The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-20
Automobile Owners Have Age
Limit Lowered.
Hereafter Sixteen Year Drivers
May BE Licensed.
FIREBELL Is SILENT,
Will No More Ring Out the
Wild Alarm.
Melan Bridge Bonds to BE Voted
on August "a.

The automobile enthusiasts were
out in force at the meeting of the
city council last night. and While
they were compelled to wait until
various and sundry lengthy ordin-
ances had been read and consider
able business of routine nature
transacted. still they left the council
chamber with beaming faces. They
won their fight and the section of the
ordinance which deals with the age
limit was changed to read 16 years
instead of IS. This means that in
the future all youths 16 years or over
viii be allowed to drive autos provid-
ed they hold a license to do SO. Fra
ser. Miller. Drew and Fink voted
No on the proposition.
The frebeH is doomed to silence
The time honored custom of ringing
a bell in case of fire which had it's
origin in the country village to call
together the bucket brigade, was in
. definitely done away with. the reSo-
Mutton to become effective on the first
IF August. This resolution was hOtly
contested there being six for and five
against the proposition. Those who
#rfed to kill the resolution were:
Howard, Fraser, Lannan, Miller and
Tandy. Mr.. Howard looked upon the
bell in a sentimental fashion assert
ing that the people like to hear 1t
ring. General Hughes Immediately
retorted, Il do not think the resolu-
tion is strong enough 1t ought to
read that the bell should be taken
down and presented to the State His
torical society. 1t points to a country
village where the bell is rung to get
the people together. If Mr.. Howard
is so anxious to hear the bell ring I
would suggest that it might be placed
over his store where he can ring it
every time fire is reported Other
objections to the ringing OF the bell
in case of fire which were put for
ward were that the jar causes the
building to leak, and that the crowds
which gather upon the ringing of the
bell are conducive to accidents May
or Green has expressed the opinion
that when the people begin to notice
that the bell does not ring petitions
for the restoration of the custom will
be circulated as they were about ten
years ago when the auditorium was
first erected.
For the fall three different cleo
tions are booked. August "a was the
date set last might for the election for
the Issuing $4,000 in bonds for the
extension of the MeIan arch bridge.
The city engineer is to be requested
to draw up plans and specifications
and with an estimate of the probable
cost OF erecting a crematory- Coun-
Gilman Fraser proposed the erection
of such a plant as at the present time
while at night the good people in
some OF the poorer districts of the
city have dropped off into uncon-
scious bliss. wagons of filth are fire.
auently dumped into the adjoining
alleys, where on account of their Cd
or they become a serious menace to
the peace and comfort of the citizens
until the refuse can be removed. This
proposition would necessitate another
election to provide for the issuing
of bonds.
Then the question of the commits
sion form of municipal rule will come
before the people in the near future
so there will be plenty doing in city
politics. Some of the members of
the council were of the opinion that