SLIPPERY SIDEWALKS
City Ordinance Does Not Appear to Be Effective.
The sidewalks in the city of Providence are beginning to assume the same condition as last winter, many of them being already covered with snow and ice sufficient to make the walking quite a little dangerous.
For several days the commissioner of public works has had men on the streets with teams sprinkling the icy sidewalks with sand, which is appreciated, and in speaking of the matter this morning Mr. Slade said that this was purely gratuitous on his part, as there was no law compelling the city to keep the sidewalks clear.
The following city ordinance may be of interest to owners or occupants of buildings bordering on a street:
The owner or owners, occupant or occupants, or any person having the care of any building or lot of land bordering on any street, square or public place within the city shall within the first four hours of daylight after the ceasing to fall of any snow cause the snow to be removed from the sidewalks adjoining said building or lot of land, and each and every hour after the expiration of said four hours that the snow shall remain on said sidewalk shall be deemed to be a separate violation of this section. The provisions of this section shall also apply to the fall of snow from any building. - City Ordinance.
On the other hand, it might be said that the city owns the sidewalk, or at least claim to, and that it would appear unjust and somewhat hard to compel a man to take care of someone else's property. Be that as it may, the sidewalks in many places are in very poor condition.
The Evening Telegraph
Providence, Rhode Island
Monday, December 12, 1904
