Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1895-04-30
FIRE \

Tho hire which occurred IN the
adobe building on Broadway, be-
longing to the Abraham estate, on
Sunday, the Dist inst, has provok-
ed considerable discussion as to
the enforcement Of certain regula-
tions within the fire limits Of Sill
yer City. For the information
of our readers we herewith print
in full that section of ordinance
No. 10l, approved May %, 1885,
relative to the fire limits and also
providing for the character of
buildings TO be erected within the
same, etc.
"Sec. 80. That it shall be un-
lawful for any person or persons
to erect any building with walls of
wood or frame, or any other in
hammable material, on any lot or
lots in that part Of the town of Sill
Yer City located between Spring
street on the south, boundary line
of town site on the north, Bennett
street on the east and boundary
line of town site on the west. That
no person or persons shall stack
INHALED hay in quantities to ex-
coed one ton within the limits as
above described. That, before any
person or persons shall stack un-
baled hay in quantities to exceed
one ton, or shall commence the
erection of any building or build
ings, with walls of wood or frame,
or other combustible material,
within the corporate limits of the
town Of Silver City, he or they
shall make application to the May
or, stating location, and in case of
such building or buildings. the
materials to be used in the cree
tion thereof, which application
shall be referred by the Mayor to
the committee ON Fire, said COM
mittee being empowered by this
ordinance to grant or refuse such
application, and any person or per-
sons stacking INHALED hay, or
erecting any building or buildings
in violation of this section, shall
be deemed guilty of a misdemean-
or, and, on conviction thereof, be
fined IN a sum not less than five OF
more thar fifty dollars for each
and every offense, and he, she or
they shall be prosecuted and fined
therefor, each and every day he,
she or they shall suffer and per-
NIT the same to remain, after be-
ing warned to desist or remove
the same"
Section 36, relative to non-pay-
ment of fines, provides that
"Any person or persons who
shall fail to pay any fine or fines
and costs assessed against them
for violation of any section of this
ordinance, or any ordinance Of the
town Of Silver City, shall be com
mitted by the justice Of the peace
in said town to the city Jail, and
sentenced to labor on the streets,
or work under charge of the city
marshal, until such fine or fines,
with accrued costs of suit, shall
have been paid; and each prisoner
so compelled to labor shall be al
lowed the sum of seventy-6ve
cents per day for each days labor
so performed, exclusive of board
Provided, however, that no person
shall be imprisoned for more than
thirty days for any one offense."
The above sections are pre-
scented in their amended form
as they stand upon the council
record today.
Perhaps the most important
safe guards to be thrown about
city are those of protection from
the possible ravages of fire. Hence
it will be seen: first, that rigiC
rules should be adopted for the
safety of life and property; anc
second, that they should be adj
m%inistered in their strictest sense
AS to the first proposition we heal
no complaint, but as TO the seconC
so much can not be said. The
most casual observer can not fai
to note the utter disregard witt
which this law is treated. l.
would not be just to censure the
citizens of this town for doinf
those things in the way of build
ing and improving their property
within the fire limits against which
they are not aware of the existing
ordinance aud penalties. This or
dinance, however, has been in eff
feet for nearly ten years, but wal
enforced for only a short time fol
lowing its enactment.
Under section 8, Of the ordi
nance above referred to, it is pro
vided that a committee Of thre,
be appointed by the Mayor "whos,
duty it shall be to examine ever
building or house. as often as they
may deem it proper and necessary
for the purpose of ascertaininf