HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1916-06-01 MinutesRgguLAR MEETING Or COUNCIL THU DAY JUNE 3., 1916, cal,
7 3o P.M.
Members present: F. G. Erfert, H. G. Ralston, E. C. Romfh, L. T. Highleymau,
C. Hefty.
Dr. R. V. Atkisson: There has been a great deal said about '` rx 't1on
others the g pub1L<s•�i�or���,'��•'�lt�iy�•�!�
question arises as to our women and children soattered otter the .c lunty+, y ils
is need of a rent house for them. The matter was brought up in the .Charbas:r _`of' .Cofltii :an
I waa appointe i to a,re:eatr before you and the county commissioners to ee .Wheat y is o
I iuggested that the commissioners set overesome place in the court houeed yard ,*n1
if they would join with the oity in the construction of a rest route, • ae• well has ..'tat
station. 'they he..rtily joined in and asked me to go before your body, arid, alssa0*
plans and an estimate of the cost and report to them at their next meeting,, lometlite;:n.ee
They a .re willing to give all the ground and one half the expense necessary `to bu.i].d & . bui
suitable for a rent room for :dtthers and their children, and such equipment ate i,04,-4„
necessary for public comfort. If you see proper to do so, please appoint your eoMmitt:ee
.and be ready to meet a committee from the oommiseioners next week.
Moved by H. G. Ralston, seconded by L. T. Highleymaa,n, that the matter �be referred to-,';e'Ii
committeeman on public buildings with power to aaat. It is a necessary matter and let at* o
record as being willing to do our part.
Mr. Erfert: They ask that a committee be appointed and there will have to be caretakers:
. Aikiseon: That matter was brought up and the janitor at the oourt house can look afte
I that.
Mr. Erfert: I am glad you have taken an -interest in this and that. the oommisaionerswill
I think we should have a committee to meet them. I don't think I should do that as there
might be aomethinr council would want to know.
(There was no further action)
"Jacksonville, May C9,'1916.
SUBJECT: Tentative harbor lines an,i docks, Miami, Florida, on Biscayne Bay.
.:.r. H. . Ralston,
Con . itteen..tn on Parka an i Docks,
lia....i, Florida.
Lear Cir:-
'L ur letter of the 25th inst. on the subject of the proposed elser fill
atnd _ock in Biscayne Savvy at the fo.,t of iwth Street, has been received.
I agree ;*..ith you as to the advisability of establishing some sort of general line
beyond which a3w;h fills a.n.e wharf structures should not extend and will be glad to co-
operate nih you as far as 1 can.
' .t:e aui,ority of the Tar tei-«rt:.,ent in t.,ie matter, howeeer, is confined to the
establi3hme!1t of harbor lints where necessary to protect the interests of navigation. Whe
those int.:reets ..re not very clearly de ined, as is the case along the Miami waret front
acuth of the railroad terminal dock, it is somewhat difficult to fix a line which will be.
satisfactory from other points of view. For the orderly and symmetrical developement of t
water font property, _fines mi-Lt well be established which would differ from egeose requi
by the inter..ats of ' .vi~at.ion. I believe the establishment of'such lines is within the p
cf the .ity, „er+,..irly if tnte city should indicate lines beyond which itedid not desire
structures or solid fills to extend, the War Deea,rtment would be likely to follow such
iines in issuin.E per?.its, even if the city has not a.'solute power to prevent the building
of structures beyond su;h lines.
I su;;�et the.t your ooa..r,.ittee in consultation with the city engineer and other
authorities, prepare a a.,s.p of ti,c, bay front at i:iami and indicate thereon such lines as
ycu think suitable for the 1i:.ite of solid fill and open wharf construction. If you will
prepare eueh a map an. wend ...e a copy of it, I shall be jlad to look it over and Give you
my views with re .ri to the lines there indicated.
In t_.ia ,onr.ectron, permit me to invite your attention to my letter of this date iv
re: and to !he lines in the ;ia.,.i :,aver.
Very respectfully,
w. B. Laoue,
i.:ajor, Corps of Engineers."
R iston: .l,at looks as though we ca. indirectly get what we want. Judge Wolfe, has th
city power to control that?
Jaye W: ,.y i,:;nres ion has been that the matter is entirely under the control of the U S
authorities. :iowever, i be_iGve from the statement there, if the city adopted a line, th
overn..ter_„ .au hori'..ies w.ui.. probably conform to it.
.r. Iiai,tct,: ;o if ,:cun.:il chooses, I will get up, as suggested - wfter consulting with
the city encineer - a map and submit it to council for approval, or you own ask Mr. Klyoe
to ee sc. We Lan bran in one for a solid fill and one for the open wharf.
._r. I bink the sUg,_eation a ,00d one.
.uved oy �,. iiLl y....an sc,;onded by F. Ti.;Erfert that the communication be received an
filed an; ; ..j . La .u- notified tnat the oity will act, on his suggestions. Motion carried.
IA::I r•IVF:R; 's'_ARET7 LIi::D
"Jacksonville, Fla.. May 29, 19;6.
-.:r. H. G. Raistcn,
Committeeman on Park, .-n Lccks,
_.iemi, Florida. $.
