The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-29
BEST CORNER N BUTTE
Lessees Want to Fix Up the
Ancient Shack Thereon,
BUT Mr.. jerks SAYS NO
An Appeal Taken From His Decision to
the Council. Which Refers 1t to the
Building Committee. Which
Viii Meet To-Day.

There Is a contest on in munlcipal
circles as TO whether projected altera-
ton are TO be allowed on the frame
shack at the northeast corner Of Main
and Broadway. The building is owned
by s. Heilbronner. and Browne a
Heilbronner are the ~lessees. The les
sees desire TO make certain repsirs and
alterations in the shack. They repre-
sent that they wish 20 put i'm . first
class wholesale and retail cigar store
and that the cost Of the alterations AMI
repairs will not exceed $500. In "a
communication the lessees asked
building Inspector jerks for an op!n-
ion as to the per cent of the totll
value the building may have been
damaged by decay or by fire, water
and decay.
The lcssees ask permission To- lower
che floor of the building to the grade
Of the sidewalk. Girders are to be put
in to rest the joists on over the joists
will be surface sheathins' over this
sheathing red resin-sized building pa
per. and Oregon floor.
Building Inspector jerks replied as
follows:
II cannot grant your request for the
following reasons: Under section 16.
ordinance No. 27s. regulating the con-
struction, alterations and repairs or
buildings, which reads, 1t shall be UNI
lawful to repair any frame building
within the fire limits of the city OF
Butte when such building shall have
been damaged by decay on by fire.
water and decay to the extent of 40
per cent of the value OF said build
ing
.sThe building referred to by you
was constructed in 1876. Hence II rs
90 years since its construction. The
first story is constructed of logs. The
building has been altered and repaired
several times since its construction.
The alterations you contemplate. would
make the building unsafe for occu-
pancy.
Il have made a careful estimate of
the cost of the building new. Tifanys
Digest of Depreciation gives The length
of time that a frame building can be
used as % years. which is 4 per cent
depreciation per year. Taking into
consideration the alterations and re-
pairs which rave been made from time
10 time. i have placed the depreciation
at 3 per cent per annum, which would
make the depreciation Sc per cent diff
ference between the building when new
and its present value.
Building new worth ........Sl,3 66 81
Sixty-six per cent is .......... 90l IS
Present value S464 %
Therefore the building cannot be
repaired under the ordinance"
The lessees hen appealed from the
decision of the building inspector and
submitted the matter To the council.
claiming that said building has not
been damaged to the extent of 40 per
cent or more Of its original value. In
spoctor jerks thereupon sent the pa
pers in the case to the council with
the following:
Il hereby transmit to you the appli-
cation from Brown * Heilbronner.
asking permission of me To make GER
tain alterations and repairs on the
frame building at the northeast corner
of Main and Broadway. together with
my answer To their application; also
their appeal. dated April -. from my
decision. desiring your action I'm the
matter, as they object To my decision
on section Is. ordinance 27S. regulating
the building and repairs in the city Of
Butte of frame buildings In fire dis
trict No. l."
The council has referred the dispute
30 the building committee. which. IL IL
understood. will meet this afternoon To
consider the matter. one of the alder
men said yesterday that as his is the
best corner in the city of Butte there
should be a splendid building there.
If the alterations We're allowed IL
would probably be many years before
a creditable building were erected on
this corner. He thought the contem-
plated improvements would cost near
er s.. 200 than 5000.