The herald., 1898-11-26
PHONOGRAPH NOISES
sPHING STREET MERCHANTS
WANT THEM STOPPED
NO MUSIC IN THE MACHINE
Board of Public Works Asked to Try
It on Its Nerves-Other Matters
Up for Action
Is there music in a phonograph?

Is there music in a phonograph!
This question played an important par
in lively scene before the board of public
works yesterday, and so far as that BODY IL
concerned it has not been answered satisfac-
torily.
". M. Holland, proprietor of the restaur
ant at 3OS South Spring street, who claims
to be the possessor of an ear Tor music, an
swered the question before the board yes
terday. to his own satisfaction at least
Mr.. Holland declared in no uncertain man
ner that the noise made by one OF the won
derful machines owned by 7. l.. Tally OF
Tallys phonograph parlors on South Spring
street. is as like to music as the filing OF a
saw. The gentleman, while he does not
claim to be an expert in the matter OF pho
nographs, says that for three years he has
listened to the continual grind OF the ma
chine, until he has become so familiar with
each squeak and groan that he feels compe'
tent to pass judgment on it.
Yesterday he appealed to the board OF
public works and complained against Mr..
Tally. charging him with maintaining a
nuisance. Mr.. Holland said that he repre-
sented twenty-five business men in the
block who objected to having free phono-
graph noises ground out at them through
a big tin horn all day long.
You can have no conception, said he,
what it is to listen to this day after day,
and week after week, and be powerless to
put a stop to it. l have appealed to Mr.
Tally, time and time again. to do away with
the big horn, which sends the noise to us
across the street, but in every instance he
has refused He calls it free music, but /
can tell you that the person who calls that
noise music don't know what music is.
Yes" he replied to question as to his abil-
ity to pass on the matter, II know what mu-
sic is"
He explained that the noise made by the
machine is so wearing on the nerves that his
wife had been on several occasions almost
prostrated.
'If you would try it yourselves, gentle
men," he said, appealingly, to the members
OF the board, "and see what effect it would
have upon your nerves, you would be sur
prised l wish you would try it,
The board looked like unwilling victims
when Chairman Blanchard called the next
witness, c. A. Miller
Mr.. Miller said he appeared in Mr.. Tally's
interest and offered long petition signed
by 400 people who had stopped in front of
the horn and listened to the music. The
petition stated that they had no objection
to the music and on the other hand thought
it good stuff.
Mr. Tally, in his own behalf, paid his re-
spects to the board and said that he had
been in business in. the city for three years
and this was the first complaint that had
been made. ''If there has been one there
have been 10000 people who nave stopped
and listened to the music that escaped
through the horn. Among them have been
many of the prominent people of the city.
All are welcome and we are glad to have
them stop any time. As to the music being
a nuisance, | don't believe it,
Mr.. Holland, who had gained his second
wind here broke in with the remark that
he thought that the ordinance recently
passed, preventing the blowing of horns,
etc, on the public streets, ETC., covered the
case and asked that it be enforced.
The board thought this good point to
investigate, so decided to take the matter
under advisement.
Mr.. Holland when he was leaving the
room was heard to remark that he wouldn't
do thing to Edison if the board refused to
stop the "musc in the machines.
TRACTION FRANCHISE
After the board had disposed of the
"tune of the phonograph" Judge E. H.
Lamme requested to be heard on the mat
ter of the Traction Railway company's re-
quest for a street railway franchise on
Eleventh street. He also informed the board
that Mr.. Gibbon, who represented the
terminal railway and who had petitioned
jointly with the Traction company for
franchise over the specified route from
the Traction company's tracks on Santa
Fe avenue to the Terminal railway, was
absent from the city, but that he Iamme)
had been requested to urge the board to
take some steps toward the sale of both
franchises.
"The matter has been before you gen.