River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-04-01
The Question Of Fire Limits.

In the fall of 1885 the City Council
of River Falls had in consideration for
the safety and future welfare of the
city an Ordinance to establish fire
limits, to define the boundary of which
a committee of citizens was requested
to investigate the matter and make a
report of their dc cision, which was
done. The proposed fire limits in
cluded the present business portion of
our city with limited area adj0in-
ing. The opposition to the measure
by some of the citizens was so great
that the Council concluded it was not
the wish of the majority to have such
an Ordinance incorporated in our City
Laws, so the measure was not enacted.
They could not do otherwise.
The effect of such measure is EVIL
dent TO ALT would stop the erection
of all temporary wooden buildings
within the fire limits, reduce the rate
or insurance, encourage the erection
of substantial stone and brick build
ings, and add to the stability of all the
business interests of our city. As the
conditions are at present the induce
ments are all in favor of erecting
temporary buildings that will pay a
large percentage Of their cost in rents
annually, some of which are paying
from % TO IS per cent. at the present
time. The owners of all such build
ings are prohting more or less by the
protection given them at the expense
of their neighbors that have for their
own safety and at considerable eX-
pense erected substantial stone and
brick buildings, thus adding to the
safety and stability of our city. Now,
any citizen by examining the assess
ment rolls of River Falls will discover
that the more permanent buildings
are assessed at larger percentage
of their cost than the temporary build.
| ings, and their owners pay much
larger tax according to the income
| derived from them than the owner
of the cheaper and more inflammable
class of buildings. Thus River Falls
practically discriminates against par.
ties wishing to erect good and sub
stantial buildings. Is this good policy
Certainly not. The same citizens are
the most earnest advocates of a meas
ure to levy tax to purchase appara-
tus for eXtinguishing fires, which no
one will deny the fact that we abs0-
lutely need, but is it reasonable for
the men that will not deny themselves
the privilege of erecting wooden rows
of lire.traps to vote tax for this pur.
pose upon property that is compare
lively safe on account of being con-
structed in a substantial manner or by
reason of its being isolated! Most
certainly not.
One reason given against the pro-
posed Fire Limits is, that many of our
citizens if unfortunate enough to be
burned out could not build stone or
brick buildings to conform with the
Fire Limits Ordinance. When our
citizens are brought to face the crown
ing argument of disastrous confla-
grafton they will be convinced of the
necessity of having Fire Limits estab-
lished, and will do SO regardless of
the protests of those who may be
short sighted enough to re-establish
the conditions that invite such ca
fanatics.
Now we would say to all, join hands,
establish Fire Limits and get apparatus
for the purpose of extinguishing and
conining fires. Let every man deny
himself little for the general good
and he will find lie will be correspond
ingly benefited.
u,