Ga Return this book on or before the Latest Date stamped below. A charge is made on all overdue books. University of Illinois Library , 1 HS Hf] | | HS HN HH HH Hf ff ||| ||| ||| || || ||| ff || |} ff fff fj] ff fj} ff 11 HH He } i | | | | | | i wit 1h 1H ee Mme me me heme me em Hem em Hmm Mee 1 mH me eee HH eH mm HH ee emer eee me He) 1 eH me I nt Hee HH ee ef emf me A et eH HH - - Fe Fo — 11 1H HH * orr—n + i | I | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | i ; THE CITY BOOK f ILLUSTRATED ees) CONTAINING A SURVEY of THE CITY ADMINISTRATION AN ANALYSIS of THE PORT of HOUSTON A HISTORICAL SKETCH of HOUSTON and A BRIEF OUTLINE of THE ACTIVITIES of THE VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS +o Chill Iga e- Norman Henry Beard Gditor (Editor 1922 City Book) i | | | i | | t POUL ONT ~e eee ii ft — L—— 1 lf | | | HL | | | || | | | | || | | | AN HY | fff | || | || ff | NN Nf | || HA ries Umer ot Hi —— i anes oe — L1H HH HL | | | | | || | | | | || S| || || | |! || ||| | || ||| | | ||| | ej || ||| Se || | || so 1 —— 1 a fH HN Th me OK el . ; H s(D e_ > ag S2sS L) A ’ (SESE SECS. i gah rc oc a aa BO Ey Oo aha ie Oo idee ~9 CONTENTS Page No A Survey of the City Administration— Penis, Ofenapid sO TOwtlien: erate aah siete ve antely Pre oh ioc Onical sm etch sOfo FlLOnstotay. a2 Pal a ates Hees, 32 Meters and atid Departinentt patent c.08 . ga thats oa ore 45 Mites co epartinett sac .s we es ci anes Mee eh eda hcg Do Maremurnter~ WenartmMentss ga newton fetid sis oe gal ae laos.t wore ae 6 59 iemetreet. Ady Drage: LENart nents yy unte . ohe ota ent. « 64 Mirewitewals Department facie ee as Fok ee oes 69 : POM anh Pore BUS wae (olmn Mey a td Coc Ml es ee i 9 a cae 73 PbicmemmenoMercn Lepartimiettreg, male tnrsl olg Ueleis iiss a sre ¢ 77 Gem DLGEM COGIC 95 a5, iets maine ter ue Miers Meco A wigs os ai 83 Semi meiiicey COMMISSION enone te ies ce Vo ek ass 89 : Game tioiiee ines DEPALtinentines sot cstye ch bi meena dja clrs. screw Cask OF Panera DatirGM mee EAT KS! os eg hgh t betel aealle gist he was Ade VIS eee DAn Melty Ore E UDG, met vice. wade, -ns afeee e's ee shes 119 Sr SVCAIR LEO DATAIICUCs: <.. 2 nyiian tes ot ai) Nek ae he Kran eels 125 MpemE LeCLL Vaal epartirielit: oar stay as We fal ale oe sid Swans 135 Menemavecreationmepar tients win aay ay sd) aes «aul toe done. woke. oe 143 ares Minaieipa ly Golf Course 01-8. 55 <2, rai of lease kava eas 149 fiinee EI Oiist Gere POUNCALION |. siete te wake eine tian srs ee ana bas hes Corporation: Court: 5. ..5.% Bey OMe cn eee inl s a 159 Pion Uenartrients Ol s.rOnitecttrenw. so. nen tac nee sai ees lol Mier onoctalwmervice er, ro pa Mowston's Great Port : A veritable beehive of cont (INwWous ACTIVITY * * P vs «tn = Sa eke F ’ 54 ue ot 3 = D ‘ LP 4 é 4 » an d oo: © ee 4 > . ; ae : ’ 5 + i - x Hie Uinnad Laid 5. teen Saal TEP EIS, is Ae wr tenn. bey nn = Dy ene eee = hy ep ay = BERR Mc ah gat . a. ey ER Ne Fe tl ‘ L he es CULSE 1 Ind We © & Wass Po gr a= wa O A, Sf big ocean liner fey after 2 the 9) Scenes when — vi +°cuil SH LH hE | | Hh || HT | EA me A me A mR o- Years of Rapid Growth By H. Clay Waters HE story of Houston for the last four years is one of marvelous progress and achievement. It may have been equaled; it hasn’t been surpassed. in this country where the wonderful progress of city growth is one of the wonders of the modern world. In that four year period the city has struck its stride toward its goal as the metropo- lis of the whole Southwest. -It has begun to realize on the dreams and ambitions of those city builders, who for a half century have never doubted but that here is to be one of the cities of the greatest nation of the earth. Its port in that time has come into its own, and no port in the history of the world ever had a more rapid growth, or possessed such potential possibilities for the future. As gratifying as may have been the progress of the city prior to this time, no simi- lar period in the entire former history of the city has been so filled with material growth as have the four years just closed. It is baffling to one when he attempts to condense into a brief review the accomplishments of the City during this epoch making period. Just four years ago, when the present city administration was ushered into power, the City had not yet recovered from the stagnation necessarily incident to the war. But almost instantly the recovery was quick and substantial. Private initiative along every line began to reassert itself. The people responded to the urgent call of the city govern- ment for funds to keep pace with this marvelous growth, and so readily did they do so, that the municipal government has not only been enabled to keep pace with the rapid growth of the city, but actually to go ahead of it. More pavement than in any other two similar periods of the city have been con- structed, streets have been widened, driveways along bayous have been constructed, here- tofore inaccessible sections of the city have been pierced by highways, new park sites have been secured, old park sites have been improved, sewers have been constructed to nearly every portion of the city, great strides have been made in drainage work, handsome new public buildings have been built and in many ways the city transformed almost as if by magic. And after the four years, and with the same administration in control, we stand right on the threshold of even greater achievements, under a municipal program of improvement that will dwarf what has gone before. Streets Let’s. take for example, street paving for the past four years. Houston has today 119.49 miles more of paved streets than it had January 1, 1921. Of this 43.94 miles is hard surfaced, permanent paving, constructed at a total cost to the city and property owners of $3,807,312.76, and 75.552 miles of gravel and shell pavements. This is a paving record of which any city might be proud but it is not the whole story. The city is now in the midst of a paving program, not included in these figures, and in the coming year will almost duplicate this record. - 31 1 — 1 — 1] 11 Lf || | NN NL NN NN NN HN HN EH | HH 8 The city has adopted the uniform policy of widening all streets when they are paved, where it 1s possible, and numerous streets have already been widened to accommodate constantly increasing traffic. There has also been written into specifications a provision that street names must be placed in the curbing at all street intersections. The City has also introduced competition into the bidding for paving and costs to both the city and property owners have been greatly reduced. Notable achievements have been the paving of Waugh Drive, Buffalo Bayou Drive, White Oak Bayou Drive, the completion of Washington Avenue paving, the opening and paving of Polk Avenue and widening of McKinney Avenue, all great highways of heavy traffic. The bringing close together of all the South Side with Houston Heights by construction of Waugh Drive is an accomplishment of signal importance. The paving of Telephone Road as far as Kensington is another major achievement. Sewers This is the record fon three. years in the construction of sanitary sewers: MILES POZE SS. PS cee eee 1.411 1922S. oie eee ee ee 6.23 POZ3 | US Da Ee a i ee al L024 no: ko yeti ord. ee OZ In addition to the above there were constructed by private owners in the three years a total of 45.011 miles of sanitary sewers at a total cost of $248,912.42. This work was al! done under supervision and according to approved plans of the City Engineering De- partment, so it becomes an integral part of the City sewerage system. It will be seen that in the four years 74.79 miles of sanitary sewers have been constructed at a cost of $511,528.42, practically doubling the mileage of the sewerage system. When the present plans are completed the City will be 90 per cent covered by sanitary sewerage. During the same four years 21.5 miles of storm sewers have been constructed at a cost of approximately $1,000,000. Bridges During this period of time ten bridges have either been completed or are in process of construction at a cost of $1,052,848, including bridge repairs. These are the Shep- herd Dam Bridge, the Heights Boulevard, the Sabine Street, the Crockett Street, the Cleveland Park, the Watson Street, Taylor Street (repairs), and Slaughter Pen Bayou Bridge. In addition, work is nearing completion on the Smith Street Bridge. We may add to this the North Main Street Subway, begun and completed during the present Ad- ministration at a cost of $250,000. An’ agreement was made with the Southern Pacific Railroad by which it paid one- half of the cost of the North Mam Street Subway, the Street Car Company paying .one- half the remaining cost, and the subway is now completed and in use. An agreement was made with the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad, by which that company paid $32,000.00 of the cost-of the construction of the Crockett. Street - 3ridge, which was another step toward the elimination of grade crossings. 3? Dm ~9 Ci LT Hl Hl || HF A hi FN ff | AL — Hh fh IR 8 The first step has been taken in the construction of the Sabine Street Bridge towards the improvement of the permanent exposition site. A dam has been con- structed across Buffalo Bayou there which will form a lake. An agreement has been reached with the County whereby it agrees to furnish one- half of $200,000, for the construction of a bridge across the Ship ,Channel at some point just above the Turning Basin, Parks More has been done for the establishment of a real park system in the last four years, than in all the former years of the City’s history. Much new land has been added to the park use stem and much improvement work has been carried on in the parks. aie Notable among park achievements is acquiring of the parks site of 1503 acres at Camp Logan in the western section of the City, which is to become a memorial to the thousands of soldier boys who trained there during the war as well as the greatest recreation ground in Texas. The city also purchased a large additional tract of land for Hermann Park. Real estate men say both these tracts were bought at a great bargain by the city, and the city received a donation of $50,000 from Will C. Hogg in the purchase of the former. At Hermann Park a zoo has been created, which. has really become one of the show places of the city, visited by thousands of persons on pretty days.. This is an achievement almost solely of the last four years. Hermann Square was improved at a cost of $4,748 and the City provided from current revenues $20,000 for the beautification of Root Memorial Park, a donation of the Root heirs to the City: In addition to this the City provided $33,000 from current revenues for the general improvement of the parks and the purchase of playground equipment. There has been constructed at Hermann Park, one of the finest golf courses in the South, which has popularized the game of Golf in Houston and made it possible for those not wealthy to enjoy this healthful and pleasant outdoor exercise. The Miller Memorial, beautiful outdoor amphitheatre, where open air concerts of all kinds are held, has been constructed at a cost of $49,779. This was made possible thru the generous bequest of Jesse Wright Miller, a citizen of Houston, who left the money for park improvements, and his relatives requested it be put in some sort of a memorial to his memory, rather than that it be spent for general park purposes. A paved highway has been constructed around and thru Hermann Park on what is known as Dixie Drive. During each summer the city provides funds for holding band concerts in the parks and there are free moving pictures, where thousands of people enjoy outdoor recreation. In mentioning parks we should not overlook the tourists’ camp at Hermann Park, or the playground there for the children of the city, admittedly one of the largest and finest in Texas. Several thousand destitute persons were employed for park work during December 1921 and January 1922, to relieve the acute unemployment situation at that time. 5 > JI oot ST | HH FH et ee Hn nn tn nh nt A nn He Ae = HD Oe Traffic One of the finest achievements of the last two years was the removal of street car tracks from Main Street. The City secured the removal by an agreement with the Street Car Company, by which the latter also agreed to expend $1,200,000 in improving service. This removal of Main Street car tracks greatly relieves traffic congestion in the business district of the City. More than a year ago the people voted to abolish jitneys in exchange for many im- provements to be made by the Street Car Company, and a settlement of the long dis- cussed traction problem was made and the Houston Electric Company has carried out its agreement in good faith. Another great relief to traffic was the installation of the traffic signal system. Its benefits may be seen at a glance at these figures. In 1921, before it was installed, there were 189 accidents, with two deaths and twenty-eight persons injured in the congested traffic district. In 1922, after its installation, accidents dropped to 102, with one death and only 12 persons injured. The City Council has recently adopted a new code to regulate traffic, greatly sim- plifying the old system and containing numerous new and modern regulations expected to greatly reduce accidents. One feature is the further extension of the traffic signal lights to several other streets. The Port District Another major accomplishment of the last four years was the creation of a port dis- trict. For many years the. City Government has been burdened with the task of issuing bonds for port development purposes. Mayor Holcombe originated and had created by the State Legislature the Navigation District, which includes all of Harris County, being entirely free from the City Government insofar as issuance of bonds for port develop- ment purposes is concerned. Since the creation of the Navigation District the people have approved a bond issue of $4,000,000 for new wharves and the work is completed. This, with the 30 feet of water in the channel, now a reality, means the City will have one of the finest ports on the Gulf, with facilities adequate to handle twice the present tonnage. In this connection it should be mentioned the long-agitated Manchester Wharf con- troversy has been settled and that wharf with sheds constructed at a cost of $169,140. The cotton sheds on North Side were completed at a cost of $145,529. In addition $35,000 was spent on permanent improvements of the wharves out of current City reve- nues before they were taken over by the Navigation District. The cost of the cotton sheds also came from City funds. This was done by the City before the port affairs were turned over to the Navigation District. Public Buildings In the erection of new pubic buildings the city has kept up with its progress along other municipal lines. 34 £m 8 8 ht th ht Nh LN 18 1) me 1 He Yh HH He HH ug>- . The new Police and Fire Station, the most handsome and commodious building of its kind in the state, has recently been finished at a cost of $300,000, of which all but $100,000 was taken from current city revenues. Work has almost been completed on the first unit of a $500,000 library building, the money for which has been provided in two bond issues. This handsome civic building is located on a whole block of ground in the heart of the city, purchased and to be paid for by current taxes. In addition, work is progressing on two branch libraries, one on the North Side and the other in Houston Heights. They are to cost $50,000 each. The money for these comes from the sale of the old library building and site. The City, in conjunction with the county, has also completed work on the Jefferson Davis hospital, which cost $350,000. It is the finest wholly publicly supported hospital in Texas, and includes an insane ward which will make it possible to move the insane from the County Jail. The City in its old hospital cared for 1,574 patients a year, and in the new hospital will be enabled to care for double that number. Additions have also been made to the City Tubercular Hospital, notable among these one for the care of negro tubercular patients and through a gift of Mrs. James L. Autrey, a combination school-hospital for children is being constructed at a cost of $75,000. It has only recently completed improvements on the City Auditorium at a cost of $400,000. which makes that one of the finest structures of its kind in the entire South. Three new fire station buildings have been constructed and much additional fire equipment purchased, without taking any money from bond issues. In addition to this many smaller city buildings have been constructed, such as shelter houses in parks, houses for the animals in the zoo and new buildings to house equipment for the departments of the city. Police The improvements here enumerated are nearly all of a general nature. There have been a multitude of improvements, and betterments, purely of a departmental nature. But it might be well to mention the many changes and improvements in the Police Department. The Traffic Squad has been entirely reorganized and put under a captain of police. It is now, without a doubt one of the finest Traffic squads of any city of this size in the country. The standard of personnel of the Police Department has been greatly improved; the men are better dressed than formerly, and a greater spirit of loyalty to their superiors and the public service exists. ‘Miscellaneous An article of this length can but merely enumerate many achievements of the last four years in the Municipal Government. During that time a City Business Manager has been created, under which is corre- lated the purchasing of city supplies, the management of the municipal store and the city 3 oO “ol i 1 He HE Nm HN Nh NN NN HE HH A Hl I> «= market house and Auditorium and a host of other activities. This department has proven a great saving to the city and has greatly simplified and put under central and efficient direction many activities of the city that formerly were scattered thru -many departments. The: office of Public Service Commissioner has been created. The expense of this office is paid for by income of franchise tax on public service concerns of the city for that express purpose, altho the appointment of the commissioner and his entire direction is in the hands of the City Council. In this connection it might be mentioned the City Government has secured a reduction of one cent per kilowatt hour in electric light rates. It has secured a reduction of street car.fares from straight seven cents to four tokens for 25 cents. In addition it has made agreements by which the company has spent and is spending several millions in extensions of lines and betterment of service and has secured the establishment of three bus lines, something entirely new in the city. The names of hundreds of city streets have been changed to do away with duplica-. tions. A new city building code has been compiled and will soon be enacted ay the City Council. ) A new code of city ordinances has been made and published in book form, making accessible many new city ordinances that formerly could be found only in city recor books, A department of architecture has been created, which does all city work, saving the city large fees. The Houston fire department was completely motorized on February 11, 1922. The double platoon system for firemen was established, cutting the number of hours of duty from 24 to 12, The city ordered and secured the extension of gas mains to thousands of consumers and a great improvement in the service. The city farm was re-opened and city convicts removed from jail and many men have been rehabilitated and enabled to return to work. An amendment to the city charter was adopted by vote of the people increasing salaries of commissioners from $2400 to $3600 a year. A number of unsightly city dumps, a menace to health, have been eliminated by the construction of incinerators. _ During the present administration there has also been created a City Planning Com- tnission, with a view to mapping out the Houston of the future and making plass for’. the growth and expansion of the city in a systematic way. All the time the health department has been supported in a liberal manner and has undertaken a number of new activities. Among these might be mentioned the efforts at mosquito control. While not entirely successful as yet it has resulted in a decrease in the number of mosquitoes and elimina- tion of much malaria and the minimizing of other diseases. 36 oo pil TT ll ll ll ll | | TT Ll HY | ||| | | | | | | | | liga The city has also passed an abattoir ordinance and for the first time in its history the meat the people consume is now inspected by the city health department before it is put on the market. E It also passed an ordinance requiring that all dairies with more than two cows must move out of the city limits, except under certain conditions where neighborhoods sign pe- titions requesting they be left in their midst. With all these increased activities and this vast program of public improvements the City Council this year found it possible to cut the tax rate 7144, which will apply to taxes payable Srterm ann bh. Conclusion This is necessarily but a brief sketch, or rather enumeration of some of the things that have been done. When you speak of the progress of Housion for the four years past, you must speak in terms of the superlative. Only recently the people by an overwhelming majority ex- pressed confidence in the conduct of the city government, and delivered their mandate the growth and progress of the city must not stop, by adopting a bond issue of $1,500,- 000 for street improvements, storm and sanitary sewers and a library. At the same time they approved a bond issue of $3,000,000 for schools, proposed. by the school district, which is now entirely separate from the city government, thru the endeavors of this ad- ministration. The city has every cause to be happy that the great era of ldicars ete and growth has not passed. We are in the very midst of it. The city stands at the threshold of a future much brighter even sha her past. She is going on to greater things and plans already made and in the making give assurances her future is to be no less bright than her past. 37 4842617 ° 5.325912 3.566, 868 2403579 3.086.870 3.124327 2.270.649 6.861.619 8.531.447 10.398.295 13.390469 os co 2 Sh = D a n o x = a = os ay ca D ay D ia] Ou D a D & D | Houston BuiLDING PERMITS By YEARS. 96,273,850 97059385 109.597.280 135.805000 131145690 | 134,552.670 143,791,310 150,100,580 175,.712.930 183.023,260 188,382,520 1924 1923 1922 1921 19201919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 I9le COMPARATIVE CHART oF ASSESSED VALUATIONS 19]2-19P4. This Saphic chart tells 2a great story of Jroustons continuous progress during the past len years, —__” ——_“ 1 OT i i TT Ll lL EL i fH | i HH HH 1h || ff | NiG2 ©» The Houston of Yesterday, Today and ‘Tomorrow By Norman H. Beard romance. From the dawn of the early days when rugged pioneers blazed the trail as pathfinders of a new civilization and established a little settlement to the present afternoon of a metropolis in the making, Houston’s journey along the path of progress has been continuous and eventful. It has been a forward march of development and achievement and fills the hearts of all of our people with pride. Jk HISTORY OF HOUSTON is a beautiful story ripe with action and full of As we go into retrospect we can view clearly through our own mind’s eye the sacri- fices endured by the settlers of the yesteryear and the services rendered by ambitious and loyal citizens of other years and of this present time whose unselfish efforts of un- limited extent, together with our own natural advantages have made possible Houston’s place among the cities of big things. And from that early dawn in the beginning to the afternoon of today and along the roadway of success to the sunset of tomorrow will be the climax, when greater Houston will be crowned with wreaths of everlasting glory as the Southwest’s greatest city. History will then record page after page of sterling achieve- ment which will be a heritage to posterity and an inspiration to those of stability and purpose of other localities toward higher ideals and limitless civic endeavor. The history of Houston is intimately entwined with the history of Texas. She takes her name from the most illustrious hero of Texas history, who carved the independence of this mighty state with his sword, at the battle of San Jacinto, when the proud Santa Anna fell before his small, but gallant hosts of freemen. And Houston claims that sacred field as its own for it lies only a few miles away, along the banks of the Houston Ship Channel. The din of that battle, that gave Texas birth as a Republic had hardly died away until Houston was born. The city owes its birth to a disagreement between the found- ers of Harrisburg and the Allen brothers. The latter left the town of Harrisburg and in 1837, the year after the freedom of Texas was won, moved to the present site of Houston and founded this city. Like all pioneers, who found what the years are apt to develop into mighty cities, they met with obstacles that would have discouraged those made of less stern material. The worst handicap was the lack of roads and means of transportation. But undaunted by this the early settlers constructed a plank road from Houston, north into the interior of Texas. Already in that old plank road was laid the chart that marked out the direction which was to flow the commerce from a mighty hinterland to the sea. Over this came the slow ox teams, with their heavy wagons, carrying the loads of cotton, corn and cattle, produced by the settlers in the interior of the state, and carrying | back to them the supplies which they needed. Old settlers can tell you today how even then the ship channel was a part of their lives, for to its banks they brought their prod- ucts and loaded them on barges, which carried them to New Orleans. 39 oo Kh —— —_—— I — 1 fH | A ig =+ No sooner had Houston beeri founded than talk of construction of a railroad began. But it was 1847 before it took tangible form. Then General Sydney Sherman associated himself with a number of prominent Houston and Galveston men, organized a company and began construction of the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railroad. By the end of 1852 the road had been completed to the Brazos, 32 miles and in 1869 reached Alley- ton, seventy-nine miles from Harrisburg. This first railroad of Texas is now the Galves- ton, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway. From this humble beginning has grown the great railroad system of this state, with a total mileage of 16,000. And today Houston boasts proudly that “seventeen railroads tHeetithe sea here. The story of the growth of Houston from the little village at the head of navigation of that day. with its ox teams and its barges, made for shallow water, to the Houston of today, with its seventeen great rail systems and its great ocean liners lying at berth in its port, is one filled with romance as sparkling as ever writer of fiction penned. Here for a time was located the capital of Texas. Here were enacted the most stirring scenes of the State’s history in war and peace. Here flourished the flower of the Old South. Here came the pioneers, the men of the plains. to trade and meet in social concourse. Thru Houston poured the mighty tide of immigration that was to turn a wilderness of sage brush and timber jungle into a garden spot of the world. Here met the leaders of Texas political thought to nee the destinies of that great em- pire. . One story of Houston’s past is told in the census figures. Those figures for the last sixty years give the population of Houston as follows: 1860, 4,845; 1870, 9,382; 1880, 16,513; 1890, 27,557; 1900, 44,638; 1910, 78,800; 1920, 138,276; estimated population (Greater Houston) 1925, 250,000. The Houston of Today The Greater Houston of today is a city with an estimated poptilation of 250,000, growing at such a rapid rate in both population and territorial extent that those public utilities that serve its everyday needs are*finding it almost impossible to keep pace with its growth. For instance the Houston Lighting & Power Co., already with an investment of more than $10,000,000 is investing $10,000,000 more to keep pace with the growth. The Hous- ton Electric Co., which has just expended $1,250,000 is spending immediately another $1,500,000 to make exparisions to care for the City’s expansion. The Southwestern Tele- phone Co., has just announced a program of expending $1,750,000 annually for five years in an, effort to keep up with the city. The Houston Gas & Fuel Co., is adding $750,000 to its plant this year to try and match the demands for gas. ‘. These are but indications of what the Houston of Today is fone in the way of growth. . Greater Houston covers much more territory than is included in the corporate limits. So rapidly has it spread out that it now touches. on many sides densely built up séctions and it is not a rash prediction to say’ that ere long the Harrisburg founded in 1837 and the Houston founded in’ the samie vear will lock arms as one incorporated city as they have locked arms as one in population and common interest. 40 DI 8 ht i LL LH LHL A ig - The rapid growth of the City has brought up many novel and complex prob!ems for the municipal government to solve. The rapid growth has made necessary vast improve- ments, far beyond the power of current tevenues to meet. Necessarily, as in every growing city, these demands have been met by the issuance of bonds. But Houston’s bonded indebtedness today is as low per capita as most cities of the country, altho $3,000,000 of those bonds are represented in port facilities. The City closed the last year with $210,000.00 surplus in its treasury. The city has a commission form of government, the second of its kind to be or- ganized in the United States. It consists of a mayor and four commissioners, elected by the voters. Each commissioner is assigned to direct a department, and is held ac- countable for that department, altho the mayor and four commissioners constitute the commission, which passes upon all matters of importance or of general city interest. The tax rate in Houston is $1.825 on the $100. It has a scientific system of valuing land, known as the ‘Somers system, which has proven so satisfactory that complaints in regard to land valuation are so rare in the tax assessors’ office as to attract attention. Formerly the school system was a part of the city government, but a year ago the Houston Independent School District was organized and the conduct of the schools are entirely in the hands of a board of seven members, elected by the voters, alternately, four one year and three the next. The School system has sixty (60) primary and gram- mar schools, and five (5) high schools and is engaged in spending $3,000,000 on new buildings. Formerly, also, the port was in charge of the municipal government. But a year ago that was separated from the city and is now administered through a board, representing the navigation district, embracing all the county. The county commissioners and city council each appoint three members and a fourth is appointed at’ a joint session of the two boards. It administers port facilities of $10,000,000 constantly increasing in value. Houston has the distinction of being the largest inland cotton market in the world and the second largest cotton export market in the United States. It is- the largest rail center South of St. Louis and thousands of its people find work in the shops, on the trains and in the general offices of railroads. It.is one of the few cities in the United States with a landlocked harbor system, where rail and water transportation. meet at shipside. % Houston has a water supply second to none in the United States, with a boundless amount of water available at a less cost perhaps than anywhere else in the United States. Scores of artesian wells give it a water supply which the United States health service has already pronounced the most pure in the .country. ; This probably partly accounts for the fact its infant mortality rate last year was the lowest in the United States and with a death rate of 11 it was rated by the United States health service among the most healthful cities of the United States. The ‘climate:of Houston is semi-tropical. The temperature seldom goes below 32 de- grees in the winter nor above 98 in the summer and cool gulf breezes make the nights delightful. Roses ;bloom here all the year round and home grown strawberries.are always on the’ market in February and often eariier in the winter. Great truck loads of home 41 f 7 Y f iar A HN NL HH NY Hh HH (RD grown vegetables are hauled in daily the year round by truck growers and surround what travelers say is the finest market house in the United States. Houston is a city of churches and schools. A great art institute, free to all the public is nearing completion. The people have provided funds for a_ half-million dollar unit of what is to be a million dollar library, in addition to two branch libraries, costing $50,000 each. Standing at the head of her superb educational system is Rice Institute, ranking with the finest universities of this or the Old World. It was founded by the estate of William Marsh Rice and its endowment is now $13,000,000, increasing rapidly in value. In hospitals it is soon to be well supplied. Besides its great denominational hospita's, of which there are three, and numerous private sanitariums, it has now completed build- ing the first unit of a $2,000,000 hospital, well endowed, the gift of the late George H. Hermann and a $300,000 city-county hospital, besides a tubercular hospital. Houston is a great oil center. Within a short radius of Houston are some of the great oil fields of the world and the derricks of spouting oil wells may be seen from the tops of its buildings. Some of the great oil companies maintain their general offices and have erected some of the big buildings of the South to house their thousands of em- ployees. It is impossible to calculate in dollars the amount of wealth poured into Hous- ton by oil, but it runs into many millions annually. Houston is the greatest lumber center of the South and here many of the great lum- ber companies maintain offices that employ hundreds of persons each. Refineries down the ship channel give employment to housands more of Houston’s population and they are expanding and growing at such a rate that big additions to a refinery have almost ceased to be a matter of news. Houston now offers the finest opportunities of any city in the country to the manu- facturer. The raw material lies all around and near. Among these raw materials are cotton, wood, lumber, oil, rice, iron ore, sulphur lignite coal and many others. The city has the finest railroad facilities of any city in the South with its seventeen railroads. It has along the ship channel the finest sites for factories in the United States and these sites are all reached by a helt railroad, publicly owned, opening the sea to the manufacturer on the one side and unparalleled rail transportation on the other. The success of scores of industries, of a diversified nature, along the channel has dem- onstrated the advantages of these resources. Added to this it has the advantage of the lowest commercial electric power rate in the country, and a $10,000,000 plant now in construction on the channel will assure a never ending supply of this. But a great coal bunkering plant is in process of construc- tion on the channel which is to bring coal from the Birmingham fields by water, greatly reducing its cost, by eliminating land freight rates. Costs of living here are lower than in many sections. There is an abundant supply of labor. Living is desitable, because of good roads, schools, colleges and churches and with a climate that has none of the rigors of a northern climate and with bathing in the surf near Houston in the summer and unexcelled fishing and hunting the year round. There are forty miles of locations on each side of the ship channel,for industries. A: belt railroad connects these industries on the land side with all the interior of the coun- 42 +i) mH Bm 1m hm 1h 0m 1 HN Hh 1 A Nh Hm 8 9 HN Nh NN HN HN HN YN I> o- try and on the water side they are connected with all the ports of the world. Taxes are low because most of this water front is outside the limits of any city. These are some of the reasons why already plants valued at $50,000,000 have located along the channel and why more than $40,000,000 of investments are now being made. The railroads play such an important part in the commercial life of Houston that any description of the Houston of today would be imperfect without a more detailed account of the magnitude of their activities. More than 125,000 cars are handled monthly in the great rail terminals about the city. In addition to the seventeen railroads Houston is headquarters for express and pullman car companies for a vast territory about the city. The Southern Pacific maintains general offices and occupies exclusively eleven floors of a twelve story building. This system serves over 250 industries on the North Side of the Ship Channel alone. The shops of the company are the largest in the South and the company is constantly making large additions to them. It builds in these shops everything from box cars to the largest locomotives. It repairs on an average monthly 3,000 freight cars, 30 passenger cars and 75 locomotives, besides the hundreds of cars and scores of locomotives it annually builds. These shops employ 2500 men, with a monthly payroll of $325,000. The total payroll for railroad employees in Houston are in excess of $1,000,000 monthly. To get some idea of the Port of Today as compared with the port of only a few years back we have only to take the figures for January of last year. Cargoes valued at $17,408,564 passed thru the port in that one month. That was an increase of 76 per cent over the same month of the year before and a gain of 121 per cent over two years before and 277 per cent over three years before. A total of 322,103 tons moved over the port terminals in January. These figures tell more eloquently than can words of the rapid growth of the port, which is one of the marvels of the shipping world. Sixty vessels, or an average of two a day, entered the port in January 1924. This was a gain of 17 per cent over the year before, 87 per cent over two years before and 237 per cent over 1919. The city celebrated the shipping of the millionth bale of cotton for this season out of the port here on April 3, 1924. The Houston of the Future None can judge of the future but by the past. We have seen from its earliest days of ox teams and barges to the present of mighty railway trains and ocean liners that the trend of commerce is from the interior to Houston, where it meets the sea. Houston is what geographers and economists call one of the nodal points of com- merce—that is a logical point for the commerce of a great empire to reach the sea where it may scatter itself to the people of all the world. It is at just such points that mighty cities have grown up. It is first necessary that the great hinterland that is to send forth its products and call for products in exchange be developed. A story of that development is a story of the magic development of Texas. 43 re 1 1 i | | VL HN HH (> += Secondly, it is necessary that the city, which nature had made the nodal point for the handling of commerce, shall be ready to handle it. Texas and Port Houston have developed together. While pioneers worked and toiled developing Texas, others were working and planning and dreaming of the time when Houston would be ready. Today finds her ready. The last three years have seen her port grow from a small one to one of the great ones on the coast of this country. Houston has begun to harvest the fruits of long years of toil. The port is in its infancy. Industries have sprung up along that channel as if by magic. Great ocean liners seemed all at once to Dome their prows inland to find Houston with a welcome for them. We might in speaking of the Houston of the future tell in details how many, many millions of public and private improvements have been planned for the immediate future —how these boulevards along the bayou were to be constructed, how they have just built $3,000,000 of new wharves at the port, how millions of dollars in hospitals, new churches, magnificent homes is to be spent the next year—plans already made. But that isn’t the story of the Houston of the Future. The things of the year, of the next two or three years will pale into insignificance before the greater things of the years still to come. / Those who know. Houston, its past and its present, can speak of its future only in terms that sound hyperbolic—they can visualize it only as the metropolis of a mighty empire, one of the greatest of the great. +i 1 Nh NH LY HL EN HF HL AL HN HH HH A NN LN HH > The Tax and Land Department H. A. Halverton, Tax and Land Commissioner. Mayor Pro Tem. has stood the test in Houston and each year since the adoption of the unit plan the City’s tax commissioners have endeavored to make the system more precise and efficient. — G iss 1912 the unit system of equalization of real estate values for taxation purposes With this unit system in vogue every taxpayer in Houston feels that he is on an equal basis with his neighbor, as far as taxation is concerned, and that the taxing of property is entirely removed from politics. Houston’s taxable values have been more than trebled in the last fourteen years, in- creasing from $63,746,693 in 1910 to $205,256,660 in 1924. The Tax Department is one of the most important branches of the City Govern- ment, for through that office must flow all of the money which is paid in for the operation of the City. In 1924 the Tax Department collected in taxes and from other sources $6,569,510.02. Houston’s Tax Department consists of a Tax and Land Commissioner, elected; As- sessor and Collector, Chief Clerk, Assessing Department, Chief Clerk, Collecting Depart- ment, Land Calculators, Building Appraiser, general office clerks, stenographers, op- erators and a cashier. It also has within the organization a Board known as the Board of Appraisers. This Board is composed of the Tax and Land Commissioner, Assessor and Collector of Taxes, and the Fire Commissioner, whose duties are to investigate and dispose of all disputes arising in the Tax Department relative to value on and assessable .property against the rendition of the property owner. In case of a disagreement with the decision of the Board of Appraisers by any taxpayer, an ap- peal from said Board of Appraisers may be made to the City Council. Not a single ap- peal was filed during the year 1924. When the roll or rolls have been carefully’ examined and property equitably adjusted, and have eyualized the taxable values thereon, the Board of Appraisement reports its action to the City Council. Any system of taxation, no matter how perfect at one time, will in a few years get out of line in a greater or lesser degree. Conditions in a growing city are continually changing and a constant vigilance has to be kept up to keep in touch with the changing conditions and values of all assessable property. It is meant by this that real estate is constantly changing ownership and values ebb and flow; cheap acreage a few months ago is laid out into additions and sold to home owners, necessitating considerably more cleri- cal work due to the numerous additional property owners. There. have been many changes all through the City during the past year which makes up an increase of ap- proximately five thousand assessments in 1924 over the previous year. The duties of this office have been made greater and more burdensome year after year on account of added territory and a constant increase of population. 45 ° © 1 1 1 hm a tht me dm me me me me me 4 me AH mH HH ee ee em (gD The stationery and records of the Tax Department are composed of the following forms: One set of computation slips showing in detail the method of arriving at the value of the tract, giving the width of the lot, the depth, unit value or values, the num- ber of the lot, block, addition and the owner. One set of building record slips showing the size, the number of stories and detailed information regarding the ex- terior and interior of every building within the City, including an estimate of its present value based upon what it would cost to reproduce, less depreciation for age, condition, obsolence or lack of utility. One set of field books, showing the location of every building in the City. One set of sectional maps showing the unit foot values and all acreage values of the entire City. This map is used in submitting the unit foot value to the property owner for criticism or approval. One index map showing the boundaries and number of each sectional map. One set of block books and plat books covering the entire City. Block books showing individual plats of each block as recorded ; plat books showing subdivisions of acreage tracts. Inventory sheets showing the valuation of both the taxpayer and the valuation p!aced by the Board of Appraisement upon the land, improvements, and all personal property by separate columns. This sheet also shows for reference the map number, the volume number, page number, tract number, lot, block, addition, which serves as a permanent record and reference. The Tax Rolls are divided into three classes, namely, the Rendered Rol, the Un- rendered Roll and the Supplemental Roll. From January Ist to the last day of February of each year each citizen has the opportunity of rendering his assessable property for tax- ation on the assessment inventory blank, and must subscribe thereto that his inventory contains a full, true and complete list of all taxable property owned by him, or held in his own name, or held for someone else, and that he has given true answers to all ques- tions propounded to him. All property thus assessed, between the above mentioned dates, make up what is known as the Rendered Roll, and comprised $165,513,710 for the year of 1924. From March lst to June 30th of each year it becomes the duty of the Tax Department to assess all assessable property not already assessed by the owner—this is known as the Un-rendered Roll and comprised $37,482,620 for the year 1924. In the past as well as the present there is assessable property that either from one cause or another has not been rendered for taxation by the owner and has escaped the attention of the Tax Department to be placed on the Un-rendered Roll so in that event from July Ist to December 31st of each year the Tax Department diligently looks for all such assessable property that has not been assessed by the owner or the Tax Department and any such assessable prop- erty found is placed on what is known as the Supplemental Roll, which comprised $2,- 260,330.00 for the year 1924. : During the month of January of each year, a notice is sent to all property owners whose names appear on the delinquent list, notifying them of the fact that their prey- ious years’ taxes remain unpaid and that a ten per cent penalty has been added and in- terest is being charged at the rate of six per cent per annum, as specified in the City Charter, and also notifying them that unless they pay up before March Ist following, that their name and property will appear and be published in’ the delinquent list in a daily newspaper for four consecutive weeks. Immediately after the publication of the de- linquent list, as stated above, the property owner is again notified that within a stated 46 «oll 1 1 1 10 1h me 18 1h FF A EL M— ie Hm HHI © . period from the date of the notice that suit will be instituted for the collection of taxes due. This is the last and final notice before suit is filed. It is necessary in filing suits that all tracts of land be abstracted in order to locate all persons having any interest or holding liens or claims against the property in order that the Tax Department may notify them of the fact that suit is about to be instituted for the collégtion of the delinquent tax. During the year 1924 the Delinquent Tax Depart- ment abstracted 3,000 tracts of land, filed suits against approximately 1,000 tracts of land, and obtained approximately 200 judgments. After the filing of a suit it is necessary to have service properly issued to the correct address of all parties interested and to have them served with proper citation. The Tax Attorney prepares all judgments and super- vises the issuance of all executions and sales. This Department also issues on an average of three hundred tax certificates monthly; also makes out approximately 6,000 delinquent tax statements. The total collections of delinquent taxes, penalties, interest and other costs in 1924 were $551,752.26. The total assessed value of the rolls mentioned above for the year of 1924 was $205,- 256,660.00, and at the rate of $2.62 per hundred dollars valuation, should have produced a revenue of approximately $5,435,441.72, of which the Tax Department collected the sum of $5,098,081.88, leaving delinquent the amount of $337,359.84. All these figures in- clude school taxes collected. The Tax Department, in addition to assessing in excess of 50,000 assessments, and collecting the above mentioned amount as City Taxes, issued all city licenses, from the peanut vendor to the travelling circus, also collected from all other departments, except the Water Department, miscellaneous revenue to the amount of $851,499.81. The. total collections of the Tax Department for the year 1924 were as follows: Current Tax, School Taxes and Occupation Tax $5,166,258.45; Delinquent Taxes $551,752.26; Miscellaneous Collections, $851,499.81, making a total of $6,569,510.02. Among the many important activities of this Department is the assessment and _ col- lection of taxes for the Houston Independent School District—this has been done to the entire satisfaction of the Board of Education; all reports on receipts and disbursements have been entirely satisfactory to all concerned. The Tax and Land Department has been unusually active during the year 1924 in the valuation and the handling of the different purchases of real estate by the City, usually taking care of the purchase of property by the City from its beginning to the de- livery of the warrant. Among the large deals handled during 1924 were the purchase of land for Buffalo Bayou Drive, the Boyle Hotel property, to be used for municipal pur- poses, the acquiring of the Memorial Park and numerous purchases for opening of streets —all these transactions have been satisfactorily handled both to the City Council and the persons from whom the land was purchased. The Tax and Land Department is well organized and highly efficient and serves the citizens faithfully. oe i i PE, . Views showing some of Housivon's Fite Fighting Equipment and the ©)|| progressive developement which has >\\@aken place m the course of a few years | iy ee | The old sbjle at ae Cre Seep orwaid ie eR py. ae a ence pour ie cb 2 OW Qa 2ng O07 AMACHITER vr Ola Style eCQuipme past in “Houston Almost a Ching of the past in Toes i Mi % i= * “he Ma « . -_ AS ar! * He " = , S Pr TL NP 5 tous ca ve; aan ‘eee , ‘~ ots The Fire Department Allie Anderson, Fire Commissioner. O DEPARTMENT of the City has had a greater development in recent years than has the fire department. Houston today has a fire department of which every citi- zen may justly feel proud. Grterelize, Fire Chief. A comparison of the department of. ten years ago with the department as it exists today will give some idea of the present organization. In 1913 there were 105. men in the service, while now there are 238 men in this department. In 1924 the department answered 2,023 alarms while ten years ago it answered only 771 alarms. Ten years ago there were only ten fire stations, while now there are sixteen. The annual fire losses in 1913 were $285,183.00, while: last year they were $1,600,000.00. In 1911 there was no motor driven equipment in the department, while now the entire equipment of the department is motorized. The annual budget for the year 1911 was $125,000.00, while the annual budget for 1924 was $406,792.68. The entire department, with four exceptions is under civil service regulations, and only the highest class of men are selected for service. In addition the Civil Service reg- ulations extend discipline in the department and general efficiency is greatly advanced by this wholesome influence.. wor ios) +o 1 EE NF HH A fH A Bf ff HH a HH 11 —— HH Hh Hh HH IRD 9 The department is composed of the following: the fire commissioner, who is the executive head; the fire chief, who is the active head; three assistant chiefs; thirty-two captains; fifty-three chauffeurs; one hundred and thirty-six firemen; one chief clerk of the department, and six miscellaneous employees. The double platoon system has been established under the present fire commission. Formerly firemen were on duty for 24 hours at a stretch—now they work 10 hours and are off duty 14 hours one month and the order is reversed the next month. The double platoon system has greatly added to the efficiency of the department, and has made the men much more contented with their work and enabled the standard of the personnel to be greatly raised. It allows the men to enjoy home life. It is being adopted by the progressive fire departments all over the country and indicates the determination of the Houston department to keep pace with the growth of other cities. The beautiful new down-town Central Fire station was completed under the present administration. It is one of the most modern and now one of the finest equipped fire stations in the country. An additional down town fire station and two new ward sta- tions will be erected during the year 1925. The department also occupied No. 15 fire station at Preston avenue and Hooker street during the year 1923. It has also occupied during 1924 the new station at West- heimer and Yupon Streets. These two stations were badly needed to give the best of fire protection to these respective sections of the city and have been equipped with the most modern fire fighting apparatus... ; The department now has 35 pieces of motor driven equipment in service, of which six steamers are held in reserve. During the present year it is the plan and hopes of the Commissioner to add its greatest piece of equipment, a fire boat.on the ship channel, to give protection to the millions of dollars invested there. This purchase will be by cooperation between the city, the navigation district and the County of Harris. And bids for same were advertised during the first part of 1925. Some new equipment has been added to the department the past year, but constant additions are required in order to keep pace with the tremendous growth of the city. The fire department in recent months has assigned 150 firemen to the work of making a thorough inspection of all fire hazards in the city. This was occasioned by a wave of fires that swept the city in the early part of 1924. It is the aim of the Fire Commissioner to create as soon as practicable a division of the department to be known as the fire prevention division. He believes this work in the department is even more important than the fire extinguishing division and its or- ganization heretofore has only been. delayed by a lack of sufficient number of men. A division of the fire department known as the fire marshal’s office, now does much work along this line. The fire marshal does inspection work, and investigates in order to eliminate where possible fire hazards and determine as nearly as possible the origin of fires. Fire prevention day has become a regular institution in Houston and school children are given instruction on the prevention of fires and a special effort is made to induce all residents and business firms to remove as far as possible all fire hazards. 34 I te mm aT a Nh NB NN A HH — Eh HL HH Nh BN HN We>*« Houston’s good fire record credit for 1923 was 12%, which is one of the best in the state, and has been gradually increased by the small percentage of fire losses in compari- son with the insurance in effect and the vast amount of property involved. The Houston fire department, with its 238 attaches and its 16 stations, is doing a wonderful work to save property and lives in Houston. -During the year there has been some loss of life, both of citizens and brave firemen, who died in the discharge of their duty. But the department has saved many lives and it can proudly point to the fact that during the entire year not a single fire spread beyond the immediate building where it started. Several fires have been of sucha nature that no amount of efficiency on the part of a department could have prevented some loss of life, or could have saved the buildings where the fire started, but they were also in sections of the city where if it had not been for a highly efficient department, the city would undoubtedly have suffered from some great conflagrations. Houston citizens generally appreciate the fact that the firemen encounter many dan- gers in the discharge of their duties. In response to every alarm, their lives are in dan- ger and they are subject to many hazards. In fulfillmg their duties they render a faithful service, braving the elements and unflinchingly performing their assignments in a cour- ageous and highly efficient manner. Line ies One of the most serious problems that has lately confronted the department is that of getting through traffic. In the old days of horsedrawn equipment, when there were few private motor cars, the dangers of making runs to fires were comparatively slight, but during the year several firemen have been injured on the way to fires. How to lessen this danger and still maintain the speed with which the department reaches fires is one of the problems that is perplexing the department. The Fire Commissioner recently appointed a Fire Safety Committee, composed of twelve citizens whose duty will be to attend ali fires and to assist in handling the traffic problem at fires. The Fire Commissioner has sent out appeals to the public to not crowd the high- ways in the vicinity of fires and to always be on the alert to give fire equipment the right of way and there are indications the public is anxious to respond to this appeal. The Houston Fire Department with efficiency a keynote and harmony a paramount factor, is a department of merit and serves the citizens faithfully, protecting their lives and their property. qi tet Tees A onl f clevior ViewNorth Sid Electrical PumpingPlan n SURI CAN ANS Sans: Outside of SouttSidePn ping Plant showing pum ing house & 50,000 gal- lon settling Tan [Exterior view of Centia Pumping Plan€ steam driven oll for fuel ee Be 3 ee Interior view of JoutaSide Tectrical Pumping. lion, pumping [Toms ank (o main usually 4500 £05,000 Sallous per minute\| EA tenant ee - ede 2 ee Seb nt Bet Ft A ore |i EE HN 1 Hh HN he He IR 9 9 The Water Department Jas. H. B. House, Water Commissioner. HERE is probabiy no municipal department of greater and more vital importance, als or more necessary in the daily pursuits of life, of the citizens, than the Water Depart- ment. The public health depends largely upon pure water and Houston is partic- ularly fortunate in possessing an abundant water supply originating from 45 artesian wells of an average depth of 1200 feet, and a well organized and highly efficient department. The analysis of Houston’s water is as follows: Parts per Million ei DEE a i HASSE A Ue are 0 ane Hen 17.20 ‘Carchyl Sheva hatha tvepnch phe! ms SOR SIP ake, pe pele Oe amen ee 0.70 PETA tat DOLAt ae, ee ens ih nlia Abbe Veda) «acdc 117.00 DiAoweslstile DICATDODatCreaes oy tans cats cece ke 39.80 SSORItiitiey OTGAT DONATO eee heme ete eas Gx: orcs 203.00 SOCIUI Pot PALE er ost par Meta Ate nate a- so! 3S ok one 39.60 POUAiTne: HLOT ewer oleae Aeon yes ie rs tes, 65.80 Volatile and Organic Matter ...... EE ge 113.19 During 1924 with over 200 miles of water mains, extending in every direction over a great area within the limits of the City, and five pumping plants of large capacity, 5,470,890,890 gallons of Houston’s invigorating artesian water surged forth for the con- stant use of the people, and increase of 514,455,960 gallons over the year 1923. The total daily average pumpage for the year 1924 was 15,000,000 gallons, an increase in the daily pumpage over 1923 of 1,500,000 gallons. For the year 1924 the earnings of the Department amounted to $523,103.12, an in- crease of $56,981.62 over the previous year, while the total expenses covering operations and maintenance for 1924 were $210,780.00. The 1925 appropriation of the Water Depart- ment is $349,800. The Department has a valuation of $2,500,000. The Water Department is headed by the Water Commissioner, clected by the people. and the departmental organization consists of 66 employees of which number 10 comprise the entire office force, 22 are in the operating, engineering and pumping plant service, while the remainder occupy placements in the skilled and day labor service. Included among the total number of employees are 3 meter readers and 3 helpers, whose duties involve continuous attention to the 25,595 water meters in use. The department maintains a completely stocked store room where parts and equipment and replacement materials are received and issued and service connections repaired. During the year several miles of new mains were constructed. The extensions that were made have strengthened the system, in many instances eliminating dead end lines, and giving fire protection to many. The department is proud of the fact that during the year 1924 the pumpage increased over a million and a half gallons per day, with only two additional wells, over that of 59 +o ill S10 (RD +» 1923. These wells were drilled at the Central Plant and put into operation the first part of 1923. The largest daily pumpage in the history of Houston was on August 25th, 1924, 18,734,130 gallons. During the dry summer months when domestic consumption is at its height it must be remembered that there must be sufficient water to maintain the proper pressure and volume of water for fire purposes. There will be greater demand in 1925 for water than there was in 1924, and arrange- ments have practically been made to establish a modern new pumping plant and to drill additional wells. . Central Plant This plant, the parent and oldest of the pumping units of the Department, is termed the reserve plant and is prepared at all times to reinforce the City’s water supply in the event of a breakdown at one or all of the electrically driven plants. This is the most important unit of the water works system, and this unit is rendering a most satisfactory. service, both as to production and operating cost. During 1924 two new wells were com- pleted at the plant increasing its supply 3,000 gallons per minute. South Side Plant This is the most important electrically operated unit of the water works system and this unit is rendering a most satisfactory service both as to production and operating cost. West End Plant This unit continues to produce very satisfactorily and the water supply produced by two wells at the present time 1s ample for the requirements of the plant. North Side Plant This unit is operating smoothly and with the completion of new wells the water sup- ply at this point will be adequate for immediate requirements. All of the plants operate 24 hours a day. As the years pass not only the mains, service pipe and fire plugs need more attention but the Department grows and naturally more money is required for maintenance and op- eration. The meters and fire plugs have been standardized in order, that it will not be necessary to carry sO many repair parts tor so many different makes of meters and fire plugs. Many private lines and service pipes are too small for the number of houses served. It is now the rule of this departiment when a tap is made for a private line, to ascertain how many houses are to be served and try to determine positively that the line is not too small for the supply. A fundamental policy of the present administration of the Water Department is that the Department should not be operated with a view of making a large profit, and that any earnings accrued from the departmental activities should be returned to the people in the form of extensions and general improvements. There are many expenditures necessary in the varied and extensive functioning of this department and many expenses must be incurred upon which there are no direct re- turns. 60 +o chill 11H A NN NN NN Nh A YN I 1 The City’s extensive paving activities necessitating the renewal of services, moving fire plugs, lowering and recorking mains, require expenditures of large amounts of money. The deterioration of mains, which increases with age, results in a yearly in- crease in the number of leaks and it is necessary for the department to repair same. In many cases where leaks occur under a paved street, it is necessary for the department to incur the expense of replacing the pavement after repairing leaks. Another fact to be considered is the tremendous volume of free water furnished by this department to the City’s schools, charitable institutions and the various municipal departments. A well balanced and constructive program of expansion has been outlined for the year 1925 and development covering many of the projects is now under way. The Water Department is keeping in line with progressive Houston and is render- ing a service of merit to the citizens. 61 e +c HN Nm He me Nm HN Hm Hm Fm BH Hm AHF mm Nf HY HH HN ff HH HL Hi —— HHI 0 The Street and Bridge Department Ben S. Davison, Street and Bridge Commissioner. OUSTON’S STREET AND-BRIDGE DEPARTMENT is one of the most im- portant departments of the City Government. This Department has in charge the upkeep and cleaning of all streets within the limits of the City with the exception of repairs on asphaltic surface streets which are done by contract. It also has the task of keeping open the ditches for surface drainage thruout the City and because of the flat topography of the City this is a big undertak- ing in itself, | During the last three years great changes have been made in the methods of street cleaning in this department. In 1923 and 1924 the department installed several of the latest types of street cleaning equipment, and the work of improving the equipment in the department has gone steadily forward since that time. As a result, the taxpayers have been saved thousands of dollars annually. . The old method consisted of two trucks drawing the sweeper brooms and 3-mule drawn sweepers, preceded by a water wagon and operating during the night, and four- mule drawn day sweeper sprinklers. These sweepers lodged their sweepings into the gutters of the streets, and the refuse was picked up the next morning by two wagon fleets and. their crews, comprising 20 men and 18 mules. This method was very expensive and inadequate as well as unsanitary. Under this method the cost was 28 cents per 1000 square yards to clean paved streets. By use of the motor pick-up sweepers this cost has been reduced one-half. In addition to the pick-up sweepers great improvements have been made in types of equip- ment used in other lines of work. Five modern Quicklift graders are now a part of the Department’s equipment and a great saving has been made by these machines. During the year two new Austin Graders were added to the equipment for use in crown grading. The Street and Bridge Department consists of the Street and Bridge Commissioner, elected by the people, a chief clerk, three department clerks, three division superintend- ents, and one hundred and seventy men, including the foremen. The Department is divided into three divisions and each division covers a designated territory, operating from centrally located stables. These stables are conveniently arranged and provide quarters for the fifty teams which the department uses in its work. The stables maintain their own blacksmith shops, and in this way the road equipment re- ceives immediate attention whenever necessary, resulting in very little delay in the re- pairing of the equipment from time to time. ; Each of the divisions has a scarafier, with six men, a foreman, and four teams and also a ditching gang and two grading gangs. 64 LE TT HH HL I 1 HN [WR Dee The Department maintains a paving gang, consisting of seven men, a foreman and team. The duties of this gang are to keep the brick and wood block paving in repair, and to attend to culvert repair work. There is also a bridge division operating under each _ of the three division Superintendents with a crew of four men and a truck. The Street and Bridge Department had a budget last year of $400,000, of which it spent $399,730.00. During the last year the department added equipment valued at $10,856. This in- cludes one modern improved Austin gas street sweeper, which cost $6500. During the year the department purchased a total of 538 car loads of gravel. Dur- ing the same period it used 171 car loads of shell and 2247 yards of granite gravel. During the year the Department purchased a total of 853,130 ft. of lumber, which was used in the construction of 1180 new bridges, the repairing of 971 old bridges, 1010 new crossings and 159 repaired crossings, which record has never been surpassed in previous years. The policy of this Administration is to effect economies wherever possible in this Department. For instance it has been found that wooden culverts quickly depreciate be- cause the sills underneath rot out making it necessary to completely wreck them. It is found by making these sills of creosoted wood they last almost indefinitely and new floors may be placed on as needed, at a tremendous saving in money and labor. The Department has over 100 miles of paved streets to keep clean and this is con- stantly being added to, taxing the resources of the Department. Plans are being made to greatly add to the present equipment during the year. In fact, two new modern pick- up sweepers of the latest design have been purchased by the City for this work. The Street and Bridge Department is making great strides toward bettering the streets and roadways and keeping them smoothly surfaced, while the permanent. sur- faced thoroughfares are being kept perfectly clean at all times. 65 £9°IS 4D) 49d SIUaJUOD asvdénpy iy 00°7£$ 00°89T'1S i ea L6°678'8 ‘ sasapyy pwd sassy) sip fo ‘oN asDAANWMaT 1DJO [. FUIYIIUNG 1010 [, asDplév { [ays SJI0AJS' Of SMtvgay Ul past) [v14av I 17°4S “S/01L9JD JT day PPO LV 8Es IS-CatOG 61 EF9'81 OVE S60 Vie ne ee ; C 6F 8ST 0087 ar 60° 68°C9 OOL‘9LT ee oe beeen ‘ 8Lh £S 66447 _ 000¢ OST $0" ZO'EEe'9I Q90'666' Sh" 5 08 yt is Ee SAME) LOq IG 8S tS F6FF 00SZ 00°Z 90°$ 87° LPC 7 OST "819s — rs Taner oqpEIs 4D) Aad SAD) “ON pwd "t— PA ‘PA DY JR aD a5D pAd X S]ysia ff pu1y ‘Sp{ asvinp 14 3a4y ‘yy SJIIA] OJ si0day ul P75) [014040 [AT JIOM puv [A@BDAL) *S/0140J0 JT M1042 PION (€Z61) 00°02 Oe pte apres sed ELOY TI CLE SUIAR’] “1OqeU'yT ‘purvsnoy} tad soa ($761) 19 Pie CT? Tp ee Oe ake eee RS MeN Le CT OIE aN pur SULAv'T ‘oqu'] ‘puvsnoyy tod ys0g acts sacs 69°9 of 00°I 00°ZZ ret EG isl 2 ea aid eae eso te 76'¢9S Ol L9CC ffl Aol 80I 555 OO9TE OLT 889: OP ieee es eee hee ee ETO. supa [ pun S4nNO FT SANO FT Ad} Uf juamay pups aay PIO 40Q0T “jS0) MDa J, UD Py BUD SJasdDT symps SpAD { Pas) Sy MOIST] DULG J FEOL WvaAX IY] AOT satplauap josauayy fo zuautasvp¢ CLLOF SPM EZHT IO] aBvapIyy 6:01 $6176 FEF 90S¢L 1S0S £$69997 Se 6S 8. Oe Ce ep ei aide (6 Oo eels BLO Eh Oe hehe [R10], Jaaq [DaUIT pacpun yy SOD) asddaay SOD 1010] SANO TT UD payriqg sav pay iq Jaa jaurT ISDUIDACT puv BULYIZICT [OCF eS ee ee ee et SS Pp rae SPT COT) IVLOL £099 S99LT FF 186 SF8CC OO'SOSZE = OFTES8 9080ZT 6ST O10! 16 O8IT Peles lle alee La ,B YINL | UD IsoD spunog jsojn man wiman ‘iW ‘PIO 410g ay mauay Away mauay sano] STW N AOQuUn'y SBUISSOLD sas pig S[VMauay puv sawwday :sBUISSOLT) puv saspiag £$600° SE'SLS ES SITET 81904 ST9CLSF Se SS ee Na ie gn ae eek aeaue eels pavk aapnbs sad 4sop 180) 1040 7, sanoyT wa T, SANO TT UD spavX aspnby fo vary Suk fiavoy fo uorstaag £F£00° STs01‘0eg ET LI? ST6SE 6LL9918 BAGOIE OPN Sette eas deen team ©) ok pévk aapnbs Asad jsop S02 1?40 ], SANOF]T WaT SdnoyT un yy spav X advnby ‘vary sjaadqy fo Suipviyy fo uowst1a1g ; . ‘(paypuey sjeizayvur plo pue Mou Y}Oq SapnypoUr sIyT) 66 OF’ °° °° °° “SuOTsIAIC, [TV pa[neyT pavA saad ysog aSvaaay i 1956226 F601 ZS09 SISZI L566 “at et ict Schthens Sa tcn de ae a FOTOS asDJADD pun UD SANO]T aUuryon py sénofT Uva I sanoyT un yy SPAD X I1QND 40Q0T SJaadJS UO T7aYS' fo SJUIMIID | J Ale) Stated bed a esd an” sea gee ea Ed Wie Le OF we 2S eee ane B.'e 0010 les (6 ete 6 ee 6) we Bee “e SUOISTATCT [l® 10} porney pared aad 1809 IBVIIAY $9 2OL#7$ c6rl Ifsst 98FOE =P AU seattle eae Mats kate Tm eS [2301 asDjADD pun un SANOH]T auryovpy . sAnofT way sanoyT uvjpy spavq 21Qnd 40Q0T SJ9dAJG UO JaevsH) {0 sjuallagv] oo cpiti SH hf El hh | | | HE YE | | | HH HL i 2) o The Legal Department OUSTON’S LEGAL DEPARTMENT, with its many responsibilities is a branch H.:: the City Government of great importance, and faithfully performs its functions in a most creditable manner. The present administration has completely — re-or- ganized and perfected this department, and the legal organization now consists of the City Attorney, one Assistant City Attorney in charge of the Legal Department at - the City Hall; one Assistant City Attorney, who renders service as prosecutor in the Cor- poration Court, one legal stenographer. Ct hi Sewall Myer, City Attorney. ~ During 1924 the work of this Department has been varied and extensive. The de- partment has written scores of public improvement contracts, each of which necessitated the preparation of several bonds; has prepared a large number of general contracts, ‘many deeds, leases, releases; and in short, has prepared all legal documents and papers pertaining to the City. Itemizing to some extent the amount of work accomplished by this department dur- ing the past year, it has in addition to prosecuting the several thousand criminal cases in the Corporation Court and advising the Police Department on all mattets pertaining 69 © A HH 1 NN NN HN NH HI thereto and which may arise therein, handling all cases before the Civil Service Com- mission and advising the Fire Commissioner and Fire Marshal in eliminating and pre- venting fire hazards, all of which this office keeps no record. The records show that it has prepared: Improvement,-Contracts:) Sc5% -s28 cys: ieas ei ne ee cee 328 Miscellaneous contracts, agreements, releases, leases, etc. ........... 97 Deeds ite neh bo obec Babel hee 50 caddie fe oie ein eae ta ae 300 Construction bonds i). fan. wap als, ack dc Gag OAS gay rea ae et Ce 328 Maintenance . bonds. &..!G5289 <. oly OF et cee eee eer eae ee 324 Miscellaneous.» bonds: ties BP... avce etoue be deep ee ee eae 15 It has prepared approximately 1375 ordinances, It has prepared approximately 750 resolutions. The department rendered 308 legal opinions during 1924 to the Mayor and City Council and various department heads. Taking all of the above documents, contracts, deeds, bonds, ordinances, opinions, etc., we have a total of 3517 legal documents. In addition to the above it has handled practically all bond matters for the City of Houston, prepared all proceedings leading to the issuance of the bonds, prepared bond records, secured the approvat of the Attorney General, etc. It has handled and presented to the Attorney General of Texas, with success about 25 separate issues of city bonds, aggregating several million dollars. In addition it has examined and approved as to form approximately 1575 plumber’s, electrician’s, etc. bonds, since it examines and approves all the permit bonds. It has conduced all hearings before the Civil Service Commission, and practically all paving hearings before the City Council. In addition to all of which this department has handled without outside help and at no additional expense to the City a great number of cases in all of the courts extending from the Justice Court to the Supreme Court of Texas, and the United States Federal Court, and has been unusually successful in the results obtained therein. With the rapid expansion of the city and its great growth the necessity of opening new streets and widening older ones has caused the Legal Department to be called upon to do a great deal of work in the filing and prosecution of condemnation proceedings. All the duties incumbent on an office lawyer are placed upon the Legal Department of the City. All construction contracts and contracts of every nature in which the City of Houston is involved, are prepared by this department, as are all ordinances and resolutions for the City Council. With the widening, extension and opening of streets, and with the extension of the Park Department the City purchases a great deal of land, and the examination of abstracts and rendering opinions on titles consumes no inconsider- able amount of time. Some of the other duties of the Department are the examination of abstracts, the preparation of all the ordinances, resolutions, motions, and reports. The members of the 70 © I NN Nh LN Nl i — Wi —— ny «+ Legal Department aiso act as legal advisors to all the city officials in their official capacity. The City Council refers all claims asserted against the City to the Legal Department for an opinion and report, and also refers all matters in which any question of a legal nature is in anywise involved. This department conducts the paving hearings before the City Council, prepares all the franchises granted by the City to public service corpora- tions, railways corporations and individuals, approves all bonds of any nature executed to the City, and handles all litigation in: which the City is a party, plaintiff or defendant. The court work involves the preparation and trial of cases in the United States Courts, State District Courts, County Courts and Justice Courts, and in all the appellate courts. The litigation of late has been heavy and has involved a number of important cases. Nevertheless, this department has been uniformly successful in winning every case for the City, both in the trial and appellate courts. . The Legal Department also has charge of the prosecution in the Corporation Court of all cases filed therein, and has been very successful in the matter of conviction and col- lection of fines. In addition to all of the duties above mentioned the Legal Department prepares the election proceedings, and conducts a heavy genera! correspondence thruout the State and Nation. The duties of the Legal Department involve a vast and comprehensive amount of in- dividual and co-ordinated effort. td Sore est pr oe4 other st2/) onners IR ey, Markeet re 1] 11 LN i tH I The Managers Department HE position of City Manager was created by the present Administration April 18, 1921, in order to relieve the Mayor of a large amount of detail work, and coming under the supervision of the Manager are the Purchasing Department, Municipal Store, City Auditorium, City Market, City Garage, and the Censor Board. Claude E. Belk, City Manager. While the creation of the position was an experiment, the first year of operation of the combined departments under the Manager clearly demonstrated that a great deal of money can be saved the tax-payers by the operation of all of these departments under one head and that all of the departments can be operated more successfully and efficient- ly under the direction of one man, whose experience and training have been along busi- 73 8 I HH HH Hl LL I LK KH | | Hh | | ||| HH A IRD o~ ness lines and who possesses the varied qualifications necessary in order to justify ap- pointment to the post of City Manager of Houston. In addition to the extensive duties of the Manager as the active and directing head of several of the City Departments, this executive performs many other duties. The Manager is continually in consultation with the City Commissioners regarding matters coming before the City Council and recommendations covering business policies are presented by him with each issue as it arises. The Manager is the representative of the Mayor in practically all matters of a busi- ness nature arising in the various City Departments. The order purchases for all departments in 1924 amounted to $705,306.76 were made at an expense of $11,248.51. The above figures include the purchases of the Municipal Store, which were made by the Manager of that department under the supervision of the City Manager. The Purchasing Department in 1924 saved the sum of $5,000 in cash discounts by the cooperation of the Controller's Department in the payment of all bills within the ten-day period. All purchases for the City were made on competitive bids, or competitive prices, quoted at the time of purchase. The Municipal Store was opened for the purpose of regulating prices in the City Market, and it has served its purpose well. It is operated in a manner to be in fair competition with all merchants and, therefore, the City’s prices are usually the price that governs the sale of the same commodities in the entire market. A stock worth about $6,000 to $10,000 is kept.on hand and au inventory each month shows the turnover, profits and expenses. . To date, the store’s profits are within a few hundred dollars of the cost of operation since its organization. That the municipal institution is popular is indicated by the num- ber of customers. On week days, between 800 and 1,000 persons call in the store, most of them make several purchases, while every Saturday, the crowd numbers between 2500 and 3000 persons. There are at this time 69 tenants in the City Market. The market has been operated at an expense of $36,405.26 and has produced a revenue of $50,992.80, making a net profit of $14,587.54. The Auditorium was operated in 1924 at an expense of $17,612.98, not including in- terest on the investment. There were 251 engagements, with a total attendance of 337,-— 803 during the year. The City Garage was established by the present administration in order to accom- plish two main purposes; first, to save money on all motor repair work on the City’s automobiles, and second to keep these automobiles in perfect mechanical condition at all times, enabling them to be used in active service on all occasions arising in the City’s business. The operation of the City Garage also enables the City’s automobiles to re- ceive immediate attention when needing repairs and thereby saving the usual delay in- cident to motor repair work in outside garages. In addition, the general wear and tear on the City’s automobiles is much less for the reason that the machines are always well oiled, greased, watered, and are in good mechanical order before being used. 74 ool TE Hh LL ef | | || ff | Hf 9 Ht HH Hf ft 1 — HH ee 1 HIRD . An appreciable saving to the taxpayers is being made by the operation of this garage, not only from the actual saving on labor in repair work, but also from a saving on parts necessary in repairing the motor equipment, as the City Garage receives the low- est trade discount on all purchases necessary in its operation, the same discount allowed other garages but not allowed firms and corporations. At the present time 100 of the City’s automobiles are being cared for by the garage, which taxes its present capacity at this time, but increased facilities will be provided for in the near future, which will extend its limitations and enable it to perform a greater service to the City. The Censor Board has under its direct supervision and control the amusement life of the City, and is held responsible at all times for the moral tone of the City’s amuse- ments. The Board is composed of 12 members, including a chairman and secretary, all serv- ing without compensation, except the secretary, who receives a salary. To properly function, the work of-this Department not only requires much time of its members, but also forethought and understanding, serious and appreciative, with a conscious sense of good feeling toward entertainments and amusements, accepting as a truth that wholesome recreation and amusement is one of the vital necessities of life, es- sential to happiness and sane living, and now recognized as one of the most influential and popular assets of any community life. The City Ordinance regulating all public amusements provides that all entertain- ments of any kind given within the City limits must be clean, moral and decent, must not be contrary to good morals and public decorum, and must not be calculated to promote or encourage racial, sectional or religious prejtfdice. Public amusements consist of Moving Picture shows, Theatres, Skating Rinks, Natatoriums or Swimming Pools, Amusement Parks, etc., all of which come under the jurisdiction of the Houston Censor Board. The managers of all such amusements are re- quired by the City Ordinance to conduct their places in strict accordance with the laws of the State and the City Censor Ordinance regulating same. There are 34 theatres in Houston, including Moving Picture shows, Stock Com- panies, Vaudeville and legitimate Drama. ‘The secretary of the Censor Board has issued to the above theatres 13,054 permits, including 691 permits granted to miscellaneous eil- tertainments. The members of the Censor Board are keenly interested in their duties and are con- scious of the responsibility involved in their service to the City. Out of 40 employees in the City Manager’s Department, four occupy places in the Purchasing Division, 3 in the Municipal Store, 14 at the City Hall and Market as jani- tors and market watchmen, eight form the City Auditorium working staff, four are in the mechanical service at the City Garage and five have miscellaneous duties as depart- mental attaches. When a City approaches the quarter million population mark, as in Houston today, the administration of public affairs requires more business acumen. 73 hm i mh hh Hh hh hh hh ih W>e- At the start of 1925 Houston completed its fourth year with a City Manager. The beneficial effects and successful results of the Manager plan are beyond question. Many cities throughout the nation are operating with increased business efficiency and economy due to the induction of this new system in the modern activities of good municipal gov- ernment. The City Manager of Houston is rendering a valuable service to the taxpayers and his business principles and energetic endeavors extend a wholesome influence over the entire City organization. 