The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-18
TO KEEP SIDEWALKS CLEAR.
Mayor Meldrim Orders All Obstruc-
lions Removed.

Mayor OEUeEb All
lions Removed.
Mayor Meldrim ISSUED instructions to
City Marshal Power yesterday morning
to notify all business men that the or
dinance prohibiting distractions of the
sidewalks except wi than the space Al
lowed for the display of goods and also
the ordinance regulating the hanging of
street signs would De enforced to the let
ter.
The mayors attention was attracted by
the fact that there are number of old
and rickety signs along the sidewalks.
which are liable to fall and do serious in
jury to passersby and that in several
places signs which had fallen down or
been removed from buildings temporarily
are allowed to rems in upon the sidewalks,
contrary to the ordinances. The mayor
concluded that it was just as well to
make a clean sweep of all this at once,
and so notified the city marshal.
I'm case any one should be struck by
the falling of these signs or should injure
himself by stumbling against fallen sign
or other obstruction in the darkness
there would be a S att against the city for
damages" said Mayor Meldrim. I'VE
don't care to have anything of that kind
on our hands. More than that though,
it is not creditable to the city to have tine
sidewalks Uttered UP with all sorts of old
lumber We want a clean and thorough
ly reputable city in appearance. as veil
as otherwise, and we are going to have 1t,
if it is possible to get It,"
Mayor Meldrim was Informed that there
was some complaint because the marshal 5
instructions to the merchants had includ-
ed bicycle stands, placed on the sidewalks
in front of the stores for the convenience
OF bicyclists, as wen as other obstruc-
tons
Il did not have the bicycle stands in view
when the order was issued, he said. THE
order was directed more especially against
the old street signs. 1t may be that the
bicycle stands are not an obstruction with
in the meaning Of the law"
Some of the bicy Gle stands were still in
evidence last night. A number were re-
moved, however, as soon as the merchants
were notified, and it is likely that, If the
determination to have clear sidewalks is
adhered to, all racks, signs and other
things that stand In the way of the walk
ing public will be removed in the course
of n few days Nearly all the
merchants and 9th ers notified, at once
had the racks moFed without demurring.
but two or three kicked about it., holding
that the racks wtare convenienees to the
public and should be allowed to remain.
The ordinance governing the blocking of
the sidewalks is perfectly plain however,
and the marshal insisted that the racks
would have to be removed, or, If not,
cases would be made against the parties
allowing them to remain after having been
notified The ordinance expressly states
that only two feet six inches of space on
the sidewalks can be utilized for display
or other purposes, and this space is to be
against the wall ON the inner side of the
walks. That part near the curling is not
to be INSTRUCTED. OF course,
the section of the ordinance gov
ernfng the inner space is often
violated. Fruit sands, in about every in
stance, project further into the sidewalks
than two and a half feet, and nothing is
done to prevent this infringement. The
result Is that very often the fruit stand
keepers, and others as well, trespass upon
the walking publicts troughfares, and al
most create block AIDES by setting boxes
and barrels far ont into the sidewalks
The breach of the ordinance has been OBJ
served so often of late by the city authori-
ties that it was determined to put a stop
to It.
One OF the railroad offices up town, in
front of which a big sign has been laying
for two or three weeks on the T6g6 or the /
sidewalk, was notified that It must be
moved. Advertising boards are stood up
against telegraph poles and trees, and |
they also win be removed, as they lend |
unsightfy appearance to the streets.
1t was some thing in this connection that |
brought about the present crusade against |
Instructions. A wood dealer on River |
street wanted to have a sign put on the |
bluff railing, indicating to passers-by on |
the bay that his yard was in
the direction of the river The |
street and lane committee would |
not accede to his request, and he called !
attention to the fact that another concern |
had a sign so placed. When its attention
was directed to this sign, the committee |
ordered the obnoxious DETACHMENT to pub
lie property removed, and the occurrence
aroused a train of thought that eliminated
in the idea that perhaps the sidewalks
would be in a better condition if their
blockade were raised. The walking public
will appreciate the officials efforts to give
1T cleared sidewalks, and wheelmen will
stand their wheels in such places as they
we're accustomed to before the advertising
possibilities of bicycle racks were suggest
ed to wideawake, chewing gum and cigar
cite manufacturers.