OCR Text |
Show A building inspector needed. Provo city needs a buildiing inspector, but first of all it needs an ordinance defining his duties. The building season is now close at hand, and no one is authorized to take notice of what kind of structures are erected outside of the fire limits, whether they are fire-traps, dangerous to adjourning residences, or thethers they re dangerous to life and limb, makes no difference. The latter case also holds true with regard to the fire limits. If a building is erected of a certain material, with walls of a certain thickness, the fire inspector can say nothing. The arches may be weak, the foundation cracked or other dangerous features may be connected with the structure, and the fire inspector is powerless to act. His office is merely to guard against fire. Provo is not woo much of a city to admot of any and every thing that persons take a notion to erect. If a huse is guilt, the city has no right to say whether the walls shall be composed of stone, brick, adobe or lumber, nor to order the kind of architecture that must be employed, or haw many roooms a building must contain, but it has the right to compel a building to so build that his house is not in danger of falling. In other words, the city has a right to protect life. It may be argued that the city has the right to protect live without the aid of an inspector, as the poloce could be called on. Very true, but to inspect every building being erected, is not the business of the police. Furthermore, if a policeman were notified of the dangerous condition of a building, the chances are he would not know where the danger lay, For building inspector, we want a man of experience, one who understands building. Then a full and comprehensive building ordinance should be passed by the council, for his guidance, and when once passed, it should be strictly enforced. The evil of having an ordinane on the books, that is inot enforced, is illustrated in the ase of the fire ordinance. Gentlement of the council, now is the time to act in this matter. let us have nothing but substantial buildings in the future, and as much building will be done ths year, the services of an inspector are badly needed. Pass an ordinance at your earliest convenience. |