Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-10-12
IMPORTANT QUESTION.

IN the CITY COUNCIL idSt uiSHt upJcC-
ton was made by IN or two OF the
members to the prOmiscu0us erection
Of tents about the city. The parti-
cular cause Of the objection was that
some OF the tents being erected are
unsightly, and proper sanitary meas
ures have not been taken.
or course citizens do not sh TO
have the beauty Of the city marred by
unsightly structures OF any kind and
1t Is absolutely essential to preserve
adequate sanitary conditions. On the
other hand there is no reason why a
tent should be q Disagreement or
should violate any sanitary principle.
The suggestion made by Alderman
Bunker that permission Of the city
council or mayor should be required
before any tent could be erected Is,
probably, q good n II 1t can legally
be carried out. It Is proposed to In
troduce an ordinance covering this
point. but It Is an open question
whether the city has any power to
regulate the building OF tents on the
property owned by an individual II
there be no violation OF health prin-
ciples In its construction. The city,
however, has power to prescribe the
material OF which houses In the fire
limits are to be built and, probably.
within this district, the erection Of
tents might be prohibited, II It were
thought advisable.
But another question OF Importance
comes In here. Las Vegas has been
advertised to the ends Of the earth
Of late as q health resort. We have
invited the invalid as well as the
hale person. Judicious advertising
never falls to bring returns and peo.
pie are coming to Las Vegas In much
larger numbers than eve before.
Residences are going up just as fast
as the contractors can build them
But the present supply is far from
sufficient to met the demand. Some
Of the newcomers are willing to live
In tents, and where we cannot fur.
nish houses we must grant them this
privilege.
Furthermore the tent and out 'oor
theory Of the treatment OF tuberculo-
sis has become widespread. Hun
dreds Of those who are ordered to this
country are told to live in tents.
Again Las Vegas must grant them the
privilege. II might be possible to for
bid the erection of tents In a certain
portion of the city, yet the new
Corners must not be forced too far be-
yond the reach Of restaurants and
business houses. We must not invite
the world here, and then drive 1t
away.
Las Vegas Is ambitious to become
the greatest health resort OF the
west. II has a better climate and
more desirable natural conditions than
Colorado Springs or any other city
Of the west which has thrived as a
result Of the advertisement Of Its
health II the priceless
boon Of health may be granted to
thousands here>iNEpuld be our duty,
even though, JtkdaSidegable sacrifice.
to place dS&leSSStSeids I'D the way.
But withsalch q climate as ours.
with SUCH G6|py sahbrious condi.
lions, there Is ~ menace in the in
flux Of a ~army Of the ailing. There
Is much promise Of growth and pros.
perity from this source. The most
rigid sanitary precautions must be
taken and this matter Is quite with.
in reach Of the city council. But no
b,irdensome restrictions can wisely
be placed upon the building Of tents.
Let permits from a building inspector.
city engineer or the council be granted