Typed as spelled and written
Lena Stone Criswell
THE DAILY DEMOCRAT
Thirty First Year - Number 106
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, September 3, 1931
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CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
in MARLIN SIXTY YEARS AGO
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In Those Formative Days They Had
Problems Even
as Now.
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City aldermen of Marlin began the establishment of government in the newly
incorporated town in Marlin, 1867. They were pioneers working in turbulent
reconstruction days practically without precedent. Many problems faced
them from the beginning and in the years to follow, problems pertaining to
practically every phase of life--personal, social, financial and religious.
* * *
Ordinances for the safety and comfort of the citizens had to be enacted.
Money had to be provided. Streets had to be laid out and records written,
including a map of the city. The work was done by patriotic citizens
serving practically without pay and they came in for their usual share of
"brickbats and flowers." The mayor, aldermen and peace officers received
their portion of punishment in the adjustment of a citizenship to a new order of
things. Some were arrested for infraction of laws of their own making to
which like others they were unaccustomed. The human element sometimes
entered and minor mistakes were made, but the trend was inevitably upward.
The map came into existence, streets and sidewalks were built, emergencies were
met with success and Marlin's city government was established on a firm basis.
* * *
Following an election in December 1874, the following constituted the personnel
of the city's government; J. D. Oltorf, mayor; J. W. Watkins, W. W. Hazlewood;
J. T. Davis, T. J. Read, H. Marcus, alderman, S. G. Hemphill, marshall, P. M.
Ripley, treasurer, and W. W. Hazlewood, secretary (serving also as alderman).
At the same election six important amendments were voted and made a part of the
charter. These amendments definitely determined election dates and
provided for special elections, gave official authority for assessment and
collection of taxes, and made it the "duty of the city council to look into any
and all complaints of a party or parties to determine the truth concerning
malfeasance, nonfeasance or neglect in any manner of any officer of the city --
and to remove said officer if complaint was found to have foundation."
* * *
A short time later at a council meeting February 4, 1875 streets were named.
A few of interest were as follows:
* * *
The street formerly designated as the "Springfield Road was named "Coleman
Street."
The street known as "Bartlett Store North"
became "Ward."
"Northwest of public square to the
Graveyard" became "Fortune Street."
"Southwest of public square to the south"
became "Williams Street."
"Southwest of public square to Belton"
became "Bridge Street."
"Between Bartlett's and Oak's" became
"Capps."
"Between Fuller's and Carter's" became
"Gift".
"Between Norwood's and Fortune's" became
"Perry."
"Between Nicholson's and Barry's" became
"Island."
"West of Livery Stable" became "Common
Street" (now known as Postoffice street.)
* * *
"Live Oak" was not changed. It carries the name today by which it was
designated in the earliest days -- so called because of a number of live oak
trees which grew near its present intersection with Commerce.
* * *
Other streets received official names at this important meeting, names which are
the same today.
* * *
At subsequent meetings the council was confronted with other street problems.
Citizens petitioned for opening of certain ones, one "off Live Oak row in the
rear of Marcus and Frank" being of special interest, Condemnation proceedings
were necessary to acquire "property for a public alley, west to east from
National street (Winter street) to a line of lot or part of lot purchased by H.
Richelma(missing) has the street known for years as "Brick-bat Alley" came into
existence.
* * *
About this time pigeons were declared a nuisance--meaning they were "meat" for
any who cared to shoot or catch them. An ordinance passed to prevent
"wasting water at the public well or carelessly spilling or pouring same around
the well."
* * *
Again those traffic regulations! Various ordinances were passed in the
middle of the year to prevent congestion of sidewalks and streets. An
amendment, also, was made to this effect, "anyone drunk or lying or staggering
about on the public streets causing inconvenience and annoyance to the people
will be taken up and put in the jail or calaboose until sober, then taken before
the mayor and fined."
* * *
A call meeting was held October 18, 1875, to consider "ways and means to render
assistance to the coast suffered by a storm." A donation from the city was
pledged by the city and a committee of aldermen appointed to join the citizens
in taking a free-will offering for the sufferers. At the same meeting the
salary of the city marshall was raised from $50.00 to $60.00 a month.
* * *
A review of the old records leave the impression a variance of opinions existed
those days. This was to be expected in view of the various street
problems, including extensions, acquisitions and improvements. Sidewalks
came in for discussion, also, as shown later, following an election in December.
(To be continued.)
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Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for
printing
by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas
