Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-04-16
ORDINANCE NO. 29.

It is time that the city authori.
ties look into the matter of city |
ordinance No. 2o which for many
years has been a city law and
which fordids all persons stalking
or grazing animals around the
premises of others without the
latter's permission.
Any person violating this Of
dinance is subject to fine in the
police court. 1t is also made the
special duty of the police force of
the city to take up and impound
auimals so found where this or
dinance is violated and yet this
ordinance has been treated as
dead letter for years, encouraging
disrespect for the laws of the city.
There are plenty of people who
do not stake their own stock
around their own premises in Or
der to preserve the groands in
better shape, and yet while such
0wners of property are asleep in
their homes those disregarding
the rights of neighbors and the
law, call around at night time or
early morning and stake the ami
mails despoiling the premises.
It seems time that the city author
tiles should carefully read over
the ordinance and insist upon an
observance of the same. The or
dinance in question provides in
effect that parties may tie or hold
their cows around the premises of
others after first obtaining per-
mission of the owner of the prop
erty, but there is not one instance
in fifty where party wishing to
trespass about another's property
ever asks permission, but simply
helps himself without leave. 1t is
time that more severe measures
should be taken for violations of
this ordinance if it can not be OBJ
served by persuasion. The pres
ent ordinance was passed for the
purpose of nullifying the action
Of a large majority of the citi-
zens some years ago when it was
voted that cattle should not run
at large in the city. The ques-
ton was strongly opposed by
some and after they were beaten
by large vote a fair ordinance
was passed carrying out the will
of the voters, but soon the op-
ponents set their wits to nullify
the ordinance which resulted in
passing the present ordinance to
prevent cattle and other stock
running at large but permitted
persons to stake them around
their own premises, and also the
premises of those from whom
they had first obtained permis-
sion. But permission was never
asked to any extent and the Gus
tom has now become so prevalent
that no one asks permission, but
those who wish, stake cattle
without permit and in violation
of the city ordinance, while the
city authorities permit these mat
tiers to 60 along without attention.
1t is every ones duty to obey
the laws under which we live.
Disregard for the law in small Of
feuses soon encourages a more
general disrespect for. law and
order.
Premises can be kept neat and
better during the summer season
where the surrounding grasses
can be evenly moved, but when
cattle tramp it all down making
the ground uneven and the grass
during the summer mashed down
it cannot be moved and when it
becomes dry furnishes dangerous
opportunities for fire to spread.
1t is hoped that these few hints
will be sufficient without further
comment.
This lengthy notice of this
matter would not be given at this
time, but for the reason that the
will Of the voters on this subject
as stated has been so long disre-
garded that many people living
here may not understand that we
have such an ordinance or the
steps leading up to it. The So
ciety recently formed for improv-
ing the appearance of the town
cannot hope to accomplish any
thing where surrounding premises
are tramped down and despoiled
by animals.
Hn>scA T1inuoa T%1 Sh<S