70 el 1 1 Le e 0 e Hh —— HH eH HH me Hh ID The. Controllers Department HE CITY CONTROLLER, elected ty the people, is the active and directing head of this important department, while five bookkeepers and accountants efficiently handle the large amount of work devolving upon the department. The Controller’s department might be termed the watch dog of the City Treasury and absolute accuracy and efficiency are the department’s watchwords, for no public funds can be paid out for any cause until this department has passed approval. Its juris- diction in fiscal matters extends over every city department. Harry A, Giles, City Controller. The varied duties of the Controller are specifically prescribed by the City Charter, the most important being covered by section 2 as follows: “Tt shall be the duty of the Controller to superintend and supervise the fiscal affairs of the City of Houston, and to manage and conduct the same as prescribed by this Char- ter and the ordinances of the City of Houston that are now or may be hereafter enacted, and said Controller shall prepare and publish in some newspaper in the City of Houston, 77 re ll 1 A NZ HI 8 not later than the 5th day of each month, a statement of the preceding month’s expenses, which statement shall show the total amount paid in monthly salaries to all employees in each department of the city, and shall also show the amount paid on the weekly pay- roll to all persons working for the city by the day or week, and shall also show the cost of maintaining each department of the city government, and the total amount of each month’s expenses so incurred; said statement shall also show the cost of improvement and extension work not properly classed as current expenses and not done under con- tract with outside parties, and shall show all other extraordinary expenditures, for inter- est on bonds, payments on bonds, etc., which statement shall be signed and sworn to by said Controller, and he shall permit any qualified elector at all reasonable hours to ex- amine or inspect the books of the city, furnishing such party all reasonable, assistance therein, and the Council shall pass suitable ordinances to enforce this section and provide suitable penalties. “Tt shall be the duty of the Controller to keep books of account of the City of Hous-. ton, and to make such financial reports and statements as are provided by the terms of this act. His books of account shall exhibit accurate and detailed statements of all moneys received and expended for account of the city by all city officials and other per- sons, and shall show in detail the property owned by the city and the income derived therefrom. “He shall also keep separate accounts of each and every appropriation made by the City Council, showing the date thereof and the purpose for which the same is made, and shall show for what each payment of any public money is made and the manner of mak- ing the same and to whom same is made. “He shall keep a separate account with each department of the city government, and also such other accounts as may be necessary to show a complete financial statement of the city, and he shall be prepared at every regular meeting of the City Council to give such information concerning the finances of the City as the Council may require. “All warrants or orders for payment of any public fund or moneys for any pur- pose shall be signed by the Controller and the Mayor. No warrant not signed by the Controller shall be authority for the payment of any public funds whatever, but the Con- troller shall in no instance, unless the money is in the treasury and in the fund against which it is drawn, sign any warrant or order for the payment of any sum or amount for any purpose; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall prevent the issue and sale of warrants to anticipate the current revenue for any one year, which said warrants shall bear such rate of interest, not exceeding five per cent as the City Council by ordi- nance may prescribe. “He shall not sign any contract nor make or execute any warrant or order for the payment of any sum of money, unless the same be legal and all prerequisites and re- quirements shall have been complied with, nor until after an appropriation has been duly and legally made therefor. “He shall, whenever deemed necessary, require all accounts presented to him for settlement or payment to be certified by affidavit, and he is hereby authorized to ad- minister oaths, with authority to compel and require persons to answer such questions as may be propounded to them touching th» correctness of any account or claim against 7s Bre |] 1 He 11 ee Hf fH Bf || Sf 2S BY ef HU Sa he eo Nt le mt om em es om a mm De Das ob eh aL Wig>es the city. He shall require all persons who shall have received any moneys belonging to the city, and not having accounted therefor, to settle their accounts, and it is hereby made his duty from time to time to require all persons receiving moneys, or having the disposition or management of any property of the city of which an account is kept in his office, to render statements thereof to him; provided that no warrant or order sha/l ever be issued in favor of any person or corporation, or to the assignee or agent of any person indebted in any manner for taxes or otherWise to the city, unless such debt so due and owing to the city be paid. No disbursing officer of the city, nor any one having money in his possession for the account of the city, shall pay the same to any person or persons for the account of the city, except to the regularly designated officer or custodian of the public funds for the city, except upon draft or warrant countersigned by the Controller of the City of Houston, and signed by the Mayor; and the Controller shall not countersign any such draft or warrant until he has audited and examined the claim and found the same justly and legally due and payable, and that the payment has been legally authorized, and ap- propriation therefor made, and that the appropriation has not been exhausted. “The City Controller shall, on or befor: the fifteenth day of March in each year, | prepare and transmit to the City Council a report of the financial transactions of the city during fiscal year ending the last day of February next preceding, and of its financial condition on the said last named day in February. The report shall contain an accurate statement in summarized form and also in datail of the financial receipts of the city from all sources and the expenditures of the city for all purposes, together with a detailed statement of the debt of said city, and the purposes for which said debt was incurred, and of the property of said city, and of the accounts of the city with the grantees of fran- chises. “In addition to the annual statement herein required and of the reports which may be demanded by the council at any time, it is especially made the duty of the Controller to be able to show at any time, and certainly upon or immediately after the first of each month, a comprehensive and accurate statement of the financial affairs of the City of Houston, and if any officer of any department or any employee of the City shall fail to make such stated or stipulated reports as and at the times required either by the Mayor or the City Council, it shall be the duty of the Controller to report such delinquency or failure to the Mayor, and further to state at any time any carelessness or negligence of any officer or employee in the making or stating of reports cov Due any matter within the range of the duty of said officer or employee.” 79 SO'IL6‘°7ZO' EE O8'80£‘88 £0°S0'L6S ‘FI 7O'8£‘6SZ'F81 Ol'19Z‘s £7 FES‘98Z 00°0S7‘09¢6‘ZI 00°0SS‘T89 CL 761 16 6F9'86T SO'TL6‘7LO'EE OL'19Z‘S L¥689'¢ L9°8L0'818‘LZ $Z°£20'00£ CO CTE SHO FL'$56°667'72 1240], 08°80£‘88 C6 6E8'L8 L¥ 69¥ 08°80£'88 ZO C12 ELS'Z FO TET EET TUN AOR, 605-0 LOE 1Z‘TLS‘Z 10°268‘T#8 COFFE 167 69°87Z'T £F°160°961 TL 761'E 6 1E ‘06 FO TFZEET'T GECO ER LT eee 61°S87'960'81 ey tary cu Na Oye) es IF 7£0'F L¥ £09'Z 00'0SZ‘09¢‘ZT * 000s S189 snjding pur sonyiqery [v0 BRAGS oon ag SE ee SOT ey FOAC 81 aaRe Coe a ihr ae oe ere Aa eet cheng Teh 0 Te Oe ee ee ea ee Apna esa se panyeraus(y Op anc eieeey ‘os sargttqery 19410 TEE CSI ANN ae ce pono cca on ta ea ple emu nier vl sca CMG ef sir Bie HiRes Seda Abela Knee eae avon ual f TOD TaN a he hb ec Oe tas as ee a eae hn ae eae TC eK Bey SOOO Oi Lf 6F8 ‘LF #1807087 ‘62 69°87L‘I IT085°98 sjunon9 py PUNY ISNA] #Z°£L0°00§ ‘Z ££ 6E1TLZ SJUNDII puny sUuLyUurs It 7£0'F LP 689'¢ 60°S09‘FF9 L0'F16 O8F sjunoodp anuanay 19°S/ 0-18 20 #7808 C7 ICE T9F'T STUNOII 1pjid Dy F261 ‘TE saquasg fo spr JaayS) aouvjog pasvprjosuo!) fo havuuny Mi pen Vine eee enn) Ae gore 8 gt eee CeO Ae TST eee Ar Be SIE ae * TMA ae? aE See ee eae enn y Joma Oe DANSE PE Ne ESM SS earns 2 are oe 7 etree ore ar ay ETON a PN gee cui Parade OM EES sliliepe nec Sci) eres) ‘pue’y oS] oUSaAUT Ue Rein ra cilia hia aaa i ae ear ie ode Fer Sere eas ease sJassy 68 YORE NUR come ARAN SEE ae % ie re MIO mn STEEL ' > BS j 8 f i The Police Departm ent HE problem of policing a great city such as Houston, is always a difficult one. Houston is a great railroad center. It is the heart of a great oil section of the United States. It is the metropolis of an immense section, to which crime natur- ally gravitates. In addition to this the problem of policing cities has been made more com- plex in recent years by the tremendous growth of traffic, the handling of which naturally consumes much of the thought and energy of the Police Department. But despite this fact Houston is more free of crime and vice now than ever before in its history and will compare favorably in this respect with any city of similar size T. C. Goodson, Superintendent of Police. in the country. This is largely due to the aggressive attitude of the Police, to high stand- ards that have been set for the personnel of its membership and to insistence on strict discipline and no tolerance of winking at law violations by any member of the Depart- Db 7 - ment. The traffic squad is one of the prides of the Department, and during the last year has constantly been brought up to higher standards. There is a great con- trast, constantly commented on by citizens, between the efficient way in which traffic is handled now in the congested business district, by the aid of signal lights, and the way it was handled just a few years ago. During the last year the Department embraced 228 men. Of these 40 were in the traffic squad, 156 were other uniformed policemen and there were 32 men in the Detec- tive Division. 83 re 1 HN NN NL I NN ZL TA HH AR The total arrests made for 1924 were 14,497, not including arrests for violation of various traffic ordinances numbering 36,595, making a total of 51,092 arrests for the year. A comparison of the number of arrests for the last ten years, together with the total revenues from fines, shows the remarkable growth of the Department, which is in keeping with the great growth of the City. It is: . COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF ARRESTS AND FEES COLLECTED FOR THE YEARS 1914 TO 1924 Year Arrests Stock Inspt. Fines Paid Pound Fees Dog Tax 1914 9.411 1,634 $17,867.65 $2,038.95 $ 568.00 1915 -8)340 1,452 15,983.90 161515 676.00 1916) 410,212 1,480 20,398.55 1,567.10 574.00 19170105 1,708 21,430.95 1,813.50 832.00 . 1918 11,345 L779 27,659.50 2,761.00 1,318.00 LOO sel 2 4 15759 56,032.50 3,639.78 1,756.00 1OZ0 Sat 2,684 69,828.00 3,929.80 1,948.60 192152803 159. 2,296 55,062.00 4,000.45 2,854.00 19226) 16/144 2,181 50,073.00 4,499.25 996.00 1923 23,451 3,483 74,118.50 4,311.82 2,438.00 1924 51,092 2,547 77,933.00 3,343.20 1,592.00 In addition to making 51,092 arrests in the Police Department during the year 1924, this Department answered approximately 480 telephone calls per hour for twenty-four hours each day, or a total of 175,000 during the year, and handled approximately 30,000 written reports, covering daily casualties such as automobile accidents, deaths, suicides, descriptions of stolen property, general Police investigations, dog calls, stock calls and general inquiries along all lines of Police work. COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF REVENUE AND OPERATING EX- PENSES FOR THE YEAR 1914 TO 1924, INCLUSIVE Year ; Revenue Operating Exp. DOTA Viet Sle <5 Soe es MRS ee $20,569.55 $186.060.00 1913 SGN Doin ae eee ee 19,578.85 15293822 1916 or Bree eS an aa 24,126.10 183,953.69 LOTT So tls ls Weta ee eet 24,972.54 175,630.96 LOLS ie eh cion rhe chee tn kee eee 33,016.55 191,764.33 IGLOS Ae a re 62,610.63 208,261.41 1 OZG Ssks Sin ne eee eGR eee 77 343.64 269,939.69 AoA es eee a tree 54,858.90 304,349.31 1922 eons eee he see ang: ERE) Cleon ty 362,161.56 L923. gk 2 Rais eee Sie eee 81,964.77 383,805.32 TODA See aceite Meee aaa 83,967.10 401,918.11 It will be noted by above that the Revenué of the Police Department in 1914 was $20,569.55, while that of 1924 is $83,967.10, or an increase of over four times as much in 1924 as in 1914, a period of ten years. While the operating expenses in 1914 were $186,060.00, the operating expenses in 1924, 10 years hence were $401,918.11, a little over double in a period of 10 years, which 84 “on TT le EE Tl | | | | | | | | | | HL | HE | | | Ff | | (niga e= shows that the department has actually done four times as much work in collecting Revenue and only a little more than doubled the operating expenses. It is interesting, to note that 10 years ago there were only 437 arrests for traffic vio- lations, while for 1924 they had increased to 36,595, comprising more than half the arrests made by the Department. The Police Department operated on $401,918.11 last year, while revenues from all sources amounted to $83,967.10, as against $81,964.77 the year before. Some general comparisons of the Department of today with the Department of 1914 will help better to understand these figures. In 1914 the Department had 138 men, as against 228 today, an addition of 90 men. In 1914 the operating costs were $186,- 060.00, while today they are $401,918.11. But in 1914 the total revenues were only $20,- 569, while today they are $83,967.10. But these cold figures in no way tell the story of the growth of the Department. Civil Service has been inaugurated since 1914. The men worked 12 hours a day at that time, which has been cut to eight hours. It did not then have the splendid traffic squad that it has now, nor was traffic the problem then that it is now. The salaries of the men have been greatly increased since 1914, despite the shortening of hours. The men are better clothed and make in every way a better appearance. A model new Police Head- quarters, one of the most commodious, modern and handsome in the entire country, has been constructed and the Department moved into if the last year. There is an entirely different spirit prevailing the whole Department. During 1924 there were 805 stolen automobiles reported to the Police, and the auto- mobile squad, consisting of only two men, recovered 694 of these, which is a remarkable record. During the year the total value of all property lost and stolen and reported to the Detective Division was $573,868.78. Of this amount the Detective Division recovered $422,457.19, leaving a balance unrecovered of only $151,411.59. The Identification Bureau made 1752 identifications of persons by fingerprint methods during the year, and 7420 identifications by index cards on file. It has on file finger prints of 34,347 criminals and 53,044 index cards, and is one of the most use- ful adjuncts of the Department. The Vice squad, composed of one woman and two men, did much to keep down vice during the year. The squad made 185 raids and took into custody 838 persons. They made 120 arrests for violation of the liquor laws, and committed to jail 718 of- fenders charged with various offenses, including 69 shoplifters. The Juvenile Division, consisting of only two men, handled during the year 4,019 cases of boys, of which 675 were adjusted without even. bringing the boys into court. This Division also takes care of lost and stolen bicycles and during 1924 delivered to owners 135 bicycles of the approximate value of $5,000.00. The Humane Division is in charge of a Sergeant. This Division handled 5,747 animals in 1924 as against 3,803 in 1923. - oi 1 HH | Hl || | | | FH | Hl LL | | | | | HL ih Hh IRS we The Liquor and Gambling squad made 408 arrests for gambling, 119 arrests for violation of liquor and narcotic laws, and in addition 247 for violation of the National Prohibition Act. The Motorcycle Division is one that came near last year to paying all its salaries by collections of fines from. persons arrested by the squad. It is composed of a Sergeant and 16 men when at full strength. Last year fines from arrests amounted to $26,627.00, while total salaries of the men were only $23,078.10, leaving a balance of $3,548.90. The Department has its own garage and repair shop where more than a score of police cars are kept in perfect mechanical condition at all times. This shop is under the supervision of an efficient mechantcian and capable assistant. The Traffic Squad has become such a conspicuous and efficient part of the Depart- ment as to attract much favorable comment. The Traffic Squad was inaugurated on the 15th day of July 1921. On December 28, 1921, the first electric signal was in- stalled on Main Street and Preston Avenue, all semaphores being operated from that point. This proved successful and an electric control tower was erected at Main Street and Capitol Avenue, and put into operation immediately upon completion. This tower, with its connections traversing the principal business streets of Houston, handled about 40,000 automobiles daily over Houston’s busy streets. This is the only traffic system in the United States operated by a master tower, and the Department receives requests every few weeks from other cities asking for information on Houston’s traffic system. Forty men handle the traffic at intersecting points. The following synopsis of results of ihe Police Department for 1924 as compared with 1923, furnishes some interesting comparative figures. 1923 1924 Increase Fotal number Gi arrests evecare eee 2a ton 51,092 5,905 Total valuation of lost and stolen property 0 oe. . cb eae © 433,023 2 8373, 865:/ 3) ae Total valuation of lost and stolen property = unrecovered sw ur ee eee $144,411.69 $151,411.59 $ 6,999.90 Total valuation of stolen and lost): property arecovered 9... see $288,611.43 $422,457.19 $133,845.76 Total number of Index cards on file in Identification’ Bureau ~, 2705.04. 45,624 53,044 7 420 December 31st, 1923 Total head of live stock impounded ..... 3,483 2,547 Total fines paid in Corporation Court....$ 74,118.50 $ 77,933.00 $ 3,814.50 Total cost of operating Police Dept. 1923 $383, 805. 32 $401,918.11 $ 18,112.79 Total upkeep of 14 automobiles against 24," 2-months, 1023.4 eee ae $ 18,656.97 $ 17,390.80 Total Revenue of Police Department ....$ 81,964.77 $ 83,967.10 $ 2,002.33 In 1923 there were additional 23,136 traffic arrests of which in 1924 are included in the total of 51,092. This makes the actual increase in 1924, 5,505. The Houston Police Department is well organized, vigilant and efficient and has a high standing among the metropolitan Police Departments of the United States. 36 A, CHORD; Chairman JAS. H. B. HOUSE, 5 eT : 4 GEO. E. WOODS, Commissioner . oe. oc Soup ae cote : Commissioner NORMAN H. BEARD, Director or ' a et ee Sets eee bie Nat tot aS Meee | Ady a ) *€. Ly ay oe ee: ea Pe Ks tre hey Se é aie - , 5 ' +9 Citi Te ee ee ee ee 1 —— Hh hE | Fh Hm Ht II ° The Civil Service Commussion held in 1913 and today the employees of practically all of the departments of the City Government are working under this system. (Or SERVICE was adopted by a vote of the people in Houston at an election A charter amendment creates a Civil Service Commission, outlines the duties of that body and prescribes the fundamental activities of the system. Since its inauguration Civil Service has proven entirely satisfactory and has result- ed in a higher and better type of employees for the City. This result is due, first, to the rigid entrance requirements and second, to the practical certainty that ability and faithful performance of duties will guarantee continued employment and eventually pro- motion. At the close of 1924 the records of the Commission showed a total of 1350 em- ployees in the City’s service, of which 850 were under Civil Service regulations; all em- ployees being subject to Civil Service rules with the exception of the department heads, their chief clerks, and employees in the day labor service—these being exempted by pro- visions in the City Charter. There is a complete card index record of each of these employees in the office of the Commission, and this record is kept up from day to day. Change of status of an employee, change in salary, leave of absence, transfer, suspension, and such other information necessary to make a complete record as listed from time to time. One of the most important duties of the Commission is the holding of competitive entrance examinations from time to time for the purpose of selecting from applicants those best equipped to perform, in an efficient manner, the work in various departments of the City Government. These examinations include physical and educational tests and investigations as to moral character and previous experience. Only those applicants whose moral character and physical condition are found to be Satisfactory are permitted to take further examinations. Those applicants who success- fully pass the examinations are placed on eligible lists, and when the heads of departments need new employees, they draw them from these lists beginning at the top of the list. The applicants take rank upon such eligible list as candidates for appointment in the order of their relative excellence as determined by such examination. The examinations are of. the nature calculated to determine the fitness to ably fill the particular position in question. Examinations for promotions are likewise held. In examinations of a technical nature, the department head making requisition for the employee assists in preparing the questions and grading the papers. All examinations are conducted by the Director of the Commission, except physical examinations, these being conducted by the City Health Officer. A very important function of the Civil Service is the hearing of appeals of employees recommended for discharge by the heads of departments. This is a very advantageous feature, not alone for the employee, but for the service as well. The decision of the Com- mission is final, and this feature assures a fair and impartial trial for the employee. 89 «hit —_—i— HN I | HN HN HY HY | HH HO i He Were Another very important work of the Commission is the checking of all weekly and semi-monthly payrolls of the City by its Director before they go to the Controller for payment. A particular safeguard in this feature is- that only the correct rate of salary established by the Council is approved, and also the determining if the proper authority has been obtained for the placement of new employees. An important work being carried on by the Commission is the instruction course for members of the Police and Fire Departments. These instructions are given at monthly efficiency meetings conducted by the Director of the Commission, and it is compulsory upon every man in each Department to attend these meetings. For both the Police and Fire Departments a merit and demerit system is in effect, and this plan has tended to materially increase the efficiency of the men in both, Depart- ments. The handling of the group insurance covering all City employees, whether under Civil Service or not, is another thing which devolves upon the Civil Service Commis- sion. During the year 1924 more than two thousand applications for various branches of the service were filed with the Commission, from which five hundred applicants were put through examinations and one hundred and sixty placed on the payrolls as proba- tionary employees. During the same period the Commission held fifty-two Civil Service examinations, from which eligible lists were created for the Police, Fire, Engineering, Inspection, Clerical, Stenographic, Health, Supervising, Skilled Labor, Park, and Operating En- gineering services. During 1924 there were nine Civil Service hearings, which resulted in six perma- nent dismissals and three reinstatements to full standing in the service. — From time to time the Commission receives a volume of information from the var- ious cities in the United States operating under the Civil Service system. This informa- tion comes in the form of an exchange and touches upon all phases of municipal activity, including salary rates, probationary periods, Civil Service rules, various positions, de- partment charts and surveys, and all other rules and regulations touching upon the Civil Service. This exchange system was inaugurated by the. National Assembly of Civil Service Commissions of the United States and Canada, of which the Houston Commission is a member. This method affords the Commission the opportunity of securing information with little delay from any of the five hundred cities under Civil Service rule in the United States. The Commission is very diligent in seeing to it that the employees classified so as: to receive increases in salary from the minimum to the maximum allowances, by reason: of satisfactory probationary periods ranging from six months to eighteen months, have fulfilled all requirements necessary before receiving these increases. On the other hand,. employees who by their satisfactory services are entitled to such periodical increases re-- ceive them without delay. During the year, the Commission with the approval of the City Council created forty- eight new positions in the classified service. These positions covered placements in the: 90 A 8h 5 NH o—— 8 [IRD Municipal zoo, golf course and Health service, and were necessary on account of the rapid growth of these branches of the service. The Commission issued the annual classi- fication schedule during the year. This schedule covers every position in the municipal service. It shows titles, probationary periods and salary rates in effect, also the number of employees serving in the various classifications. The schedule is for the use of the department heads, and is a part of the Commis- sion’s exchange system with other cities. The Commission is continually making a survey of the various departments in order to be posted at all times on the activities of the different branches and the services being rendered by each of the employees. This observation enables the Commission to make quick adjustments in the classified schedules when necessary. The Commission also continually makes investigations in regard to the execution of the Civil Service regulations and rules established thereunder, and also investigations concerning the general operation of the Civil Service of the City and all the branches thereof. By this close observation the Commission is at all times in a position to apply appropriate remedies for inefficiency and other shortcomings. The Commission carefully handles all special Police commissions, maintaining a complete record of each commission issued. Perfect harmony has prevailed between the Commission and the heads of the various City Departments since the inauguration of the system in 1913, and this was particularly true in 1924, the Commission working in perfect cooperation with the present administra- tion and receiving at all times unqualified support in all the Civil Service activities. Of ie % ° ei Three of Houstos Concrete Pridees and the handsome rs int. 2 goose ae | Aain span of Houston's half mill- | ion dollar Main Sk. viaduct taken From MainSt. wharf. Total length of viaduct 100 ft. The Franklin and Louisiana Street Bridge a San Jacinto Street Bridge J Grit hambersWlon Je Pumping Plan€ eae Wow Pumping Plant eee Street |h\i Pumping Plant” Dipe Honre Southside Disposal Plam © Dew | aie No SidePowerHowe 0S Tanks a S & ivvUuii OU iaqeseeeeetla TN ee Co ‘inti | Ut 00 nitnenneey UOCOUOUQUOD0000} NNUOOQUQUUC000 : i . guuvannnany an ae a iitt Bet na “City Limits SOUTH SIDE DISPOSAL PLANT og ioo0000og Cy SOUTH SIDE DISPOSAL NORTH SIDE DISPOSAL PLANT. DIRECT TO WILLOW ST PUMPING PLANT. - 2 WESTEND PUMPING PLANT TO WILLOW ST PUMPING PL ANT 3 HOUSTON HEIGHTS * SOUTH SIDE DISPOSAL PLANT ; DIRECT TO. SCOTT ST PUMPING PLANT. AREAS SERVED BY SANITARY SEWERS. fs 5. DIRECT TO NORTH SIDE DISPOSAL PLANT. 4 WESTMORELAND ~ F » Pg s \ an ; f, 2 = : , ae, < . . 7 ' P, af n ie 1» se R , aire eye We y : ee &” ne ; ie Le teas tig al, A ae, Lalit y is 1 bi y! va. 7 é ‘3 : 13 A, ® ¢ . a - > te , 7, e > a ‘ i a ge * dw, r if va ea J a | - ¢ ' - i See @ ye i s > ran ms = a Bi» ; \ yf ‘ . (ei Pi i’ 7 aston Wu lw a 3 ‘a ? * = ‘ - 7 Fi ae ie yay bos 4 : ¢ Le a] -% . i k Whe. 5 : \ : > “ , +: y Dod P vi + ‘ m1 : a . Fi : ' 3 P es . 7, . Te we THE LIBRARY eee far : - } © “4 yy Wi ial ? fF f ‘ te a OF 185 rived a) tN us v ah >| é las r =a . > é Well AA aaa Paar ; ‘ : . = ~~ «.. x 4 2 8 3 ¥ Be ‘| pet) ’ a "he . ” ; es ‘ ea ot +S ae \ : ys aut fet * ay > oi to 4 = > 5 ay of , ere rs 4 * ; o Wiens 4 a }« : 7 art. <9 Sa af \vepyt be ; Pe - » { : a 4 Peas j ins . t le as > 7 a ‘ A > J Le y a ) . % o mr °F i Fi bake 3 hie eater th ete q z Te Ls 4 F < 7 sy ae “ ey fh be oh ue wide *s Phd 4 Bal ~ ae wisps a ib ie bt her 2 Ade aha ? : ot $8 Ht 2 — || a a ae gt Ng eG hi te A Hf LL —— ih Oh Hf 1 —— it et IR 02 The Engineering Department HE REPORT of the Engineering Department for the past two years is a story, “Tie in figures, of Houston’s greatest period of material progress. The Engineering Department in a growing city like Houston is perhaps its most important municipal department. Upon its efficiency depends much of the future growth and progress of the city. Most cities, including Houston, are suffering from mis- takes made in early days, due to lack of foresight, which our rapid growth now makes it costly to correct. , J.C. McVea, City Engineer. The Engineering Department of a city, day by day, is laying the foundations of the City’s future and necessarily it must act in a broad way, with its eye on the future ex- pansion 9nd needs of that future if it is to serve in the highest degree, the welfare of the City. This all emphasizes the need of a City Plan, and much thought has been given to that. Much progress is being made in securing the laying out of new additions inside the City Limits, and to some extent those immediately outside to conform in streets and other improvements with those of the City of Houston. But, still additions are being laid out, contiguous to Houston but beyond its city limits, over which the City has no control. It will take action by the State Legislature to remedy this condition. A good idea of the tremendous increase in the amount of work accomplished by the Engineering Department during the past two years, and the wonderful increase in mu- 99 “ll —Hi—— 1H A NL | A HH HAIRED nicipal improvements, is had by comparing the last two years accomplishments with the average for the past ten years. The increase for some of the most important lines of construction for the years 1923 and 1924 over the average for the period 1913-1922 is as follows: 1923: 1.1924 Hard -sutface: paving 4.222 82% 212% Gravel pavinee’y 0) eee aoe 300% 181% Storm sewers tito. fee tae S29 12795 Sanitary) sewers ..(te oe 468% 391% House connections to sanitany S@wetso iin owas ae 82% - 83% - New building construction ....326% 182% The increases in gravel paving, sanitary sewer construction and new building con- struction, are extraordinarily heavy, but the construction:of storm sewers is lagging some- what behind the City’s tremendous growth. The City Engineering Department has properly refused to approve the permanent paving of streets where drainage is inadequate, and until the City tackles this problem more whole-heartedly much hard-surfaced paving must necessarily be deferred. On account of the topography of Houston the cost of storm sewer drainage is heavy, and that probably accounts, more’than anything else, for the small accomplishment of the past. It will take an immense sum of money to construct a proper storm drainage system for Houston, but it is one of the big problems that now faces the municipality. In preparation to meet that problem the Engineering Department has worked out carefully preliminary plans for a complete drainage system, with estimated costs. When the drainage problem is solved in a big way the value of property will be greatly en- hanced in all sections; and one of the greatest obstacles to-the future development of the City will have been overcome. In new building construction during 1923 Houston ranked thirty-second in the Na- tion, and stepped up to thirty-first place in 1924. If the building statistics of Magnolia Park and Harrisburg had been included in Houston’s figures, this City would have ranked much higher in the Nation. e A tabulation of some phenomenal increases in building activities in American cities . in 1923 over 1914 are given below: Los’ Angeles = tape ey te eter 1002% Atlanta 2 o-ck etic cree eee ee 481% Houston... .2 24 es tee eee 435% Dallas! Ay ORT Oe ee er eee 279% The work of the Engineering Department, on account of the rapid development of the community, is hampered by reason of’ the fact that the office space is over-crowded and work cannot be handled in the most efficient manner. 