The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-13
TO GOVERN THE CIT7
A Revised and Oodihed Set Of 0rdi-
nanoes Sadly Needed.
SIDEWALKS ARE BLOCKED
But the Streets and Alleys Are IN
Very Fair Condition-The L.
brary 10 Well Patronixed
The Fire Department.

Nfissoula, Dec. 12-For. two years the
people of Missoula have been promised
a revised and codified set of ordinances
that would make 1t possible to govern
the city properly. There have been
spasmodic attempts during the time
that the matter has been under consid-
Grafton, to finish the business. but Vt
has never been done. One or two ordi-
nances have been revised and passed
when the aldermen couldn't well avoid
doing so and the good results have
been great. The COW ordinance Is an
example of this. When an outraged
and indignant public demanded protec-
ton from the raids of the city cows,
the council made such protection pos
sible, but not until then. Since that
time the police and pound officers have
been able to care for wandering DO
vines and there has been much less
damage done to lawns and trees. But
there are other ordinances that should
be made effective 50 that. when COM
plaint Is made to a city officer, he Will
not be obliged to say, The ordinance
governing that is defective and do
not think that a conviction could be
secured" Sidewalks on the principal
streets are blocked by merchandise
piled up for display in front of stores,
until there is only narrow passage
way for foot travellers; rubbish Is
thrown into the streets, where 1t accu-
mulates in the cutters until the streets
In some places look like a dumping
ground.
The codlfied ordinances have, II IL
said, been ready for the action OF the
council for many months. but there has
been nothing done. so far as can be
Il. - n n
special committee. II the ordinances as
prepared are not what is wanted. the
committee ought to find this out and
take steps to have them drawn up so
as to hold water. II they are all right
the council should be given an opportu-
nifty to pass them that they may be In
force and the city have a set OF laws
that are effective. Unless some speed
der action IL taken than has character
tied the consideration of the matter
thus far, the city will have outgrown
this set Of ordinances before they are
passed and a new set will be required.
Now that the city treasury has been
replenished by the payment OF the
years taxes. Treasurer Kemp will have
q busy time for a while. He has adver-
tised the warrants that he Is ready to
pay and II disbursing the cash as rap
idly as the warrants are presented.
This win give a few Missoula people
some money for Christmas but, as the
warrants are in the main. in the hands
OF a few brokers, there will not be any
very general distribution OF funds.
The library directors met last even
ing in regular session and transacted
routine business. Some new books were
ordered and will be on the shelves In
about 30 days. The books received last
month have been in circulation for
- L.. al ID
mand. The winter season Is always
the busiest in the library and Mrs.
Reinhard has not much leisure these
days. The public library Is becoming
more and more popular as the number
of patrons increases and as the advan-
tages of the institution are understood.
There are now more book borrowers
who are regular patrons than ever be-
fore in the history of the library. 1t Is
the best investment that the city ever
made. For an expenditure of less than
81 200 each year the city is receiving re-
turns which are of inestimable value.
The streets and alleys are in better
condition this winter than they ever
were before, except in a few instances
where rubbish Is thrown out in def
ance of the law. Chief Mentrum had a
lively experience last month with some
of these people who do not care for the
appearance of their premises and who
disregard all sanitary conditions. The
health officer came out ahead, however.
and the alleys and back yards involved
On the squabble were cleaned by the
AUDITORS and owners. The portion of
the city across the Northern Pacific
tracks is in exceptionally good condi-
ton this fall The residents of the
School addition and East Missoula
have cooperated with the health officer
and the result is most excellent. There
are. in fact, but two alleys in the city
that are really bad in condition. One
of these Is in the rear of the houses on
East Front street and East Main street.
In the block east of Adams street, and
the other is in the rear of the row of
residences on the South Missoula boul-
evard. east of the bridge.
The fire department gets along In
good shape with its reduced force, now
that there is no street work for the
teams TO do. The black team, which
has been on street work all summer,
has become a little rusty in the fire
drill and Chief Mentrum is giving lyle
The blacks are showing constant i'm
provment and win soon be as expert as
Prince and Snap. the crack buckskin
team
Since the reduction in the police force
Officer Keim has been patroling the
depot beat on the night shift. This is
a most generous beat as far as extent
goes and Mr.. Keim has to keep moving
TO cover Il. 1t win be remembered that
when the residents of the school Sec
ton made their declaration of rights
last summer, they kicked because the
policeman on that beat did not patrol
their district but once a night. When
the matter was investigated, Il was
found that the beat extends from the
mouth Of Hell Gate canyon on the east,
TO the stock yards on the west. a dis
lance of two or three miles. Under
these circumstances. the school section
people ought TO be thankful II the offi-
Ger gets around TO them once a week
and they evidently were. for they made
no further kick.