Chapter 156. To provide for the removal of snow and ice from the sidewalks of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 156.— An Act To provide for the removal of snow and ice from the sidewalks of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes. February 10, 1904. [[H. R. 10421](/us/bill/58/hr/10421).] [[Public, No. 19](/us/pl/58/19).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, District of Columbia. Removal of snow and ice from improved sidewalks, etc. Tenant or occupant of premises to have snow removed. That it shall be the duty of every tenant or occupant of any lot or lots of ground within the fire limits of the District of Columbia improved by a house or building adjacent to any improved sidewalk, within the first four hours of day-light after the ceasing of any fall of snow, to cause said snow to be removed from the paved sidewalk adjacent to such lot or lots to the extent in length to which said lot or lots abut thereon and to the extent in breadth of not less than six feet, and if such improved sidewalk he not of such width, then to the extent of the width thereof; and in theIce-covered walks to be sprinkled with sand, etc. event any snow that may have fallen shall, before its removal, become so hardened by freezing or otherwise that it cannot be removed with-out great difficulty, or if at any time ice shall have formed on any such improved sidewalk by the freezing of rain. hail, melted snow, or in any other manner, it shall be the duty of such tenant or occupant, within the first four hours of daylight thereafter, to sprinkle, or cause such snow or ice, to the extent aforesaid, to be sprinkled with sand,Penalty. sawdust, or other such substance.
And for any violation of the provisions of this section such tenant or occupant shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a line of five dollars and costs or by imprisonment in the workhouse of the District of Columbia not exceeding five days, and by an additional tine of five dollars and costs or by additional imprisonment in the work house of the District of Columbia not exceeding five days for each additional twenty-four hours after the expiration of the time herein-before provided that such tenant or occupant shall sutler or permit such snow or ice to remain without being sprinkled or removed as herein before provided.
Sec. 2. That it shall he the duty of the Commissioners of the DistrictCommissioners to remove snow in front of public property, etc. of Columbia, as soon as practicable after the ceasing of any fall of snow or after the accumulation of ice on the paved sidewalks of the District of Columbia in front of and adjacent to public buildings, public squares, and public reservations in the said District owned or leased by said District, to cause such snow or ice to be removed, and also to cause the same to be removed from all cross walks of improved streets and places of intersection of alleys with improved sidewalks; but in the event ofIce or hardened snow on sidewalks, etc., to be sprinkled with sand, etc. inability to remove such accumulation of snow or ice by reason of the hardening thereof, it shall be their duty, as soon as practicable, to cause, such paved sidewalks, cross walks, and places of intersection of alleys with improved sidewalks to be sprinkled with sand, sawdust, or other such material. 13 Sec. 3.
That it shall be the duty of the owner or owners of everyVacant lots.Owners of, to remove snow on abutting sidewalks. vacant or unimproved lot within the tire limits of the District of Columbia fronting or abutting upon a paved sidewalk, within the first four hours of daylight after the ceasing of any fall of snow, as set forth in section one hereof, to cause such snow to be removed from the, paved sidewalk in front of such lot or lots in the same manner, and to the same extent, and subject to the same penalty as provided in said section; and in the event any snow that may have fallen shall,Ice or hardened snow. before its removal, become so hardened by freezing or otherwise that it cannot be removed without great difficulty, or if at any time ice shall have formed on any such sidewalk by the freezing of rain, hail, melted snow, or in any other manner, it shall be the duty of such owner or owners, within the first four hours of daylight thereafter, to sprinkle, or cause such frozen snow or ice, to the extent aforesaid, to be sprinkled with sand or sawdust or other such substance; and forPenalty.*Ante*, p. 12. failure to do so such owner or owners shall be subject to the same penalty provided in section one of this Act.
Sec. 4. That in the event of the failure of any such owner or ownersRemoval, etc., by Commissioners on failure of owner. of any vacant or unimproved lot to cause the removal of such snow or ice, or to sprinkle the same as herein before provided, it shall be the duty of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, as soon as practicable after the expiration of the time herein provided for the removal or sprinkling thereof, to cause the snow or ice in front of such lot to be removed or to cause the same to be sprinkled as herein before directed to be done by such owner or owners; and upon each and every suchAssessments against unimproved, etc., lots. removal or sprinkling by them they shall assess the sum of one dollar against each such lot, and where any such lot has a frontage in excess of twenty-five feet an additional sum of one dollar for each additional frontage of twenty-five feet or fractional part thereof, which said assessment shall be a lien on such lot when entered of record on the tax records of the District of Columbia, and to continue until paid, and shall be added to the general tax annually levied on such lot. and shall be collected in the same manner and as part of such general tax: *Provided however,**Proviso*.Assessments not to relieve owners from penalties.
That such removal or sprinkling by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, and assessment therefor, shall not relieve the owner or occupant from the penalty herein before provided for failure to remove or sprinkle such snow or ice. Sec. 5. That it snail be the duly of every owner of any unimprovedRemoval of dirt, etc., by owners. or non-tenanted improved lot or lots, and of the tenant or occupant of any improved lot or lots of ground in the District of Columbia, withinNotice. three days after notice to do so by the Commissioners, to cause to be cleaned off and removed all dirt. sand, gravel, or other refuse matter that, may fall, wash, or be placed upon any paved sidewalk adjacent to such lot or lots in the District of Columbia, subject to the same penalty*Ante*, p. 12. provided in section one of this Act.
Sec. 6. That in the event of failure on the part of any owner, tenant,Removal of dirt, etc., by Commissioners. or occupant of any improved or unimproved lot or lots of ground in the District of Columbia to comply with the provisions of the preceding section of this Act within five days after the notice herein-before provided, it shall be the duty of the Commissioners of the District to cause the removal of such accumulation of dirt, sand, gravel, or other refuse matter: and upon any and every such removalAssessment.*Supra*. by them they shall make an assessment on account there of at the same rates and under the same provisions named in section four of this Act.
Sec. 7. That, to enable the Commissioners of the District of ColumbiaAppropriation.One-half from District revenues. to comply with the provisions of sections four and six of this Act, the sum of five thousand dollars is hereby appropriated, one half out of the revenues of the District of Columbia and one-half out of any money in the Treasury of the United states not otherwise appropri-14ated: *Provided however,* That all assessments collected under the provisions*Proviso*.Assessments to constitute a continuous fund. of this Act shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the appropriation herein made, and shall form a continuous fund for the purpose of complying with the provisions of said sections four and six.
Sec. 8. That all prosecutions tinder this Act shall be in the policeProsecutions. court of the District of Columbia, in the name of said District, and by its attorney or one of his assistants. Sec. 9. That the Act of Congress approved March second, eighteenPrior act repealed.Vol. 29, p. 608. hundred and ninety-seven, entitled “An Act for the removal of snow and ice from the sidewalks, cross walks, and gutters in the District of Columbia,” be, and the same is hereby, repealed.
Approved, February 10, 1904.