quarantine Station at Vancouver. Carried.
Notice of Motion
Alderman McConnell gave notice that he would introduce a motion empowering the Police Committee to amend the Police regulations.
The Council then adjourned.
D. Oppenheimer, Mayor
Thos. F. McGuigan, City Clerk