Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-04
The Ordinance Against Wooden
Houses,

The Ordinance Against Wooden
Houses.
The discussion in City Council, at it's
meeting on Wednesday night, relative TO
the enforcement Of the fire ordinances,
brings the question Of permitting the
erection of wooden buildings within what
are now called the fire limits before the
public again, Some years ago Mr.. J. A..
Roberts, an Alderman, who had for years
before that time been Chief Of the Fire
/ Department, introduced and had passed
an ordinance which gave the people the
right, under certain restrictions and upon
certain conditions, to erect wooden build
lngs IN almost any part Of the city.
Under this ordinance there was quite a
boom in house building and in making
additions to old houses. This liberal and,
in the estimation Of many, wise law, was
soon modified, and finally afterwards re-
pealed, and the present stringent law en-
acted. The City Council in enforcing the
law is, of course, simply performing its
duty. As long as the ordinance is a law
OF the city it ought to be enforced strictly
and without any favoritism. 1t is gem
orally conceded that in this climate
houses built Of wood are more conducive
TO health and, in every other respect, are
preferable to those built OF any other
material. They are certainly much
cheaper.
This is timber country, and lumber
IS plentiful and cheap. Stone and brick
are comparatively scarce and costly.
Everything should be done within reason
10 encourage the people to build homes for
themselves, but laws that prohibit them
from building wooden houses are bar to
the qualification of any ambition the ma
lority OF them may have with respect to
owning homes of their own.
The law, also, in regard to repairing old |
houses should be liberal in its provisions, !
for 1t is much better to have an old house
repaired, improved and modernized than
to have it "A sort Of an eye-sore to the COM
munity. San Francisco, one of the hand |
soonest cities Of the Union, is largely built |
OF wood. The same is true with respect
to New Orleans, and number Of cities in
New England. Savannah, with wide
streets, numerous lanes and small blocks, |
to say nothing of her public |
squares. is less liable to large fires than
almost any other city in the country. In
the eastern and western suburbs, where
there are but few streets and the buildings |
are close together, wood buildings are per |
mitted Yet in the city proper, north |
of Gwinnett street, where the danger
that a fire will spread is comparatively
small, only brick houses can be erected; |
not even awooden pantry can be added to
house. In view Of all the circumstances
the question, whether the present Ordi-
nance relative to wooden buildings is
wise one, is well worth the careful con
sideration of every citizen.
Perhaps the City Council will look this
question up and give it the consideration
it deserves at an early day. While the
COuncilmen may not see their way clear
to repeal the law they may see the wis.
dom of modifying it very materially.
There is not any part of the residence por-
ton of the city, except probably those
parts where they are now permitted, that
wooden houses could not be erected with
out any greater danger than at present
exists.