Lear Sir:- i•r;a
Pleaee ac ,et t my apologies for my failure to reply to yourr° a + . -' of May 8th
the above subject. The matter is under oonsiu, ration, and has been fo ,sOie:tiae• but .3"f.b
recently so pushed that I have been unable to give to the matter e a ni.I ten`t1.
necessary to complete the lines. I have been constantly expo.
oaae, and. have therefor put off from day to day reply
Regular in
R , r8&;a, 4t1a,;. �w;i�r�: ;•r:,F•.•:ueM1''»"ca+"rYY
STORM SEVER bISTRidT 140.. 9 HEARING OF 001 'LAI TI' tl ' ROP Y 0 R
ADVERTISING FOR BIDS:
The olerk read the following notioe s which was published in thellianii Herald
.May 24, lipd :
sifter reading the notioe, th% clerk stated that if any
property owner or other person interested in or'affeoted
by the proposed improvement had any objeotion to make to
the sewer -being constructed, such objeotion or remonstrance
should now be filed.
No one offered any objeotion.
After reading the above notice, and no objections having been filed, councilman
E. C. Romfh introduced the following; Resolution:
Resolution No. 1047-13
Confirmin resolution ordering Storm Sewer Diet. No.9 .and authorizing clerk
to :advertise for bide for conatru;:tion to be received on July 6, 1916.
::ioved by L. T. I3.iEi,lty....,1., seconded oy T.a. Erfert that Resoitillon 1047-b be
adopted. 0n roil call all voted yes.
U7ION LABOR ON LR DGE S OF BOWERS SOUTHERN CO:3PANY HARBOR CONTRACTORS
The clerk read the followinletter from the Bowers Southern Dredging Co.:
June 1, 1916
Dear Sir: -
Your letter of May 25th, ultimo, quoting motion made
and carried by the City Council and having reference to the em-
ployment of union men, on our dredges at work on the city contract,:,,
came duly to hand, and is fully noted.
In this conneotion Mr. Randolph, the resident engineer, J
has also called our attention to this matter, and we beg to advise‘
there are no resident tnion men available to operate our dredges.
When we signed the contract and, as we have stated in
previous correspondence, we really felt the employment of union
men hac o bearing on the dredging work, as there is no local
union of Steam Shovel & Dredge Men, but as there appeared to be
a desire on the part of the resident engineer, as well as the
City Council, to employ union men, if possible, we offered to break
in a stationary engineer, and member of the local union, so as to
equip him for the position of engineer on one of our dredges.
However as the local union has been fit to turn down
this proposition, claiming their men cannot work with those, who
do not belong to the union, there is nothing left for us to do but
state the actual facts in the case and that is- there are no resident
union men available for our dredges.
There is another clause in our contract which states that
"None but men expert in their respective branches of work shall be
employed where special skill is required" and by employing un-skilled
union labor we would be violating our eontraotr,
However if the city council feels that there are reside
union mofn available for our dredges and insists on our employing,,
*union men, as the local union have to offer, we are willing tp.a
by their orders provided a bond is furnished us in the sum of 1,
.$1,90,000., guaranteeing us against loss in yardage and.damageA
to dredge by employing this un-skilled labor, ::$' we .Orc.ul+
-r
Oran five : minut ee,: , p- l:Ro ii u dredge;' :„ .th0 hi
labor and thereby jwopardizey our wit i .and
out of co>mnittiorite , £ , '�M.E, "v tC;'
f-j
We understand & remark wa `` made -to thee** web a,.
representative that they had 'Su4i01ent local men ti
within 24 hours, and we hereby State that; if a b_ nd 61 .'. shed t
as above mire ei11 give the union 36' 'i ouieSeeo7t^.,..u,.. t�1 Si urdt'ay. mor't#i; i
8 o'clock, to produce.•. a - crew, composed o.f�.resident union men,"; "oi r
eeeti en dredge.. FLORIDA, as follows •
2 operators
1 marine engineer
2 oilers
3 oil firemen
2 mates
kook
1 waiter
and in addition they might bring along with them about 8 dumphandss
or dockhands, so that the entire force might be union, at they dee
If this proposition is accepted we would ask thee youreeif• .
another member of the city council, be present at that times, -to pesk$
judgment on the efficiency of the union men furnished, for it will het.
take an expert to determine this. We would also ask that the e
resident engineer, Mr. Randolph, be on the ground at the time, as nee •
is thoroughly familiar with the present efficiency of our men, and
capacity of our dredge, and will be able to tell very readily the
loss or damage, if any, sustained by us.
It is our desire to bring this matter to an issue, one, pay'
'
or another, and in our opinion there is no better, nor faifer,
method than that above described.
Respectfully submitted,
Bowers Southern Dredging Co,.,
by Geo. A* Waldeck,
Superintendent.
-r. Ralston: I tasked the Furst -Clark people, in ad ition to thet letter, to have a
re.•reair.t .tive here to night. I don't know whether there is one here or not.
ego. of union En' ineers : I would like to say that I interviewed Mr. pia `' sck le reer re to
this matter and I went so far es to guarantee him thsst if he would G y with -the
con'rect we woul.i be willing to take in the men on the dredges now. x far es ooCipetrr rit
mien, we ._kve they:: now. .,e don't want to appear es hindering the work. I believe.ehey
should have three shifts. We told him we were willing to put our mega, on thersax- lie e4n't
waist then: to diaoharge their men if they are competent. We want the work iep.;i.':�' {,e W .ges",
aed tii9 extra men, we wa .t to furnish them. '
ir. Ralston: What di;: he stay?
En V•inee:r: _:e eaie tut is gut of nia hands but he expected air. Clark this wSek, and coul
doanything until he ea,w ,r. Clark. I think it is reasonable for them to went to Aep
to;,ir engineers, but have three shifts.
...r. Hefty: As I understand it, it is satisfactory to the Union to place Uniori men on
there eredt es and leave the met now there on the .reels es?
