loading background
view

Grand Rapids in 1856

Scene of early Grand Rapids viewed from the...


cover photo

Grand Rapids Smoke Abatement Ordinance, 1898

Passed April 25, 1898 

The Common Council of the city of Grand Rapids do ordain as follows:

Section 1. The emission of dense smoke or smoke containing soot or other substance in sufficient quantity to permit the deposit of such soot or other substance with in the corporate limits of the city of Grand Rapids from the smokestack of any boat or locomotive, or from any chimney within said city limits, shall be deemed and is hereby declared a public nuisance.

 Section 2. Any owner, lessee or manager of any building, boat, locomotive or other structure in the city of Grand Rapids, who shall cause or permit dense smoke, or smoke containing soot or other substance, as stated in section one, to be emitted from such structure, or from any other place, which said soot or other substance shall damage the property of any person or injure the public health, or shall especially annoy the public, shall on the conplaint of any person so damaged or injured as aforesaid, or on the complaint of any police or other officer of said city, on conviction thereof, be punished for each and every such offense by a fine of not less that $10 not more than $100 and costs of prosecution, or by imprisonment at hard labor in the common jail of the county of Kent, or in any jail or workhouse of said city in the  discretion of the court or magistrate before whom a conviction may be had, for a period of not less than 10 days not more than 90 days; and in case such court or magistrate shall only impose a fine and costs the offender may be sentenced to be imprisoned at hard labor in the common jail of the county of Kent, or in any jail or workhouse of said city until the payment of such fine and costs, for a period of not less than 10 days not more than 90 days. 

Proceedings of the Common Council, 1898, page 918



Like Us on Facebook
site by GRCMC