The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-05
No More MdkeshJt Little Fences
 Around the Sidewalk Garden
SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT By MRS. SIDNEY M. ULLMAN

He kissed her goodnight at the gate and dreamed bright dreams of love and the future as he walked lelsurely homeward. And then he fell Such shatterlng of hopes. Alas no longer did he moon, for the stars he saw were many. And what had wrought this awful downfall, this blighted hope, this shattered dream of youth?
 It was the wire around the sidewalk garden.
 Several days later the city lost the case and sloOO for allowing such Instructions to be placed in dangerous proximity to love- sick. homeward- bound swans.
 Beware, oh property owner, renter or proud possessor of a family lot (except in a cemetery) of the presence of wire, chains. rope or other Instructions or guards on grass plats or public highways! The city has passed an ordinance that such Instructions shall be removed and that any person violating this law shall be punished with fine or Imprisonment unless they conform to specifications.
 When the garden city idea took root 1t not only planted itself in the empty lot but even on the sidewalk; then the en- thusiastic gardner decided to fence in the street garden, this makeshift fence did not enhance in any way the beauty of the street and proved to be a rather expen- sive matter for the city--pedestrian with sprained ankles stubbed toes, to say noth- ing of the many with torn frocks all put in complaints. Probably these complaints might never have been seriously consd- cred, but they hit the city in its very sorest place-the city purse-for many cases were lost by the city; then there was roaring and gnashing of teeth at the city hall.
 After some conference the ordinance was passed. According to the city ordinance It shall be unlawful for any person in possession of any lot or parcel of ground abutting on any public highway in the city of Birmingham to erect, maintain or permit any other person to erect maintain or permit any other person to erect or maintain or to continue or fail to remove within reasonable time after notice or knowledge of the presence thereof any wire, chain, rope or other obstruction or guard on any grass plat or parkway on thhJ ptbiic ii6HNdy III tut City Ol DIT mingham, unless such guard or obstruc- tion shall conform to the following spec- fications, to-Wit: The upright posts or stakes shall be made of dressed lumber four inches square and shall extend above the ground not less than three feet and shall be painted white
 The cross bar shall consist of some rigid material and may be made either of iron pipe, an iron bar or a wooden bar which shall be placed at a height of not less than three feet above the sur face of the ground and such bar or pipe shall also be painted white and shall be securely fastened. to the said stakes or posts. which stakes shall be firmly placed in the ground and not more than eight feet apart.
 Sec. 2 Be it further ordained that no guards or stakes shall be placed on any grass plat or parkway on any public high way in the city or Birmingham within six inches of the paved portion of the side- walk.
 Sec g. Be it further ordained that the owner of the abutting property, as well as the person in possession thereof, whether as agent, tenant or owner shall be under the duty of removing all guards or Instructions from said parkways or grass plats which do not conform to the foregoing specifications.
 Sec. 4. Be it further ordained that any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be punished as pro- vded by section 1216 of the code of 1907 of the state of Alabama.
 Approved June 23, 19l5
 GEORGE B. WARD,
 President Board of Commissioners.
 A. O. Lane. Commissioner.
 JAMES WEATHERLY
 Commis ssioner Attest: