City Council
“The newly elected city council at its first meeting in 1885 made A.W. Marsh, marshal; Norman C. Raff, treasurer; Wm. F. Hill, street commissioner; Thos. F. Phelan, city attorney and Dr. J. H. Wroth, city physician.
City limits were established as north to Mountain Road, east to Hill Street, south to Nicolas Avenue, just south of the present Pacific Avenue, and west to the “acequa” which is where 14th Street is now.
One of the first city ordinances the new city fathers were asked to pass, according to the old Journal file, was one prohibiting persons from daytime bathing in the Rio Grande in the southwestern part of the city. “Every afternoon the bank of the river is lined with naked men, which makes it rather unpleasant for residents and promenaders in the vicinity,” the petition stated.
Another early request, and one that received immediate attention from the council, was an ordinance that would regulate licensing of dogs. It was fixed by the council in one of its first official acts $1 per year for male dogs, and $3 per year for female dogs.
At its second meeting the council passes ordinances fixing the fire limits of the town; fixing the time of regular meetings; providing for labor of persons committed to jail; fixing wards of the town; providing for the issuance of business licenses, of which saloons were to pay $200 per year; and, providing that circuses should pay $100 per performance.”
Excerpt from Albuquerque Morning Journal article dated April 14, 1935 entitled “Journal Files Reveal History of Incorporation of Town 50 Years Ago: Growth of New City.”