Fire Trap Expansions at the Globe Hotel

An instance of a glaring violation of the ordinance in regard to the building and repair of wooden structures within the fire limits comes from the restricted district. At Pete Sundberg’s notorious Globe hotel, which is in fire limits A, extensive repairs and alterations have been in progress for several days. Besides that, a one-story frame addition has been built to the White Elephant saloon, which joins the Globe hotel on the south side and is really a part of it. The addition is built in a triangle on the south side of the saloon. The rooms have been carpeted and furnished with upholstered chairs and settees and round tables of significant dimensions. The alterations at the Globe hotel consist of the addition of a number of rooms. This has been made necessary, it is stated, by a recent, rapid increase in business. The strange fact in connection with this is that there is nothing in the office of the building inspector to indicate that a permit was ever issued for the work. The ordinance is very clear on this point. It is expressly stated that 'No wooden building within the fire limits shall be altered or repaired except by the written permission of the inspector of buildings and licenses, provided the size of the building is not increased or the shape changed.' The addition of the three rooms to the White Elephant saloon certainly increases the size and changes the shape. The penalty for violation of the law is a fine of not less than $5 nor more than $100, and the continuance or maintenance of such alteration shall be deemed a new offense for each day the same is maintained or continued and shall be punished accordingly.