The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-08-05
THURSDAY, AUGUST 5. 1903.
BR0WNSHLLES DANGER.

BEO F.WSHILLEf ) DANGER.
The fact that Brownsville has vir-
tually no ordinance controlling the
erection of buildings within what is
designated as the fire limits of the
city shows strange and almost in
applicable disregard of the safety of
the city on the part of the guardians
There is probably no other town in
Texas or anywhere else in the Unit
ed States of the size of Brownsville,
or even half it's size, which has no
ordinance of this nature The Her
aid has observed with concern the
erection of frame buildings within
the very heart of the city, when con-
sideratiOn of the safety of the town
should prevent any such structures
being erected and which the law in
other towns would prevent Inves-
tigation of the city ordinances dis
closes the fact that no ordinance ex-
lists in this city governing the cree
ton of buildings, unless the one
which was enacted in 1890, desig-
mating the fire limits" of the city,
may be so construed. This ordinance
is, by the way, curiosity in the
Eayof city legislation, in that it mere
y designates the fire limits. " without
a word as to any restriction what
ever being imposed within those linn
its. Here is a copy of the ordinance
verbatim. as it stands on the record:
An ordinance defining the fire
limits of the city.
Be it ordained by the city council
of the City of Brownsville:
Section l. That the following be
and are hereby declared to be the fire
limits of the city to wit: Commenc-
ing at the foot of Second street, on
the Rio Grande River, and running
along Second street to its intersec-
tion with Jackson street; thence
along Jackson street to 18th street:
thence down 9Th street to the line of
the fence of the Fort Brown military
reservation; thence along said fence
to the Rio Grande River and thence
in a straight line to the place of be-
ginning.
Section 2. All ordinances or parts
OF ordinances which conflict with this
ordinance are hereby repealed.
Section 8 That this ordinance
shall take effect from and after its
publication"
As to what the fire limits thus es-
tablished were supposed to indicate,
there is nothing to show 1t is the
belief of some of our citizens who are
posted on such subjects. that under
this ordinance. the restrictions ordi-
nariIy embodied in a fire ordinance
in other towns should apply here. If
this be true, the erection of frame
buildings within the limits designated
could be prohibited. If not, however,
it is. apparent that some legislation to
prevent such a dangerous practice
should be enacted without a moments
delay. The subject is one of such
grave Importance that the city eoun-
eii owes it to the people of Browns
vile 10 act Immediately. The
safety Of the entire town demands it.
To delay is criminal To permit the
construction of frame buildings with
in the business district is a menace to /
Che safety of the town. and the city
eouneS.c cannot in consistence with the /
commonest regard for the safety of
property and of human life itself. per
nit this condition to continue a mo-
ment longer than is absolutely I'M
avoidable. The Herald believes that
a special session of the city council 1
should be called to enact the nee
essary law. The citizens should take
the matter in hand and petition the
council to act Immediately. Browns
vile has heretofore seemed to be
in regard 10 this very i'm
portant matter The Herald has re-
peatedly called attention to the fact
that the city has no adequate fire or
5inance. and also that our equipment
for fighting ire is utterly inadequate.
II Is time now for the citizens to see
# they cannot second The Herald's
efforts in this line, by letting the
city council know what they think
about it,
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