EnLineer: Yr.s, sir, provi1ei the men novv tlppfe will join the Union. In the first plan
I wont to eey oktout roan not being available at prey nt, that is untrue,- they are and h
'eeen available all the time. T:,c fast that they are,.he has had enough men make
application to their office. The men's licenses prove to them and to the public that th
are capable of hendling their machines. If they sere not capable men, how did they get a
license? e,.e_ can't buy there. If you are an experienced man you get your license and
the li enae proves you are. That is all hot air. Why should the city of Mimi ielea.a
3oiier lnapector to examine and license engineers to operate in this oity, 0 see if the
..re competent before they are is:uesd a license, and then the Bowers Southern 00, t tb
city to put up .. el(e0,000. bona to say that the men are oapable? It is just side teppl
oeeeuee every day meane a great many dollars. We have been down there and told
thia company if they would take therr men in the local we were willing to put three shif
on the drtsdeee «n.: pay, the scale to the engineers, and the engineers they would look
we would furnish on 24 hours notice. That litter is altogether different from what the
hxv� said, what we have cf Cered them and what the public knows. Everybody knows a
n :ineer is ccmpeterit or he would not have sag license.
i -. on: I ;doui: lih twAknow this,- you gentlemen oontend what? that the engineersa .re to operate 2,e engines? You don't mean the men. You mean the stem engineers on
,he dredges one net zee' eet,ee men at ail?
:eel). of r:rt_ieetra: Ve are not talking about anything but engineers. The other residents
of nave claims the sane as we hav? on the engineers.
think
1r, A. A. Kind: I don't the Bowers Lredgine Co. will do anything until foroGd to. They,
don't want to pay The ;ogee, which is natural,- they want the work cone•;aw°"hp,ieap as pass
r 01yself had an e ,Alec: ion in to these people and I replied to a oirdular `the, • l#cn':.
I answered it iu�:..e,lietely but got no reply w eteve .Every queat•i.on they 4'..a1ce ;
;1; $ eeaeeree in the affirmative. Undoubtedly they will not put men on ;ntl.is t#ie very ,
x x moment, beoeese every day they put it off means monothat the citizens had no alai i 'I
m inasmtto#� � fi
#E7 ,
.a. _ ..,,_. ... :•. �,' +y_a .. .' r,�.0 A.7�r..'�xN"na «�'4ro'a. ''.�. .�ablx"�: !'. ��F.,.C��fS+�. .'
A210
l
t6gulit mei+�tiri
on this work und.ottbtediy 'bid orb, a basic of the hi
si�iply s.eking for the .8 hour:, djj..
In reply to a question, one of the office: forge of the4:., bWirai `Southern .Dr. aging 3b.
replied that one of their Chief dredge engineeie is 50..id #800_dermo nth. . .
Mr. Kind: I don't think council should delay this matter further. I think,,the oitized or
Miami have good cause for suit against them inasmuch as lower price coul.d'have been •
gotten if the other dredging firms had information that theyrwould have been allowed to
work twelve hour days.
r
Rep. of Engineers: Why did they offer'one of our men 460 per month for chief engineer on
oiie of their dredges, the "Florida"? I have had a prominent contractor of the oi.,ty tell
me he figured on the contract and he took the matter into.00 nsideration that he was to
employ union men. The Bowers people never considered us for one moment. I1 they had
they would have communicated with us and asked for the wages, hours, etc. if they
intended to do right. They have ignored us all the way through. The gentleman who juq,t
spoke holde first class pavers. 1 have been in the engineering business fifteen yeara•,i,ye
they teL us we have not ooupetent men. He also holds papers in New York and
Iis aohueetts which is the hardest statet, hold papers. 1 hold papers in Massachusetts.
They say we can not furnish competent engineers up there. They have had some out there,
I think one now, who has not a license - he is a first class man. They ask in their
letters if a man has ever held chief engi.:.eer'e papers on a government vessel, and come
of their men have not a city license, and 1 understand some have applied for a oity
,license and couldn't get it, yet they are first clase men, and our men who hold first
class license why they are not oompetent. That is some more hot air.
Mr. Rai4ton: I see Capt. Mceethlin here. re you authorized'to speck on this?
The Captain said he was not authorized to speak.
r. Ralston: I would like very much to see this settled some way, to night.
tneineer: We have offered to take in the men they have if they don't want to let them go.
So long as they join our organization. 1 understand thel are oily one or two who have
not lic.:r.ae. We will take their :,ngineere in and if they need extra men we will furnish
them. T_ don't see that they have any argument there whatever. Has the council an
opinion from the city attorney on thismatter?
RalaC.on: We had one submitted some six weeks ago.
Mr. Erfert: These men are on the rieht lines. 'this uis a union town. The government ,
works eight hours and trey pay the wa;gea too. So long as this city has gone on
record and ha.s it in the contract I think council should take a firm stand aria tell them
to Dome to time and make three shifts and those who have license join the union. I
think we have ass many competent men here as they need and more too. 1 am not atioking up
.for the union or the dredging company, but a contract is a contract, and if'we had violate
it they would have been on us et once. They can comp y with the union rules and employ ,
three.8 hour shifts. You and I have to do go, why don't they?
Eneineer: We look at this from a union as well as a tax payers standpoint. Our members
are taxpayers with homes they are trying to pay for and every man not working is being
robbed. The city council male provision for them to have work in that oontract and they
are being rob,ed right now.
r. Kind: At the time the vote was t:.i.en here for the bond issue it was discussed in the
en_ineer'a local and it was talked es to whether we were in favor of digging the o annel
or not, an. everyone of us was in favor beoauee it would give us work. We voted fox the
bond is -woe for the purpose of giving work to our men and no other.
