The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-13
FElII; LIMITS.

An ounce OF prevention Is worth
pound of cure and SIN time ofpeacc pre-
pare for war;" arc excellent maxms as
time and experience have repeatedly demon
strated. Would it not be well for Rutland
to practice the lesson thus taught? We
have had fires enough in all conscience,
and the destruction they have wrought
ought to satisfy any reasonable ambition
If these have not suggested the prevention,
partial at least, the experience of other
communities has. We have seen Chicago
twice laid in ashes, and the center of Bos-
tons business in ruins. We turn to New
York and look in vain for any such disas-
trous conflagrations. And why? Simply
because brick and mortar, stone and iron
will not burn. Is not our own experience
the same ? Take, for instance, the most
recent of our destructive fires that of
January 14th. What was it that saved the
buildings on the westerly portion of Center
street and on the east side of Merchants
row p? Brick and mortar. What prevented
the spread of the fire northerly from the
Central house ? Brick, mortar and iron
shutters. The fire, both on Center street
and Merchants row, Tapped up everything
wooden within its reach, spreading devas-
tation on every hand until it met the i'm
passable barrier of brick, mortar, stone and
iron, and then, but not until then, was its
progress stayed.
Does not this suggest that the 'ounce of
prevention" is within our reach? To be
sure, so long as men will be careless, so long
as human nature remains unchanged, we
cannot have absolute immunity from fire.
But we can conGne its ravages. We can
compel the careless to be the only sufferers
from carelessness. If we, as village,
ordan that only buildings, reasonably fire
proof, shall be erected within certain
limits, our present fire department, with
our present supply of water, can protect
others from the gross carelessness of their
immediate neighbors. Even an incendiary,
in such case, could not work very great
destruction from single fire. Is 1t moi
worth the trial? Perhaps we have nc
right to interfere to protect man from
his own acts, but we certainly have full
and ample power to compel man 80 te
use his property, so to erect his buildings
that they shall not endanger the property
or life of another. This right, or ont
akin to it, exists at common law, and ,
court of chancery will enjoin the owne
from so using his property that it may en-
danger, or become nuisance to others
This was illustrated IN the recent action o
the court of chancery in Chittenden coun
ty, in restraining the board of health o
Burlington from building a pest hous
within the city limts-and the reports ar
full of similar cases.
Perhaps, however, a court.w ould not G
80 far as to prohibit the erection of any bu
fire proof buildings, or buildings construct
ed of certain materials. Perhaps thi
would be stretching the powers of tn
court of chancery too far But, happily
the village of Rutland is not left to sue
protection as can be obtained from thi
source. The village charter invests tn
legal voters of Rutland with ample powe
to protect themselves. The village, by it
charter, has power to make and establis
ordinances, regulations and bylaws st
abate and remove nuisances", "to regulat
the manufacture and keeping Of gun-pov
der, ashes, and all other combustible an
dangerous materials; 'to regulate the NAL
lngof. alterations and repairs of stove-pipe:
etc., "and other things from which dan
age by fire may be apprehended, and ais
to regulate the use of buildings in crowdt
localities for hazardous purposes to pr
vide for the preservation of buildings fro
fires by precautionary measures and il
spections"; ''to regulate the erection
buildings; and to make and establish ''ar
it may deem necessary for the well beir
of said village, and not repugnant to Il
constitutions or laws of this state or of Il
United States"
The power, as will be seen, is ampl
and perhaps the village has legislated
that is necessary. In the ordinance 81
lating to the duties of certain officers,
is ordained that the trustees shall regula
the erection of dwelling houses and 9th
buildings, so as best to provide for
'safety of the village" If no further {
ton is needed on the part of the vote
then let the trustees act, and regulate