Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1895-11-14
CITY AFFAIRS.
Curfew and Electric Lights occupy
the Aldermen's Attention.

CurfeW ana EIcCCr1C A1SnCS oCCupy
the Aldermen's Attention.
The city council was in reminiscent
mood Monday evening-they thought of
England, of William the Conqueror and
Of the Middle Ages when families re-
firing to rest for the night extlnguished
the fire by covering it up-from which
comes the term convre-feu, or curfew-
and they railroaded thsough an ordl-
nance-No. 4S-''to prevent noise. dis
turbauce and disorderly assemblages in
the city of Jamestown" ETC., to quote
the legal phraseology. At q period
when civilization was very crude. when
it was the custom to place the fire IN
hole in the middle of the floor, under an
opening in the roof to allow the escape
Rof the smoke, the ourfew was most
useful regulation a. precautlon against
conAagrations. Later, with the advance
Of civilization aud customs in households,
the curfew became police regulation
and served 9 salutary end in obliging
people to keep within doors and noe.
turnal brawls were in q measure pre-
vepted. From innoouous desuetude
and oblivion in which the custom had
sunk it Was taken by the council and
made law Of the city.
Ten days after the publication, or
posting, Of the ordinance it will be un-
lawful for children under l6 years of age
to be on the streets, alleys, or public
grounds Of the city after 9 O'Clock at
night unless accompanied by some one
OF legal age, under penalty of arrest and
fine or Imprisonment. On that day
when this ordinance becomes law,
every citizen of age will be an officer Of
the Law and it will be their duty, should
, hoy find any child transgressing the
vFovisions OF tins edict, to arrest said
male or female youthful criminal and do
unto them as the law requires.
The ordinance was introduced by
Alderman Mitchell and after receiving
its first reading, was read again by title
only, the rules then suspended, the
ordinance read in full second time and
passed, every alderman voting aye
none absent. This is the same ordinance
introduced some time ago and killed by
the vote OF Aid. Bensch, who objected to
the tolling OF the fire bell each evening.
The council is determined to receive
more nearly an equivalent for money ex-
pended in the lighting Of the city. The
appropriate committee and the city at.
torEey will endeavor to secure coo'
tract from the company for better arc
lights, at q reduced rate, and present
the contract to the council for its ap.
proval and ratification.
ss Chairman Mitchell OF the electric light
committee said the city had been receiv.
ing very poor liQhts for quite while
While the bad weather has had some
thing to do. probably, with the lights.
still they are too poor; the city is pay.
ING too much money-about s25 per
month more than it should. Every
body is kicking. From the fore part OF
October there was scarcely q night bnt
ora or more, and sometimes as many as
fodr lights, were out.
This was corroborated by statement
Of the marshal, giving dates and loca-
cations OF lights out all night or part
Of evenings.
Alderman Lieber said that as the city
hsd no contract with the company, the
sooner different arrangements were
made to secure street lights
from dusk TO midnight, or 9.
M, the better. He condemned