The Detroit times., 1910-04-07
WOULD WIPE OUT
BRIDGE MIDWAY
Residents of Detroit Make Loud Pro-
test To Mayor Who'll Call Meeting
and Hear Both Sides.

The Midway" district along Jeffer-
son-ave., on both sides OF Belle Isle
bridge approach. Is In danger OF q
cleaning up that will wipe out the
dance halls. merry-go-rounds and sim
lar amusements that have attracted
crowds to that locality for several sum-
mers and aroused the enmity OF the
residents for many blocks In every
direction.
Il may wipe them all out" Mayor
Breitmeyer stated TO a number u
members OF the Boulevard Improve
ment association who called on him
Thursday noon.
The delegation came TO complain 10
the mayor against the conditions
which have prevailed for several years
at Riverview park. They asked him
10 withhold license for the amuse-
ment park, or at least 10 do away with
the dance hall and merry go-round fea-
Iures. II was charged that the place
attracts undesirable people, that
drunkenness and immortality result
from the conjunction OF the amuse-
ment park with a big beer hall. and
that the conditions are almost intoler'
able TO the people In the vicinity.
II shall not discriminate" said
Mayor Breitmeyer. IF refuse a
license to one place, shall refuse
licenses also 20 other places in that
row where conditions are the same. |
understand the conditions. but 1t is
matter in which one must go slowly.
e Is up to the council first TO grant
or not TO grant liquor licenses. DO
rot have TO act for some time yet.
Even II refuse licenses, the council
may still grant them by a two-third3
vote"
The mayor indicated that he Will
nave a general hearing soon at which
he will hear from owners OF the Mid
way amusement places. as we'll az
rom those who complain OF the way
the district Is run. From his remarks
Ii seems certain that the dance halls
and the steam organs OF the hurdy-
gurdies must go. In any event.
Conditions al Rlverview are not
such as 10 warrant you In giving
license this year." said w. G. Toepel,
who acted as spokesman for the dele
cation OF protesting property owners.
I'VE complained to you last year ana
regulations were tried. Things are
not improved any. In fact, l believe
they will be worse this year than ever
before II license Is granted. The
dance halls, the skating Kinks and the
hurdy-gurdies arc the worst evils.
"a am not going x snow partially,
replied the mayor Il shall treat them
oil alike"
Some of the residents then told the
mayor OF the bother and annoyance
from the day and night discord OF the
hurdy-gurdies, and the mayor agreed
that these were a nuisance. Deputy
Controller w. J. Nagel presented Pc
tition signed by 20 east end people
asking for the abolition OF Riverview
park
other men present told OF having TO
drive people off their front steps AFTER
midnight, and of the language that
they we're forced to hear as the crowds
came away from the concert hall late
AT night. II was stated that young
girls dance and then drink bottle or
beer dance and drink again, and so
Lecome drunk during the evening
James 8. Capen told Of counting 90
vounp girls who went into the amuso'
ment resorts within few minutes.
One of the arguments made was
that II costs the city far more Tor
extra police protection in this district
than is received from license fees.
This the mayor agreed to. Before the
meeting rfoke up the members OF the
delegation assured the mayor that
they did not object to the liquor
licenses being granted. but wanted the
amusement places run In connection
with bars eliminated as far as pos
.ihIo