100 . oc a er a a a a meh enn em an ma Ne a eB ee me eh eee NN A ae ee me Ne a WR>e- An idea of the extent of the work handled by the Department during the year 1924 may be had from the following tabulation of expenditures from the various funds under its supervision, and some of the large construction financed by others, but supervised by this Department. 1923 1924 Paving Bond Fund.. sh 425,086.76 § 623,199.88 Paving Assessed Against Property Ow ners. / 470, 248.30 888,886.04 Paving by others.. Eki ae 480,000.00 813,218.00 Drainage Bond Fund. 231,139.63 360,641.25 Storm sewers constructed by others. . 47,748.25 2,855.50 Sanitary sewer Bond Fund. Sores OP OLN) We ek 150,444.24 Sanitary Sewers Constructed by ¢ Others. he Bie coisa 160,177.58 204,617.49 Bridge Bond Fund.. ads fie 396,245.92 85,432.79 Boulevard Bond Fund. st bate is Be 80,336.25 General Improvements. . 254,034.86 111,026.96 Engineering Department ‘Budget... 145,513.78 116,810.67 Departmental Improvements. . 794.74 1,643.55 Maintenance & Operation Sewage Pumping & Disposal Plants. . BAe Aad on Pyare eat ate (ie os alse 147,423.59 epenine sro Widening Streets. fc... ce be cient ww sae 35,189.85 44,133.05 ensite tq.klard surtace. Pavements...) 2... ..0% «ss. 50,263.26 72,633.50 Repairs to Bridges... . 71999 13,683.32 TECH ee ie eee . .$2,970,761.61 $3,716,985.08 The above tabulation does not include many miscellaneous items of construction, such as sidewalks, curbs and gutters built by property owners but which, if included in the total, would make the work supervised by the Department well over the three million mark for 1923 and over four millions for 1924. | Paving New street paving to the extent of 96.195 miles, aggregating 1,403,191 square yards, was constructed during the two year period. Paving construction for these two years has exceeded that of any two years of this city’s history. Hard surface paving to the extent of 23.112 miles, or 494,132 square yards, was con- structed under contract during the two yearperiod at a cost to the City of $534,954.46, and to the property owners on the front-foot plan of $1,359,134.34. Gravel pavements to the extent of 41.613 miles, or 400,314 square yards, were laid under contract. Property owners laid a total of 15.232 mile, or 237,409 square yards of hard surface paving, and 17.549 miles, or 231,325 square yards of gravel and shell pavements. The total length of paved streets in the City at the close of the year 1924 was 413.43 miles aggregating 6,091,201 square yards. Paving contracts awarded and under construction at the end of the year 1924 are as follows: . Wheeler . Louisiana CE ATOMIMEL OULCSL tts ie, React ae athe oe la ee oT oe Ureyeltia ciel AQ SOLS RR AEN A, oiler atte ey Ren a ia ee Washington Avenues ..... 4340-24. ..+.4...+...Fouston Ave. Wasting ton) Avenue jan wow nthe athe wow 6aS A oRs Win ereASCQUCw IN Wer me meas alten sin ween fete AUSTIN OE, Wiest Gra yoA venues sauna eae oF te Walph Drive to Hermann Park “Caroline St. "AG we COAG IR: Ro Rees ValevSt “ Sam Houston Park “ Taft Street 101 AlmédatRoadvess sete. Se oe ee . Holman Ave me ff ff fh ee Hh Ht ff Sf ff mH ff | HN i | | | | | LH HI WD Paving contracts awarded but not yet begun- are as follows: to City Limits Bayland Avenues penn er ee ee Ghai “ Houston Ave. Hamilton Streetst ie. 4 oe. ea ee CY, “ Texas Avenue Jackson Street enh, Me oe eee ee IeTCe “Tuam Lamar iA veniies).. 0. Ue. he cee Le ete 7 nee Oe “ Hutchins Telephone Road..... ee Re eek anit eek Polk “ Lawndale West DallassA ve.i45) a Gene een eae hs WON “ Waugh Drive RA MHIDE SUES «os a Oe Meme aime ccnee eat “ Elgin Mt. Vernon.. .. 9. A, & A, P. ROR. © WesthermeriRas Caroline. . 4) Rene eRe PU eee Bran ion “ Pierce Heiner & Sabine................++-++++4.++.West Dallas “ West Capitol Blodgett. . ; . .Hutchins “..1-G.: Nie aes eTitl 3 Ns a io OE et BON en Cate “ Bridge Rice Boulevard... ...........+..ss+++....4. Sunset Road “ So. Reinermann West' Capitol e- The total mileage of sanitary sewers in the City of Houston at the close of the year was 282.868 miles, with a valuation of $2,589,690.63. The sewage pumping plants have operated with the usual high efficiency. No im- portant change. . There were 2190 million gallons of sewage passed thru the North Side Disposal Plant in 1924, which transported 3450 tons of solid matter in suspension, 87.8% of which was entirely removed and the remainder, with 9000 tons of dissolved matter was oxidized, or purified as judged by the biochemical oxygen demand (a very delicate test for puri- fication) to 93.8%. During the treatment process 4380 million cubic feet of air was compressed to a pressure of 5.38 pounds above atmospheric pressure. At the South Side Disposal Plant 712 million gallons of sewage were treated, an in- crease over 1923 of 11.0%. This flow transported 467 tons of matter in suspension, of which 88.5% was removed and a purification obtained of over 95%, an unusually high percentage. Satisfactory progress has been made in methods for the dehydration (a very diffi- cult problem) of the sludge, which is a by-product of the disposal plants, and when de- hydrated is valuable as a nitrogenous fertilizer. New sewage pumping plants were constructed in Woodland Terrace Addition at Watson and Wendell Streets, at Fannin St. and Harris Bayou and at Leeland Ave. and Telephone Road. These plants are equipped with the most modern automatic equip- ment, and cost a total of $33,791.80. Building Construction The total value of all building construction for which permits were issued during the year ended December 31, 1923, was $19,117,106.00, representing an increase of 42.7% over the 1922 total. The year 1924 did not reach the same high mark, having a valuation of only $17,216,259.00. In 1923 Houston stood thirty-second in the Nation in the amount of building permit valuation, but in 1924 she had stepped up to thirty-first place. In the two: years there were issued 13,437 permits, authorizing the censtruction of 5,666 new buildings at a value of $33,347,031.00, and the repairing of 8420 Ce at a value of $2,986,334.00. Of the new buildings constructed, 5138. were for residential purposes, valued at $18,153,716.00, or 54.4% of the total value. Of these residential buildings 4,935 were one-family and two-family dwellings, valued at $14,825,295.00. One hundred and thirty-two apartments were built at a cost of $1,744,983.00, providing accommodation for 838 families. In the non-residential classification, office buildings, including banks, lead with a valuation of $4,492,378.00, representing the construction of 27 buildings. Seven modern fire-proof hospitals were built, costing $1,641,027.00. These include the first and main unit of the Hermann Hospital, costing $887,627.00; an additional eight- 104 story unit to the Baptist Sanitarium, at a cost of $370,000.00; the City-County Hospital, at $200.000.00, Autrey Hospital School $55,000.00 and two privately owned medical. buildings costing 50,000.00 each. One hundred and eighty-two stores and mercantile buildings were constructed, in- cluding restaurants, lofts, warehouses and storage buildings, etc., costing $2,070,447.00. Six buildings classified as Schools, Colleges, Museums, etc., including one Chem- istry Laboratory Building for Rice Institute, at a value of $600,000.00, Sisters of Charity Novitiate School, $542,902.00, one Art Museum Building at $335,000.00, New Houston Public Library $348,344.00, Woodrow Wilson School $94,550.00 and Kinkaid Private School $69,500.00. Amusement and recreation places come next in order of money involved in their con- struction, with twenty-one buildings valued at $1,574,670.00. Factories follow in point of valuation, 76 being constructed, involving the expendi- ture of $1,028,166.00. Following are the different classes of buildings constructed that make up the balance of.the two year’s total in the order of their value: | Thirty-nine Public Garages, costing $414,391.00. é Nineteen buildings classified as Public Works, costing $1,333,680.00. Thirty Churches valued at $701,833.00. Sixteen sheds, including cotton and lumber sheds, valued at $62,600.00. Iorty-seven gasoline service stations at a cost of $76,600.00. Seventy-two other buildings of various kinds, at a cost of $358,539.00. One fire station at a cost of $4,000.00. The following table is a general review of the building situation in Houston from 1912, and_illustrates the remarkably steady growth of the City based upon continued gains in value of building activities during the normal years before and after the World War. COMPARATIVE TABLE Percentage , Per Cent | Residential Year Permits Bldgs. Valuation Increase Buildings Peerage ed ohne ker ime? . 3) 2909 ster $4,842,617 es Died Prac eoes Senne ty hcheys «|, O49 atta. Dota eo LZ = Bee Me ha oa asf 4178 Agee 3,556.868 4s enone aati. ee ieee |" O00 3666 2103 3.09 blag oe EN ee Sree ae al ae KL 3448 3 ,086.870 ES | x. PT eS ein. soto LOO L 2552 3,124,327 a6 te | e, OLS Pe Mec tte sheets oie '6\\y 2206 2352 2,270,649 of Netz . BENE OA oes oR rr greek NG CM Pee 4065 4890 6,861,619 PN 48.1 M2 () Wier, Seg tM otic th 204: 4507 8,531,447 = 24.3 41.1 PO Sem ere wee, sas ects ov}, “OP09 7342 10,398,295 21.8 | 67.0 Lies A hay ace CRRA ae eee 6893 7356 13,390,469 28.0 65.4 MSDS PANN ye 27 Fi oye soto 4p aay oe 6736 7094 19,117,106 42.7 44.3 ee es ate vee OT Ol 6992 17,216,259 11.4 62.5 105 +48 EE EE A RS HA A HH AS HI Se ee HH A HIRD 89 The operating expense of the Engineering Department, for the year 1923, was -$122,170.58, and $116,810.67 for the year 1924. Operating expenses of the Sewage Pumping and Disposal Plants and Sewer System was $71,851.14 and $72,354.53 for 1924. Revenues from Surveys, Permits, Inspections, and other fees amounted to $52,105.98 in 1923 and $56,082.12 for 1924. 106 : ¢ : ! s Park Scenes Ut the City of — Srouston * eens acne nears pit tae renner SBE LEDS APTS Baie rags Sg oe Fi Sa ae et ritiStes “Gunlen Carder. Man Bld.and Hermann Pak Shelter House - Hermann Lark, Showing Big Five lace Shelter House, bbodand lark, Showing Cobnmade and Swimming ana iading Pools CM 1 AA RD 88 Department of Parks HE YEAR 1924 was the one of greatest expansion in the park and boulevard sys- tem of Houston. The system of parks and boulevards as it now exists, was planned under the direc- tion of the famous landscape architect, the late George E. Kessler, of St. Louis and Kansas City. Gs bes Birock: Superintendent of Parks. His plans completed in 1913 have not nearly been carried out, but more progress has been made the last year than in all previous years since he made them. . Notable and far reaching achievements of the last year may be summarized in this way: Purchasing of 1503 acres of beautiful wooded land for a wonderful park to be known as Memorial Park and named in honor of Houston’s patriots in the World War. The acquiring of 133 1-2 acres addition to Hermann Park. The acquiring of 25 acres for a park site on the North Side; also Cherryhurst Park and Proctor Plaza. The many improvements at Hermann Park, including completion of the outer belt drive, the rapid growth of the zoo, the establishment of a public golf course, the new Miller Memorial, the increased equipment for the playground, including a wading pool and many minor improvements. Also the complete improvement of -Root Square. 113 8 Ht OO LL HH | fH Hl | fl fl | | | Ht MH HH a HN Iig>e~ The beginning of initial work on the permanent exposition grounds by establishing a dam at Sabine Street Bridge. The near completion of Waugh Drive, forming a cross town boulevard from Hous- ton Heights to South End. The beginning of work on the Buffalo Bayou Drive, and White Oak Drive which on completion will give the city a real boulevard system of which it may well be proud. In years gone by, Houston could not brag greatly of its park system. It was rather niggardly in their support. But there is an awakened sentiment in favor of parks and boulevards and such substantial starts have been made within the last year on great projects in the way of parks that Houston promises ere long to have a park and boule- vard system which it can show with pride to visitors. The superintendent of parks, and indefatigable worker for more parks in Houston, in his annual report, speaking of the advantage of parks and boulevards and a more beautiful city, says: “If Houston is to be the metropolis of the great Southwest the commercial center of a vast and populous territory, it must fit itself for the mission which it is to fulfill and in so doing it will attract to its limits the best type of citizenship the rich and the poor alike, to enjoy the advantages and opportunities; for, other things being equal, people will seek to dwell where they can get the most out of life for themselves and their child- ren; and, in conclusion, to become successful in its aims, the city must supply to a de- gree, materially exceeding other rival cities, all the results of modern progress and mod- ern civilization. . ’ “The city must be the center of the sum total of the thought and activities of the people residing within its territory which the city inspires to dominate. The city must be as well the social center, if she desires to become without a successful rival, the busi- ness center.” At the head of Houston’s park system and crowning it all is Hermann Park, a gift to the city of the late George Hermann, whose entire fortune went at his death to enrich the lives of the people among whom he lived and died. It is composed of approximately 545 acres, mostly in native woodland, around and through which driveways circle. During the last year one of the finest golf courses in the South was opened in this park and thousands of Houston people are now so crowd- ing this public course that there is a demand for another. The zoo is one of the great attractions there. In 1920 there were one buffalo and one deer. Now there are hundreds of specimens and in 1924 alone 359 animals, birds and reptiles were donated to the zoo and the city is busily engaged in building more and more suitable quarters for them. The zoo is visited by 15,000 people on Sundays and as the zoo grows, which it is doing at a great pace, the crowds increase. Other features of Hermann Park are: A tourist camp, where thousands of autoists become annually the guest of Houston; a model playground, with wading pools where hundreds of children daily enjoy life; tennis courts; the magnificent Miller Memorial where open air concerts and entertainments are held. 114 ore AN Hn Ne Hh LN A I HH HK Hm Hm . The parks owned by the city with their acreage and boulevards, are: Name Area in Acres Name Area in Acres Perma i ace ee eee 1503.00 Martha Hermann Square ....4.... 1.437 Pizaoet baldwin Park ....»... 5.00 Liermanie Pare eaueds ssa gee. O40. E20 memermuston Park oo 6.6... ew. 20.43 ejelsc Mor Rata) sc 2s ets oe eerie: Koen 788 Sq. Ft. UUM ATK. si svg oe eee 26.03 WO Ate Paton AE AL Mie ne ogacat dal aly «.. 10.00 oe Sie i 4.14 Libre Sag he) a Aa ree 42.39 0 GSES ae i 10.77 Cleveland Park Extension ...,......28.00 Breieere yal ss. kes ee 1.40 Weamutols bmdrven hark iter i.5)... 4°. ogie mmm Park ee ee 23.41 City Greenhouse and Nursery,.... 5 eye Wemiemoak Park ooo... 3s. SS ps 6) PROC PAT ts Sete: Riad (a's holes 1.437 Mot se SCHOO] ow. Breed) eg mer Olitar ah seme are. ke 450 Sq. Ft. ree ark lee es 44.93 PUGUStMie LLeIONS eat Ke eoeee a fide. 7.00 PeperraGe bark. so. ees es te0 Sa. Martine! den bPatkeerec: sucess 25.00 North Side High School Park.... 6.06 Proctuce Plag awn inicwee cauiho cs ee: 5) Seasaeend High School Park,..... 10.00 emraitstimr atice ss nati cs cote, ed AON ANS 2 Spe Soe in eRe ge a 2,459 BpetmrecerGlVd. J. ae ees 14 Miles RY A ROUTING ESV teeta ee ea ccarcr peek ye 3-5 Miles PRICES Ooh ala Sede esses 1 Mile PPATOUTOOIN FES 1VG elem Aaa nok ae «2 1-5- Miles Uoisnk (0) ofc gs 5) ge Ai 1-4 Mile dew bathe, Dlydsaee | ties «4 1-5 Miles a0 LS i a 1-2 Mile Souther Hamptomobluds: ae ose 5 1-2 Mile MtawrordobiVds jo... foes 1-4 Mile Erousron, Hemi Blvd) ei sass 2 Miles Montrose Blvd. 55 AOR D REE 1 1-2 Mile Mateo Gene retard ersuecl +2 Miles Total Miles cared for by Park Dept The expenditure for all park purposes was $216,604.22 in 1924. This was divided as follows: arisiemtisritetrance, | LADOT ~avat. e- sites. The playground movement has had atremendous impetus the last few yeats and it is the aim of the park commissioners to have a playground within a half-mile of every home in Houston within the near future. Efforts of this administration to extend parks is commendable. Officials are look- ing towards future generations in their work. The Memorial Park, which is the biggest thing yet undertaken by the city along this line, promises to become one of the outstand- ing recreation spots of the South. 116 g ONE OF THE RESERVE SUB- STATIONS OF THE HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO. HOME OF THE HOUSTON LIGHT- . PLANT AND RESERVE TANK HOUSTON LIGHTING &~ — POWE £0 ON THE SHIP ("en i ~~" THE HOUSTON? ELECTRIC CO. OPERATES MORE MODERN | NTERURBAN CARS “THANA SCORE OF MODERN MOTOR BUSSES SERVE THE PEODLE LIVING IN SUBURBAN DISTRICTS AND AFFORDING PA Teas RENTON: 0m AOR ’ PLEASURE SEEKERS WHO VISIT THE BAYSHORE & GALVESTON | SAC BIRDS EYE VIEW OF THE MAIN OF THE HOUSTON GAS CO. ING & POWER CO. cea a ae < + i * r i . 7 eu ay ” J i» 7 ’ . ia. 4 . “ 4 : 4g ay” oe al 3 : ~— or s “~~ _” . » ~ BAO 1s P oT > e ; ye 5 “* 1% *@ ¥ +, i-\3 eh es 7. ae + ' of ‘ ve * Sa ed ee arr 2M HH HH HB HHH HH I HH I The Department of Public Service NE OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS of the present administration was the creation of a department of Public Service. The City has had, for many years, large supervisory powers over its public utili- ties through franchises and under general laws; but until the last two years, it had no agency which devoted itself to the task of seeing that these franchises were carried out or that the interests of the public were properly safeguarded. The present Public Service Com- missioner was appointed to his position April 18, 1923. C. J. -Kirk, Public Service Comiitssioner. The Commissioner was given space in the City Hall and an appropriation of $10,500 made to defray the expenses of the office the remainder of the year. His appointment marked a distinct departure in the policy of the City in its dealings with public utilities. By ordinances, he has general supervisory authority over all public service corpora- tions operating by municipal authority. It is made his duty to supervise the performance of their duties to the City and the public and he is vested with particular power over all franchises of every description granted by the City. A franchise is nothing but a con- tract between the public, through its City Council, and a public utility. It was recognized the public was at a tremendous disadvantage so long as there was no one specifically charged with the duties of enforcing the contractural rights of the pub- lic. This is the reason for the creation of this department. Since the creation of this 119 ° fre 1 El ll hh | TE | HE | HY | Ht Wig>>= office, the public has a place to which it can take its grievances when it believes public utilities are not giving proper service. The public has evidently appreciated this fact, for the number of complaints has steadily increased. As these complaints come to the office, it promptly investigates; and if it finds they are justified, orders the utility to comply with its contract and give proper service. This department also aids utilities by helping them in working out standards of serv- ice, by making suggestions for remedying defects in service which come daily to the at- tention of the Public Service Department The Public Service Department is also constantly engaged in the investigation of charges made for service. Only recently, the department has recommended to City Coun- cil the charges being made by two public utilities are excessive and ought to be reduced. The Public Service Commissioner also makes plans for the future, and one of his duties is to outline the future needs of the City. In his first annual report, the Public Service Commissioner said: “Tt becomes the duty of a utility to discharge its contract by rendering a good eco- — nomical service, one might say service plus. That is, in addition to satisfying the im- mediate needs of the community, to prepare and be prepared to render this service as the demands of the public increase. If we accept this as the duty of the utility, then we: must understand that it becomes also the duty of the public, through its representatives Meer discharge the contract by using and regulating this service in a just and fair manner, fair alike to the utility and to itself.” The Public Service Commissioner’s office is supported by a special tax levied upon each of the public utilities, which has been agreed to in contracts the City madé with the utilities. The Department of Public Service is composed of the following: 1 Public Service Commissioner 1 Electrical Engineer 1 Street Car Inspector, with inspection super- vision over rent cars. 1 Boiler and Elevator Inspector 1 Gas and Electrical Inspector 2 Clerks Activities of the Public Utilities Houston Lighting & Power Company The Houston Lighting and Power Company, during the year of 1924, expended $5,- 259,336.50 in new construction, $3,708,183.63 of which comprises the Deep Water Power Station. The Houston Lighting and Power Company, December 31, 1923, had 42,554 meter connections, and December 31, 1924 had 49,677, showing an increase of 7,123 meters for the year or 17% increase. Their average number of employees during the year was 649. 120 =i i YE mt te ee i>. Houston Gas and Fuel Company The Houston Gas and Fuel Company expended $860,000 during 1924 in additions to plant, which comprised the construction of 2 one-million cubic feet district holders and the construction of 9 miles of 12 and 16 inch feeder mains. During the vear 1924, the Gas Company extended their City main 30.71 miles as follows: ‘fs | Recnchniiaind sk )s aera Coe 4.54 miles foe 2 OP gS Malta eee 52) THOS ore 1 Phe Ses. Lor SAR ee Be borat eile tg Ce eet CAs LGaies Bay | Ceteeee 4. wee Cte eee aie or it: During the year, the number of meters of the Gas Company increased from 26,109 to '27,926—an increase of 714%. The Gas Company expended $454,721. in 1924 for sala- ries to employees. Southwestern Bell Telephone Company The business and residence telephones of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, within the City limits, were increased from 38,705 to 42,955 during the year 1924, an in- crease of 11%. They. made an approximate addition to their plant of $1,000,000. _ Houston Electric Company During the year 1924, the Houston Electric Company expended $799,837 on improve- ments to track, paving and equipment, of this amount, new track, paving and_ similar improvements amounted to $364,667 the most expensive work being the paving of Wash- ington Avenue and reconstruction of track from 5th street to Waugh Drive at a cost of $144,000. Three bus lines were established, one on Austin street, a second to East End and a third to the West Webster section. For operation of business, 21 busses were purchased at a total cost of $176,970 while 15 new street cars were also bought «and put in serv- ice, this costing $192,193. Double tracking the Franklin line, which was commenced in 1924 and will be com- pleted in 1925, will cost approximately $100,000. — Because the full 1925 program has not been definitely determined, figures for this year cannot be given at the present time. _ Under this company’s agreement with the people of Houston, it is understood that the company would expend a total of $1,500,000 during a period of three years from January 1, 1924. The quota for the first year should have been approximately $500,000. As a matter of record, it has been approximately $800,000. The establishment of the Department of Public Service is another example of the determination of the present administration to safeguard the interests of the people in se- curing at all times, efficient service from the public service corporations and common carriers. = V2T = J * Bod Rede atk eas ES i i & TT TUTE ny ». { ; B | » 7 % [Al section of the Giys Free Clinic at GtyHall 4| Where poor and unfortu- tale citizens tecerve 4 experf tnedical treal— \ert from the ae : \\doctors without charge ‘squaijnd Ajtsvq? 40{f Stssnpy fo Ayunod pun uojsnoyy fo kj1D aq} &q pauiwzuimm pup pajresa Jvjdsoyy [wlsomay siavg uossa{{af mau aq] i hee Sibercubars| archandled || inHouston | eres at I (vin Building See a mame 0 Uni for Ne} Sune e | Fuber cular PutwenCS eS cre Ll ll Ll lll | ||| || | VV | ie) Ltd The Health Department 4 HE Health Department of the City of Houston has aimed to keep abreast of the rapid growth of the City, and also to keep informed,andto institute all of the modern methods of disease prevention, that have been recommended by the United States Public Health Service, American Public Health Association and the State Department of Health. In the past ten years, there have been a great many changes in the department Arthur Heath Flickwir, M.D.F.A.P.H.A., Health Officer and numerous new activities have been undertaken. A great deal of modern equipment has been added and new personnel employed. One of the outstanding improvements that has been made in the department, and which is of utmost value to the city, has been the standardizing of Vital Statistics and their acceptance by the Department of Commerce at Washington, D. C., as authentic, and the weekly publication of the same by this department in its report of the Vital Statistics of seventy-two of the larger cities of the Nation. One of the divisions which has made rapid strides in the past ten years is the Dairy and Milk Inspection division. It has now broadened its activities, until all of the milk and milk products sold within the City of Houston are inspected at the soure of produc- tion and also at the time of delivery to the public. This Department has protected the citizens of Houston against the infection of tuberculosis from milk, by requiring all of the herds of dairy cattle, from which milk is sold within the City, to be tested for tuber- culosis by a qualified veterinarian. 