New-York tribune., 1909-04-12
ARREST STAGE DRIVERS.
Park Commissioner Renc5cs Var on
Fifth 4renue Coaches.

Ten chauffeurs employed by the Fifth Avenue
Coach Company to drive its auto stages on Fifth
avenue and Riverside Drive. were arrested yes
terday by police of the West Tooth street station
acting under orders from Park Commissioner Smith
They were charged with violating ordinance
passed by the Park Board on January 16. which
prohibits any vehicle measuring more than ten feet
height from running along any driveway of any
park parkway under the jurisdiction or the De
partment Of Parks.
T. W Meade president Of the company by which
the arrested chauffeurs employed. said last
night that far as he knew this ordinance was
adopted by the Park Board without any hearing or
notice to anybody, either the company or TO the
thousands OF persons who Tatronize II.
Certain parts of the routes Of the company
while thus classified parks or parkways. said
Mr Meade, are really among the most travelled
streets and thoroughfares in the city They include
Riverside Drive. Fifth avenue along Madison
Square and again from 5sth street to 10th street
along Central Park, the central driveway through
Washington Park. Cathedral Parkway and the four
circles at the respective corners of the park The
enforcement Of this ordinance WILL therefore, pre-
any of the double decked omnibusses from run
ming upon any of these streets and will off the
public from the enjoyment OF riding on them
incidentally the ordinance, if enforced will pre-
vent the operation Of surface cars which run IN
streets adjacent to parks-59th street, 10th street
and Central Park West. for example. II will also
stop the operation of furniture vans. Both these
types Of vehicles considerably more than ten
feet in heigh. Almost the entire length of Central
Park West. in Eighth avenue. between 59th street
and 10th streets is bordered with trees along the
curb. The car tracks here close 10 the curb
ana within FIVE feet Of the tree line. The height
of the cars is more than eleven feet
The law under hich our extensions were grant
ed the transportation corporations act. as
amended in 800. II expressly says that routes
are 10 be operated without further other
thority proceedings or consent required under
act general. public. private or local Our eX-
tensions have been involved in ltigationS which
haze gone 10 the Court OF Appeals recently. and
these have been confirmed
It is evident that the company intends 10 make
q strong fight against the enforcement Of the
ordinance When SIX Chauffeurs the having
been baiIed out by official o. the company be-
cause OF illness in their families, arraigned
in the night court they were represented by VIII
lam II Page Of No 80 Liberty street and Arthur
X Wayne OF No S5 Eighth avenue. Magistrate
Herman granted Mr. Pages request that the hear
ing be postponed until April 10 The chaufeuTs
were paroled in the custody Of Mr.. Wayne
Thousands of persons were disconnected by the
action Of Park Commissioner Smith yesterday
afternoon Twenty stages trying 10 handle
the large crowds that wanted TO ride them
Many rode up from Washington Square and stayed
rode over TO the police station and West 1OOth
street was blocked with stages and curious sight
seers II is said that the company returned the
money collected for the trips which ended at the
station