The Washington times., 1912-12-02
ONTARIO ROAD
CITIZENS vEXED
BY CRUEL DRIVERS
Charges Against Contractors
Men Will Be Aired at
Mass Meeting.

1ncensed at frequent scenes Of cruelty
70 animals which they say are observed
ost every hour OF the day. a com.
mttee OF citisens living along Ontario
Ioao near Eighteenth street have called
mass meeting for either tomorrow OF
Weonesday night to protest to the Dis.
snct commissioners. The committee ID
aesoed BY e. Woodland Gates, DR.. J.
"a. Branson. w. J. Thacher and WILL
bur Smith.
In a statement this afternoon. Mrs.
-. woodland Gates, who Is also one OF
Sne leaders Of the movement to curb
the cruelty Of drivers to their team,
SAID that the community was stirred up
beyond measure by the constant scenes
% cruelty and would not stand for II
~ longer.
This community IL wild over IT," she
easd. ''snd we realize that something
mas got to be done. We will appeal
to the District Commissioners. and II
thsy will not help US We will blockade
the street 10 that the wagons cannot
come down. Then. II we are arrested
for blocksding the street, we will bring
the cause into court to see II the court
viii not take notice Of It,"
Wagons Without Brakes.
All Of the teams working in removing
dirt from the Arlington Hotel exca-
vation pass along the ontario road to
the dump. At Eighteenth street there
u . steep hill. and. SO Mrs. Gates
stated this morning, the teams are not
able to hold back the heavy loads
without the use Of brakes. A large per.
10 he onul0-
ped with brakes. and the teams are
literally showed down the hill BY the
heavy loads.
Mrs. Gates stated today that within
the last few days she has seen dozen
or more teams fall down and be showed
into the wall which protects one side
Of the road. Blockades. on accoun, OF
teams falling down, occur frequently.
ana when they do occur. Mrs. Gates
said, the drivers treat the horses with
the utmost cruelty.
On On Saturday." said Mrs: Gates: two two
never have recovered. The wagon was
smashed In the blockade which result.
ed when a dozen teams following were
stopped by the wreck"
body's lie to attempt to cross the
street at such times.
Mass Meeting Planned.
I'VE have pleaded with Major sylves-
ter and with the District Commission
srs." said Mrs. Gates, land now we
are going to hold . mass meeting. Be-
cause we have not decided on hall
ws have not set the date definitely. but
It will be either Tuesday or Wednesday.
and II we can't find a hall we can hold
Il in my home" -.
Mrs. Gates was in Judge Pugh's court
Saturday to testify against driver
who she alleged had been cruelty. treat
ing q team. The driver was dismissed
and that same afternoon arrested again
on the same charge. It was ALLEGED In
this trial that the horses are driven
thirty miles day with loads far too
heavy for their strength.
The chief complaint OF the Ontario
road residents IL that the wagons to
which the teams are hitched are not
supplied with brakes which. combined
with the steep hill and heavy loads.
makes 1t impossible for the teams to
10 down without extreme effort II q
horse or a mule slips. the animal 10
showed down the street sometimes Tor
q distance Of thirty or forty feet. -.
teams cannot bc forced to supply their
wagons with brakes. and, In many
cases, do not do 80. Mrs. Gates said
today that about half Of the wagons
that pass are supplied with brakes.
and the remainder depend on the team
70 hold II back.