The herald., 1897-03-06
THE LICENSE PROVISIONS
An Amendment Requiring Consent to
Sink Wells
Offered by Councilman Mathuss, but Voted
Down by the OIL Men
II VIII, However, Be Brought Up Again In the
councii Monday. and Effort VIII Be
Made to Secure Its Adoption.
other Amendments

The special committee of the council
on the proposed oil ordinance, Messrs.
Grider, Mathuss and Baker, with the
committee of the oil men, Messrs. Gar
butt. Parker and Kelleeman, were
promptly on hand at the city hall last
evening, but only Fred Eaton OF the
citizens committee braved the rain
and came out to represent that interest.
Councilmen Ashman. Hutchison and
Nickel were also in attendance, as was
also Assistant City Attorney Crutcher'
and a few interested property owners.
Mr.. Crutcher proceeded with the read
ing of the draft of the ordinance as
prepared by him, the main points OF
which have already been published III
The Herald, and the various sections
were adopted until the section in regard
to the smoke nuisance was reached. Mr.
Smith. an old oil man, stated that most
IL not all, this nuisance could be done
away with If little care was exercised.
The greater part of this nuisance was
caused by burning crude oil in the fur-
naces in getting up steam, and he had
got around this difficulty by burning
wood. the cost of which did not exceed
20 cents per day. The oil men vigor-
ously opposed any legislation on this
matter, but the ordinance was finally
amended so as to permit the burning OF
crude oil for twenty minutes only when
getting UP steam in cold boiler.
The section in regard to storing oil
near frame buildings went over until
such time as it could be ascertained
the distance fixed by the insurance COM
panies, beyond which the policies are
Cancelled.
The section in regard to engineers
was stricken out. that matter being
covered by the provisions of the boiler
ordinance.
The section in regard to loading and
unloading oil was so amended as to per-
NIT unloading on the streets. when de-
livering the oil to consumers. but the
loading of wagons on graded streets was
prohibited.
"A largely signed protest was received
against the stringing of unsightly ca
bles, and asking that this nuisance be
prohibited. The oil men contended that
by the use of the cables the number of
engines was reduced, and consequently
there was less noise. The councilmen
and representatives of the property
owners agreed that there was some
thing in this, but insisted that If cables
are used they shall be put up In a proper
manner and not In the haphazard fash
ion that has heretofore prevailed. The
following was adopted as compromise
measure.
TT shall be unlawful for any person,
firm or corporation to place, stretch,
maintain or keep across any portion of
the public streets or sidewalks of said
Ia lac Lose
such ropes, wires or cables are sup
ported at least seventeen feet above
such streets and upon such substantial
posts and appliances that such ropes,
wires or cables shall not at any time
sag below such height Of seventeen feet
or fall upon said street when broken or
disconnected"
Councilman Mathuss insisted tha.
some provision should be made for the
removal of the unsightly goosenecks
which now project over the streets, and
from which the wagons are loaded, bu.
Mr.. Crutcher said that 1t was not ne
cessary to put anything In the ordi-
nance to this effect, as they could be
removed at any time by the street su-
perintendent If the owners refused to
do so, as they had no right to maintain
them on the sidewalks anyway
Councilman Mathuss moved that a
sinking of any oil well on block with
out first obtaining the consent Of the
property owners on the block in which 1t
was proposed to sink such well, say
ing that the council had the right to
regulate saloons, laundries, livery
stables and other businesses of any uni
desirable character, and he did not see
why the same would not apply to the oil
business.
srhiu ,ropositiop cousod y,,rob anna
sition on the part Of the oil men. who
protested against putting
their business on the same level as the
saloon business. Messrs. MathussI and
Grider insisted that such provision
was necessary for the protection of new
territory, and that 1t could be enforced,
and said that they had been able to
regulate the erection of steam boilers
throughout the city. This ordinance had
agreed with Messrs. Grider and Mathuss
and Mr.. Crutcher then drafted the fol-
lowing:
1T shall be unlawful for any per-
son, flrm or corporation to bore. dig or
construct any oil we'll in any block with
in the district hereinbefore described
(the limits were published yesterday
unless such person, firm or
first obtain a permit from
@AAS al o COulI1llSSlOuClS VI Saio NAeJ oo "
do. which permit shall be granted only
upon petition of the majority of the
owners of real property in said
block. But when a permit Is granted to
bore or construct an oil well in such
block, no further permit will be neces-
sary for any other person to bore or con-
struct such wells in said block pro-
vided this provision shall not apply to
any block In said district where any oil
well existed or was in process of being
constructed or the first day of March,
1897
The oil men insisted that this provision
would work great hardship upon them,
as many of them had bought or leased
lots for oil purposes that would be
worthless to them If It was adopted.
A lengthy discussion followed. after
which q vote was taken. and the pro-
Vision was defeated by a vote of 4 to 3,
the three oil men and Councilman
Baker voting in the negative, and Coun-
,ilmeu Mathuss and Grider and Mr..
Eatorl In the Affirmative.
Councilman' Mathuss gave notice that