The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-21
LAWS AND ORDINANCES THAT HELD
GOOD MANY YEARS AGO

GOOD MANY YEARS AGO.
Rigid Observance of the Sabbath a Primary
Exaction of Citizens In the Time of Mayor
Duane-An Old-Timo Precursor of tho
Raines Law-Mr. Coler's Rare Book.
In the Mayoralty Of James Duane. ESQ. GER
tain laws and ordinances we're ordained and
established by the Mayor. Aldermen and Com-
monalty OF the city NJ New York In Common
Council convened FOR the good Rule and
Government OF the Inhabitants and Residents
OF the said City" as duly set forth In a COPY OF
the laws and ordinances now in the possess
sion OF COMPTROLLER Coler. who has a large and
valuable collection OF old books and pam phlets
relating TO the early history OF New York.
This print was purchased at a book auction in
Boston two weeks ago and 10 In excellent con-
dttion. On the outside 10 bears an Inscription
to the effect that 1t was published the Tween
ty-Ninth day OF March. 1885. in the Tenth
year OF our INDEPENDENCE by Samuel and
John Loudon. printers to the State. Samuel
and John seem to have done their work in
rather better style than tho modern official
printer does his. and the pamphlet is an excel
lent BIZ OF printing and not without little ele-
gancies OF ornamentation which one would
hardly expect In a production OF that nature.
Its contents. which are varied and touch on a
number OF phases OF porary existence.
suggest that life in this city was more re-
strictsd 100 years ago than it is to-day.
As behts a serious community. the first place
In It's laws was given to the observance OF tho
Sabbath: "A Law for the due observation CT
the Lords.Day. called Sunday" This pro-
vides that no person shall buy or sell on Sun
day or do any labor excepting works OF piety.
charity or necessity. under n penalty OF ten
shilllngs fine for every offence: furthermore.
in somewhat doubtful grammar. though
doubtless with good intent. that mo Person of
whatever Age or Sex shall meet together on
the said Day In any Of the Streets or other
Place and there sport. play. or make a noise
or disturbance" the penalty for that being a
fine Of two shillings. failing which. an hour in
the watch house. And here Is the forerunner
Of the Raines law. even to the opportunity for
evading it:
And Be 1t Further Ordained. by the Au-
thority aforesaid, That no Public Inn Keeper.
Alehouse-Keeper. Victualler. or Ordinary
Keeper shall entertain or receive Company in
their Houses or other Place or Places and
there sell any Kind OF Wine. or other Liquor
on the said Day unless to Strangers. Travel
leis. or those who lodge in such Houses. for
necessary Refreshments; and that no Inn
Keeper. Ale-House Keeper. Victualler. or Or
binary -keeo per do at any Time suffer any ex-
cassive drinking or Persons TO be drunk in
their Houses under the Penalty OF Twenty
Shillings for each Offence"
Under the heading "A Law for the better
Preventing OF Fire" certain rules are set forth
for the:Rovernment OF the citizens and nremsn.
One rule provides for the examination Of
chimneys by constables. and orJains that III
any Chimney within this City shall take fire for
want OF being kept Clean. the Occupant thereof
shall Forfeit the Sum of Forty Shillings."
What Occupant" n chimney Is likely to have.
unless q ehimney swallow or q wedsed-i in
convenient spots in houses and buildings at
whole duty Of the fireman duly set forth
That a. often IS any Fire shall break out
medlately upon Notice thereof repair to their
T P1sc oec WTsr Ere s,c EEnfg It o Ga ard DRAW them to the
by, the Direction Of the Mayor. Recorder and
Aldermen. Sheriff. Engineer oil, overseer Of the
e edte EMP Hik 7 and pr M hny OF them fSs . whO H.. DO pres
Power and skin. f9r the speedy e.tineuishine
suishsI. sRsii! ret return NTH tt. 's said i Fire I Engines nailes
and other Tools and Instruments. we'll washed
81 7 Deposit sfesTe1 that at i" any f Fireman sh 1aRP Be- a rbssst
R hs shall lhe sn aGa OF syf Ty. SSsP sb RIfiaals' Forfeit aud
The keep'ng OF hay or straw In any build:
nlso s tbs sr Of a o certain a line is forbidden; and
or squib" within the limits under penalty Of a
fine Of 10 shil,ings; The next Law is devoted
which was thsp regarded With more v than
in our times. when It Is rather dwqrted as a de-
and spectacular performances OF dynamite and
other modern N ,n explosives. Twenty.elght
listers was the limit OF the amount OF powder
store at one time, the city providing a powder
provides that every Day iu the Week EXCEPT
Market Day within this City from Sun Rise to
sun-set." and that all dealers must DO duly H.
appears a word which is now fallen to q slang
use chiefly, but in this connection seems to be
i nel b siiaap tbs emae a. = pFs o? q p ts5%; the io2 s se1Iins
ter house IS arranged for and then the author.
ordaininss that al bread oiored Tor ei' sale al s, shall
be Of good quality and each loaf be plainly
marked. ln the lay against nnisanees there
s|ss Witch in' ni tf@e ehanss to 5. i%a%d q AMY
2t the Streets. Lanes; Alleys. Wharfs or Piers"
Pitch' Tar. Tarpsnti h1sAG ilnd d:toesa hh sehnrss..
Bricks; or any other kind Of Lumber or other
From the nature Of the list it would seem as
each lawmaker suggested some article and
the law was made up OF the lot In the order
suggested. or perhaps 1t was arranged on the
general conversation principle Of the Walrus
and the Carpenter in the poem:
The time il. come i, the walrus said.
~ thlk u nlhuy Lnlnpt,
or shoes and ships and sealing wax,
OF cabbages and kings,
Aud why the sea Is boiling hot,
And whether pigs have wings"
Cartmen must have had a hard life In the
olden times: In the first place the cartman
must be a freeman Of the city and specially
licensed TO- do q cartlnE, business; His cart
must be two Feet I've Inches wide between
the foremost Rungs. and two Feet nine Inches
more, or less" and all the runGs must be 5
feet 8 inches high above tho floor. aud no
more or less" This was for the purpose "
ESTABLISHING a uniform price for %GartipG. The
Q inches deep. and II they were iron shod IL cost
the unfortunate driver, 20 shillings fine every
time he carried a load, Moreover. the cart
man was obliged to walk beside his vehicle.
being forbidden to ride except In case u great
age or disability. when he could get a special
permit from the Mayor to sit upon his load,
He must not refuse to cart at any time when
required and he must leave all other employ
to cart wheat. flour or other merchandise sub
lect to damage. under penalty OF 20 shilllngs
for each default, and for his ordinary load he
received one shilling Il half mile. II there
had been cabmen in those days one wonders
what kind of rules they would have had TO
nj