Mr. Romfir: I herJiy know what tact to take. They want a :100,000. bond. That I don't
think it would be possible for the city to give. It is a condition it don't seem fair
to me for the:e to even ask. Just whet the remedy is I don't know. Get an injunction
•
a`a-ir_et their ,and stop the work? There is a chance of paying them and your channel
would reeein just as it now is. Whether they are reeponaible for not complying with the -
labor clause and would have to pay damages, the co e is would have to decide that. We are
all anxious for deep water here. The bill has passed both houses of congress and awaits
t, ere.:ieertee eigrature. it is a proposition I want to consider very carefully
before voting to take out en injunction :p.r.e stopping tilt work and throwing the matter
into court. The. f..te of the City of :.iiarai hangs on this deep water project and if we ghoul
knock the pins out from under that we would certainly "bust" things wide open. The attorne
night take their letter ana ...ivise us how far we can go without atopr ing the work. It is
deplorable t':.:t they ..re not living up to the epirit of the contract. ghat action wek
should take, other t:.o.n to stop tee work,- 1 don't know exactly how we can oornpel them.We
can atop the work and go into court to see what kind of labor should be employed, then
te. ,s atien :;o.,.ee up ae tc who le damaged,- their dredges would be idIL I would like to
h-.vc some advice from: the attorney on that line. Have you ever gone into that Judge Wolfe
Jude ;"olfe: I have not to any extant. I think :,;r. Cason investigated and gave ier. Rarlsto
ore advice. it strikes me, however, that this Dredging Company is acting in the worst
manr:er teeerd the citizeee of this town. This letter is aluost insulting in its language,
and especially in its reference to the city giving $lu0,000. bond. it is a. plain and
si.,.ple provision in the contract. It says that union labor is to be employed, when
available. 'There 1e no great dlftieuity in translating that language. Union labor is
available whenever there.ia a competent union man to take a job and it seems to me that
o"u faith on th- part or this company requires them to live up to this oontraot. As to
whether or not it be cur,icient baeis for the city's stopping the work and deciarin
'.he contract at an end, 1 would not and r take to say. 1 rio think, however, if this olaua
of the contract, tor.et er with tee other olauaea, the prices they were paid for the work
and everythin:L- relating; to it, were lm.id before the judge of this clrouit with an
.apriice_ion to him to enjoin this company for refusing to oarry out that part of the
contract., together with showing tit union labor was available, 1 believe the court would
hold that they can not employ nonunion labor while union labor was available, and 1 think
if the chairman of the committee on docks simply formally advises the Bowera'Southern
Dreuging.0ompany that it they don't comply with this oontraot within a certain number of
days, that such application will be made to the oourt, they will will come to time. I thi
it is beneath the dignity of this city to suffer this company to violate one clause of
the oontraot. The cireuraeta.n:.e, tee prioea and the indications are that they will, make
large profit on the contract and I believe if the council will instruct the;;gq ia.a Q ;
to notify there, they will abide, as it is .evident ooepetent men oan be obtaii d.b tiy:' uc
ni0nt would be to require therm to submit their present men who have lioen.4Or.:th' ''
l' .rei?'. on ana that subee
sup
0, 't 41mp19P40 be taken.:i .,they. A ri:
-T.
r
L1lar mb+3'bAng June
labor, whatever that implies. There is no difficulty aboutcarrying out 'Mks ta ntraC=1i : .
not ready to day what would be -- I believe the judge would ideas an injiiribt-itib;`'Ia3
as Union Labor, is available, and that would, be an expeditious way to have it settled wit Ott
stopping the work, provided they do not thea!nselves agree tp abide by the rule* of the
engineers and empldy amnion men, if they are competent.
Mr. Romfh: Don't you think the president of the dredging cthupaany should appear before
council? I understand he will be here in the next few day*. I think we should oall it to Mr.
Clark's attention to show him he is not licing up to the contract in gddd faith.
14r. Erfert: I think Judge Welfe ;;ot the thing right. There:is no d.iffionity at all on either
side to comply with the contract. These men don't ask anything unreasonable, but that *company
is playing around the stump ana I.believe that letter is almost insulting, When they invite
the union to bring in a dCzen shovel men. They only ask fr their rights and I believe ootrncil
should stand by them and give them their rights the contra t calls for.
Mr. Hoghleyman: When I first heard that letter it struck be as what we oall in a game of paker
" as bluff" I don't think they would ooneider getting intp a law suit, after Judge Wolfe'a
explanation and I fe-1 more strongly than I'did before on the matter of a few engineers.
If I thought for one minute that Miami would be held tp in•its deep water proposition, even
though I felt these men should have the right to work under the oontraot as it was written, I
would vote against them because I would feel the oity should come first, but I don't believe
at,- that the :redging company would dare taking the risk of throwing up the contract for' the
aaatter of employing a few men at a small difference in wages and I don't believe it when they
say there are not compet nt men in this town. I have had some experienoe with dredging hers,.
and believe there are ae competent men in town as they have on those dredges. I don't believe
they will get into as law suit. The issue is not large enough. Their contract ie very
profitable and for aw few dollars they are not going to taakie chances, for from what the Judge
aye and my knowledge of it, they would oertar`inly loose. I think it is uo to us to insist upon
honest observance of an honest contract. Possibly it would be best to wait for Mr. Clark and
talk to him - we have ✓waited for two months and it would not hurt to wait another week. I
think he will See the fairneea of it and certainly make some arrangements by which the. people
in our town who are competent wth be eiven consideration.
