Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-14

tires was hrst brought up my sales have
fallen on 30 per cent" said G. II. Wolf.
. wagon dealer IT 100 n street II repre-
sent . big wagon company ana I can
safely say that very few four-inch tires
are being made, which shows that four
inch tires are practically useless except
in cases where extraordinary loads are to
be carried"
In speaking for the farmers Of Mont
gomery county, Robert Miller Of Spencer
resolutions at their last meeting dfsap-
proving the bill. He remarked that his
wagons. unloaded. weigh from 1000 to
5000 pounds.
Commissioners were fortunate in having
present the presidents Of the three repre-
sentative business and trade organizations
of the district, and as they would voice the
be affected by the legislation, anything
which they might offef in the way Of sug-
gestions would be appreciated.
Gen. John NJ. Wilson. president Of the
Beard OF Trade, said his organization had
taken no action in the matter. and as he
simply attended the hearing as citizen
and a listener, he had nothing to offer.
Hardship Upon Owners.
Capt. James F. Oyster. president Of the
Business Mems Association, said he op-
posed the measure and that his associa-
ton had passed resolutions opposing 1t
also. He stated that there is no doubt
that the requirements Of the bill. IL enacted,
would inflict q hardship upon wagon owners
in the District.
J. Bell president of the Jobbers and Ship
pers' Association. said. IF the section re-
lating to the wagons and tires was elm
mated and q section inserted which would
sum Of money to extend the street paving
Of the city. There should be no Legislation
which would have a tendency to hurt the
merchants and business men. and I trust
YOU gentlemen will report adversely upon
Mr.. Bells remarks seemed to appeal to
the sentiments of those present and called
forth considerable applause.
D. 8. Grove, the next speaker, stated that
he represented firm which operates more
than 800 wagons In the District for haul
ing purposes. and that every one Of them
would be affected by the broad tire bill,
of the provisions Of the bill would cost
nearly $4,000.
Alexandria County Opposed.
G. G.. Boteler of Alexandria county was
the next speaker. He said that for twenty
five years he had sold farm wagons in
Virginia. and in that period he has not sold
as many as five four-inch-tire wagons, and
does not believe that in Alexandria and
Fairfax counties there are ten four-inch
tires. The f0ur-inch tire Is theory. he
asserted. and an impracticab!e proposition
on ordinary roads. If the truckers and
farms of the section mentioned put on such
tires, the speaker declared they could not
get to Washington with their produce, be-
cause Of the extra weight.
w. A. Smoot and A. D. Brocket OF the
chamber of commerce Of Alexandria, Va,
said that their organization Is unanimously
opposed to the bill for the reason that 1t
would keep all heavy hauling teams from
Alexandria out of the District. and that
such legislation would practically construct
Chinese wall around this city, to the ex-
clusion of the traffic that comes from the
adjacent counties in the form of truckage
and country produce sold in the Washing
ton markets.
On Virginia Mud Roads.
J. T. Preston of Alexandria said that II
had been demonstrated beyond any doubt
that an ordinary country farm wagon with
q four-inch tire loaded to its capacity COM
ing to Washington would never be able to
make one miles distance over a Virginia
mud road In twenty-four hours with al
| the horses that could be hitched to 1t.
Others who addressed the Commissioners
| in opposition to the bill were w. s. Hoag
F. w. Bolgiano. E. P. Marsden, Charlie.
| Heitmuller. 8. M. Frazier. E. P. Thomas
/