125 . +c -— HW 5 Ht em Hm 1 mm 1 me me EH me 1 mm HH me Mmmm me Wg>e- The City Laboratory has been enlarged and now makes Analysis not only of speci- mens pertaining to disease and public heaith, but also many features of industrial chem- istry and bacteriology, pertaining to City Departments and Industries are taken care of by this Laboratory. Another important improvement has been made in the handling of contagious and infectious diseases, by co-operation with the Laboratory. The most modern methods are maintained in this Department,*and not only the individual suffering from contagious - disease are quarantined but also the carriers of said disease. This, in the opinion of the Board of Health has kept down many epidemics that otherwise would have originated. At the outbreak of the war in 1917, through co-operation with the United States Health Service, the State Health Board and other Agencies of the Government, several important new activities were formed, made necessary on account of the establishment of one of the large army camps at this point; most notable among these health activities was the Department of Venereal Disease Control. In some places this work was dropped after the Federal Government ceased to contribute and the army camps were closed; not ” so, however, with Housten, this work having shown such excellent results in the preven- tion and treatment of this particular kind of disease, Houston continued this work and is today one of the cleanest cities in the United States, regarding venereal disease, the Houston V. D. Clinic being known and quoted throughout the United States as one of the ideal clinics of this type. The great war also had a direct bearing on the method of the inspection and operat- ing of restaurants and other food establishments. Most of the personnel of this De- partment received excellent training in the different sanitary branches of the Army and Navy and brought home with them the most up-to-date methods of food inspection and sanitary arrangement of food handling establishments. Since 1920, when the present Health Officer assumed the duties of this office, the following new divisions have been created: Division of Rodent Extermination and Ex- amination, which was made necessary at the time when the city became one of the world’s large ports, trading to a large extent with South American and other foreign countries; next, the division of Mosquito Control—this division being enlarged from time to time and functioning to such an extent that disease carrying mosquitoes have been practically eliminated within the City limits. Another division that has been of great help to the laboring classes of the City, has been that of Industrial Hygiene, or the inspection of industrial plants, paying particular attention to the working conditions and surroundings of establishments where women and girls are employed. Another important branch of the Division of Sanitation has been that of the enforc- ing of the City Ordinance regarding sewer connections and sanitary plumbing in the resi- dence section. Thousands of homes have been enabled to make connections with the City sewers in the last five years. It is the aim of this division to see that all buildings connect to the sanitary sewers as rapidly as the same are constructed by the Engineer- ing Department. In 1923 the City Council passed a Meat Inspection Ordinance and created a divis- ion of Veterinary medicine which has charge of the same and at the present time, all 126 meat consumed within the City of Houston, undergoes a rigid inspection by a duly qualified veterinarian and cannot be sold unless it bears the stamp of the Health De- partment or that of the meat inspection department of the United States Government. Regarding the indigent sick of the City a remarkable change has been made. Up until four years ago these patients were taken care of in a private hospital and treated by the Health Officers. At present the City owns, jointly, with the County, the new Jef- ferson Davis Hospital which is a modern institution of one hundred and fifty beds, where the poor of the City and County receive excellent treatment, free of charge. There is also a modern psychopathic ward in this institution, where the insane are given modern, scientific care until such time as they can be removed to the State institution. The Hos- pital also maintains an out-patient clinic where the poor can go for treatment. The staff of the Jefferson Davis Hospital is made up of the most eminent physicians and surgeons of the City, who generously give their services to relieve the suffering of the poor of the City. Such services can not be measured in dollars and cents but shows the human in- terest that has always been maintained by the medical profession of Houston in admin- istering to the indigent sick. During the last decade, great improvement has been made in the Garbage and Dis- posal division. Five incinerators have been erected which burn the greater portion of the garbage and other waste. This is very necessary in our southern climate, as the quick disposal of waste is very much desired and has a great bearing on the City’s sani- tation. It is the hope of this department to eventually dispose of all the garbage and waste by incineration or some other manner, which will completely eliminate the old method of dumping. Many improvements can always be made in a Health Department. New discover- ies by scientists regarding the transmission of disease require different methods as to the combating of the same. The general public in the last few years has become very much interested in public health and there has been many laudable health undertakings, championed by them, out of which numerous volunteer organizations have been formed. These organizations have been very active in Houston and a great deal of good health work has been done by them. It has always been the aim of the Health Department to co-operate with volunteer health organizations at all times. The American Red Cross is one such organization deserving special mention for it made possible the establishment of the present Municipal Hospital and City Clinic by donating to the City $35,000 worth of hospital equipment in 1918, that had been in- tended for an overseas Hospital Unit, but was not shipped before the Armistice was signed. This organization also instituted the teaching of home hygiene and care of the sick in the City Schools. The Anti-Tuberculosis League and the nursing department of the Social Service Bureau are volunteer organizations that have also done a great deal of health work. The Medical Inspection of Schools and the department of school nursing in the City of Houston is one of. the best in the South. Although this is not a division of the Health 127, RE 1 I NN Nh NH NI Department proper, it is one of the collaborating health agencies of the City. It is un- der the direction of the Supervisor of Hygienics of the Schools, who is appointed by the School Board and the department maintained by school taxes. The Health Board has many plans for extending the work of the Department in the future. Its members are very enthusiastic health advocates and although they serve without pay, they have made extensive investigations at their own expense and the Health Officer has received valuabie information and suggestions from this Board. Some of the new activities that the Health Department expects to launch in the near future are: Division of Public Health Education; the publication of a monthly health journal; establishment of a Clinic for Mental Hygiene and many other activities which will help the cause of disease prevention. Extensive health work has. had its reward in the low infant mortality and low death rate that Houston has maintained for the past five years. The followi ing statistics will show the great amount of se accomplished by this — department during 1924. ; Number of visits made by City Physicians to the poor.. 4,591 Number of prescriptions filled by City Pharmacist for POOLE. 0) ab UE ERS Ae i ee I 13,633 Number of examinations made by Public Health Lab- oratory. 2,5) rd SRS be piss tee eee ee 15,181 Number of Inspections made by the Food Department cel Fines collected in the City Court for the violation of the..Pure Foods Laws Sac l Sage ee eee $925.00 Number of inspections of animals and carcass to be used for: meat wih ss wh 2 cup tnt sleds, ee 26,171 Number of inspections made by the Sanitary Diy. .... 45,540 Number of inspections made by the Scavenger Div. .... 50,317 Number of Tons of garbage removed during the year .. 70,134 Number of Tons of garbage burned in incinerators .... 45,100 Number of cattle tested for tuberculosis .............. 12,688 Number of dairies that receive regular inspection at stated. intervaleudarino (yearn. ane eae ii. N umber of inspections made by Mosquito Control] Div... 11,848 Number of city blocks oiled to prevent breeding of MOSQuitOEs. | > \. ee ee eos A eee 20,902 Number of gallons’ ot *o1litised=- ha. ae er eee eee 15,975 Number of Fire barrels treated with nitrate cake and carbolic acid to prevent breeding of mosquitoes .. 13,954 Number of cisterns stocked with Gambusia minnows .. 770 Number of cultures taken by the Quarantine Division... 1,315 Cases ‘investigated iui visits shonin tes aiaeaenee wenn ee 216 Premises; disinfected: 77 27a war eie ty cee ci ees 915 Number of treatments given at the out-patient clinic ... 11,464 Number of cases treated at V. D. Clinic: Female . Male . The excellent service rendered by the Health Reps ies is the source of pride to the citizens of Houston. 128 Eide" rris 8 » » S [Dr AC Feasin Fire & Police Sur: Willia ecy. Co Manager Shey responsible placements gaunicipal Sovernment > WAT Nabb erintendent Garbage or Departments (es. has Egger] Censor Secrelary ji ee WA bevnveider| Secy.€oMayor | RE ns Wad a ag see ne : Poet om 84 can an Pe AIC te, ba iss ua laaies od ‘ psstimcc cee: § cec BAVCY 7) OA OH SS Shee Se es Sreeee er reefORU USUI LS a re ll | Hf HN 1 — — 1 Ht FI 8 The Electrical Department OUSTON’S ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT, with its network of wires and fire H and police alarm boxes scattered throughout the City, is one of the most impor- tant branches of the City Government. From its infancy, in 1898, this department has been forging ahead until now its alarm systems are in close touch with almost every section of the city. Besides handling the police and fire alarm systems the department is in full charge of the electric traffic signals which are being used on the streets in the downtown section. Clarence R. George, City Electrician. The fire alarm system now consists of 280 fire alarm signaling boxes, with 10 miles of underground cable, approximately 250 miles of overhead wire, with a Central office equipment of modern apparatus consisting of 20 box circuits and repeating instruments, for receiving and sending alarms to the sixteen engine houses connected with the system. The installation of fire alarm boxes in the commercial districts will compare favorably with any city. These boxes are mounted on iron pedestals and connected direct to the underground cables, and each box is provided with a light and a thirteen inch globe with the words “Fire-Alarm” in red, which signifies to the public the purpose of these boxes. In 1909 the city officials saw the need of the installation of a police telegraph signal- ing system, which is similar to the fire alarm system, but for the sole use of the police- men reporting and receiving information in the remote parts of the City, and keeping in direct communication with Police Headquarters. i35 111, 11 8 0 0 I HN i NN HN NH 1X —— Hh Hh HTD = This system consists of 60 Police boxes and 24 patrol circuits, 5 officers cir- cuits and 60 flashlight circuits. The purpose of the police signaling system is when the officers are making the rounds of their designated territory, as they pass in the neigh- borhood of the police signaling boxes, they can report to Headquarters by signaling, as well as by telephoning, as these boxes are equipped for talking. These boxes are also equipped with what is known as a “flashlight and bell system”, which enables the police headquarters to signal and get in communication with policemen in any part of the city. The Police Patrol System is one of the most valuable assets of the Police Depart- ment. This system is so constructed and installed that Police officers, while attending duties of their regular rounds, can communicate by code reporting, and also talk direct to Police Headquarters. When it is necessary for the Police Department to send out an emergency call, or give other information to the Police Officer, the operator is notified of whatever in- formation that the Headquarters desires to give to the officer. By the use of the “flash- light and bells” provided over each Police box, the operator can get in direct communi- cation with every officer in the city, with the exception of those in the parts of the city where such boxes have not been provided. One of the great problems confronting American Municipalities now is the proper control of Street Traffic. This Department has been active, under the direction of the Mayor, in installing an electrical sinaling system that would meet with the approval of the motoring public, and at the same time enable the Traffic Squad to properly handle traffic by these signaling devices. ’ During the year 1924 and as during previous years, this department has maintained the electrical equipments, repairs and small additions for all other city departments, in- cluding the two hospitals and in fact every department calling for electrical service and repairs. A review of some of the work of these departments will show the nature of the work this department is called upon to do. EXTENSION OF POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM: During the year six new Police Patrol Signal boxes have been installed. The new Police Patrol Signal switchboard was installed and put into service and since the original installation, six additional circuits and twenty flashlight recall circuits were added. The Board has as an integral part of its equipment an 80-line standard Western Electric Co’s. P. B. X. telephone switchboard for handling the police department tele- phones. NEW FIRE STATION FIRE ALARM EQUIPMENT: New fire stations No. 15 and 16 have been fully equipped with fire alarm receiving apparatus such as gongs, recording registers and the necessary instruments for this purpose. TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM: Traffic signals for twenty-six street intersections were installed during the past year, and these combined with the original system of eight 136 ore li ht NN TL IR . intersections on Main Street from McKinney to Congress and five intersections on Travis from Capitol to Congress gives a total of thirty-nine traffic controlled intersec- tions. The additional traffic signals installed during the past year are of a more improved type of signal than those first installed on Main and Travis Streets. The general con- struction is neater, and the installation while overhead—pole line construction, is as neat and complete as could be made. OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS: This department has made all repairs, renew- als, and maintained the electrical equipment for all other city departments when called upon. A review of some of the work for these departments will show the nature of the re- pairs, renewals and maintenance this department is, called upon to do. PARK DEPARTMENT: At Hermann Park constructed an underground conduit system running from the Water Works sub-station to the Miller Memorial and, pulled in one 2300 volt cable in the system for supplying lighting and power service to the Miller Memorial and golf club house and other buildings. Maintaining and repairing the electrical equipment and apparatus in the park build- ings from time to time. Installed time switch in Root Square park house for turning off and on the lights automatically. Installed high tension lightning arresters on 2300 volt cable at junction of aerial lines with underground cable at Hermann Park. Installed wiring system at Miller Memorial from panel service on stage to transformer vault for lighting and power for curtain hoisting actor. . The following parks have been wired and equipped with service boxes for attaching moving picture machines; North Side Junior, Woodland, Settegast, Eastwood, Miller Memorial, Cleveland, Emancipation and Cherryhurst. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT: Atthe southside disposal plant removed a one K. W. transformer and replaced same with a five K. W. as one K. W. transformer was insufficient for the load demand. CITY HALL: Maintained all electrical equipment at the City Hall and market. BRIDGES AND TUNNELS: This department regularly maintains the lighting sys- tem on all bridges and the North Side tunnel with regular inspection for lamp outage. FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS: This department is frequently called on by these departments for electrical repairs and additional installations of lights etc., and for electrical trouble. RECREATION DEPARTMENT: Removing flood lights from Hermann Park to the rodeo grounds and placing same in position with necessary lighting connection, string- _ ing festoon lighting for the Civic Circus. Installing lights in various play grounds from time to time. Decorating and lighting the Tree of Light on Market Square. 137 © I HH NN NH A ID OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS: This department has given the usual care and maintenance of electrical equipment at the City Hall, and the equipment used by all of the municipal departments including the libraries. The mention of this department work by the electrical department does not include all work, as there are many small repairs and cases of trouble of which no account is taken, but the mention of some of the work gives an idea of what is done and to the many calls to which this department responds. An extensive constructive program has been outlined by this department for the year 1925 and will include an extension of Houston’s excelent traffic system in order for the system to cover a larger area in the business section of the City. In addition plans are under way for the extension of the fire and police signal boxes which will extend the territory served by this modern electrical system: Changes in the improvement of the underground cable lines; New line wire overhead construction; Outside extensions and general improvements in the equipment due to modern electrical innovations. The Electrical Department functions with a corps of twenty skilled and trained em- ployees under the supervision of a Superint:ndent known as the City Electrician, baer as _ Recreation Departinen eens IS TR ST AE SORIA $m me I 1 1 HY He HT Hf a Ht OL 1H Ht eH HEIR @ The Recreation Department HE Department of Recreation was created by City Ordinance January 24, 1921. The varied activities of this Department promote a wholesome influence over the entire community. This Department is based upon the following fundamentals : The City’s need of: The unselfish organized service of its citizens. Trained people to give full time to thinking, planning and working for the best possible use of the leisure hours of its men, women and children. Miss Corinne Fonde, Recreation Secretary. The Wisdom of: Recreation: ’ That builds citizenship as well as fills the leisure hours. That provides for healthy expression of the great human desire for companion- ship and social life. That develops appreciation of the beautiful. Training of the entire people to enjoy wholesome good times in home, church and all natural relationships, as well as in playgrounds and recreational centers. The program: Takes into account the interests of people in: Their Environment; and in Phys- ical, Manual (creative, constructive), Rhymthic, Dramatic, Linguistic, Social and Civic Activities. 143 “ ul Hf eH Se Hae | Eh EL | | | | | | Ht || HH | joe The following divisions of the Department will show at a glance the broad scope of activities promoted and the varied services rendered the taxpayers by this unique branch of the municipal government: PLAYGROUNDS: During 1924 the Playground Division Offered play supervision to little children, boys, girls and adults, on eight year- round playgrounds and an additional fifteen summer playgrounds. Total attendance — White playgrounds, 246,438; colored playgrounds, 53,385. Provided at three pools free swimming for boys and girls in summer. Attendance—White, 5,237; Colored 1,549. Conducted many games and gymnastic periods in the Municipal Gymnasium. An intensive two-weeks institute, in which all members of the Executive Staif served as instructors, was required of all employed playground directors, and brought to the playgrounds many excellent volunteers. Some of the outstanding features of the year’s program were: Inter-Playground Supremacy Contest—A method of grading all games, tournaments, exhibits, etc., to determine the award of the Midget, Junior, Intermediate, Senior and Grand Supremacy Banners at the end of each month. In games Sportsmanship is count- ed for fifty (50) points, Reliability for twenty (20) points and Winning, thirty (30). Handcraft—Making simple toys for children, basketry, kites, lanterns, boats, whit- tling, etc. Tournaments—Many and varied; bicycle, jackstones, tops, kite, aquatic, checker, marble, drop kicking, etc. Clubs—Athletic, social, handcraft and dramatic predominating, though civic, debat- ing and musical groups are beginning to organize. Novelty Events—Pet shows, stunt nights, tumbling, doll shows, etc. The above and many other activities heip to make of the playgrounds “Schools of self-discovery and self-direction.” ATHLETICS: The work of this division covers all phases of a Municipal Athietic Program. In- cluded in the activities are games such as Baseball, Tennis, Football, Basketball, Horse Shoes, Aquatics, Track Meets, and many special events. These sports are organized through such mediums as the Neighborhoods, Churches, Schools, Industries, and Commer- cial houses. An idea of how far reaching some of these organizations are is given in the facts that the Houston Amateur Baseball Federation had 1,850 players who played to ap- proximately 185,000 spectators in 1924. Permits for the use of Baseball Diamonds and Tennis Courts are issued at the Department’s office. COMMUNITY MUSIC: Houston Orchestral Society and Houston Harmonic Society are both operated by this Division. Music Study Courses and a Boys’ Chorus is also conducted. Community Concerts with artist soloists and lectures are presented and an extensive Christmas 144 CP i it a Hh a A = HN NN Yh PN HN Rae» Caroling program carried on. Community “Sings” are arranged and directed and Per- cussion orchestras encouraged. Courses in playground music are offered as part of cur- riculum of Playground Institutes. During 1924: 359 rehearsals were held with 7,45lparticipating. 8/7 performances were given with 3,049 participating. 47 community “sings” held with 11,695 participating. 42 music study classes held with 180 in attendance. The City appropriated $10,000.00 for Summer Band Concerts. A director and twen- ty-four (24) bandsmen played fifty-one (51) concerts on ten (10) playgrounds or parks. Attendance 87,300. NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: This Division organizes and fosters social recreation in neighborhoods. Activities are conducted in various places over the City in schools, halls, club rooms, churches and on playgrounds. The neighborhoods surrounding playgrounds are centers of concen- trated work by the director. Direct contacts are made through visiting in the homes, attending meetings, giving and enlisting cooperation, assisting playground directors in making connection with homes and community organizations. And in 1924 3,367 adults and young people were assisted to enjoy home play and _ neighborhood parties. Party Service — To assist in planning parties, picnics and good times, generally. There were 650 party bulletins on seasonal parties and programs were issued in 1924. Home Play—lIn response to many demands, special promotion is being given Home Play by teaching games which can be played at home by parents and children together. One of the slogans of this division is: “Keep the children in the home and the young people in the neighborhood.” EDUCATIONAL DRAMATICS: Included in the activities of this division during 1924 was the participation of 4,734 children and adults in 55 amateur performances, plays, festivals and pageants. es style by sloping upward until the rear end is five feet or more above the surrounding ground. This slope enables a pitched ball to hold the green. The slope also helps solve drainage problems. The course as a whole is laid out on rather flat terrain, but where nature dipped the landscape in one direction or another advantage has been taken of the depressions and hazards have been created. Some of the holes are excellent from every golfing stand- point. Others may be a trifle severe through a lack of width, but this is a detail. They may be broadened at any time. Several of the holes belong to the “dogleg” type which hides the green from the tee. The third belongs in this class, yet a long tee shot slightly hooked will negotiate the bend in the fairway. The twelfth is of similar pattern. In February the Houston Municipal course was put to a rugged test by forty or more professionals who were attracted by a two-day open tournament at the end of which $2,000 was distributed in cash prizes. First honors went to Joe Kirkwood, the Australian trick shot maker. He played the course four times in a total of 259 strokes, just seven above par. On the first hole he had two “eagles” a “birdie” and a par. Many of the game’s best known professionals were in Houston for this competition which may become an annual event. Visitors from distant cities where public golf courses have been in operation for years have praised the Houston course and have marveled at the great amount of play devel- oped in less than one year. They said some of their own courses were too cramped and that it was refreshing to play on links where wood was often needed for a second shot. The Houston fairways are turfed with Bermuda grass, a hardy species that affords an excellent lie for the ball. As the course grows older this turf will improve in texture, but wonders have already been accomplished at a small cost. Where an 18 hole private -course costs in the neighborhood of $90,000, the Houston public links were presented to the public at a cost of considerably less than half that amount. It has been estimated that the income in greens fees will not only defray upkeep costs, but will also help pay some of the original expense which was the heaviest. Part of the course was cut out through a tangle of stunted trees and over sections where rain water backed up. All this ground has been well drained and golf can be played at all times except after continued heavy rains. The course is within the boundaries of picturesque Hermann Park and about three and a half miles distant from the business center. Among the accommodations offered is a club house containing lockers and shower baths. The golf shop occupies one corner of the building. Owing to the heavy play which is becoming heavier each month a new and larger club house is to be erected. The original one was paid for with donations made by business men of the community. These donations reached $7,000 as trustee Mr. Spotts handled the fund and filed a com- plete report showing all disbursements. Some of the contributions made to help in the construction work ranged as high as a thousand dollars. They were made by large industrial companies whose officials realized the value of the game. tol £8 1 1 hh NN NH | I 8 George Rotan was the first to win a citywide championship on the Municipal course. Such a tournament is to be an annual fixture. There will also be an annual tournament between the public course players. Golf beginners will also have meets of their own. Boys of the city are showing a great aptitude at golf on the public course. That two of them should be the first to accomplish holes in one is more or less of a tribute to their skill, During the school periods each Saturday morning is a free morning at the course. This municipal course was the first city playground ever dedicated to the grown-up element by a city administration. In the past many playgrounds were provided for chil- dren and boys, but men and women were practically forgotten in the general schemes, In those days administrative bodies had not been “sold” in regard to golf. Today there is a great reformation in ideas. This has been brought about by the continuous play in which all classes have indulged since the facilities were offered. Hundreds of women who were inclined to scoff at golf as a man’s diversion a few years ago are now listed as among the regular disciples. In the broad outdoors the virtues of the pastime are be- ing brought home daily to the rugulars and the novices. obit 1 hh | HH The Houston Foundation HE Houston Foundation possesses features that distinguish it from the Welfare De- Ap partments of other American cities. It came into existence by ordinance in 1915, in response to a wide-spread feeling that there should be an official body made compe- tent by law to receive and administer bequests to the City of Houston. Examples were nu- merous, and sometimes striking, of funds left for public purposes being squandered or ap- plied without consideration of their best uses. There is little control over private trus- Dr. J. W. Slaughter, Director. tees and nothing to insure that their use of funds will‘ really advance the public wel- fare. The Houston Foundation was therefore created to meet this need. It consists of a board appointed in a manner to give continuity through changes of administration and yet to remain responsible to the citizens and government of Houston. The board is, first of all a public trusteeship, possessed of expert knowledge of the City’s needs in the welfare field, ready to advise anyone contemplating a bequest for pub- lic purposes, and able to give assurance that such bequests would be administered for the public benefit according to the desires of the donor. Secondly the Foundation constitutes the City’s Department of social welfare, carry- ing on the activities usual to such departments. It has charge of the administration of the Municipal Hospital and the Tuberculosis Hospital. In addition, it maintains a free employment service. 