The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-15
CYCLE PATHS ARE 4
BONE 0 OF CONTENTION
. An -. ~. ~.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IRE OF 10.
4 CAL .WHEELMEN. "a
T. E.sGannett Complains OF impossible
State of Tracks and Demands to
Know What Became of Tag Money
City Engineers Give Their Side and
Suggest Remedies. -.

: That the wheelmen Of Minneapolis
have some grievance and complaints
is specifically set out " in a letter to
The Journal by /. E. Gannett, a
well-known citizen and veteran writer
He finds much to criticize in the man
agement of the bicycle path funds. 1t
is generally admitted that the path
question is in rather unsatisfactory
viewed, and it may be that the contro.
versy which has been started will re-
suit In placing the matter on a more
satisfactory basis.
MIR. Gannett's Letter.
Mr.. Gannett IS letter is as follows:
10 the Editor Of Tho Journal.
Assistant City Engineer Dutton is reported
TO nave said there were no funds for repairing
bicycle paths. 1t would be interesting to thu
III edeycie riders to know what became Of thu
$@'ooo taken In last year and the 81, 600 thai
was on hand from the previous year.
was unable to discover any work done II
repairing the paths last year. There was :
washout at Lake Calhoun that I understand
was paid for from bicycle funds. I suppos,
this would not have been repaired had there
been no path fund to draw. from. y The ypatl
from Calhoun to point where the streetca
track and path divide was utilized in raisins
the car track. At the time I was there it wal
| nearly impossible to ride, and l think I an
pretty apt to stick on wheel where there Il
rough ground. Possibly the removal Of THU
path WAS paid for from the tag fund.
The path on Seventh avenue S had no repairs
1t Is true, man did walk over the path will
hoe in his hand, but he was not on the patti
twenty minutes and did absolutely no work upol
the path. -
Paths that were built for country runs-ant
pleasant riding it was these paths-hav'
| received no protection. 1t is nearly impossible
to ride any Of them now. Some are used TO-
| cattle driveways, others have been partly de
stroyed by teams.
In the city there seems to be a general de
termination on the part OF teamsters to ruiz
paths About two weeks ago I. took views alons
the Seventh avenue path with my camera, in
streets I found several cords of wood pile'
upon the path. Just beyond buggy and Wagon
stood upon the path.
| Between Sixth and Seventh streets loads 0
| dirt were thrown out from holes near the side
walk. and between Eighth and Ninth street
! teams make 1t a business to drive upon tn
| path. While I was taking this picture maj
| drove up and stopped in front of 1923 Seventl
avenue. He got out and hitched his horse. Bot
| horse and buggy were standing on the path
| AT Twenty eighth street some heavy team ha
been driven, with one wheel upon the path
| from Portland avenue to Fifth avenue. TIL
ground was soft and cut badly. This must hav
| been deliberate, as the curb is very high be
tween the street and path at this point.
| According to my figures, there should be 81 10
on hand. Deduct 500 for the man walkin
about and have $4,000 that We would lik
| to knew where it is and who has got 1T.
| People who destroy paths are destroyin
property. and can be held responsible for thei
rebuilding.
The paths were built by bicycle riders. The
have the right to demand protection. There at
| ten riders this year where there was one las
and believe they will demand 1t.
Wheelmen Great Kickers.
CITY Engineer Andrew Rinker, whe1
| his attention was brought to the -com
plants made in the foregoing letter
said that heawas fully aware that tn
bicycle riders were generally dlssatl'
fed with the status Of the cycle paths
but so was the city engineers depart
ment. "There has been no branch 9
the work of this department. that ha
caused us so much bother and Gale
forth so much criticism as the cycle
path work. said Mr.. Rinker. "Th
wheel people are the most unreasonabl
in their demands and the most unjus
in their criticism. It would be a grea
relief to this department. if the coul
l:cil should take the cycle-path work OF
of our hands and turn the. revenue
derived from the sale of the. bicyc
tags over to the wheelmen to be sper
Irunder1 their direction. Then, at leas
/ they could not make any attacks o
this department..
"It is possible that Mr.. Gannett di
not see the work that was done on tt
sixty miles of cycle paths in this cit
! but our, records show that the cit
spent $4,1179S in 1904 and $3,252.S
! last year. This naturally would NJ
20 far in keeping the paths in frs
class condition. / have no doubt tn;
the paths. are now in poor. conditio
It is to be expected after long wi
ter and when no attention was give
to their care. There is nothing we ca
|, do at present, as no funds are AVA
able for. repairing the paths until
considerable number of bicycle ia
are sold.''
Money ALI Spent.
Assistant City Engineer E. R. Duttt
says that three small repair crews we
started out early last year and we
, kept at work until the city treasur
notified the city engineer that the ful
was exhausted. Last fall, when SOL
,, work was desired, there was no mon,
: for the purpose, and unless large null
, Der of tags were sold last year there
,, probably no. money to be had at t
. present time. If there was $4,000 j.
. hand, as intimated by Mr.. Gannett,
would go. a great way in making !
! pairs which we're badly needed. Sti
l. he doubted whether there was al
! money in the. cycle-path fund. 49,. =.
y Mr.. Dutton Is Of the opinion tn
!, unless there is a decided increase
! the number of wheelmen this SUNNI,
4 it might be advisable to abandon sol
q of the paths which were scarcely US
at all last year. -, :
6 MI. Dutton admitted that was pre-
e ably true that wood had been pill
:, on the paths; that cattle had be
driven over them, and that some pat
p had been partially destroyed by team
Il The blame for such violations of t
J law could in no wise be attached
+ the city engineers department.
e CHARCOAL, PLANT AFIRE
:, + .t.,r-,-. ------t: '-er-- =
V