The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-08
Alameda County Wheelmen
Say They Will Have a
Boulevard.
AIMING AT BETTER STREETS.
Sunday Closing Opposed by Saloon
Men-Sportsmen's Asso-
citation.

body deem to be of vast Importance to the
interests of the city.
Some time ago number of prominent
members of the principal bicycle clubs, the
Acme, Reliance and Y. M. c. A., held
meeting to consider ways and means OF i'm
proving the streets of Oakland, and the
subject was discussed at length.
It was decided to enlarge on the original
idea and form an association having for its
object the improvement of the public roads
of Alameda County, as well as Oakland
streets, and a committee consisting of
Frederick Whitney, L. G. Burpee and
George A. Faulkner was appointed to
draw up ordinances calculated to bring
about the desired end and present the
same to the proper authorities.
The first step which will be taken will be
| the formulation of an ordinance to compel
the various corporations doing business on
| the east side OF the bay-gas, electric light,
| water and street-car companies-to repair
| the streets and put them in their original
condition after having torn them up to lay
| their mains or pipes for the supply. OF
residences. No measure or similar I'M
| port now exists, and 1t will be drafted on
| the lines of the ordinance now in force IN
| San Francisco. If carried out it is ex-
pected to do much toward improving the
present condition of the thoroughfares,
| which, in places where the most traffic is
| carried on, are full of trenches left by work
men after finishing their work. Many
prominent business men have promised to
! lend their aid in inducing the Council to
| consider the measure fayorably.
Another OF the main objects OF the asso-
| citation is to enforce an ordinance now
| existing which instructs street railroad
companies under certain penalties to keep
the roadbed between their tracks and for
| two feet on each side thereof in good re-
| pair.
Later the Board of Supervisors of Ala
| media County will be asked to pass ordi-
nances calculated to improve the condition
of roads under its jurisdiction.
The association has for Its chairman
| John A. Britton, secretary of the Oakland
Gas, Light and Heat Company, with A. P
| Swain as secretary.
agent, is one of the leaders in the good
roads movement. While speaking of the
matter yesterday he said:
The members of this association do not pro-
| pose to carry on a defensive fight in favor of
| good roads in Oakland and Alameda County,
! but will take the aggressive as soon as plans
are laid. There are several thousand wheel
! men in Oakland, Alameda and surrounding
| towns, nearly all OF whom have votes, and we
| hope to bind them into an association which
| shall be such power as to compel City Coun-
| ellis and the Board of Supervisors to do more to-
| ward keeping the streets and county roads in
repair
| Oakland is a wealthy and populous city,
and why it should have worse streets, or, at any
rate, streets that are kept in poorer repair than
| others in this section, is something which we
! fail to understand. OF course, the corporations
will fight the measures which We propose to
| present to the City Council, for they will in
! crease their expenses somewhat, but from the
| encouragement we have already received from
| business men l have no doubt we will even
| tually succeed in getting them through.
| Weexpect this movement to spread all over
| the State and some day merge into fedora
! ton of good roads associations.
When we gain our objects in Oakland and
| the county We intend starting a movement to
| build a magnificent boulevard between this
| CITY and San Jose, such as is projected on the
| other side of the bay. We are promised unlim-
| tied support when the time comes. Such a
| driveway would be great benefit, as well as q
| source OF much pleasure to the people of Oak
| land and will certainly be laid out in the near
| future.
| The ordinance mentioned will be drafted
at the next meeting, which will be held at
| the home of the Reliance Club tomorrow
| evening.
Bold Attempt at Robbery.
| N. A. Neary, well-known capitalist of
this city, and his wife were held up by two
members of the notorious Fish gang at the
| end of the broad-gauge mole this evening.
! They were returning from a drive in
Golden Gate Park, and had scarcely left
| the bridge, when a man sprang at the
head of the horse, throwing the animal
| back on his launches while another
started to climb into the buggy, demand
| ing Mr.. Neary's money and valuables as
he did so. The latter struck the horse
/ smartly with his whip, and tried to drive
over the highwayman, at the same time
| shouting police, but the footpad held on
until Officer Banks suddenly appeared.
Both men then took to their heels. The
officer recognized them as they ran, and
soon after arrested George Kelly and
| Louis Cordano, charging them with at
tempted robbery. Both are old offenders,
and have often made the acquaintance of
the police. Mrs. Neary was Frustrated by
the shock.
Opposing Organizations.
The work of the Council for the Suppress
| sion of the Saloon has grown to such an ex-
tent in Oakland that the saloon men have
decided to organize for their own protec-
| ton, and within few days the California
| State Association will be in full swing.
The council has divided the city into
districts and will canvass for signatures to
petition asking the City Council to pass
an ordinance compelling saloons to close
| on Sundays.
| The Protective Association will combat
the council in every possible way, though
| the general impression Is JndI bnelr ngnC
will be made more on political lines than
| through petitions.
His Farewell Sermon.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church,
| Fourteenth and Clay streets, was crowded
yesterday morning, when the pastor, Rev.
| A. Hummer, mounted the pulpit to preach
his farewell sermon before his departure
for Europe, where he will make an ex-
tended visit.
Alameda Sportsmen.
| Charles Burgans and Harry Newton of
the Alameda County Sportsman's Associa-
ton, have been appointed committee to
arrange for the monthly sports of the COM
| ing trap season. The first meeting will be
held on May and the last on August g..
On September / the association will hold a