153 << Sl— A LS LO lh | EH Hl | HH ll LL fH | | 1 —— Hmm Kham IRD 0 » The third function of the Foundation is to provide connection between the munici- pal government and the private welfare agencies. Considerable aid is received from the the public treasury by agencies for relief, nursing, and the care of dependent and delin- quent children. The Foundation Board has with these a relationship of general super- vision. It inspects their accounts and requires that standards of economy and efficiency be maintained. With the group that does not receive financial aid from the City, the Foundation serves as an agency of endorsement. It protects the public from fraudulent solicitation and gives assurance that a meritorious agency deserves support after exami- nation of its accounts and methods. Because so many lines of activity unite in the work of the Foundation, social wel- fare activities in Houston operate with little duplication of efforts and with a minimum of friction. There is probably no other city in the United States that presents so close a co-operation between public and private agencies, or does so much with its welfare re- sources as Houston. In its function as a public trusteeship, the Foundation Board has endeavored to for- ward the settlement of the will of the late Judge E. P. Hill, in which the Foundation was made a legatee. The executors are co-operating to this end, and there is reason to hope that the welfare work of Houston will soon be aided by the bequest of this generous benefactor. The Board has kept close watch over the agencies that receive appropriations from the city treasury. It can testify to a high degree of efficiency in all of them, and notably in the Social Service Bureau and Faith Home. These, together with nearly all other social welfare agencies have been placed on a much better basis than formerly for se- curing public support. The community chest method of finance has increased the effi- ciency of executives by freeing them from financial worries and enabling them to plan their work on an assured budget. The Foundation Board was active in promoting the Community Chest, and has given important assistance in ‘its campaigns, for funds, as well as office accommodation. The Municipal Hospital has operated through the year within its budget allowance, including repairs to the temporary buildings it has occupied. During the year work has progressed on the new Jefferson Davis Hospital, constructed jointly by the City and the County, and the institution opened the first of March 1925. This institution, which in organization and equipment, and with the generous contribution of staff service by Hous- ton physicians, is accounted one of the best, will then have a first rate plant able te care for one hundred and fifty patients. This hospital will contain a psychopathic ward, which will end the deplorable confinement of the insane in the County jail. It may be expected that, with the Hermann Hospital coming soon into operation, the City-County institution will be able to meet the problem of the indigent sick. During the year a new unit for advanced white patients was added to the Tubercu- losis Hospital This increase of twenty-four beds, bringing the capacity of the whole | hospital of four units to eighty-eight beds, makes it possible for Houston to approxi- mate adequate hospitalization of those suffering with tuberculosis. This growth, how- ever, has made the facilities for administration, housing of nurses, and kitchen service 154 M1 L$ —$— OY NT HF || | | Wires wholly inadequate, and the Board is glad to announce that appropriations have been made and plans drawn which during the next year will increase the efficient operation of the hospital by the addition of an administration building. The Board continues, as in past years, its work of examining the status and work of institutions, agencies and individuals who appeal to the public for support. Much more could be done in the way of preventing imposture if contributors would insists upon the endorsement of the Foundation Board before giving ear to any appeal. The work of the Free Employment Bureau has been expanded by the addition of an assistant to the examiner in charge. This Bureau has made for itself a place of wide and recognized usefulness to the City. It is now the chief means of placement for all classes of labor, and particularly common labor, It contributes the best of co-operation with other welfare activities in the special efforts made to secure employment fer those who are handicapped. In this way it has assisted many families to avoid distress by their own efforts. The organization chart of the Foundation shows clearly the varied and extensive ac- tivities and numerous services rendered by this Department. oo0oS tT S {SOD |E4101 BAILIAIL OY QAN|D oul SA0G od 00cL2¢$ yeOpag |OFOL ‘Ayunod ay Aq pabpunyy pun Pas40|09 Pub SIUM ‘sobyojs [JO Seatyduinsuo Juabipul 20j sa409 o00'002 FS Jebpng |Pjyo. *SJd4IQ) DEAOIOD jJuanbuljap 40s saan) o0'000rS 4SOD |DJOL ojo BUI|aADY SLs DUD ‘Ayia BY} JO 40Qq MIS || 40) SOAD 00 '00sG's! 4 Zz UAWOM OJ SUDI{DIS AY 1S 1 403 a pogeriaeiue es at Series pod li payroddag eel haba riche eel legs lopian 00'00S'z! Aapjunjoa Aq yapd u UND spusanp IO AAA 'O MA Aa Lod oiporudaiddy Ajuno5 pub Ajyunod aut Aq aul Aq Peywuiwon shogq Jund ul paysoddng Ut pub spooy poy AjuNoy Buy hq pod ul paysoddng juanbuyep4gy SadD5 kq od ul peysoddng pee a area UOILN|SUy AJOAId UOLNJIJSU] Hang ¥ edi eh od UO LNJYSU] Wang y : uodlpladouddy AyI9 uolNptadosddy Ayo O00 '000'rS $ VLIdSOH Wal SIND uoloiadouddy Aj19 00'C00'S $ SAOS 495 TOOHDS ANNOD SIYYWH uolyotudoarddy Ayia oo '00z2'1¢ SWOH SVONOU o00'002z'"1¢ anin skhog sMAN Ply SHalern4y BT nat LN AS 1V7LIdGSOH SISOINOYISNL ‘USLUOM puD Ua Acy JUauAcjda Epuly ‘salou :Neaang justudAo|idtig gta Antal dgicks 6 adel UOl~OASAO-OD Slouwslouy COo'000'ZE F jebpng 1P4OL PIO SADA el waip|IYUD Of SyUDjU} WiOAs UaipiUD jUapiadap 410) Sein9 00'090'so $ yebpng |P OL BADSAM PIIUDS SLUSUD{ HAS » BuISnN YJDAH Ign € BAI IIEIOAS SIAID Z BIIAAGGS Punjaljay | S\deg Ss sjonpuog Aouaby YAOM PSDO aIDAlAg Y UO! fDldouddy AjI9 COCOOL!I F VIING JDIAYIS IWIIO "Spun JO aIGDM 4O J4OjJa jo Bui yooi;}dap pup buiddryiano jueAead © *AUIOUODA PUD ADUGIDIj Jo A}a4y, ayouo4d ©] S28!DUsbb |DI00¢ ||pb jo BBN 404 BOIAAIS AO Jelja4 aiqDjl4ADYyo bujnisaoes SIONPJAT PU] Pod Sai |iwiDs fo xopu| Uy >ebupyoxg jolyuepiyuo0o5D 'aidoad ayy JO Spaau jbj>D0¢S aut 4a0W 0{ SOBIDUSHD ejDAlAd Mau OY AUOLW josjuns6 anib pup aziuniup Aduaby S}DAldg uoundiadouddy Aji9 Co'000'6 $ JWOH HLIVS ‘ppuvobedoud jpuoiponpy ualuasuopua pjOYyyfiM 40 BGAOPUS PUD YAONA pasodoud slay, puo s}peddo ai\qnd Buiyjput seiouabp azAjpup saw 4USLU4DddSg 4USLUISaSUOpUA ‘HOJSNOH jo UdAp| IYO pub UBLUOM ‘ALU BUY JO GADJJOM BU] O buiuinjpisd peuinjgo sjpp4 ysijqn PUD SKSAINS DUD SDIPNIS JONHUOND OILVWINdOSddVALID ONIMON104 S3SYNSsia ‘YAOM BADJIOM | OAAUSH Ao4 spun Buisios soy udjd 4ayjo Aud Jo SjuUawulbDysajue AyADYD ‘SAvp boy ‘'sajps abpwiwins 40j SyiLLuag SAaNss| 'B4DJ(BM OI[Gnd pup e2uUe\OASdUAag Ajlapyougy Ssayojse 4ejsiuilupy NOILVONNOJS NOLSNOH TIONANODS INV YOAVW -NOILVONNOS NOLSNOH-LYVH9 NOILVZINV9Su0 Every year the City of Houston appropriates large sums of money toward the maintenance of a score or charitable institutions and among those receiving the benefits are the De- Pelchin Faith Home and Harris County Training School for boys. ’ sae i . . wt et athe ’ . * j , + i r . 4 _ < r , w u OF THE meyer iny OF WLM: 4 TRE LIBRARY WO Toe Wah: a * Pela, hy, as , eS a le ee Te ON Ne I || LS i |f | Ef ig. Peer orporation Court HE Corporation Court has jurisdiction within the limits of the City of Houston, T with power to hear and determine all cases of violation of the ordinances of the City. All cases coming before this Court are tried and disposed of in open Court and no pleas of guilty accepted except by the Judge of the Corporation Court and all pleas must be made to the Judge by offenders or their legal representatives. 4 = ze fe 4 Above: Judge A. C. Winborn, Judge of the Corporation Court. Below: Lucien M. Andler, Clerk of the Corporation Court. This Court holds no terms and is at all times open for the transaction of business. The Judge sets the time for the trial of cases. The Judge keeps a docket which is known as the “Minutes of the Corporation Court” and in this minute book is noted all continuances, trials by the Court or by jury, judg- ments and whether for dismissal or for a, fine and costs, with the amount of the fine, new trials and notices of appeal. In the Corporation Court all proceedings are commenced by the filing of a com- plaint, duly sworn to before any person authorized by law to administer oaths and filed with the Clerk of the Court. 152 bd Bili-n Te HY | i | i Hl | ll | Hf || | | i | ||| | || Hf ee | Hf The complaint bears the name of the person charged with an offense, or if the name cannot be obtained, then a general description of the person, as near as may be, the na- ture of the offense and the time and place where the offense was committed. If the defendant happens not to be in the custody of an officer or before the Court in person then a warrant is issued, directed to the Chief of Police, or any policeman of the City, commanding the Chief or policeman to forthwith arrest the person named or de- scribed in the warrant and to bring the person before the Judge of the Court for a hear- ing upon the complaint. The complaint is read to the defendant, who shali plead thereto and the plea is en- tered upon the docket by the Judge. If the person pleads guilty the Judge assesses such fine and costs as may be authorized by law or the ordinances of the City of Hous- ton. Ifa plea of not guilty is entered to the complaint, a trial shall be had, either by the Court or by a jury as the defendant may elect. The following statement covering the activities of this Court, for the year 1924, will show the large volume of business handled during the period: CASES TRIED IN CORPORATION COURT AND HOW DISPOSED OF FROM JANUARY THE 1, 1924 TO DECEMBER 31, 1924. Month Cases Docketed Convictions Dismissed Pending Januarys so cee 1,326 959 367 Hebria tye.) 2c. 1,622 L22 345 5 Ma Rees oe oth ee 1,291 917 372 ae Apralincs ta. seen 1,647 1253 387 7 Mayite sso nee 1,465 1,202 262 1 ] Ne ere Ca ete 1,699 1,382 307 10 Epa yg ie an are ek 1,036 719 299 18 ALOUST (iron. tek 1,631 1,287 326 18 Septembenry © mae 1,904 T5939 BD 30 October i. ve crear 1,145 784 305 28 November la oee ee 1,051 674 349 28 Decenipet sae 881 530 262 S9 ‘hota Moers 16,698 1251e 3,944 236 Total Fines Assessed During the Year 1924... .$83,967.10 The Judge of the Corporation Court, who is appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council, presides over this Court and sessions are held in the handsome Court Room located on the Fourth Floor of the Fire-Police Station. 16C © NB mH Hm HH YN NH — EH HN fh BY LY HN HH HH HH Wee The Department of Architecture HE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE was created by the City Council in 1912. Since its creation the department has been a great factor in the success uf many constructive programs arranged and completed by the City of Houston. The activities of this department consist of the preparation of plans and _ specifica- tions and supervision of construction of buildings erected by the City of Houston. In some special cases, however, the City Council deems it advisable to procure the services W. A. Dowdy, City Architect. of architects in private practice, as consulting or associate architects, on work requiring this service, and occasionally supervision of work only is performed, the outside archi- tects being engaged to prepare plans and specifications. Some idea of the wide range of work handled by this department may be obtained by an examination of the following list of buildings planned and supervised by this de- partment since the first day of January 1923: FOR THE PARK DEPARTMENT: First unit of the Municipal Zoo, a $15,000.00 primates building. .A twenty-six thousand dollar park building, containing boys and girls shelter pa- vilions, bandstand, refreshment rooms, collonades, rest room, etc., located in Root Square. A seven thousand dollar refreshment house for Hermann Park. 161 UE HRD oe FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT: Two modern bungalow ward fire stations, costing $10,000.00 each. FOR THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY BOARD: A fifty thousand dollar branch library located on the North Side of the City. FOR PHE CITY AND COUNTY HOSPITALS BOARD: A four hundred thousand dollar modern fireproof joint City and County Hospital, known as the Jefferson Davis Hospital. In addition to erection of new buildings, service is rendered all departments in the way of handling repairs and renewals of existing buildings, a large amount of this char- acter of work being done. This department is under the direction of the Mayor and City Commissioners, and there are employed besides the City Architect, sufficient help from time to time, required” to capably discharge the duties of the department. The architectural work handled in this department, for the City of Houston, is cost- ing the City 214% of the total cost of the buildings, which represents a saving of 24% of architectural fees, should this work be given to outside architects, engaged for the purpose. In the pursuance of his duties the City Architect has served practically every Mu- nicipal Board in the City and has received their cooperation at all times. While a small department, the department of Architecture is ‘one of importance and serves a wide range rendering a valuable service to the taxpayers. 16z och 1 NN ID The Houston Soctal Service Bureau EN years ago the group of activities now comprising the Social Service Bureau T were scattered agencies, each struggling for maintenance. In fact, at the time of the formation of the Bureau, the former Associated Charities, now represented by the Relief and Service Department, had gone out of existence because of lack of funds. In 1916, five different agencies came together to form the Bureau. There has been some re-arrangement of function from time to time to meet the needs of a growing com- Dr. E. H. Willisford, Superintendent munity, the policy being to drop, as opportunity afforded, the educational and group of ac- tivities and to retain and develop those which dealt primarily with individuals. As it stands at present, the Bureau consists of the following departments: (1) RELIEF AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT: (a) Family service and rehabilitation. (b) Assistance to needy families and individuals. . (c) Special diet for sick and tubercular patients. | (2) PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING DEPARTMENT: (a) Bedside nursing. (b) School examinations and follow up work. (c) Health work in institutions. 163 mH HN NE | HF HH Hf | LH HH IR 0 0 (3) CHILD WELFARE DEPARTMENT: (a) Investigation and court work in cases of neglect and Beg to children. (b) Placing out and supervision of homeless children. (4) WOMEN’S AND GIRL’S PROTECTIVE DEPARTMENT: (a) Care of friendless girls. (b) Follow up and rehabilitation work among patients of the Detention Ward. (c) Maintenance of the Lodge for temporary care of women and children. (5) SETTLEMENT DEPARTMENT: (a) Educational and recreational work among Mexicans. (b) Rusk Day Nursery for white children. (c) Colored settlement with recreational clubs, day nursery, kindergarten and play ground’s activities. Several years ago, the outline of this organization had been formed. The aim is to have either within the Bureau or through co-operation with other agencies means of caring for each form of distress as quickly and completely as possible. Thus, health problems are met by the.Nursing Department and the City Clinics and hospitals; neglect ~ of children, by the Child Welfare Department and the County Courts; destitution by the Relief and Service Department with the aid of such other agencies as are needed to re- move the cause of distress; a stranded girl by the Girl’s and Women’s Protective Depart- and the Lodge. Up to the present time, the central office has seemed to serve the needs of the City fairly adequate. As the City develops, a larger work will have to be undertaken. The Social Service Bureau has completed its ninth year as a departmental society. It was at first an experiment. From the point of view of efficiency and co-operation, this form of organization has proved itself. In a growing, changing community the details of the work will constantly vary, but unification of the work, coming as it did while the work and the community were young, has saved the personnel, the time and nerve con- suming difficulties which have confronted many of the older communities in their effort to overcome bad beginnings. The Social Service Bureau is the large case work organization of the city. It is city- wide, non-sectarian, without discrimination as to race, color or creed. The Bureau is a private organization supported in part by public funds. It is governed by a Board of directors and each department has its departmental committee. The chairman of these committees, together with the officers of the board, form the executive committee. A very complete co-ordination is thus made possible. The fact that city funds for welfare purposes are expended jointly with the funds raised by the Community Chest, prevents the common conflict between public and private agencies. In so far as its funds from the City, the Bureau is subject to the supervision of the Houston Foundation, reports on work and expenditures being submitted from time to time. The Foundation has rendered valuable service in the way of advice and of inter- pretation of the work of the Bureau to the public. 164 8 CU tt tt 8 tt ih tt th i 1 fH tH 1 Relief and Service Department The aim of this department is the upbuilding of family life. Where any elements of normal family life are lacking, the situation must be studied, and constructive meas- ures used. Health problems, unemployed, delinquency, old age, poor management, un- dernourishment, domestic relation problems, intemperance and its twin evil, bootlegging, imprisonment of the wage earner, have all to be dealt with in handling family problems. The fact that relief is given from this department, complicates rather than simplifies the the situation. Relief, rightly given, may promote and elevate family life. Wrongly given, it may rob it of self-respect and independence. The statistical report shows 1915 families, involving 4396 individuals, handled in this department. It is interesting to _ note that 373 children whose problems would otherwise have been solved by institutional care or separation, have been maintained with their mothers. Public Health Nursing Department The Public Health Nursing Department combines district bedside nursing with school nursing. The school work consists of examination for contagion, 84,677 having been made last year, and examinations for physical defects, the number of examinations reaching 18,- 513, 20,695 defects were detected, 2983 were remedied, through this department. Educa- tional health work, and nutrition work were an integral part of this program. Health con- tests and health literature have stimulated interest. As a direct result of the work, the schools, though crowded, have been more free from contagion than in any year past and absentees on account of illness, have been fewer. A dental clinic has been conducted at Rusk school. Each year a Child Health Conference has been held in connection with the Child Welfare League, the nursing service and follow up work being supplied by the Public Health Nursing Department, 401 white children, 58 Mexican, and 117 negro children were examined during 1924. Twelve nurses are constantly busy in the field. Settlement Department Rusk settlement represents one of the initial welfare movements of Houston. As the character of the neighborhood has changed in the last few years, the settlement find- ing itself in the center of a group of Mexican neighbors, has given special attention to these strangers within out gates. A Spanish speaking worker is able to gain their con- fidence, to make many adjustments and give healthful advice. Mother’s Clubs, Boy’s Clubs, and special classes are conducted. Baths have been opened, both in Rusk and Hawthorne Schools, over 10,098 free baths having been given last year. Rusk Day Nursery connected with the settlement, cares for the children of working mothers, giving them a warm luncheon at noon, following by a bath anda nap. The old- _er children are sent to kindergarten and school. An average of 33 are cared for daily. Bethlehem Settlement performs a similar service among the colored people, con- ducting its own kindergarten during the winter months and playground work during the summer. It also conducts a day nursery, having an average attendance of 22. 165 © I 8 NNN NN NL NN Nh HH RI Child Welfare Department The welfare work consists of the care of neglected and dependent children, 815 child- ren representing 401 families have been helped by this department during the past year. These are families so broken that there is no way of continuing family life, at least, for the time being. A hopeful feature, however, is that 134 children were later returned to parents or relatives, the home having been re-established. A return to health or a remarriage accounts for some of these cases. In other cases a return to the family would be the greatest of calamities. In one case, the Bureau had the co-operation of the grand- parents in placing a little girl in a denominational school in North Texas, because the father, mother, step-father, aunt and uncle were all incurable drug addicts. Girl's and Women’s Protective Department The unprotected girl, the unmarried mother, the incompetent country girl who seeks employment in the city, the venereally diseased girl, who has found her way to the quar- antine ward, furnish a large proportion of the cases requiring the attention of this de- partment. These girls are befriended, sheltered, advised, often with most gratifying re- sults, 850 women and girls were assisted. Regular occupation, returned to the home, training often voluntarily requested, in the county or state training schools, help many of these girls to take up normal life. The unmarried mothers are, where possible, en- couraged and helped to keep their babies. Where circumstances make this impossible, the babies are placed in selected homes by the Child Placing Societies. The Lodge is main- tained as a temporary shelter for women and children. The extensive activities of the Bureau are handled by a corps of interested and train- ed workers under the supervision of an efficient and experienced superintendent. 166 vv 7 ¢ , . . i ’ ‘ ‘ - ay HY * fj - - hy 7 . | i * . « ps e . a The Houston Public Library N A COMMUNITY where there is a good public library no boy or girl, man or woman can be said to lack educational opportunity. The public library is America’s continuation school and contributes substantially to the dissemination of information and knowledge throughout the community. The Houston Public Library traces its beginning back to 1848 when Houston had a population of barely 2,000. At that time a group of young men started a Lyceum, and one of the purposes was “to diffuse knowledge among its members, intelligence and Miss Julia Ideson, Librarian. information, by a library.” The Lyceum library was carried on more or less continuous- ly privately until 1895 when the Ladies Reading Club issued a call to establish it as a public library and its privileges were opened to non-members on payment of $3.00 a year. By 1898 through the Club’s efforts the library was established in the Mason Build- ing and financial support from the City was sought, which was given in 1899 when the City fathers appropriated $200.00 a month for the maintenance on condition that the li- brary be made free to the entire citizenship of Houston. In this year also Mr. Carnegie in response to an appeal from the Women’s Club, offered the City $50,000.00 for a Car- negie Building on condition that the City agree to appropriate $4,000.00 a year for main- tenance and to provide a site. Thereupon, all clubs of the City at the call of the President of the Ladies Reading Club met and formed a City Federation whose first work was the raising of funds for a site for the library. In June, 1900, the City agreed to make the 169 £8 1 — i —— | | Hf He Lh | 1H Ht HH ee 11H HH — 1 —— 1 1 i HH en necessary annual appropriation and the effects of the Houston Lyceum were transferred and conveyed to the Houston Lyceum and Carnegie Library Association, chartered under the laws of the State of Texas. A sum of $7,880.00 was raised and the site on which the present Carnegie Building stands was purchased and construction begun in 1900. In Oc- tober, 1903, the library was transferred from the Mason Building to the present pe and on March 3rd, 1904, the doors were opened. The Library was steadily developed from that time. When in 1921 the citizens of Houston voted for a tax for library maintenance and again in 1922 voted bonds for the first unit of a new library building, they gave the support necessary for the develop- ment of such a library system as our City should have. Today the library has a pro- gram of extension and building that is in keeping with the rapid growth and development of the City itself. In 1903 all its activities were centered in the Carnegie building; in 1924 it had four branches and large quarters on the fifth floor of the County Court House used as temporary headquarters. (For these it is indebted to the courtesy of the County Com- missioners.) It has also five small stations in stores and churches, and circulating col- lections for books in nineteen public schools. The Library had 13,778 volumes in 1903. At the end of 1924 it had 98,279. In 1904 it loaned for home reading 59,750; in 1924 it loaned in all 420,628. The North Side Branch circulated in 1924 almost as many books as the Carnegie Library did the first year of its existence. Taking the number of books issued as a basis for comparison, the library has had an increase in twenty years of 800%. New Main Library Building The paramount issue for the past three years has been the new main building. In May 1922 bonds to the amount of $200,000.00 were voted for the first unit of a new main building, the present one having become greatly outgrown some years ago. It was neces- sary in order to have a harmonious design to plan the entire building as it would ulti- mately be erected at an estimated cost of $700,000.00 and after the whole plan was worked out to decide what part could best be completed as the first unit with the Ree 000.00 available. After considerable investigation Cram and Ferguson of Boston were chosen as Archi- tects with Watkin and Glover of Houston Associate Architects, a choice the Board be- lieved would assure the undertaking architectural service of the highest order and one that has been amply justified in the beautiful design submitted and the well planned in- teriors. The building as designed by Mr. Ralph Adams Cram is beautiful, of Spanish Re- naissance style, a style appropriate to this section of the country, to be constructed of stone and brick and tile. The interior arrangement has been carefully studied, especially with a view to convenience and economy of administation and to giving reading rooms and work rooms the advantage of the ever prevailing gulf breeze during the summer. In November, 1922, the Bagby Block, between McKinney and Lamar and Smith and Brazos, 250 feet square, was purchased by the City for the site of the new library. It is only eight blocks from Main and Texas, the center of. the City and forms a beautiful site with its fine trees and shrubbery overlooking Martha Herman Square. However, when the first unit was decided upon the Trustees realized that it would not give nearly as much space as would be needed as soon as the building was con- 170 Ee FL EL HL EL | | | ||| | | jl | | Nf fh AL —— LN HI structed. They therefore asked the Mayor and City Council to submit another bond issue for $300,000. to complete the second and third units, the second unit being the stack room, and the third unit the auditorium and museum. This issue was voted on favor- ably June 10, 1924, and as the architects had already proceeded with the completion of the drawings, ground was broken toward the end of June. As the building rises it gives promise of being all that has been hoped for it of beauty, convenience and accommoda- tion. Branches In June 1923, the Board of Trustees entered into a contract with the Presbyterian Church for the sale of the Carnegie Library Building at McKinney and Travis for $100,- 000.00. The proceeds of this sale are being used for the construction of two branch library buildings to cost $50,000.00 each, one on the North Side and one in Houston Heights. These will replace the little temporary structures built in 1921. In February 1924, the City purchased a beautiful site on the North Side for the lo- cation of the North Side Branch. A block of ground 200 by 400 feet in size located be- tween Henry and Quitman Streets. The building is Colonial type architecture, red brick, with white pillars. It is spacious on the inside and very attractive in its setting of oak trees. It was completed in January, 1925, and will be called the Carnegie branch in com- memoration of the gift of $50,000.00 made by Mr. Carnegie to the City of Houston in 1899. There was some delay over the site of the Houston Heights Branch but a plot of ground 150 by 150 feet on 13th and Boulevard was finally decided upon. The plans call for a hollow tile and stucco building of Italian Renaissance design. The building is at- tractive both inside and out and will probably be ready for occupance sometime during the summer of 1925. The need for branches in the more distant parts of the City has been shown by the great use that has been made by these two. These branches should be the beginning for a branch system that will place a library branch within walking distance of practically all residents of the City. The Colored Library started in 1909, on the initiative of a group of Colored citizens with the cooperation of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Public Library, a grant of $15,000.00 was made for a library building by the Carnegie Cooperation and a sub- stantial building of brick and stone was constructed at Frederick and Robin Streets near the Colored High School, whose doors were opened in the spring of 1913. The library has now a collection of 8,174 books, 8,844 card holders and in 1924 loaned 57,516 books. The colored population of Houston is estimated at about thirty thousand. Statistics for the Year 1924 The greatest increase during the year has been in reference work. The library has cooperated with a number of extension courses for study and reading. It has also sup- plied books freely for the supplementary reading of the High school students. During the year 1924 there were added 8,659 volumes, 2,133 volumes were worn out, lost or missing and have been withdrawn, making the total at the end of the year 98,279 volumes in all branches. 