Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-07-18
A BURNING QUESTION
Shall Bieyclists Use Augusta Side
walks?



oo,s1 question whether or not the rider
=, bicycles had right to thu
a the sde walks. Both Mar
.,.tc,ayfori and the owners Of wheel'
..,s natarally. been desirous Of having
,h,. eue.t.on legally settled. As the mar.
ii ,am.rked TO a J0UsSaL reporter III
-...,,,sn have a night 10 the use Of ouI
IA x,lk. I want 10 knoT il and have
,h;,, N 10 wiki them; but il
I. M duty 10 keep them Of the
.sasx,ft. .h4ll certainly do my best to
.a..,,n It. The long expected test case
mo of n the municipal court yesterday
....,ooo rhes g. W. Jones and w. G..
p.,,thy we're brought before Judge An
-, CHARGED With having violated the city
o,Ho.ocs. by riding their wheels on the
CT ,,rest siIeu.lk. Il vas evidently
,..s,uine4. that tie test should be strictly
.,r,i.an. The complaint was made by
oscs, Latino. Joseph Williamson Jr. ap-
,.,,sd for the prosecution, and Mr.. Jones
.Aae,sd the case Of the wheelmen. The
...e lad attracted no little attention, and
-. s,cycls riders of the city we're OUT in
tore.
f. appeared from the testimony tina, OF
e., Latino had ordered Messrs. Jones and
poo,hb.y N the sidewalk with their wheels
.,1 ,h.; they had refused 70 recognize his
,a,borty. claiming that they mad right 10
"a. ,bsre. An examination Of the ordi-
,,ece, moved that they were right in max
,oz tn. claim, the language Of the text be-
M 4. follow. If any person shall wheel a
xhesln,rros, or use hand-sled. bicycle
n, o,her vehicle on any sidewalk or cross
iag ~ ~ IN iacommpL amy
arm. .r obiiJe him ~ ftra mn NJ MS
,.s,,, N acoM ds same, or II any
,s,.oo shall .Hle down any street,
lane. or public place within one mile
a.Esnnebec bridge. upon any hand-sied.
.eiyh or any other thing he shall forfeit
one dollar for zach cfense IL will be
cl,.,ly .een that under this ordinance
vhaslmen clearly haze night 70 the use OF
,be .,l.saik. Thu, right is clearly theirs
.b,,e NJ one is caused to turn
IN, FOR them ~ was sh0~nto be the fact
in In. ra.s before the court, and 1t ia i'm
e.,..bl, to see how any one would have to
t,,n out Ia AVOID a wheel when the rider
Va. sitlng Ia ave him half of the side
yak A.. one lawyer remarked bicycle
Ia. more right On the side walk
naIer that ordinance than team
t..on Tho. street II think, he added
sAh t.ne. that the trainers of that par
trpltr ordnance must have been contsm-
plating ,h. purchase Of wheels At any rate
,bey werc ycrg 4urcrssful in dl.rmbo gel
nng it .n far a. bicycles are concerned.
The penalty alta he'd pne dollar len is an
air Of t.ree 10 tn. whole article nier the
la f uaa should lead ep~ ten feet
an3n a =. ie~aik hr womb reud"r himself
hath. no "a tine Of ten dollars Ahlr n wheel
.losa would only have. to Pty tenth as
much fIr his sport. Judge An
dr.s. todd ths pItisrrs that he could
not bold Mt.4rs Jones' and 5Vothbay under
In. city orluanrc II BE conli find any
senrrai law that suulI give Inn this power
h.. WON'T 3o -. aud, p"nlnx further *
ANIMATION Of lie matter he reserved his
.lrci.nn Mr.. Jones called has attention
10 the facts that proc tding. IN the
.,.4 under consideration hal been insti
iut~d Tor collation. of the city ordl-
uauce.. aud not Of tnS gtncral law. IL
a tbe purpose of the wherlmeG 10 have
tb. matter definitely ttled. even If the>
have 70 rlrtY It to the Supreme Z ourt.