Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-05-22

If Permit is Given One Person to
Avoid it Others Will Want Like
Privileges.
A Plea for Solid Brick or Veneeret
Buildings Only in the Established
Fire Limits. asl #e


A permit to remove a frame build
fire limits is an entering wedge fraught
with SO much danger to the best in
terests of the city it is doubtful if the
signers of a petition for such proceed
ing, or the city council in passing fav-
crably thereon, fully understand The
effect of their action. After the great
fire Bismarck started in on the
brick era" The business men and
property owners were unanimous in
their desire for the establishing of fire
limits and the strict enforcement of
the ordinance. che rebuilding of Bis
marck began and the result has been
the rearing Of j large number of solid,
substantial brick blocks So strong
was the sc ntiment against allowing
frame structures io be removed to the
fire limits there was at first strong op-
position tc the removal of the build
ing kncwl< as the ''cold storage build
ing by Captain Baker, but it was
finally allowed only upon the stipula-
tion that there should be a 12-inch fire
wall on the east side and the structure
should be veneered with brick This
was. right. Owners of brick blocks
i'll this city are considerably more in
terested in this matter than renters.
1t is true that the fire ordinance does
no affect a frame building already in
the fire limits al the time of the pass
age # the ordinance so long as it is
not removed, added to or changed, but
when frame building burns down or
is destroyed from any cause, or is
placed on wheels, it's status is, or
should be, the same as new structure
1t should not be allowed to occupy
permanently a place in the fire limits
without being veneered with stone or
brick. 'u s.
If an exception is made in one in
stance it will be asked in another.
Col. Little attempted to repair por-
tion of the builL-ng left from the fire
at the corner of Main and Fifth street.
He, was promptly and properly stopped
by the authorities.- Thomas MCGOWAN
was obliged to tear his ruins down on
Main street and as result a magnif-
cent brick block is now being erected.
Joseph Hare had his plans drawn for
a brick warehouse ON the railroad
right of way, in the fire limits. He
intended to erect it on the right of
way facing west on Third street but
the Northern Pacific decided to extend
the platform for Tile new depot the en-.
tire length of two blocks, Third to
Fifth streets, and no building will be
permitted on the right of way between
Third and l. 18th streets.
If a permit is granted to Gram5s
Brothers to erect or move a frame
warehouse onto the right of way in
the fire limits, consistency will require
favorable action on the request of
others, and if permit is granted for
frame buildings on the right of way
in the fire limits then the demand will
come for right to move or erect frame
buildings elsewhere in the fire limit Off
the right of way; it will be possible
to remove frame building from Main
street opposite the Sheridan house to
lot, say ON Fourth street adjoining
Lucas & O'Hara or Kupitz's or the
Tribune block, or adjoining the Pat
terson building or the Webb block on
the right of way fronting on
Main street, which would COM
pletely destroy the efficacy and
virtue of the fire ordinance. The
embarrassment and injustice of this
proceeding is quite apparent If a
frame warehouse can be removed and
permitted to permanently remain in
the fire limits withou~ being veneered
with brick then the Sheridan house
could be removed across the street and
allowed to stand without being ven
eered with brick-yet who would peti-
ton for such a thing? In granting the
Northern Pacific the right to move a
building and use it for depot purposes
while the new depot is under construc-
tion the council has wisely provided
that the permit shall only extend to
January, 1901. Why should any ex-
ception be made with other buildings?
Let us maintain the fire limits, and
make no exceptions. 1t is but simple
Justice to the property owners-and
is for the benefit of the city. We now
have the opportunity of building a.
handsome city without doing an in
justice to anyone Let us improve it, /
AS fast as a building in the fire limits
Is removed--from any cause whatever
--let 1t be replaced with brick The
Northern Pacific intends to do its
share towards improving the city this
summer. It viii erect a magnificent
depot and remodel and construct a.
frstclass hsteI building. The un-
slightly ice house south of the track
will be removed this fail. In its place.
will stand the new electric light plant
Ia solid brick building. Let us as.
sist in keeping all unsightly and ur-
safe buildings of the right of way Ia
the fire limits as well as OFF the bus
iness streets in the FIRE limits.
Let us avoid future complications