�r. Romfh: It might be well for us to nx.ke a motion for Judge Wolfe to write them a letter
in line with hid talk here; he can word the letter in his own language and the Dook Committeeman
will aaign it. :Ir. Erfert I second tnaat motion.
';�:r. Ralston: I asked ;'.r. Cason if we could enforce ttia;at and he said that we would have extiene
difficulty in e-iforoing it.
Judge: Wolfe: I heave not inveatieated it but it is my opinion that the Judge of this oiroui',
with the facts before hire, would ioeue an injunction to restrain this company from refusinE
to comply with thet elaueae of trams contract. If they failed thereafter they would be in owe empt.
T:,a,t is my opinion Without investigation. I may be wrong but I would be willing to take
chaa.nceaa es it seems the equity of the situation is ao clearly with the city and the union r.en.
Why did they sign the contract? If not leeaally binding it is moraley. The company should
'not take the position that they signed a contrat containine a clause they did not propose
'to live up to. It is moral.y binding.
r. Ralaton: There le no question about that.
'Judge Aolfe: The elan outlined will not atop the work; whether the judge rules with you
or not it doea no: atop the work. It does not seem that a company capable of,executing such
!a contract would be eo err .l_a aM,a to refuse to abide by the contract.
'. r. Ralston: The only this that stands in the mind of any councilman is*stopping the work
If council wants to take your "horse back" em& a opinion in the face of the opinion of the city
attortey, all right.
..ir. Romfh: I don't think that company will take a chance of a`.etting into court
...:r. Hefty: I am wil.in_ to t.a.k the judgment of Judge Wolfe.
;roved by-E. C. i;ouatn, sae ;onded by F. 3. Erfert, that the attorney rite the dock contractor
ana the dreeJ. in;; contractor alon: the lines sup;_;eated to the city council and notify them
that the clause rcletin=- to union labor ruet be complied with at once, or action will be
:taken seekin- to force the tc do so. tion carried.
FInE LIy;ITS RE 'JFST OF O. L. =LER TO EXCLUDE PROPERTY AT 6th AND B FROM FIRE DISTRICT-
! The clerk reaa.a aa. letter from G. L. .tiller, dated ;day:11, 1916, requesting that the property
.t 6tn and E be exoLudea from the Fire District.
-r. Erfert: .here is a proviaaion in the charter that the fire limits can not be reduced
unless with the oonaent of every property owner in the block.
The clerk wad inatr.icte i to .Trite ._r. :•Iiiier to this effect.
::ARITY R.EQ' E'?T 17e7. _O"ATIO.: OF 425.00 PEP. MOUTH TO THE SALVATION ARMY
'tire clerk read a letter from Ensign brown, of the Local Salvation Army Corps, requesting
' teat the city donate to the Army the aurr. of per month
On motion duly Efate and carried the com..unication waaa referred to the Finance Committeeman
with power to act.
CEWE7 A V:A FA7It I Imo^ LAwRENCE ITIVE FROM TWELFTH TO TWENTY FIFTH STREET
The clerk reaa_1 aa. petition eignel by Chas. G. Cooper, R. E. Hall and about twenty others
re..lueetin sewer and water fawuilitie3 be provided along Lawrence Drive from 12th to
o5th Street.
On motion duly made and carried, the petition „aa referred to the Street Committeeman.
LICE:SE TAXES RE Va. $ - FC!' EFUND JAS. H. JOHNSON.
"May 4, 1916
11 r. Edwa. Romfh,
!I,�Dear 3ir: intendine entering the garage business in Februloal,. I
but my plane did not materialize and I sere th ids: ,.k
I ,.Y
gg77AA
: , r ayr, C: y.SaT+ai'}.A a4.tiYaq>{a) 7a
<44., . tg"' 1 I, . ,era. ,
4210
Regular meeting June 14 1.e±8
and therefore have no use for the license.'
I therefore feel that the fee paid should be returned to me less -the fee for a =trig' Whio
I will retain as I expect to beoome a oitizeri of Miami and make it my future hortli,
Thanking you in a.dvanoe for taking the matter up with your honorable body, I- beg to, rims.
Yours very truly,
Jas. H. Johnson."
Moved by L. T. Highleyman, aeoonded by F. G. Erfert, that the communication be reoeived
and filed and no aotion taken. Motion carried.
It was the consensus of opinion that the refund should not be made beoause of the affect
it would have on similar requests.
REAILP.OAD SIDETRACKS ACROSS THE CITY'S STREETS CORNER THIRD AND AVENUE E
"Miami, May 17, 1916.
"The Honorable CLty Council,
Florida.
Ger tie den:
Permission is hereby requested to run a side track from lots 14 and 15
block 24 north, corber of 3rd Street and Avenue E, to the F E C R R trracka.
The reason for this request is that a, faotory requiring large shipping facilities
is to be created on this property and this siding will be necegpary for the maintananoe
of tnia busines3.
Yours reopeetfuliy,
W. N. Hullo"
:.ir. Kl,.oe: The street ao.carnitteernan asked me to report for him ana that he would
reoummend the track be a.ilowecl to oroee the street. I made a sug:,estion that I thought
weu.L,i protect the city but he didn't approve. „y idea was in orossing the street, in
case anyone should bring suit, the company should be willing to put up bond to proteot
the city. I don't know whether the city has the right to +glow the streets to be used for
such pruposee.
