Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1898 — Curfew Ordinance is A Law. [ARTICLE]

Curfew Ordinance is A Law.

Also The Ordinance Re-organiz-ing The Fire Department. The City Council had an important and also a peacable session Monday night, and considerable quite important business was transacted. Two more arc lights were petitioned for. One by A. W. Cleveland and others at the crossing of Main and Park streets, by Henry Grow’s place, north of the railroad. The other by J. \V. Medicus and others, at the crossing of Cullen Rjid Rutsen. Both referred to the committee on lights. The school board recommended the tax levies for the ensuing tax year, for city school purposes, at 50 cents on the SIOO valuation, for special school fund, and 35 cents on the SIOO for the tuition fund. These levies are the same as last year, but the special additional of 10 cents last year is not levied this year, thus making that much reduction in the total tax rate. The final estimates on Van Rensselaer street sewer, and on the Washington street bridge retaining walls, were approved and ordered collected. The special ordinance forbidding the throwing of rubbish or placing obstructions in Makemself ditch was passed. The penalty for violation is from $1 to SSO. The ordinance reorganizing the fire department was introduced and passed under suspension of the rules. The provisions of the ordinance are numerous and important but not very radically different from the present fire rules, except in regard to the qualifications of firemen. They must be married men, able bodied physically, aud able to carry 75 pounds of hose up a 40 foot ladder. A two thirds vote of all other members is necessarj r to secure admission as a fireman. The ordinance will be in force as soon as printed. The petition of H. C. Hoshaw and others for some incandescent lights in Austin & Paxton’s addition, was acted on to the extent of placing one such light at the corner of West Washington and West Harrison streets, in Newton’s addition; where the Austin & Paxton addition people can see it when they come to town after night.

THE CURFEW LAW. The curfew ordinance was finally passed and will be in force as soon as published for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper. The age limit of children subject to its provisions is 16 years or under. The bell is to ring at 7:30 p. m. during the months of October, November, December, January, February and March; and 8:30 p. m. during the rest of the year. The school house bell will ring the curfew. It is" made the special duty of the marshal and his deputies to enforce the ordinance. All children not accompanied by parents or guardians must skip for home when the curfew rings. The penalty for violating, is a fine of from $1 to $lO.