Early Springfield Ordinances
From Directory of the City of Springfield
John W. Kees & Co., Springfield. 1852
AN ORDINANCE
Regulating the sale of fire-wood within the city of Springfield, and creating the office of wood measurer.
Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the city council of the city of Springfield, That all wagons, sleds, carts and other vehicles, loaded with fire-wood for sale, shall, until the same shall have been measured, occupy the market space in the city of Springfield.
And it is hereby made the special duty of the marshal and wood measurer and their deupties strictly to enforce the provisions of this section.
Sec. 2. That from and after the first day of December next, it shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale, in the city of Springfield, any fire-wood, from any wagon, sled, cart or other vehicle, in any other manner than by the cord, and not until the same shall have been measured by the proper officer, and his certificate obtained therefor.
Sec. 3. That the city council shall, at the first meeting after the annual election for city officers, appoint one wood measurer, whose duty it shall be to measure and inspect all fire-wood brought to the city for sale, immediately on its arrival at the stand designated in the first section of this ordinance, and to give the owner or possessor of each load, a certificate, setting forth the quantity thereof, and date of inspection; making a reasonable deduction for loss sustained by crooked and uneven wood, estimating a cord to contain one hundred and twenty-eight cubic feet; and for each and every load so measured and inspected, he shall receive the sum of five cents and no more, to be paid by the seller. The said measurer shall have power to appoint one or more deputies, to assist him therein at such times as the public convenience may require, and the measurer, together with such deputies as he may appoint, shall, before entering on the duties of their respective offices, take an oath or affirmation before the mayor, well and truly to perform the same, and shall be liable to be removed for good cause, at the discretion of the city council.
Sec. 4. It shall be unlawful, from and after the first day of December next, for any person to purchase fire-wood from any person within this city, unless the same has been measured by the wood measurer or his deputy, and it shall be the duty of the seller, before the sale is completed, to produce a certificate of the wood measurer, and to deliver the same to the purchaser on the sale of each load of wood.
Sec. 5. It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to give his name to the wood measurer or his deputies in the discharge of his official duty, and it shall be the duty of the wood measurer or his deputies, when any person shall refuse to give his name, to take such person forthwith before the mayor, to be dealt with according to the provisions of this ordinance.
Sec. 6. That if any person shall molest or interrupt or intermeddle in any way or manner with the wood measurer or his deputies, when in the performance of their official duties, every such person or persons shall be forthwith taken before the mayor by the measurer or any other officer, to be dealt with according to the provisions of this ordinance; and the wood measurer and his deputies shall be severally invested with the power of police officers, while in the discharge of the duties of their respective offices.
Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the wood measurer and his deputies, strictly to enforce the provisions of this ordinance, and to make complaint before the mayor of the city, of any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this ordinance, and upon his failure to do so, he shall be deemed neglectful of his duty and be subject to dismissal from office.
Sec. 8. The city marshal, wood measurer, and all other officers of the city police, shall have full power, and it is hereby made their duty to arrest, with or without process, and bring before the mayor, all persons violating any of the provisions of htis ordinance.
Sec. 9. Any person or persons offending against any of the provisions of this ordinance, shall on conviction thereof before the mayor, be fined in any sum not exceeding five dollars, with costs of prosecution.
JAMES M. HUNT
Mayor of the city of Springfield
SAMUEL PARSONS,
Recorder
Passed November 6, 1850.