::ovei by E. C. Pornfn, seconded by L. T. Highleyman that the matter ODe referred to the
city attorney for an opinion as to whether the city would be liable for any damages from
.any cause and as to the right of the city council to grant permission to ceoss the
stre..ta with railroad tracks. :lotion carried. (communication mailed to pity attorney
June 1:, 1916)
B_;IDG>:; BONDS 00,000. SOLD :.tAY 25, 1916, APPROVING OPINION CALDWELL,MASSLLCH & Reed
opinion
The ceerk red. the eeerovingr opinion of Caldwell, Masalich & Reed on this issue, dated
:ere York, ' ay 49, 1916, . and on motion duly made and carried, the same was ordered
received and filed.
-TREET IMPROV?":E»T (�S7ID WALK) BONES 17,000. SOLD MAY 25,1916, APPROVING OPINION
CALrv'FLL
The e'er, rer.i the el- ravine opinion of Cal;iwelt a . ass'ich, dated New York, May 29,1916
on i,i3 issue —r: to as me was on:motion duly made and carried, ordered received and file
fir. o: LIE :S rF,Y.;r;T' OF _.N19. S 'SIE G. WHITE TO 7E RE'IEVED OF INTEREST ON SAME
"Parr Roc N W Washington, D C May 22,1916
.y dear :r. ...o.re: Yeure of tee lets duly received and contents noted. I am sorry that yo
.aid not ta..ee ray o. e to to city council, as it is not like any other, the first notice
never eevine ben received eed then wa.iting 3i years after the interest began, before
eendine another notice. If they don't allow the interest after you explain of course I
shali huv;; to pay it, but I shell write to one of the papers and explain the whole thing,
.,n..a oleo s-:n1 yoir letter, where you ss,y "aoma; claim that the property owners do not have
to be notified." I ghoule like to know how in the world a property owner would know when
an aweee.eement ha.a i4m.1' arra,.inat his property if he were not notified. I think the tux
payer,. oue ht ,o d.know waret kin.: of city fathers they have put in office and see that they
.o not -:et there ee in.
I «ra ecrry to trouble you, but I am willing to pay my just debts and want people to do th
ri I,: 'hang oy me.
opine you :via L be auceea:afui in saving me the interest,
Very sincerely
Susie u. White."
his rears to interest on aaseeeeeent liens against Lot 6 and Ei Lot 7 Blook 12 South,
aa. ._. _tin` to ; i13.72 wi.. i 6; from Nov. 1, 1913.
,:cved by L. 7. eiehley..,n, seconded by F. 3. Erfert teat Mrs White be notified that she
will by t to l..y v;:. intdieet. Notion oa. r.ed.
CI Y!' ?nI��L :'?RING THE CITE OF RUB^Ia;H UNDERG:10WTH ETC
:r. Bi :.ley ,.n: 'a,e ." ro:rix.tti :,15OO. for clearing off the site, but the bids were all
it so hieh tnet we tuned thee eel down. The Boars ef He e th requested teat I take the matter
up and find out eda.t le to oe .one. We have reference to the 6 aores only, right where t
eur..p is.
..r. eelstee: I thought you weld leave that and go back in the woods with the hospital?
r. H.i n1ey...an: Dr. Ja.:keon sugeeetee at the laet meeting, when you were absent, that it w
0e advisable to build on ti,e e.>.et end of the the tract where the dump is as it is higher
.n. o'.ared off ex_eet for the clans, old iron, glass, eto. Thogght it would be better th
, the west ails. Er tee: son sug&e,te.: tnet we allow air. John Sewell to auperviee the work
if we would hire men -to so it by the day, and he sucgested Frank Hardee. Mr. Sewe17.
originally aei.i it could be eons for :;1500. but I didn't think it possible.
Mr. Romfh: I talked to Mr. Sewell and h said didn't think it would,00.et more thaan
but if he took the contract would want 25Q0. Fie has lost ..great=tre)tl -Q►?41041W
AIPMaaaar
WA;.. at 1144744Wat i r<<n 3 tr 0wC4AS-40'Waliif' 1144Va .tit ;i 11.,
�v! w : �`- •
•
clearing land and I think it would be well to aoeept hie isiViee 0 look`;+ ft.
traot.oleared up.
•
Moved. by E. C. Romfh, seconded by F. G. Erfert that the Board of Health be authorised to
clear the dump grounds by day labor, under the supervision of ir. John Sewell. Motion
oa ried.
FRANCHISE AxMERICAN TELEPHONE ANT TELEGRAPH COMPANY
Councilman Romfh introduced the following ordinance
ORDINANCE NO. 212
AN ORDINANCE GIIANTING PERMISSION TO THE AMEPICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH
COMPANY, TO CONSTRUCT, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN LINES OF TELEPHONE AND
TELEGRAPH UPON, ALONG, ACROSS, OVER AND UNDER THE PUBLIC ROADS, STREETS,
AND HIGHWAYS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNDER TERMS SPECIFIED THEREIN.
Moved by F. G. Erfert, seconded by L. T. Highleyman, that Ordinance No. 212 be given fir
reading and read in full, ;Motion oarried. The ordinance was read in full
iove_i by F. G. Erfert, seconded by L. T. Ho;hleyrnan, that Ordinance Wo. 212 be given sees d
reading and read by title only. ;otion carried. The ordinance was read by title only.
