The herald., 1898-01-22
WheeImen Protest Against
the Bell Ordinance
IN THE INTEREST OF DEALERS
COUNCIL WILL MOVE FOR MORE
FIRE PLUGS
sSew Sewers to Be Put in-City Clerks
Report Special Council Session.
Petitions and Protests

Before the board of public works yes
terday morning the wheelmen had a
hearing upon the proposed ordinance
compelling the carrying of bells and
lanterns on bicycles. A delegation of
representative wheelmen, consisting of
c. c. Monaghan, chief consul OF the
League of American Wheelmen; j. IL.
Logic. Alfred c. Post, A. r. Mains,
Frank Barnes and Carl McStay, appear
ed to voice protest on behalf of the
bicyclists. They urged that the passage
of the proposed ordinance was unneces-
sary and unjust to the wheelmen. They
pointed out the fact that the speed limit
was already regulated by an ordinance,
which. however, was not enforced. This
same ordinance prohibits anything in
the way of fancy riding.
Mr.. Mona CHAN took the lead as spokes-
man. He contended that the petition
asked for nothing not already covered
by the ordinance now operative, but not
enforced, and by state laws. The en-
tire petition was gotten up as pIlnd
by some interested dealer for the pur-
pose of selling his bells and lamps. Such
an ordinance as that asked for would
impose a considerable expense on the
bicyclists and would in no way protect
wheelmen or pedestrians.
wherever such laws have been tried
1T has been discovered that bells and
lights merely confuse the pedestrians at
crossings" said Mr.. Monaghan. IF the
pedestrians do not dodge about they will
never get hurt, and if the chief of police
will enforce the present bicycle ordi-
nance, instead of asking the council to
add to useless ordinances, he will render
himself less subject to criticism con-
cluded the speaker.
Others spoke in much the same strain
and for over an hour the board listened
to them. Stress was laid on the neces-
sity of passing an ordinance making
liable to criminal prosecution any driver
of a vehicle who Travelled on the wrong
side of the street The drivers of milk
wagons and vegetable wagons We're
denounced as especially RESPONSE
BILE for most of the accidents on
the streets, and the speakers declared
that they constantly ignored the rights
of the road so far as wheelmen were con-
cerned.
No one appeared in favor of the petit
ton. and the matter was taken under
advisement by the board.
The following routine recommenda-
tions were also made:
Recommend that the petition from
Mrs M. NJ. Shaw, with reference to
constructing a cement sidewalk on
Twenty-third street, between Main
street and Maple avenue, be filed.
Recommend that the petition from j.
D. Pope be referred to the city engineer,
with instructions to present an ordi-
nance Of intention for the grading,
graveling, curbing and sidewalking of
Vermont avenue, from the south line of
Pico street southerly distance of one
thousand feet.
In the matter of the petition from
George H. Pike ct AL, asking that
Fourth street, from Main street to Los
Angeles street, be paved with concrete
base and bituminous lime rock surface,
recommend that the same be referred to
the city engineer to present an ordinance
of intention therefor.
Recommend that the petition from S.
A. w. Carver, with reference to fran
chise for the transmission of electricity,
be filed.
Recommend that the petition from w.
A. Smith ct al. and the protest from
James Cratic, in reference to the con-
struction of sidewalks on Palmer ave-
nue. between Central avenue and Hem
lock street, be filed.
Recommend that the petition from E.
w. Campbell Advertising company, in
reference to bill boards, be referred to
the finance committee.
In the matter of the petition from
George H Wyman, asking that the city
engineer be instructed to establish the
street lines and levels at points adjoin-
ing the lot owned by the Bradbury es-
tate, on the northwest corner of Broad
way and First street, recommend that
the same be granted and the city engin-
err be instructed to give the necessary
lines.
We recommend that the petition from
the Southern California Railway COM
pany be referred to the city engineer,
with instructions to present ordinance
of intention for the Improvement of Sec
ond street between Santa Fe avenue
and Hewitt street, in accordance with
said petition.
We recommend that the petition from
c. r. Shatto and others, for the right
to lay street railway track along Will
shire boulevard and other streets. be
filed.
We recommend that the petition from
D. L. McGarry be referred to the city
engineer with instructions that he pre-
sent an ordinance authorizing property
owners to improve McGarry street, from
Eighth street to Ninth street. when pe-
titiOner shall have filed with the engin-
err the necessary contract and bond.
We recommend that the petition from
the Southern California Railway COM
pany for permission to lay a spur track
across Third street be granted. and that
the city attorney be instructed to pre-
sent the necessary ordinance
We recommend that the petition from
NJ E. Spinks and others be referred to
the city engineer, with instructions that
he present the ordinance of intention for
the street improvement necessary to
abate the nuisance of standing water
at Fifth and Hill streets.
In the matter of the petition from
NJ. A. Keller and others, we recommend
that the ordinance Of intention for the
sidewaliing of Twenty third street be-
tween Main street and Maple avenue.
said ordinance having been referred to
us with said petition, be filed, for the
reason that the property owners intend