Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-04
ORDINANCES ARE NOT OBSERVED
Many fragrant Violations Daily of

Many fragrant Violations Daily of
Laws on the City Statutes.
But few people ever stop to think
Of the frequency with which they dis
obey or break some one of the many
ordinances Of the city Of Marshalltown.
Never a day passes but that a number
Of people break one or more of these
ordinances, without ever stopping to
consider that there is even such a city
law governing their conduct. True most
of these that are disregarded and brok-
en- so frequently, are the more unim-
portant ones, but in their observance
the best Of city government and con-
ditions are found. A short time spent
in the perusal of the ordinances, and
a brief trip thru the business and res
idence section of this city will surprise
the uniformed of the frequency of
these occurrences.
Probably no one class is such fire.
quent and CONSTANT offender as the
bicycle rider. There is city law that
says bicycles shall not ride on side
walks of streets that are paved, neither
shall they coast, and neither shall they
ride without at least one hand on the
handlebars, and that all wheels shall
have handle bars on the same. Each and
every one of these several ordinances
is disregarded by bicycle riders every
day on the streets of this city. Espe-
cially is this the case with those who
have the new coasting attachment on
their wheels. So far as handle bars
are concerned, there is one bicycle
rider who has made the business street
his show ground all summer, where
he has almost daily given exhibitions
of his skill in riding a wheel without
handle bars.
BARRIERS are another class that offend
day after day. There is an ordinance
that provides that no posts, barber
poles, or other poles shall be placed
on the sidewalks of Main, Center and
First avenue between certain streets.
trip UP Main street will show how
often this law is disregarded
There is still another that provides
that no merchant shall appropriate
more than three feet of the sidewalk
in front of his place of business for
the display of his wares. No less than
MALT a dozen dealers along Main street
are most fragrant offenders in this re-
spect. Some of them using as much as
nalf the sidewalk for display purposes
There is one West Main street mer-
chant that goes farther than that, and
makes a practice of using the sidewalE
in front of not only his own place of
business but also that of the dealer
next door, in using the sidewalk as
storing place for his large merchandise
boxes.
If plumbers, who tear up the pave
ment for the purpose of laying water,
sewer or gas mains, were compelled tc
more closely observe that section of
the ordinances providing for the man
ner in which the earth, foundation and
pavement should be relaid, the city
would be saved no little expense, and
the pavement in a great many places
would be in a far superior condition
than it now is.
The ordinance that provides that nc
bonfire shall be built or lighted on e
paved street, or within forty feet of 8
frame building, without the prope.
permission, is one that is almost dali!
disregarded by the householder. Their
is another In the same line that for
bids the piling of ashes in the alleys
streets, or within twenty feet of
frame building, that might AZ well be