Connecticut western news., 1916-01-13
THE WALKS.

Down in New Canaan, "the next station to Heaven,' the familiar con- plaint of neglected sidewalks is heard as vociferously as in stations farther remote from the celestial realm. The same impatient demand is made by in- dignant citizens, that is made by the long suffering dwellers elsewhere, that property holders get out and make their walks navigaole. The hue and cry, in New Canaan. however, has resulted in the discovery that municipal ordi H. ance (New Canaan is all incorporated borough is in existence in its charter, compelling the residents to keep their walks clear of ice and snow, in winter, and the authorities have made haste to bring that law to the attention of the lax and the lazy; and it is expected that there will be something doing, forthw ith. The warden of the borough has caused to be published the ordln- ance which provides as follows:
 Sec. Az. It shall be the duty of every owner, lessee, or occupant of any land or tenement in said borough, to keep the sidewalk and gutter adjoining the same free from ice, snow, weeds or other Instructions, and every such owner. lessee or occupant who shall permit any ice, snow, weeds or other instructions to remain on such side- walk or in such gutter for longer time than three hours, after due notice has been given by any member of the Committee on Sidewalks or the borough sheriff, shall be subject to fine not exceeding five dollars.
 Sec. 43. Whenever any ice, snow, weeds or other Instructions are per mitted to remain op any sidewalk, or in any gutter adjoining the same, in violation of the foregoing section, the chairman of the Committee on Side. walks, or the borough sheriff, shall cause the same to be removed at the expense of any such owner, lessee or occupant, and such expense may be re- covered in any proper action brought in the name of the borough
 In case of icy sidewalks, dirt, ashes or sand should be used to make them SttlC lOI UO UldNO1.
 The editor of Ithe Advertiser, con- menting on the situation, says: "Now it is up to the law enforcers to do their part and relieve the town of the certain damage that will be filed against it be- cause of accidents. Complaints are frequent and entirely justified, for such conditions could not exist if the ordin- ance was enforced, and the careless and neglected ones mulcted for their lack of forethought. What is needed is action by the officials to show the residents that the law means some. thing and that it will be enforced in every case of neglect"
 A municipality that has law con- polling action by the property holders deserves little sympathy for tumbles, bumps and bruises, if it neglects to compel the enforcement of the law by it's public officials. In New Haven, where such law is enforced, after the recent big snow storm dozens of citi- nens were fined for neglecting to have OiloIA WoAhe Pio"PoAJ oAOoAou' AhoAoNa' ing ex.Governor Baldwin. The law down there is, and should be, no re- specter of persons.
 Here in Canaan the condition of the walks. in front of the premises of those abundantly able to either clean them, themselves, or procure it done, is not only hazardous but disgraceful; but we have no ordinance to compel atten. tion except the ordinance of common decency and reasonable regard fo1 the rights and convenience of others. And nobody has power to enforce that. Possibly broken neck, or a fractured leg may prove blessing i'll disguise to the wholelcommunity.