The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-15
In THE PIGEON HOLE
Council Bill No. 167 Passed, But 1t
Remains Ineffective.
TWAS PREPARED WITH CARE
The Law Was Made for the Pur-
pose of Removing Powder Mag
azines to a Safe DistL. e
From the City-No Move.
TWAS PREPARED WITH CARE

The fact that 1t was just a year ago
that Butte was desolated by the terri-
BILE explosion of powder calls 10 mind
the other fact that two months ago the
city council passed an ordinance, the
object of which was to prevent another
explosion from being so direful in its
consequences to the city. The aldermen
considered the matter of removing the
powder houses from their present me-
nalcing position for abou. six weeks.
Proprietors of powder houses and rep
resentatives of powder companies were
called into consultation with the alder
men and, finally, early in November,
Council Bill No. 1877 was introduced.
1t passed the council unanimously on
Nov. IA and passed into oblivion at the
same moment. Apparently, the coun-
Oil considered that 1t had done its full
duty when 1T passed the ordinance, and
not a move has been made toward get
ting the ordinance enforced in any of
its provisions. The ordinance went to
the pigeon hole and there 1T is.
1t may be of SOME interest 10 know
what was i'm this ordinance which was
prepared with such care. which was to
be 50 sternly and rigidly enforced and
which has never been heard from since.
1t shall be unlawful for any person or
persons, company or corporation to
store, deposit or keep within three miles
of the city limits of the city of Butte.
Montana, any powder. gunpowder
giant or Hercules powder, nitroglycer-
Inc, of other highly explosive substan-
ces, in greater quantities than 100
pounds, or more than 1000 giant caps,
at amy one time, nor shall such explo-
Sives be stored, deposited or kept In
any quantities whatever within three
miles of said city of Butte except in a
storehouse or magazine constructed as
hereinafter described. Provided. that
| this section shall not be construed tt
| prevent any person or persons, COM
| pany or corporation operating a mine
| within three miles of the limits Of
| said city from storing for use at such
| mine, a quantity of such powder OF
| either explosive, not exceeding 5000
| pounds, said storage in such mime, how
| ever, to be subject ito and in compliance
with the conditions required and speci-
| fed In section of this ordinance"
| 1t was generally supposed at tht
| time that this ordinance was passed foi
| the purpose cf removing the powden
| magazines to a safe distance from th'
| city. 1t was argued at the time tina
the present position is very dangerous
| and I'm case of explosion there Is moth
ing to prevent Butte receiving the full
force and shock of the explosion. /
was supposed that this ordinance wa
passed with some either object In view
chan to fill up the ordinance book, AM
that 1T would straightway be enforced
But not a move has been made. If their
was amy necessity for the passing o
this ordinance, there is just as urgen
necessity for enforcing TT. If 1T was Z
good ordinance to pass Ii DIS a good or
dinance to make effective If II ha
been discovered that it is not necessar,
to move the powder magazines, the or
dfnance should be repealed. 1t does no
hook well to make such a fuss abou
passing an ordinance only to pigeon
hole III the moment 1t is passed. /
should not be necessary to wait to en-
force 1T until more lives are lost in
powder explosion.