171 oS Ht ——— —i— — Hi Hh —i—— HH —_— i 1 | 1 —— I tt HRD @ # The North Side has at present 5,457 volumes and Houston Heights 5,575, the Col- ored Branch 8,174, the Carnegie main branch and the Administration Center, 79,073. The library and its branches are active centers as anyone spending a few moments at the loan desk observes. The periodical rooms are largely patronized and many questions are answered by the Reference Department. There were loaned from the Library 420,- 628 volumes, which is a gain over the year 1923 of 19,289. Of the volumes loaned 234,- 365 were from the Carnegie main branch, 52,426 from the Houston branch, 55,884 from the North Side Branch and 57,516 from the Colored branch, all branches showing an increase. The circulation in the nineteen public schools and stations in Faith Home, Hyde Park Lutheran Church, Larkin Street Methodist Church, Levy Brothers and Woodland M. E. Church was 20,437 volumes. The percentage of non-fiction this year at the Main Library adult department is 30% which is 2% better than last year. While the Libray wishes to increase the studious use of books, the wide circulation of good fit- tion is of value also. “Fiction, if decent”, says a noted librarian, “needs no more excuse than parks.” The privilege of borrowing books ‘is extended to all citizens making application for the use of the Library and being identified. On December 31st, 1924, there were 38,838 active card holders. Of the 8,582 appli- cations for library cards this year, 967 were at Houston Heights Branch, making the total number of card holders in that branch 3,322. There were 759 at the North Side Branch, making the total number of card holders there 3,195 and 6,344 from the Carnegie main Library; and 512 from the Colored Branch, making total card holders there 8,844. The Children’s Department has always been one of the most popular of the Library. There were loaned from the Norma Meldrum Children’s Room 68,264 books. The Chil- dren’s Room in the Main Library is named in honor of Norma Meldrum, a little girl who died in 1902 whose father Mr. Norman Meldrum, has generously endowed it. Mr. Mel- drum has made a number of gifts to the room through the years since its opening, this year having added to the income of the fund five hundred dollars for the immediate pur- chase of children’s books. With the opening of the branches the increase in number of books loaned the children has been great. In 1924 182,915 juvenile books were loaned. The Children’s Librarian and the branch librarians visit the schools and invite the chil-— dren to come to the Library in order to extend the knowledge of the privileges of the li- brary as widely as possible. The Children’s Department has-cooperated with the schools in supplying books for the required reading and has had bookmarks printed, one side having a list of books and on the other side information as to “How to get your books” and “How to take care of — Books.” Children’s Book Week which is observed throughout the Country each November for the purpose of stimulating interest in good books for children was observed in the Children’s Department and the branches by exhibits of books, story hours and contests which seemed to be of City-wide interest. 172 Ot — — 1 1—— 1 HH 1 LH Ce Se he he Ee Le Le Lh hl hh | | | fj || * | || A om HH] mH} —e HY HH Wide ‘ Ga RTS In 1903 the Library was the recipient of a gift known as the Circle M Library. This collection, made by a native son of Houston, consists of about 8,000 volumes at present catalogued, valuable files and curios. Several thousand volumes have been added since which will be catalogued and made available as soon as space is provided in the new building. The collection is rich in American literature and history and increases the value of the library for reference and research. Houston people have made many gifts of books to the libraries. The library acknowl- edges gratefully the gifts received; books 1494, subscriptions to 27 newspapers including all local ones and 102 magazines. Professor W. F. Cummings presented for the Mu- seum a rare and valuable stone image totem from a Missouri mound. The earliest direc- tories of Houston, now exceedingly rare, came from the Bonner McCraven collection. It is only with such support from the citizenship that the Library will acquire needed local material and it is hoped that when the library is finished Houston people will consider the matter of making it a repository for historical souvenirs, documents and papers that relate to the community’s history. Westheimer Natural History Museum An important development of the year 1923 was the acceptance by the Trustees of the Attwater Natural History collection, presented by Mr. Sigmund J. Westheimer, on condition that space be set aside for it in the new building. This collection was pur- chased by Mr. Westheimer as the nucleus of a Natural History Museum that he hopes to see established in Houston. During December 1924, in order that some of the birds and other specimens might be shown, Mr. Westheimer placed several cases in the West ' Alcove of the Carnegie Building where they are viewed by patrons of the library. Mr. Westheimer’s action in saving the Attwater collection for Houston is appreciated and his plan of seeing started here a Natural History Museum, will be fruitful of fine re- sults. In the four years since the library tax of 244 cents on the hundred dollars valuation voted in 1921, has given better financial support and made library extension possible, the library’s use has increased nearly 100%. This rapid growth has been hard to provide for in the present inadequate quarters and satisfactory service would have been impossible had it not been for the energetic and faithful service of the library staff. In the building program a fine spirit of cooperation has existed between the Mayor and City Commissioners and the Library Board with the one end of accomplishing the purpose, of the institution in a most worthy way. In October 1921, the Board decided in order to embrace the whole system, to change the name of the library to Houston Public Library. 173 moe AS South Santor. sth * . IE mm Hm Hm NN NN HH He HH HH HN HN I > The School System OUSTON has a free public school system, which has for many years ranked high among the school systems of the country. But within the last year great changes in the form of management have oc- curred, which augurs well for the system in the future. Up until two years ago the schools were conducted as a department of the municipal government. Dr. E. E. Oberboltzer, Superintendent of Schools. But. the State Legislature at its last session enacted a law creating the independent district of Houston, which includes all the city schools and a large territory north of the city, known as old District 25. The city now has no official connection with the schools except for purposes of economy. The City Tax Department collects the school taxes. But the schools are under the complete control of a school board composed of seven members, elective by the voters of the district. The people more than a year ago approved by an overwhelming majority a bond is- sue of $3,000,000 for construction of many new buildings and improvements to existing buildings. Plans are now being made for expenditure of this money, which when car- riéd out will give Houston the finest school plant of any city its size in the entire South. Houston in 1924 had a scholastic population of 35,186. To accommodate this vast number of pupils 68 buildings had already been provided, containing 1,079 rooms and 30,226 desks. The total valuation of school property in the city was $8,936,000. 177 ool — | HH 1 HN A HH HH To take care of this vast army of children, there were employed 826 full time teachers, 27 principles who teach part of the time, eight supervisors, 29 supervising principles, 36 supernumeraries, seven part time teachers, or 933 persons engaged in giv- ing instruction in the day schools alone. In the report for 1923-1924 the superintendent said: “In 1920-21, 25,944 children were enrolled in the day schools, and 3,411 were enrolled in the night schools, making a total of 25,405 persons who received instruction that year at public expense. In 1921-22 there were 28,318 children in the day schools and 3,681 persons in the night schools. In 1922-23 there were 30,400 in the day schools and 3,144 in the night schools, a total of 34,544 in all.” . Some idea of the growth of the schools may be gained by a comparison of them last year with 17 years ago, or 1906. That year the total enrollment was only 9,754, which has jumped to 34,544 for last year. The schools expended less than $180,000 seventeen years ago. Last year the expenses of the Houston schools were $1,763,245. The cost per capita for each pupil enrolled in the grade schools last year was $47.- 83. The cost per capita for high school pupils was $101.26. The cost per capita for giving instruction to 4,144 night pupils was $7.96. The present schools system includes two senior high schools, four junior high schools, and one high school for colored children. In these high schools are offered the standard courses required for admittance into the leading colleges and universities of the country, or other courses designed to prepare the pupils for commercial and indus- trial life. There are 56 grammar or grade schools, including eleven kindergartens and two schools for sub-normal children. The schools cooperate with the city health department in looking after the children’s health and have their own health department, with rigid in- spection. The public schools also work with the recreation department in furnishing whole- some recreation for the pupils and their parents. They also cooperate with all civie and patriotic organizations in Americanizing foreigners. The city schools and libraries work together in arousing more interest in good books and furnishing them both to the pupils and the older members of the families at home. The schools of Houston cooperate with the Federal Government, thru the Smith-Hughes law, in maintaining extension and part time classes in printing, retail selling and all the shop crafts as well as cooking, dress making and millinery. A teacher to be eligible to positions in the grades below the high school must have had high school training and at least two years of normal or college work in addition. To be eligible to a position in the high schools, college graduation and former teaching ex- perience are required. The schools are well organized, and closely supervised by experts in both the pri- mary and intermediate grades in music, penmanship, drawing, domestic science and man- ual training. The course of study in both the grade and high schools has been worked out carefully, and the high schools rank high among those of the state. The Houston 178 High Schools have 28 credits with the State University which is the highest in Texas, with the possible exception of Austin high school, located at the seat of the state univer- sity. A little of the history of the Houston high school is interesting. In 1879 there was only one graduate from the high school, a boy. In 1892 the high school had reached some proportions and 131 students were enrolled and there were eight graduates, seven girls and still one lone boy. But the superintendent apologizes for the poor enrollment and says there would have been a bigger attendance if there had been more room. The city schools of Houston have always had the support of the people. Only once did they refuse to vote any amount asked, and that was recently when they rejected a bond issue of $3,000,000 because of a number of conflicting reasons. But a few months later they came out and adopted the same bond issue by a vote of seven to one. The superintendent and school board enjoy the utmost confidence of the-people now who never begrudge a dollar spent on the schools, so long as it is economically spent. The $3,000,000 building program now under way is nearly all to be expended for junior and senior high school buildings, which means Houston is to have the very finest high school system in the South. A complete survey of the school system has been made and a building program mapped out for years in advance, subject to any change, of course, that might be ne- cessitated by an unexpected spurt in the growth of the city. This survey determines the location of school building based upon the number of scholastics in given districts, and their inclination to avail themselves of school facilities. The people of Houston are proud of their excellent school system and its contin- uous progressive development. 179 LR tm Bh eB mm i me mm tf I i Li > ee An Analysts of the Port of Houston By Charles Crotty, Assistant Director of the Port. RIOR TO 1825 Buffalo Bayou was used by Indians in canoes, and the first white set- Pp tlers along its banks used small sailboats to traverse the waterway to and from the Gulf. When steam vessels came into use the stream was utilized to a greater extent and in the period from 1840 to 1880 steam packets or sidewheelers were the only reliable means of communication between Houston and Galveston. Above: Capt. Ben J. C. Allin, Director of Port. Below: Charles Crotty, Asst. Director of Port. In 1870-72 the Morgan Line of steamers began a service from Houston to New York with a number of sidewheel steamers. When it was found impracticable to dock these vessels at Houston a landing place and wharf was built at Clinton, and a short line railroad—the “Texas Transportation Line”, now the Texas & New Orleans (Clin- ton Branch) was built down north side from Houston to Clinton. 181 Cll IN NN Hf HH || | HH | HN! HH ST || HH NY SH Hf HY | 9; || ce Bf | A || | Bs ec BH Wg>e- About this time the old Buffalo Bayou Company and the Direct Navigation Com- pany were formed and did a thriving business on the channel, handling cotton, lumber and general merchandise, as well as passengers, to all points on the waterway between Houston and Galveston. Huge barges were used to take cotton to shipside at Galveston and to load vessels out beyond the bar before it was deepened sufficiently to let cep draft vessels reach the wharves at Galveston. The U. S. Government undertook its first improvement of the waterway in 1872 by cutting through Redfish Reef Bar, while the Buffalo Bayou Company dredged a cut through Morgan’s Point and out in the Bay to depth of 12 to 14 feet, this cut being purchased by the U. S. Government in 1892. With the advent of deep draft vessels in the early eighties and nineties, which were loaded outside Galveston Bar by lighters or barges, it was realized that deeper water would be required to properly develop a port on the Gulf coast, so work was started on the jetties from Galveston Island and Bolivar Point and with dredging to deepen the channel across the bar between the jetties, a depth of 20 to 25 feet, was obtained to the Galveston wharves. As these larger vessels could not come up to Houston the local interests represented by the Deepwater Committee began an intensive campaign for a ship channel to Port Houston, with the result that on March 3rd, 1899, a project was adopted by the U. S. Congress for a channel 25 feet deep, 150 feet wide across Galveston ey and 100 feet wide from Morgan’s Point to Houston. Work on this project was started in 1902-3 by dredging to depth of 1814 feet. Work proceeded intermittently on this project for several years, a depth of 18% feet being ~ attained across Galveston Bay and to the turning basin which had been located at the head of Long Reach four miles down the Bayou from the center of the City. Many of the sharper bends were dredged through making new cuts easily navigated by vessels. This 1814 foot channel, however, shoaled considerably and very little navigation was possible on this depth, so the Deepwater Committee in 1910 went to Congress with a proposition to pay one-half the cost of the work if a ‘project could be approved, and funds appropriated to deepen the entire channel to 25 feet under one large contract with final acceptance as a whole. This proposition was accepted by Congress and project adopted by Act of June 25th, 1910. The Harris County Houston Ship Channel Navigation District was then created by an Act of the Texas State Legislature and a bond issue for $1,250,000.00 was passed, the funds being turned over to the U. S. Treasurer as called for. Contract was let to the Atlantic Gulf & Pacific Company and actual dredging start- — ed June 15th, 1912, and channel 25 feet deep was completed and accepted September 7th, 1914. The first wharf built by the City of Houston at the turning basin was used, though not quite completed on August 14th, 1915, by the S. S. “New Orleans” with a general cargo, followed on August 19th by the S. S. “Satilla” the first vessel of the Southern Steamship Company line between Houston and New York, which line has been in opera- tion ever since, changing from New York to Philidelphia in 1918. — ‘ 182 oot FB 1h HN 1 | mm 1 | Hf eR a a ae a a ee SY Ea Sy ee et eer 1 ——— Ne Fe ID Oo During the period of the war practically all the shipping was diverted from the Gulf ports to the North Atlantic for overseas service, so only the Southern Steamship Line and a few tank steamers handling oil to and from the refineries on the channel made use of the waterway. ) Immediately after the war shipping became active and the vessels diverted from the Gulf trade during the war were put back on their regular runs as far as practicable. However, as Houston was a new port it required considerable activity on the part of port officials and local interests to induce steamship agents and particularly the U. S. Shipping Board to see the possibilities and opportunities of handling a large amount of traffic through this inland port. However, Mr. Daniel Ripley persuaded the Shipping Board to send the S. S. “Merrymount” to Houston and this vessel took our first foreign shipment of cotton direct from the Port of Houston, At the request of the Shipping Board this vessel was insured by the Citizens of Houston in the sum of 3$1,000,000.00. This vessel lifted for Liverpool 23,319 bales of cotton sailing in November 1919, and this stood as one of the largest shipments from Gulf ports for several years. The vessel traversed the channel without difficulty and effectually proved the practicability of shipping thru the Port of Houston. This ship was followed by several others, a total of 45,341 bales being shipped during 1919. Each succeeding year has shown a wonderful in- crease in shipments of this one commodity, as will be shown by the following table: alee re NCam tt Gas Sik eA Ae as 45,341 Bales s Wo) RES 0 MR OAE OM Pane a he at ear 275,079..." vA 7 (hab off ile Gi ae) Re aN eRe a ee ae ASS, O15 sy he a tf Pega oe ral ee aU Ege BCP ara 771,894“ a (1, oP RES Rls hte al te AG GA Ai en aE SG D7 Lae “ SMO nrg ek wot bs Mees V,283;280) >" Part of cotton season from Aug. 1, 1924 ob” TAS aE One wba DS Ape Se ag va een Me ae eT colar In 1920 the Leyland Line and Harrison Line of British steamers made their formal entry to this port, being the first foreign owned line to open offices in Houston. This. Company has maintained regular sailings thru the Port of Houston since that date. In order to secure the entry of this Steamship Company the Houston Cotton Exchange guaranteed them, for one year the preference on all cotton between Houston and Liver- pool. The success attained by this Company in handling its shipments thru Houston soon ‘brought other foreign lines to the port as well as an increase in the number of American vessels handled by local agents, such as Daniel Ripley & Company, now the Texas Star Line, who now operate many steamers to various European ports and who main- tain their headquarters at Houston. 183 © Lt te NN A HH A HH gpe> At the present time there are 33 lines of steamships operating regularly out of Hous- ton to the following ports. Lines American Sugar” I ransitsCotpos. sme ee eee New Orleans Bull -Line osha sce as ches ek ee eae eae Eastern Points Campagne Genl Transatlantique French | LineSt ase ee seer irae Havre, Antwerp and Ghent Castlem ine 5. set ie e ineiiee eg i ope teme Antwerp, Ghent and United Kingdom Ports Gosutieh > 1ciney itn este oon ec cre eas eee ‘Barcelona, Venice and Trieste. Creole $ Lane git sesh: bia oe Genoa, Leghorn, Naples and other Mediterranean Ports Gulf West Mediterranean Line Harrison (icine: soy. sa ek ts orc eee Liverpool and Manchester Head:uine Sion. c sods See obo ane tae eee ee eee Dublin and Belfast Holland-American (line otro cee. ee ee Bremen, Rotterdam and Amsterdam Intercoastal 5/ SSLingos. che ent b= teen oe Corpus Christi, Pleiades and Freeport . ERS SLING a’ Loc), Se ween ss tere aie ee eer Japan and Orient Parrinaga. Lanes ip cco. sites pee ae ance Havre, Liverpool, Manchester and other United Kingdom Ports Leyiand Line: nate icc, ae tes © ie ee rete tee Liverpool and Manchester LOGEC ef iho ree Sore Gre ee ke eens ee Dublin and Belfast Tykes aine-—20 (dayu services. wah ain cme oe Porto Rico and Havana Munson line \.4 ote. dire been ah pote PM ue West Indies, Mexico and South America Nervion 21 ine Teste angen Px persis ae Barcelona, Genoa and other Mediterranean Ports North “German. Lloyd iteeuee oe en one Bremen and Hamburg Ozean Line (Freight and Passenger) ...... Bremen and Hamburg Pacific Caribbean and Gulf Line (Monthly Servite) aes cue pee an eee Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle Pinuilos'y Late Pet. oa ce cecaere tee eae Se Barcelona Seandinavian-American |: Line “4.c,.0005 4a. 08 Copenhagen and other Danish Ports Sipsey aBarpesec. | Owing) G0. iia. 31, ees Mobile pouthernt tates Lines. Pe er eee ee German and Holland Ports Southern Steamship Company ............ Philadelphia SOUL ZEL ICT Ae CaP ON tire Riki cee nk ahs ee Japan Texas Stared Ane soe: by ac cis eye eee Beate Havre, Antwerp, Ghent and other Trans- Atlantic Ports lamipa-o unters@ceanas/5: Comer nine ets Barcelona and Far East United States Shipping Board Lines ...... Bremen, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Havre, Ant- werp, Ghent, Genoa and Naples United States Shipping Board ............ Liverpool and Manchester United States Shipping Board ............ Japan and Oriental Ports United: Gulf fS/S7Comansous vee oud eae United Kingdom ports, Genoa, Venice, Naples, Alexandria 184 ore | tH NH EH gps. In addition to these the various oil refineries on the channel such as the Galena-Sig- nal Oil Company, Sinclair Refinery and the Humble Oil & Refining Company operate their own tank steamers to and from coastwise and foreign ports and a very large amount of cargo is carried in these vessels, which are supplemented by tramp tank steamers from various countries. ; In 1921 the traffic thru the port overtaxed the facilities provided for handling it and as the City of Houston was. not in position to increase the facilities so urgently needed, the so-called “Port Bill’ or Enabling Act was passed by the State Legislature authorizing the Navigation District, which included all of Harris County, to take over by purchase or lease all of the facilities previously constructed by the City of Houston and to construct such additional facilities as may be required and to operate them for the benefit of the entire County. Under this Act, five Port Commissioners were ap- pointed in May 1922 and on October Ist, 1922, took over by lease all of the City of Houston’s wharves, warehouses, railroad and other port facilities, the net revenue being turned in to the City in payment for this lease. This lease included the new Manchester Wharf completed in October 1922 built about two miles below the Turning Basin with 1500 ft. of channel frontage donated to the City of Houston by the Manchester Corpora- tion. In order to provide additional facilities, the Navigation District called for a Bond issue of Four Million Dollars, which was approved by an election held on December 30th, 1922, passing by a vote of more than four to one. The plans for the expendi- ture of these funds provided for the construction of three shedded wharves and one open wharf and a Million Bushel Grain Elevator, all to be located on the North Side of the Turning Basin. As soon as the funds were available, work was at once started on the preparation of the site in which the co-operation of the Government was secured by dredging back to the harbor line and removing some million and a half cu. yds. of earth. On January 7th, 1924, the first concrete pile was driven and at the close of the year 1924, the four wharf units were practically complete. In fact, the shedded wharves -were put to use as rapidly as cargo could be handled in them, commencing with Wharf No. 12 in October; No. 13 in November and No. 11 in December. These wharves and sheds are built of reinforced concrete and are considered by Steamship men the very best in Southern waters in point of construction and the facilitating of handling of cargo. A special feature is the arrangement of the Railroad tracks in rear of the wharf sheds whereby, by the use of spur tracks, each wharf shed can have its own cars spotted or switched without interfering with the set-up of cars for any other wharf; that is, each wharf unit is independent of the other. This trackage arrangement patented by Captain B. C. Allin, Port Director, is considered a very advantageous feature in handling waterfront traffic. Plans and specifications for the Grain Elevator were drawn by the John S. Metcalf Company, Elevator Engineers, of Chicago, IIl., and bids were taken on this structure, but the prices for the Plant desired were in excess of the funds available and it was ‘therefore necessary to re-design the Elevator on a somewhat smaller scale but with a layout that could be added to from time to time, and new bids will shortly be invited. In connection with the handling of cargo on the North Side, it was necessary to construct a Railroad Classification Yard with an initial capacity of about Five Hundred 185 cars to which units can be added as required up to a capacity of about Four thousand cars. Connections were also made to the trunk line railroads near the Port, such as the Southern Pacific Lines, International-Great Northern and Houston Belt & Terminal, and additional construction of the Port Belt Railroad thru Magnolia Park was provided, and an extension Eastward from Pasadena for about 1 1-2 miles to serve the ship yard in- dustry of Horton & Horton and other industries located down the channel. On July Ist, 1924 an arrangement was entered into between the Navigation District and the various Railroads entering the City of Houston providing for a new switching association to be known as the Port Terminal Railroad Association to take over and operate all the Public Belt facilities, and for rapid interchange of cars between the waterfront and the railroads entering the City on an impartial basis which gave equal facilities to every railroad. This arrangement has proved very satisfactory and facili- tates the movement of freight thru the port to a considerable extent. While the wharf facilities above described are provided by the public, private enter- prise has not been slow to take advantage of this deep water channel as is evidenced by the eleven oil refineries located on its banks. The Humble, Gulf, Crown, Galena, Sinclair and Deepwater have their own wharves for the handling of their import and export crude and refined oils. Many cotton compresses and storage warehouses have also been constructed along the channel and have made possible the handling of the huge volume of export cotton thru this port. The Turning Basin Compress Company, the Houston Compress Com- pany and Ship Channel Compress Company having facilities to load direct to steamer. The Houston Compress plant is especially worthy of mention as being the largest on the channel, operating three high density presses with a concrete wharf 1525 feet in length, a two story concrete shed 1750 feet long served with ample railroad tracks on the apron and in rear of shed. This Company is also prepared to handle general merchandise and other shipments thru the port, but cotton is its chief article of export. Many other industries have been established along the channel such as the Tex- Cuban Molasses Company, importers and exporters of crude molasses; Armour Ferti- lizer Works, manufacturing commercial fertilizer; Texas Chemical Company, manufac- turers of sulphuric acid, bone carbon, commercial fertilizer, etc., Texas Portland Cement Works, manufacturing Portland cement from clay found in the vicinity of the plant and mud and oyster shell dredged from Galveston Bay; the American Maid Flour Mill & Grain Elevator, manufacturing high grade flour for domestic use and export and numer- ous other industries scattered long the channel and in its vicinity. Numerous other in- dustries will probably be established along this waterway between Houston and Morgan Point, and with the expectation that this will soon be realized, the Houston Lighting & Power Company has constructed the first unit of a Ten Million Dollar plant to furnish power at a reasonable rate in any quantity required to meet the rapidly growing needs of Houston and its vicinity; this plant is located about five miles below the Turning Basin and the first unit of 40,000 K. W. was put in operation about August Ist, 1924. Deep draft steamers are making full use of the thirty foot depth of channel which now ex- 186 +o pit HH HH HN HH || HH || Hl HL | | Hl 1 Ge Lh he fe te Fe HH ee IRD @0 tends from the Gulf to the Manchester wharf about two miles below the Turning Basin, while vessels using the twenty-five foot depth of channel are loading to the maximum draft that this section will permit. The following statement shows the rapid develop- ment of the commercial traffic on the channel since 1921 and each succeeding year, will we trust, show a corresponding increase in the development of our commerce and the population of our City. 187 L06‘1 756 SS6 PENS Dee aR tn Ott Eat Ue Er TONLE 900‘T S6F IIS SPY. RAE oN RS Sie SA ES ta Nt Ae Pe ROTO Te Ae FFL Os¢ i CED 62 ET CY, 9 1210], sadnsvd aq? S]DA1AL sdiys fo sainpivga(l puv sjvatsa py IZ8°96Z‘F67S 86S ‘EFE'S Z7S‘6OI'SIZS =: 96 T‘6F IE 0Z9'6S6°9E1¥ L76°L20‘7 SEE'LLZ8°ELy SOR OGL TL) Ve is ST ee 949997 6F 9L1‘6S6'7 18Z‘Z18‘8Z O87 FIS‘T £20'696'F1 799‘F98 £$0°980'S ESS 709 © 8 eet ais punoqjng asta}svody 66868 'IF 6SL ‘OFZ OST‘SS#TE 8£3‘T0Z L¥7‘1 L807 IST ‘FEZ SLL19F‘TI 60S‘E1Z ‘°°°'' °° °° ‘punoquy astmjsvoD FEL‘S6F'S6I 686 IZ¥'T £L€°99S ‘SFI COL ‘St6 ZS1‘£68'96 LIO‘LES €F0‘L78'8F 76081 Bi EN Seay Br dea hacoera ae St9'F61'S $ #29°TL9 ZOL‘162'9 ¢ S16‘F8F SFL‘977F $F LIS‘T6¢ [Le ZOE'S SO". PSL EET ae aie ae ne ee ogy anv A SUuO T, anjv A suo J, anjD A SuO T, anqD A suo T, tz6r - £z6r ZzOr IZ6I te6l - €261 - 2261 - 1261 STE saquiassgY Suipuy potsag sysuopy aajaar fy, ay sof jauuvyy Jiysy uojsnoyy ayf 4ILO IDA], IS1a.jsv0/) puv siuodxg ‘spsoduy fo anv 4 Puv aSDUUOT IYZ BULAL.OYS JuatlajoIy artgo1vguo’) =, WR Ste in OAT ENE LUO eed UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 352.0764 H819C C001 City book of Houston : illustrated 1925 gpa