Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-21

streets and roads had not arisen when laws
were enacted by the old municipal council.
Some Of these questions, however. are covered
In the police regulations, but even under these
regulations wheelman may ride at any rate
OF speed without fear of being molested I'M
less he should violate some law having no
special reference to wheeling
The Commissioners in drafting the police
regulations provided that all cycles and tri-
cycles in motion after shutdown should display
suitable light and have gong SO attached as
to be readily sounded to warn persons Of their
approach.
Under the laws in Webb's Digest there is an
act against fast driving. both in the city and in
the county, which prohibits any driving at o
speed faster thar, moderate trot gallop.
The lowest penalty provided Is so. while in
the ponce regulations, as is seen below, the
speed at which an animal may be driven is
specified and the penalty fixed as low as IS.
Until the police regulations were passed all
prosecutions for fast driving came under the
law III Webb's Digest, and the penalty therefore
WIS never less than $40, but now the cases. as
rule. are tried under the later laws and the
violatcrs are not always made to suffer such a
severe penalty in days past. The Commits
sioners,in dealing with the subject of the roads
and Low they should be used attempted to
cover all classes OF vehicles, from the push
cart vendors to the steam railroad, with view
to ing the public highways as safe as posi-
Die for pedestrians.
PUBLIC VEHICLES.
PUBLIC vehicles, such as cabs, hansoms, coupes
and hacks are subject to special legislation. and
the police have more control over them than
they do over the vehicles owned and used by
private individuals. Unlike private vehicles,
those that are considered public are required
TO remain on certain stands, although the
desiSnated places or stands not in
numbers enough or large enough to ac-
commodate those who are legally entitled to
use them. The fare of the public vehicles is
liked and section of the police regulations
provides that Whenever any assembly shall
occur involving a collection or congreSat ton of
vehicles, all such vehicles. both in deive ring and
taking up their occupants or those using them,
Shall keep the curb at the right hand, and while
waiting the vehicles shall be SO arranged in
not more than two ranks on each side of the
street anl parallel herewith. as to facilitate
their coming up in the proper direction when
called for, and for this purpose a space of at
least twenty feet shall be left clear in the mid
die OF the street and along the curb at the en-
trance to the building or place where any such
assembly is had. In the case of street con-
tanning one or more car tracks the ranks of
waiting vehicles shall be SO arranged as to leave
at least eight feet in the clear outside the
tracks"
KEEP TO THE RiaHr.
Other sections of the same article read '.As
a general rule and always when passing one
another, all vehicles moving upon the streets
shall keep upon the right side thereon and in
stopping at the curb shall keep it upon the
right hand. ANY vehicle moving in the proper
direction as thus described shall have the right
of way over any other In the meaning and
intent Of this section Pennsylvania avenue shall
be considered as two streets, separated by the
vehicles thereon shall be subordinated to the
business of the shops and stores"
vehicles Tor hire. seeking employment, shall
not stop or loiter upon any street except at the
regular public stands, nor shall they use the
north halt OF Pennsylvania avenue at all. but
IN moving when disengaged shall pass upon the
south half thereof. On 18th street west be-
tween New York avenue and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. vehicles going north shall pass on the east
half thereof and vehicles going south shall
pass on the west half thereof. All carts, draws
and similar siow-mOving or heavy vehicles and
all hand carts. push carts, barrrows and similar
vehicles shall move up and down the said por-
ton of said 18th street within the car tracks,
and not elsewhere, unless the nature OF their
business in the street shall require otherwise
and the auxiliery or hill horses of the street
car company shall also move up and down
within the said tracks.
MOVEMENTS OF VEHICLES.
Under regulations governing the movements
OF vehicles ON the public streets and avenues
all sorts OF vehicles, including bicycles are in
Guided: No person having the charge or use of
any animal of the horse kind or other beast of
draught attached to a vehicle shall drive the
same upon the public streets or avenues of the
District Of Columbia at greater rate of speed
than eight miles an hour, excepting upon un-
paved streets exceeding ninety feet in width
such animal may be driven at the rate not to
exceed twelve miles hour: and no such per-
son shall cause such animal to turn any corner
n qf -
speed than four miles an hour No person
shall draw or drive upon any footway or side
walk any vehicle except children's carriages,
and except as now permitted by law. Sleighs
or other vehicles on runners shall have bells so
attached thereto, or to the animals drawing the
same. as to sound when such vehicle is in mo-
ton; and ali bicycles and tricycles in motion
after shutdown shall display a suitable light and
also have a light gong II bell so attached
thereto as to be readily sounded to warn per-
sons OF their approach.
Another section provides that light gong or
bell shall be carried on bicycles and tricyles at
all tlInes to warn persons OF their approach
Carts and loaded vehicles shall not move
abreast upon any street or avenue but shall
follow each other in line; and whenever two or
more carriages. carts or wagons are in motion
on any street, avenue or alley within the Dis
trict OF Columbia. and following each other
the drivers thereof shall maintain n clear inter-
val OF not less than fifteen feet between every
Two consecutive carriages carts or wagons, in
Guiding the animals drawing the same; and the
driver OF every such carriage cart, or wagon
shall at all times keep either upon the seat
thereof OF at the head of the animal or team
drawing the same. No vehicle shall stop
abreast Of another vehicle upon the street to
the obstruction of traffic therein, nor shall any
vehicle stop upon a street crossing or upon
the carriageway Of a street intersection
Authorized vehicles Of the police and fire de-
partments shall have the right Of way in the
streets over all others and the sounding of the
bell gong thereon shall constitute a warning
and direction to other vehicles and petestrains
to clear the road No vehicle shall be SO driven
as to collide with any other vehicle or with any
person and every vehicle shall make WAY for
pedestrians at the street Crossings No vehicle
shall have loose articles hung on the side
thereof. projecting beyond the hubs of the
wheels or more than ten feet in the rear of the
rear axle without special permit from the
major of police. The transporting of teIe-
graph and similar poles and timbers upon any
vehicle Is forbidden except under permit from
the major of police, which shall prescribe
the route and time of such transport.
Professions and parades, except funerals in
volving the use of vehicles shall not be allowed
except by permit of the major of police pre-
viously granted, which permit shall designate
the time and route OF every such procession or
parade, and no vehicle shall move in such pro-
cession parade except according to the
terms of such permit. No vehicle shall nm