The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-01-08
CITY COUNCIL GETS INTO PoPU.
LAR LINE.
MOVE FOR pIHeLlC SAFETY
Examination Of Theatre ordered-wstss
View to Ascertaining its Safe
ty as Regards Fire.

w Failing into line with the other like
bodies throughout the state, and the
country, for that matter, the city coun-
Gil of Billings has decided that an
oMcial investigation shall be made OF
the local opera house with view to
| ascertaining it's arrangements for a
speedy emptying in case of fire or
other event likely to cause panic
among an audience.
This action was decided upon at last
Tuesday, nights meeting, when the
matter was called to the attention OF
the council by Alderman Schmudlach.
He said that it was due the people
of the city that an inspection of the
theatre be made, as the people of the
entire country had been wrought up
by the fearful results following the
| recent theatre fire at Chicago and
a general distrust existed as regards
the safety of playhouses. In his own
opinion the local theatre was none too
safe and he believed the council
should order an inspection of it,
This brought the response from
Mayor Foster that he had intended to
call the matter to the attention of
the council, believing that a complete
inspection of the premises should be
made, in which the different exits
should be examined and inquiry made
into the methods of the management
of the house to keep them open when
the house was occupied. In conclu-
sion he referred the matter to the
fire, water and light committee, with
the request for report at the next
meeting of the council.
Is Indefinitely Postponed.
If not actually dead, the matter of
the creation of a new sewer district
is in a condition where it will need
the application of recusitating reme-
dies, should it ever be decided to go
ahead and carry out the councils
original intentions in the matter.
After several postponements, the
resolution for the creation of special
improvement district No. Z was again
called up. Alderman Bouton moved
that it be laid on the table indefinitely.
He said that at least two-thirds of the
property owners in the territory in
cluded in the proposed district were
opposed to the improvement and that
the movement had been projected by
individuals and companies owning
large parcels of realty in that locality,
who had acted with the sole view to
acquiring personal benefits.
The popularity of the motion was
made manifest by the fact that not
single vote was cast in opposition.
~ To Create Public Scales.
At last the council has decided to
other than that on which stand the
demand, and has taken the first step
in the direction of establishing a city
scales and appointing an official weigh
master A bill for an ordinance was
introduced locating the proposed
scales at the city hall and making the
city clerk ex-off1cio weighmaster for
the city.
Some of the aldermen found objec-
tions to certain portions of the pro.
posed ordinance, and at the next
meeting Of the council, when it will
come up for its second reading, it is
likely that effort will be made to
amend it.
Has Ground to Lease.
The city is now the owner of realty
other than that on which staid the
different buildings dedicated to public
use. BY the terms of the settlement
arrived at between the municipality
ana the Minnesota & Montana Land
and Improvement company. sne city
has come into possession of the
ground occupied by the fair
grounds and race track. Not being
prepared to conve T. the tract into a
public park, its ultimate application.
the council is Of the opinion that it
should be made to earn something
during the interim.
Acting on this conclusion it was