TREES CUT BY ELECTRIC ANC TELEPHONE COMPANY
::r. Aiken complained to council that the Electric Co. had recently out the tops from
aeverai trees in Front of his proper4 on the south side and in doing so had
practically ruined the trees, euttinr~ there much lower than was necessary to properly
clear the wires; that he did not objeot to the trees being out so as to clear the wires
but in this instances valuable shade trees hod been fiutila.ted. He stated that in a great
many cities, the Park Department ex,roises jurisdiction over trees and ehmubbery and no one
is permitted to mutilate or destroy them.
r Ralston asked Atty. Wolfe if the Electric Co. had authority to cut trees.
Judge Wolfe replied that as =. gen.ra.l rule they had authority to cut trees to clear their
wires but not do cut tee:.. unnecessarily; that it is a matter between the property iwner an
the electric company; that in most cities it is necessary to secure permit to out trees
but didn't know whether .liar i had such a law; that where action has already been taken
and the trees are unnecessarily mutilated, a roan has the right to sue for damages and it i
up to the company to show that the cutting is necessary.
i.aove,i and carried t ,, t the :;ierk notify the electric liAht and telephone company that great
care must be seed in trim,:;ink and cutting trees and shrub'oery.
7FP0TT2 FO,' 7-1; :I07TH OF 'SAY
Report of the Police Chief showed
Convictions,
Liacuar-ea
Fines mini bonds forfeited,
Coat of fe prisoners,
303 arrests
96
92
41282.50
148.00
Trie inape;,tor rep .rted 129 -erruits issued
inspections ua.le, 109
R t ii +.1rin ccrtifleute3 issued, 22
Final . ertificated, 43
The Se,ton of .e City cemetery reported
Lots 1 �, B 5, 16 Block 31 and East i 12 Block 36
Sixteen graves prepared, fees collected,
The ua1..din- irarect,r ran..rted 117 permits issued, fees
The city ,'lerk reported th for I,Iay,1916
Auto lic..naes,
1,uaineee lic nae,
Cog licena,;s,
Ce;..etery sie�da,
:sra.ve per -its,
Fines and f.)rfeitures,
Int_reat,
Sanitary col.ectiona,
:tre t I,ul.. liens,
uiliin ins;e tion fe_s,
iio.apita.l rel.ort,
Perrnu.:c:: p..vif1 ,
I Sidealk co_ sctions,
I Rent on house,
:ack farce,
C1y Atty. L.Jk tag ea,
1914 taxes,
;dale of of- pipe,
Stre_t taxes,
lD15 taxes,
...oved an. Carrie..,
fol:owin_ collections
459.
157.75
1.25
67.50
5.5.00
1,262.50
3,053.38
864.15
4,119.80
763.75
61.00
12,703.62
91. 23
8.00
4.00
`1.15
4.20
5.p0
271.75
19,553.08
sold for $87.50
55.00
763.75
44,600.93
that r p.,rts for ,ia.y be reoeived, copied in the minutes and .,led,.
A
1-
•
12.n\d'�W..�.�+'y'Y'.M+1kYY>• (s�+f. .. .x •c!eYi .FC.:hi ( 5-.-!.C{GS FI.N1U'E#.`�•s!tl ���i�ke:
BRIMS O41R THE mum litIpt 4AiM. 'br J%-
STREET BRIDGE
;.,ir. . Romfh: Ws have the Tatum matter to settle. They have made ' ua : sib` pro be 1104 : 3,y i'o
land for $7500. or we could go ahead and condemn it. I wa a t*lkin 3 `t" . t] sir+. �a.t'� 'i�ie_
to day and asked him: if they would apply the $7500. on what the Streeat Kett*&
owe the city for their proportion of the ocet of the 12th Street bridge and he acid the..
would.
Mr. Hefty: Don't you thinkethat a stiff pride?
..r. Romfh: Yes, sit is and'its a pretty stiff proposition for the Street Ry. struggling
along, to pay 418,000 or ,30,000 to cross over a bridge. It is about a fifty fifty
propoe:tion.
,Judge Wolfe: I have the enineer'a map of.the situation. (Map exhibited to council and
retained by the Judge) and Mr. Tatum proposes ro quit claim to the oity all of the
land between the east line of South River Drive and the Weet Line of North River Drive an
the north and south lines of 12th Street, extended. He is the owner in fee of the land
on th west side and has an eeiement to the land on th east side of the bridge. The
bri ige was built by ::r. Tatum ;and ale() the approaches and the oity has never paid anythi
for the bridge except 4100. Whether or not the price is reasonable is a matter for ooune
to decide. It is important that you act to night and give me authority either to close
or take action as I must file oon':emnation proceedings to morrow.
Mr. Ralston: Is there no hope of his taking any less?
Mr. Wolfe: 1 don't know about that. I don't know whether he would matte a high price for a
bluff or not.
iir. Ralston: He is a little out of line but I believe it is a good trade.
.r. Romfh: He u:ieht take leas if oasri was Offered but I am in favor of the trade.
:..r. Erfert: Would he take ;,6,000 cash?
Mr. R..leton: With the riparian rights is is worth around 47500.
er. Romf'.: Their ;:t!,orney said they would trade on a basis of $7500. to be allowed on wha
the street railway will owe the city on tht bridge. If that is not ae!epted I would rathe
condemn.
elov_, by F. C. Romfh, seconded by F. G. Erfert that we accept the offer of Mr. Tatum
of :e7500. this surf: to be ..11owed as aL credit by the city on the amount the Miami
Traction Company will owe the pity on the cost of the new 12th Street bridge, the payment
to be made by the Tra.c.tion Company on the name basis as the oity pays its bridge bonds,
and that the city attorney be :authorized to close the transaction and the Mayor and City
Clerk authorized tc execute the necessary instruments on behalf of the city. The obligatio
of the :.:ia.mi Traction Co. tc the city to be..r interest at the rate of 7;1, per a.nnum.
