, 1875-08-01
BUILDING PERMITS.


During the year 712 building permits issued;
and sos applications vera heard for tae removal Of
wooden buildings within the fire limits. OF these IA
Tia Board Congratulate the Council upon the passage
Of the ordinance making the fire limits coextensFe
with tho city boundaries A. they recommended year
ago The objections raised agxinat the ordinance
that business Will be prostrated, c,Ltai deferred from
coming to the city, extreme hardship inflicted upon
the laborng casse-have proved utterly gzoundless.
In fact the exact contrary has been found to be the
result Capital eneouragea by the increased protee~
augmented confidence; the poor man feels that his
home il safer and Insurance. ratssshe most sensible
AZ still further precaution, the Board repeat their
Recommendation that removals OF wooden buildings
within the city limits be not tolerated beyond den
nite date. To pass au ordinance sumnnrfy cutting
OF this privilege might expose the proprieors OF such
buildings leased ground to the rapacy Of lo-own-
The expiration Of the privilege Of removal distant
but definite period. say two OF three years from ,hs
passage Of the ordinance
tho removal Of wooden buildings Is producing mis-
chteyous consequences whose magnitude grows daily
apparent These buildings aggregate IN various
portions Of the city. wherever locations can be
cured, and form nuclei for future conhagratuus The
fire ordinance now prohibits citizen from erecting
wooden building and, on the theory Of general proec-
tiou 1equirea him to brick sone It in curious
violation Of this theory, and gross justice ciu
thus prohibited, to authorize the removal Of Old
in accordance with the provisions OF the ordinance
The transportation Of wooden buildings TO unoccu-
iectonAble, An infammable belt will in time, be
thus formed, which, with cur high winds will always
menace city property BY h1e no matter how complete
the water facilities. how strenuous the exertons Of
the Fire Department. The Board Of opinion that
prudence demands the destruction Of wooden build
ings within the city limits raEdy they TO be
displaced by structures Of better character.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
4 largo uunbsr Of special a1sessments have been
Legislature IL April, 1872 As this Law was passed to
harmonic with decisions Of the Supreme Court,
which had been adverse to the old a.em, y hoped
th4t au will to bear their share for
The benedsa derived from Tie various improvements,
and that tho chronic ta1-dghter will NOT. the
bis neighbor pay, vhils he through MICROSCOPE
cal technicaiity, secures hs improvement At the
pense Of tho general public
During the year, u miles and $50 feet Of sidewalks
vera built including 1854 feet Of stone and feet
OF concrete There Are now 725 miles Of sidewslks in
the city.
The saue causes which render difficult the work
OF keeping tbs streets In good condition naturally
walks
CHANGING TIE FISCAL YEAr-
Tho Beard regret that action was taken by ths
Legialature with regard to making tha fiscal ye4r iden
tel With the calendar ye.r, as recommended in their
last annual report. Public interest would be benefited
II the annual appropriations could be reached earhcr,
in order to render the funds aYaAhl for public work
able now until midsummer. The Board renew the
recommendation, and respectfully nrge your hanor-
able body to take action in relation thereto.
coSCLCBI0E.
The public work accom- pltshed under the direction
Of the Board during the past gear has not BEEN Of tho
character that merely adds to the e1srnal supernci1
beauty OF city, requiring only appro by the
Council aud she exercise OF taste the part OF these
intrusted with it's expenditure. The work, much
Of which b underground, has been chiefly Of t3ud
that makes great city solid, safe, and healthy and
the execution Of which demands practical experience
constant vgilance and the utmoss fidelity The latter
qualities are easily secured, and, essential they
sre not merely In tho heads of departments but also
In the large number of subordinates having partial
sponsihty, whose individual honesty the city NUT
tntruat IT. n.eresta they csnnos take ths paee ot
practical experience or of thoroughly naso
vu1i, especially tdst os taunsle, vzsu