The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-02-20

Mayor Bogert has made the following
suggestions to the City Council. which
will report tonight at an adjourned spec
ial meeting:
In consequence of the late fire, the
following order was issued BY me On the
10th inst:
MAYORS OFFICE.
Bozeman, February L., 1884.
!. The emptying Of ashes upon Main
street is contrary to ordinace, and is the
cause of continual complaint. Discon-
tinuance of the same is respectfully re-
Quested, that the street may be kept in
proper condition, and the necessity for
complaint before the city magistrate
avoided.
2nd. In consequence Of the expert
ence taught by the fire Of last night,
eace citizen is hereby respectfully re-
quested to maintain in his house a fire
bucket ready for use wherever needed
upon fire-call. Respectfully,
J. V.BoGERr. Mayor.
also report that, in pursuance there
Of, the buckets have all been placed in
the Chestnut building, to which two
keys have been delivered to the Marshal.
That, the cisterns have been uncovered
and found to be in good condition and
with good supply Of water.
That, the six fire hooks have been or
dered, the trucks and ladders repaired
and stationed near the Courier building,
and fire signal rope attached to the bell
of the Episcopal church.
l respectfully recommend that the
council Immediately purchase at the
east full hook and ladder outfit. 1t is
needed, the present one is SO heavy and
unweildy that it is almost wholly useless.
Had it not been, the late fire could have
been checked almost at its beginning.
If the council will authorize it. ! will
untertake to attend to it, if whished.
l also recommend immediate organi-
zation Of a fire department. 1t must
have been apparent to all during the late
fire that gale. at such time, is less
dangerous than want Of management.
1 also recommend that the matter Of
engine secural. receive immediate atten-
ton. Buckets are better than nothing
but they cannot take the place of an en-
CINE. Nor does it seem wise or safe to
delay because we hope to secure water
works in the future Water works may
come but we know not when; and the
city may be destroyed in the meantime.
I, therefore, recommend that the prop
der steps be now taken to provide for the
purchase.
l also report that the Marshal contin-
ues his efforts against stove pipe flues,
but, as he reports to me with little effect.
Further action by you is recommended.
Respectfully.
J. V. BoGERr, Mayor.
BOHEMIAN, Feb. 18th. 1854.
To the Honorable City Council:
GENTLEMEN respectfully present
the following.
Whereas, Section 5. of Ordinances,
provides against the use Of opium and the
keeping of opium dens. and as said Sec
ton is imperative as it stands, I recon-
mend its repeal and passage Of another
in its place.
No matter how much Wa may deplore
the evil, it Seems outside our province to
attempt to check the use Of opium upon
any ground except that Of the fire danger
to which smoking it subjects property.
The late fire was directly caused by it; |
and not day passes that the entire city
is not at the mercy Of habit which de- !
the most stringent legislation.
Section s, OF article s, of the Charter, !
provides that the Council may declare
what constitutes nuisance. Neverthe- /
less care must be taken in SO legislating, |
and it is doubtful if We can legally act /!
upon every provision Of the section Of
the ordinance whose repeal recon-
mend.
We cannot legally prevent the 'use" Of
opium, but we can prevent the smoking
of opium-at least we can make it mis- !
demeanor and can prosecute those wh6
indulge in it-not because it intoxicates |
and degrades, but because the very ma
ture and necessities of the habit endan- |
ger every piece Of house and business
in the city. 1t is not our pro-
vince to legislate upon moral grounds,
however much We may wish to, but we
can legislate to the protection Of life and
property.
And not only can we order against
opium smoking, but We can refuse to
license opium dens and can refuse to
permit their existence in the city limits
lift be objected that We cannot invade
the privacy of the opium smokers house
TO stop and punish his smoking, the re-
ply is made that all opium smoking is
to property and that private
is necessarily more so than pub
lie. 1t twill hardly be denied that We can
legislate against stove use Of kerosene,
and because of the resulting danger-for
one, l see no reason why opium smoking |
is not as amenable to ordinance |;
Therefore, IA We have the power under !
the charter. ], respectfully recommend
prohibition of. |
lat. Opium smoking anywhere within |
the city lin1its-penalty not less than $50 |
for each offense.
End. OF opium smoking resortfpen-
atty not less than 500 for each offense. |,
Immediate action is urged.
Rpspectfillly