The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-11-07
Public Sentiment Would Pre-
vent Erection of Further
Fire Traps
SPECIAL VILLAGE
MEETING LIKELY
Board of Trade Appointed Committee
Today to Confer with Commissioners
Building Inspector Is without
Adequate Authority.

Action looking toward the adoption OF
strlcter building regulations for Brattle-
boro was taken at special meeting of the
board of trade directors this morning.
when a special committee composed of A.
L. Maynard, A p Simonds and l.. T.
Holden was appointed to confer with the
village. commissioners in regard to suit
able building code to he presented to the
village at special meeting The action
| Is IN response to a strong sentiment favor.
ing such regulations as viii prevent the
rebuilding on Flat street Of any wooden
| frame buildings that would prove to be
fire hazards. The village commissioners.
| 1t is known, have under consideration put
ting this question up to the voters, and the
cooperation of the board of trade will
doubtless be welcome since the organiza-
tion is representative of large proportion
of the large property owners of Brattle
boro
! The village in the spring of 1913 re-
Ijected the building code that was submit
ted in connection with the new charter,
and the result has been that several wood
en- buildings have gone up in sections
where the fire risk already was too great.
The idea of the board of trade in taking
hold of the matter is TO bring about the
Idrafting of a code that will answer Brat
tiles power to enforce building rules in
the interest of public safety.
| Several prominent business men of the
town have urged since the fires Tuesday
land Wednesday that a special meeting be
lcalled, and the commissioners expect to
lreeeNe petition for such a meeting
within a few days.
Two prominent members of the board
of trade held a conference on the subject
this morning with Herbert c. Barber
attorney general-elect, with respect to
building laws, and Mr. Barber pointed out
to them a chapter in the Public Statutes
devoted entirely to the subject of build
ings and fire hazards Mr. Barber said
they were some OF the most drastic build
ing laws in the country and were ample to
meet every need of Brattleboro. He said
the trouble was not with the law, but
with the enforcement of it. The chapter
is leo. and in connection with it those
: interested are referred to No 30S of the
e Acts of 1912. especially section IL, where
c in the charter of Brattlehoro adopts the
provisions of chapter 100
2 The commissioners, as a preliminary to
s the special meeting, have decided to ask
g builders. contractors insurance men and
l. property owners generally to meet with
g them in the engine house Tuesday evening
to discuss a building code.
e The commissioners would like to have
l. the opinions of men well versed in build
4 ing work and in insurance matters before
,t the final draft of the proposed code is pre-
!, sented to the village voters for approva
D Tor rejection.
- Men were at work building in the rea
:, of the Mosher & Tucker livery stable OF
% Flat street today carriage shed. Tn
shed backs up against the rear of tn
building in which is Pentland's store an'
against the rear of the wooden buildin
on Main street next south of that. |
makes that particular place a solid fire
trap now instead OF leaving small ga
l. as heretofore.