The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-06-05


hardening or permanent pavement.
1t will, of course, be some time before
this work can be done. But it is a step
in advance, to have the orders passed.
1t viii be part of the unions duty to
see that they are provided for, if pos
sible, in future estimates.
There has also been submitted to the
common council form of ordinance,
limiting the speed of bicycle riding on
the streets, Curlously enough, the po-
lice authorities take the position, that
under the present ordinances they have
no authority to arrest for fast riding.
Personally, l do not believe that their
position is more than literally correct.
But under the shelter of this excuse,
the abuse of our streets by "scorching"
has been allowed by the police to go
on without any attempt at Interrupt
ton. AS a consequence, we have be-
gun to experience the accidents which
have been steadily foretold by those
who have paid attention to the con-
duct of riders on Orange street and
other much frequented highways.
Since this report was written I have
learned that steps have been taken by
the police for the mounting of an officer
upon wheel for the patrol of Orange
street, and that ne appeared there with
success this afternoon. We tender our
thanks to the commissioners for finding
a way out of the difficulty.
At the same time I learn that the
reason why the proposed ordinance for
the regulation of the speed of bicycles
on the streets has not been considered
Is that it is necessary to advertise the
hearing of the committee and that there
is no money in the city treasury for
that purpose. / am sure that this is an
obstacle that the finance committee of
the union will promptly remove, and
that if this is the only reason of delay
there will be an early hearing,
1t has been suggested that the union
ask the common council to appoint
some of its own members, selected by
the union, and certainly en-
bracing some members of the
street committee, to be special con-
stables. Such officers, / doubt not,
would soon have test cases to present
to the courts, to find out whether our
laws are so imperfect as the police con-
strue.
Public opinion is rapidly getting into
a state of disgust over the attitude of
the city government toward the dangers
of wheeling. A sharp and critical agi-
tation of the subject will be the only
means of bringing about a change of
heart
I shall leave to the street committee
the discussion of the character of our
street administration. But | cannot
pass the subject over without a general
word as to what has been discovered by
personal inspection. This is, that the
fundamental trouble is an utter absence
In the street department of any
systematic method of inspection
and repair. I might add that
it would seem as If there was also an
utter ignorance of how to repair We
have not so far attempted to locate the
responsibility for this state Of things,
knowing that with our present ire
sponsible bipartisan board it would be
very doubtful whether we could make
responsibility stick to anybody in par
ticular. We hope when the director
of public works is appointed, to be more
successful in bringing home the re-
sponsibility for what Is now a gross
abuse.
The executive committee, through
the committee on adjacent roads, has
had the state statute for the protection
of bicycle paths posted along the path
running through North Haven and
Wallingford. 1t also proposes in the
proper way to call the attention of
teamers and wagon manufacturers to
the provision Of the state statute re-
garding the width of tires for draught-
wagons.
The crying need of the union to make
it's work effective is an enlarged men,
bership. There has been gratifying
| response to my suggestion which ac-
companied the call for this meeting,
but yet we do not number one-tenth
as many as we ought. Our purposes
are those that touch everybody who
rides a wheel. Our methods are those
of open discussion and direct suggestion
| to public authorities of specific inn
provements. The work done by the Of
| fcers of the union is entirely voluntary
and the expenses are merely incidental
| OF most Of the members of the union
! nothing is required but moral support
| Under these conditions 1t would seem
| as If In city where perhaps $4,000
wheels are ridden, the organiza tion
| should have membership of 5000.
recommend to your attention tonight
! the consideration of this subject and
| suggest that some means be devised
| for rapid and large recruiting. Among
| the things which have been proposed as
silently leading to increased membership
| is the provision Of a badge or badges
| for those who care to use them. / am
myself. inclined to think that If the
union should adopt a simple but signi-
| f1cant button, and also a cap badge
| which ought to be a good deal larger
and noticeable, If not startling, good
! many members would wear them, an6
| this very fact would attract the atten.
| ton of other riders to the existence OF
| the union and bring them in. The
| presence Of riders with these badges
connected with the persistent appear.
ance of the union officials before the
| department of public works, might
have possible effect upon the conduct
| of repair gangs and others upon the
| highway. l am perfectly certain that
| in connection with the appointment as
special constable, the presence of hall
a dozen riders wearing the union badge
| upon Orange street would produce 6
| visible change in the manners of many