Valdez daily prospector., 1915-09-22
NEW ORDINANCES
 BEING PREPARED
Ordinance Providing for Better Fire Protection and Building Regu-
 latiOns for City.

The Valdez city council met last night with Councilmen Ethical, King. Thomas and Won Gunther present, Mayor Boyle in the chair. Only bus mess of a routine nature came before the meeting.
 Councilman Ethical read an outline lof proposed ordinance which would provide stricter building regulations in the business section of the city. The new ordinance if favorably con- sidered by the council will provide for fire walls near the center of eacn block, and will cause a radical change from the former careless methods of builders. MT. Ethical was instructed to have an ordinance drawn up along the lines proposed in his paper to be considered by the council at its next regular meeting
 An ordinance is also being prepar- ed for the protection of police off, cers when making arrests.
 The committee appointed by the council to confer with Lieut.. Dough erty regarding the rebuilding of the sidewalks in front of the site occu- pied by the postoffice before the fire reported that they had been inform ed that the walk would be replaced as soon as lumber for the purpose was available.
 Considerable discussion was in- dulged regarding fire protection for residents in the west end of town. Councilman Ethical stated that it would be impossible to use the heavy engine to fight fire in that part of the town, especially during the win ter months. He urged the sinking of a we'll from which the hand pump could be operated. The hand pump had been used to good advantage dur. ing the great fire in July, and with proper preparations Tn regard to se- curing a supply of water he believed the pump would afford the best pro. lection possible under the circum- stances. He believed a pump which would answer the purposes could be put down for $20. On motion of Councilman Won Gunther, seconded by Councilman King, the fire chief was instructed to have the work done.
 A petition from the property own CTS along Mckinley street from the premises formerly occupied by the Ingram & Bush store to Keystone avenue, formerly occupied by the h. gram & Bush store to Keystone ave nue, praying for a new sidewalk, was read. The present dilapidated walk will be replaced with a new one as lumber is available.
 Councilman King explained that c. c. Ganty, clerk of the school board, had informed him that there was a shipment of school supplies now on the dock which was urgent ly required by the schools. The charges against the shipments were about $145. Councilmen Thomas and Ethical, as members of the fill ance committee, objected to appro- priating money in payment of any ob- ligation unless bills covering the same had been properly presented to the council. Mayor Boyle explain ed that as the council would be re- quired to meet at an early date to re- ceive the books from the City Asses sor that the matter could then be settled and the money provided.
 Mayor Boyle announced that the city assessor had estimated from the progress already made in the work that the valuation of the taxable property would be between $750.000 and $9O0,000. This was considered very satisfactory in view of the iul- mense damage sustained by the town during the great fire.
 In an informal manner Attorney Hubbard addressed the counci: as to the city's right to tax property out side the city. He believed the posi- tion assumed by the council in regard to the dock was correct and would be sustained by the higher courts.
 The following bills were approved