:cticn carried.
S:F.(OKE F I I'AN C E
Councilman .'-'iehleyn.en introduced the following ordinance:
OR:IT+A'TCE NO. 213
A'_' T II"A':':' :r:CLAF I::: T:-r E:;IS7IOr OF . ?SE S'.10KE WITHIN THE CITY OF
A ?'. LIC :TUISANCE A -."PRO! I?3ITIFe THE SAME; PROVIDING FOR THE
PtiF`('I' F "' OF A :':OKE IrSPECTOR,Fie HIS COLPE`:;SA'rION AND THE FEES
OF HI. 71,7F.
;:oven by r. . Romfh, seccnded by H. Ralston thet Ordinance No. 213 be given first
reeeine en, rea..l full. :,Lotion car ied. The ordinanoe was read in full.
:cved by F. e. ReistLn, seconded by F. G. Erfert that Ordinance No. 213 be given second
re:..iin; end reed cy title only. ;notion parried. The ordinanoe was read by title only.
r :'"i (' „HAP:,D: OI. LLL CTf IC POWER AND FOR LIGHTS
:r. .siston: Sometime eeo a committee was appointed to look into the matter of mates
cn i.r- ee for electric lights. :er; ,`:haLrton and myself met, Mr. Highleyman could not be
present out he afeerwerds went over the data, and we decided to ask the attorney to
subunit e letter to the rle:ctric Light Company to reduoe the rated to what seemed to be th'
ever.: ee ehereed in other ,pities of the same size,- it is about a 33 , reduotion.
r. ,.,... Y(.. n- esaed council: The idea was that 100 is to be the base rate and we
contc;(,:r,l..tea gr.duated scale from that down to whatever would be reasonable.
.,_r. Hor:,fi,: Coneitione a..r•e not the same but if we take a graduated scale of say 6, 7 and 1
e rnii,t set (aomewnere.
..r. Youn : It aeemea to us tn;m.t 10¢ might be used as the maximum and work out tier
levrtr rates a.c :oreineiy. .•:r. Fordhem wanted to operate a paint faotory and use elm:Axle
I c(wer but he fcur..: the rai,tee prohibitive. Of course the faotory rates here are lower;
v
! then cher- ee for private use. er. Fordham stated that the minimum here is so
! tle.t event` et is ; ro ibitive.
1 After 4o1acr fur tL r ei,acia-ion it was decided that the Electric Light Co. Should be
..eke,, to re,.uce ti,e1 ratea and the foliowine motion was made and parried:
ove,i by F.�ia`cn seconded by F. G. Erfert, that the Eleotxic Light Company
ce ..ekte to reduce their rates from 15¢ to 100; from 90 to 7i0; from 8# to 7¢; from
17iy. to 610, f orn 7i to 6j¢ an from 66 to 60. Motion carried. _
PAY '.iOLL;: FOF. ..:r..ONTH MAY
The clerk Freseeted the pay rolls for the several city departments !Or,,
_ay (end after an ex...mination by council and the amount of each rr""
on motion uuly made and carried the pay rolls for. 4a.y 7.' ).6, .*al r.
t
Regular meeting June 1, 1916.
STREET AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS
Freedlund Const. & Supply
F. L. Devane,
}AY ESTIMATES
Co. Bay Street, No. H-19
Dann St. No. H-15
Briokell Ave. H- 5
20th St. H-12
20th St. H-6
12th St. H-11
12th St. H-10
llth St. M to So.River
,Broadway H-25
4750.60
707.20
103.63
89.95
61.78
134.76
48.65
141.26
612.
Siuewalk Dist. 5 & 6 316.59
Also the estimates for :..ay due Bowers Southern Dredging Co. and Hillyer & Sperring Co.
for channel and dock improvements, and Isham Ra;.,dolph & Co. for engineers, were
presented, and on mb'lon duly madeaand carried, the auditor was authorized to draw
ve,uchers against the proper funds in payment. (All estimates on file in the auditox
office)
`.IDE'r:ALE LISTRICTS 7, 8, 9 10 and 11
Mr. Klyce, speaking for Street Comu,itte ema»n Wharton, stated that Mr. Wharton would lik
to aw_.rd this bids, S,ivinL District :o. 7 to ti,r Biscayne Construction Co. and the
oth r districts o L. R. Blackman, as the work would be done morequickly and avert
complaints fLom poperty owners. do action was taa-en on the bids.
RELEASE OF CO7TRACT BY BICCAY"E DU73TT CTION CO. FOF CO"ETRUCTION OF SANITAPY SEWER
DIST.,ICT NO. 5
The city auditor reported that
sia .ed an a a,`ret'rr,ent, releasin_
construction of Sanitary Sewer
and ratum'a Base Ball Park.
the Liscayne Construction Co. and ,.:r, A. K. Smith, hand
tilt- city from any liability in the matter of the
District I;o. 5, being the sewer proposed for Lawrence E
:r. r. K. Smith was ;resent and stated that the action of himself and the Biscayne Cor
Co. was voyuntary :: , iu not want it to influence ma Ax future work in any way.
Attest:
Oi �y ierr.,
President City Coutnil
Is
state
at.
ia,,,�su t rk 4�r4t'!,s