The Greeley tribune., 1905-05-11
Satiricus Speaks His Mind

/ uarticular oifense seem to be either
deficient or too vague for enforce
meut. and should be amended. Ana
/ if it is desirable to park the side
walks of the city in the interest OF
municipal adornment il is high time
the council enacted some specihc
/ ordinance for their protection.
Nothing can add to the beauty OF
| the place in greater degree thah
such improvements, and it is nom
sense to say that the city may regu-
| late the use of the sidewalks in one
entirely unnecessary respect ana can
not do it in another that is highly
essential.
| will now revert to the wheel
and the ordinance prohibiting its
use except in the streets. l have
SAID that if ever there was law
or ordinance that deserved TO be
honored in its breach rather thai in
its observance this was one OF them.
1t was passed at time when the
use of the bicycle was confined to
the few, and like all innovations en-
cited hostility. 1t was the period
when the fool horse snorted and the
fool citizen bristled every time either
of them saw wheel coming down
the street. And this particular
ordinance was instigated and secured
through the envy of those who at
the time could not afford to own
them. and the malice of those who
had not brains enough to use them.
There are times when many OF our
streets are absolutely impossible for
wheelmen. Should man caught in
heavy rainfall down in the city lug
his wheel home OH his back when
for blocks at a stretch ahead of him
not a living soul is occupying the
walk: Suppose a man can ride a
wheel and can not walk. For the
very best of reasons | myself never
walk unless absolutely compelled to
do so by the weather and the en-
forcement of fool ordinance.
have perhaps paid more money than
any other one man in this place
for the grading of streets and side
walks. Shall | at great inconven-
ience wade in the mud when the
sidewalk is dry and empty? l
know of one man who many times
recently hobbled home day after day
on crutcbes when he could have
ridden his wheel from his shop
door to his residence, dry shod, had
he been permitted to do so.
delight in our magnificent parks,
but never pass through them or sit
down on the benches inside of them
because my wheel is excluded. Let
US have little sense. would
not ask to have the ordinance re-
pcaled, and it Is even too much to
expect it to be modified. But we
can at least REQUIRE the complaint of
an injured or aggrieved party before
prosecution. Let us discourage cap
tious complaint by spies for the sake
of fees.
l know it will be said, What is
the use of having laws unless they
are enforced But the blue laws
of Connecticut are still on the books,
and we might even now hang
witches by statutory provision i'll
several states, / am told, were we so
disposed. If man or woman or
boy will not dismo'int on meeting
pedestrian on the sidewalk or in
passing one, then prosecution is ex-
cusable: and if envy OF malice
prompts complaint without incon-
venience or injury for basis, l sup
pose the interference of our officials
is even then justifiable. Otherwise
l advise them one and all to be blind
in one eye and wink with the other.
Very respectfully submitted,
80. ..,.-