Municipal Register of the City of Lawrence 1870, at 185 (1870)

Municipal Register of the City of Lawrence 1870, at 185 (1870)

Abstract

Concerning Fires § 4: The city council may order that no gunpowder shall be kept within the city, except in tight casks or canisters; that not more than fifty pounds thereof shall be kept in any building within twenty-five rods of any other building, or if within ten rods, then not more than twenty-five pounds; nor more than one pound in any place, unless in copper, tin or brass canisters holding not more than five pounds each, and closely covered.

Summary

The city council is authorized to strictly regulate the storage of explosives like gunpowder and gun-cotton, including limiting how much can be kept based on proximity to other buildings and requiring secure containers, with even tighter limits allowed if deemed necessary for public safety. It also permits searches of buildings suspected of storing such materials under warrant, while exempting manufacturing sites and the transportation of these substances from these restrictions.

Law Text

4.—The city council may order that no gunpowder shall be kept within the city, except in tight casks or canisters; that not more than fifty pounds thereof shall be kept in any building within twenty-five rods of any other building, or if within ten rods, then not more than twenty-five pounds; nor more than one pound in any place, unless in copper, tin or brass canisters holding not more than five pounds each, and closely covered. 5.—They may make a like order in regard to gun-cotton or other substances prepared like it for explosion; and if considered necessary for public safety, may restrict the quantity to be so kept to one fifth the weight of gunpowder allowed as above. 6.—Search warrants may issue on complaint of the mayor and aldermen or engineer of the fire department, ordering any constable to enter any building, and search for any such explosive substance there known or suspected to be. 7.—These provisions do not extend to any manufactory of gun powder, gun-cotton, fireworks or other substance, nor do they prevent the transportation thereof from place to place.