Early City Fathers also faced a tough job
edited by Darla Bracken, fridarla19@yahoo.com
“Friona Ordinances Chart City’s Growth From the Beginning”
reprinted from Friona Star 50th Birthday edition Sept. 20, 1956
It all began on March 19, 1928—the record of city laws for Friona, and since that time the list of ordinances has grown to a mammoth total of 290 says Elda Hart, employee in the city office. The election held on the above date, incorporated Friona by a vote of 65 for and 34 against.
John W. White (grandfather of John Fred White), the first mayor of the city, received 34 votes to place him in the office that gave him one of the most difficult jobs he had ever tried to do. Working with him to get Friona on the right foot as a city, were two commissioners, J. A. Blackwell and Jesse M. Osborn. [John White was a 20 year resident at the time of his election. He had also served as first editor of the Friona Star since 1925 and would also serve as secretary of the Chamber of Commerce.] White, who is still interested in the progress of the town, and a big booster in civic affairs, says the first year was tough. The townspeople wanted things done for betterment of the city and the town of Friona had no money [yet].
Laying down the law
A complete history of the laws that govern the city of Friona would be too lengthy and the following notes contain only the early ordinances that were passed when Friona was in its infancy.
The first ordinance to be entered on the books involved the problem of sanitation. Adopted May 1, 1928, not even two months after incorporation, the law was for the regulation and cleanliness of outside toilets, with the specific reference that the buildings must be fly-proof.
In 1928, traffic problems existed just as they do today, and the second law on the books was to establish a speed limit (20 miles per hour) and to regulate the driving of tractors on Main Street, and also to establish curb parking.
When the officials passed a law to regulate and suppress hog raising or keeping [of hogs] within the city limits, they were specific on what the property owner could do. The ordinance states: “no hogs in blocks 62, 63, 76, 77, 82 and 83—no one to keep more than one hog to the city lot in any other block, all lots of pens must contain not less than 600 square feet of space for each hog confined therein.” (and fly-proof, right?)
The fifth law pertaining to Frionans declared it unlawful for a person to be intoxicated on the streets of the city or in any public place. A twin ordinance to the one above forbade fighting within the city limits.
It was declared unlawful to allow any kind of domestic animal to run at- large within the city limits meaning horses, mules, burros, cattle, hogs, sheep, etc. [no more cattle drives through town].
More or less taken for granted now was the rule that all poles used for support of wires for public utilities should be placed along the alleys or streets other than Main Street.
More improvements, more progress
Progress continued and the next franchise to better living conditions was the grant to West Texas Co. to establish natural gas for lights, heat and power. Following on the heels of this franchise was an ordinance letting the contract for the construction of the waterworks.
Eleventh ordinance was the confirming contract between the city and Sanitary Appliance Co. providing for the purchase of certain sanitary sewer equipment.
All of the above laws were passed in the very beginning of Friona City government. Then in June of 1928, one of the most important grants for the comfort of the citizens was made. It was the initial agreement with the Texas Utilities Commission to construct, maintain and operate an electric lighting and power plant, furnishing electric lights power to the public.
In February 1930, a regulation governing the gas piping appliances, fixtures and apparatus in all buildings and structures of gas consumers, and the installation, construction, adjustment and repair thereof, provided for bonds to be given by those who do such work providing for permits and penalties.
In June of that year the placing of toilets and cesspools in the streets or alleys was prohibited with a fine set, and “each day said toilet or cesspool remains in alley is separated offense.” Ordinance 14 provided for the application and license of Master Plumbers, fix fees and defining duties.
The fire zone was established in the corporate limits of the city, fixing its bounds, and providing a penalty for the violation of same and fee for issuing building permits therein in 1931. In August, the issuance of bonds for the principal sum of $41,500 bearing interest at the rate of 6% per annum for the purpose of paying off, canceling and in lieu of a like amount of indebtedness outstanding against said city, was authorized. It provided for the levy of a tax on the $100 valuation of all taxable property within the city limits.
Entertainment Tax?
A tax was placed on coin vending machines, shows, tent shows, travel theaters, musical exhibitions, truck peddlers, foot peddlers, public dances, pool halls and a poll tax in 1933. Too, the office of fire marshal was created. Rules and regulations concerning the practice and procedure of corporation court were made and double parking on any street was prohibited with a law against parking of trucks or any other vehicle longer than 20 feet, on Main Street.
The 21st ordinance provided for the reward, arrest and conviction of any party found guilty of arson in Friona. The town then promised to give highway for the state department to build Highway 33 through town. City fathers prohibited the riding of bicycles on sidewalks in Friona in 1936.
From that time, the number of laws appearing on the books to govern Friona, have increased as rapidly as the situation arise to demand the regulations; but none show the growth and the demands quite so much as the first early laws that are recorded here.
Citizens prepared for 50th Anniversary
Beginning today [September 20, 1956] Friona is celebrating her 50th birthday. So many things have been done to improve the appearance of the city in the past few weeks. In the downtown business section some decorating has been done, windows have been washed, and a general clean up job has been done by several firms.
In the residential section, weeds have been cut, unsightly objects have been moved and a lot of cleaning up has been done. If the work that has been done is any indication of the spirit of the 50th Anniversary Celebration, it should be a wonderful success.
A number of persons who have not been here for many years have indicated that they plan to be on hand for the parade this afternoon and for the festivities which will follow. The only way for those of us who have not been here very long to appreciate the improvements that have been made is to compare what the people who lived here years ago had, to what is here now.
The absence of trees is noticeable in almost all the old pictures that have been brought to the Star office. Some of the homes we have looked at that are beautifully landscaped now were just houses with windmills nearby not too many years ago. [only one old windmill remains in the city limits, do you know where it is?]
NOTE: Thanks to those of you who contacted me with personal remembrances about blacks attending Friona schools earlier than the fall of 1954. This information will be included in the application for the marker. DB
