The age-herald., 1897-08-06
ARE CONFIDENT OF VICTORY
Wheelmen Consider the Lantern
 Fight Won.
THE WAR IS JUST BEGUN
Says Alderman Harrington, the Author of the Offending 0rdInance-PresIdent Mcleod,
 of the L, A. w., Talks.

We have mat the enemy and they are ours" is about the way the wheel men sum up the fight in the city cuun- ell over the ordinance requiring riders of ths bike to adorn their steeds wlth lanterns after dark.
 "This is somewhat repetition of the fight year or more ago in the council" said President A. Mcleod, of the l.. A. w. An ordinance was passed at that time requiring us to put bells on our wheels and prohibiting us from riding on the sidewalks. A lantern clause was at first incorporated in this one, but we had it stricken out" e~-sfa#=8
 We were ready for the fight Wednes- day night. but it was put off, and we have information that it will not be brought up again."
 What ara your reasons for opposing the ordinance?"
 In answer to this MT. Mcleod exhib- ited a copy of the petition which had been drafted and signed by about ,OOO wheelmen, praying for the ordinance not to be passed. ...-... 4,....-...
 The Petition
 We, the undersigned, members of the L:ague of American Wlheelmen, bicycle riders, and citizens of Birmingham re- spectfuHy prolteer against the passing of an ordinance, introduced at the last meet ing of your honoa-a ble board to require the use of lanterns on bicycLIs after dark upon the following grounds, among many others, viz:
 First. Said ordinance will require the expenditure by the wheelmer of Birning- ham and vicinity of more han $5, 900, if generaily enforced. And in view of the fact that the bicycle has become almost universal among all classes such addi- tional expense will prove am oneroue tax on many who use tlhe bicycle net for re- creation or pleasure, but for the. purpose of going to and from their work.
 Second. There is no bicycle lantern yet inven.ed, even the most expensive, that is reliable.
 Third. Not more than 10 per cent of rhe number who use wheels make prac- tice of riding @ fter dark, and yet the oth- CT 90 per cent. are liable to be overtaken by darkness before reaching, their desti- nation at some time.
 Fourth. There is no use in a city of this size, with its wide and well lightssd streets and avenues surrounded by, a magnificent system of macadamized roads, for such an ordinance which might be necessary in city with marrow, crowded or poorly lighted streets. The wheelmen are a unit on this ques-' tion and declare that such an ordinance will be an imposition on the vast army of riders It is estimated that there are 5000 wheels in regular use in Birmingham and few of the owners are provided with lanterns
 The dealers in bicycle supplies are all opposed to the ordinance. Said MT. Stratford: "A satisfactory lantern has never been invented, and those in use now serve only to blind the rider and make his position more hazardous"
 T have a lantern,' declared Cashier Porter, of the Alabama National bank, but am opposed to the ordinance be- cause it will be an imposition. There are hundreds of riders who are unable to pay $5 for a lamp. These riders are rarely out after night and it would work a great hardship to force them to buy lanterns just for an emergency, which would probably not come, Out once a year."
 Fight Not Finished a,a4
 Alderman Harrington, who originally introduced the offending ordinance, says the fight is not finished. He will be pre- pared to present to the council at its next meeting, budget of facts and statistics sufficient to put the ordinance through
 He argues that the lantern is mscss- sary safeguard against accidents and will furnish some startling figures on the number of accidents caused by the ab- sence of lantigrns.
 A large number of the non-rfders of the wheel are for the lantern. gentle man in discussing the matter stated that he had had several close calls in crossing streets while if he could have seen a light from a lantern it would have been sufficient warming.