The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-22
The City Will Soon Have New
Ordinances and Old Ones
Revised.
A. M. Hotter Blocks Up Main Street
Streets to Be Opened and Straight
ened-Minor Matters.

ing out streets. City Attorney Smith was
present, and after the reading of the min
utes of last meeting, Col. Botkin made a
statement about the work he had in hand.
He said it was a revision and not a compil-
alton. The work consists of 1872 pages of
typewriter copy. All ordinances are re-
pealed thereby and the revision is to be
adopted az a single ordinance. The first
chapter gives the meets and bounds OF all
the wards Heretofore there has been no
record of the original five wards and q
question exists rs to the northeast and
southwest boundaries of the Seventh ward.
The fourth chapter contains radical
changes, giving the mayor power to remove
a policeman without action by the council.
The old system, said Col. Botkin, has been
a mockery of executive ability-being cur
tailed to a Ridiculous degree.
Ordinance No. 179 defines the duties OF
and creates the Office of superintendent of
sewers. who shall be the city engineer, the
title of superintendent of sewers being ex-
oficio. Chapter five, defines the registra-
ton and election laws and increases the pay
of judges Of election from 81 to So per day,
as under the new system the judge has to
sit all day. Chapter six relates to licenses
and taxation, but no changes are made
from the old ordinances. Chapter eight
relates to the fire department.. and No. 8 re-
establishes the fire limits, changing the
nOfGn0rn llmltS 10 COAAOim WIFI an OEol-
nance recently passed. Chapter ten covers
building permits, No. II defines the powers
and duties of the board Of health and pro-
vides for the inspection of milk and mar
kets; No. II relates to sewerage. to which
has been added series of regulations con-
corning plumbing of buildings. No. II,
which Is the most important of all, relates
to street improvements. 1t has been en-
deavored to direct two systems of direct
assessment to cover the cost of this. One
is when the city orders a sidewalk
to be laid, the proportion of expense
work will be let by contract. The contrac-
tor shall receive warrant to be paid out of
q special fund. which is to be derived en-
tirely from the property benefited, and in
no event will the city be made chargeable.
This special fund, if not paid within
taxes, and Mr.. Botkin thought this system
might aid in prosecuting the work of paving
Main street.
The other system relates to opening up
Lawrence and jackson streets. which is
contemplated. In such cases tho expense
cannot be paid by the frontage. It is pro-
posed to provide for three commissioners,
who shall assess pro rata the benefits to
be derived by property owners on the whole
street and all to be called upon to bear the
expense.
=. Chapter IA relates to contracts; No. Is
fences in the police court in which the
changes are not material. 1t provides that
whenever defendant wants jury trial he
must pay for it, and forfeit the amount of
costs incurred thereby. Provision is also
made for giving bail for appearance. This
system is now in vogue, but there has
never been any ordinance providing for it.
CHAPTER 16 deals with public Offenses and a
number of new provisions have been added.
Mr.. Botkin states that in looking over ordi-
nances of other cities he has found at least
twenty-five or thirty new offenses that have
not been covered BY the old ordinances.
Some omissions Of penal ordinances have
also been made which are covered by the
state laws, such as carrying concealed
weapons and about opium joints, but it
still remains the duty of the police to make
arrests where these otenses are discovered.
No. II relates to nuisances; No. IL to do
meetic animals; No. - Is re-enactment of
the regulations concerning hacks and car
riages at trains; No. 20 deals with pawn
brokers and junk dealers and provides that
purchased, which shall be open for inspec-
tion to the city marshal and others under
him. Chapter q treats on the library; No.
% regulates how houses shall be numbered
and is changed relative to the expense Of
numbesing, which must be borne by the
householder and not the city. No. q is
miscellaneous provisions. Under this head
an important change has been made rela-
tive to the location of hay and wood mar
kets, drays and wagons. This has long been
q subject of trouble and annoyance ana the
revised ordinances give to the COMMITTEES on
nate the place of location and determine
the number of wagons to be allowed on the
street. They may also change the localities
from time to time, as the e1igencies Of the
case may suggest. And for violation OF
their orders fine of from IS to 800 may
be imposed, upon conviction. Provision il
also made for the posting in public place.
of the new ordinances.
Quite discussion arose as to how to pro-
coed with the work of inspecting the ordin
anoes az revised, and it was decided to hav'
q number of proof-sheets furnished tn,
council, which will subsequently, in com
mittee Of the whole, go over the work anG
make what amendments and additions they
deem proper. This will necessitiate the set
ting up twice of the type, but the council was
willing to stand the expense and have the
work properly done, and Mr.. Botkin
thought the extra composition would cost
$75. This ended the ordinance revision
and the council proceeded to discuss gen
eral matters.
petition of Jos. Davis and others, for 6
sidewalk on Lower Main street near the
car company's stable, was granted.
D. j. McNally and other citizens of tht
Sixth ward and residents of Chestnut street
also in Sixth ward, petitioned for water
main extensions. Referred.
Residents of Madison and Dearborn
streets pray for the abatement of a nuts
ance, meaning the Chessman ditch, whicl
is not in use and is now the receptacle o
rubbish and filth. The city marshal wa
ordered to abate the nuisance.
The petition of S. L. Hauser, ct al, 70
the sprinkling certain west side streets, t.
be paid for by the city, was denied, til
water committee reporting adversely. TIL
reason for this action was on account of tn
expense, which was reported as follows:
Three Studebaker sprinklers. ............. $l5l
i nree slau HORSES. l.5l
1nree sets idfness.- j.
Feeding horses five months. ............... 4,
Three men at $3.50 per day................ IL.
Total cost for season ................. Sal:
Stand pipss Observation-Disclosures. p
EiSht Migrants --................
Grand total. Observation-Disclosures. $50
Alderman Lissner called attention to ii
fact that A. NJ. Hotter had fenced up tn,
portion of Main street south of Cutie
Hotter gave that land TO the city once an
the latter spent s. 900 in improving it. II
city clerk was directed to draw up resol,
ton of condemnation proceedings and Il
city engineer TO draw up plat of the prof.
erty.
The council then drffted intoa general n