100 Year Old Weblog ~ News From 100 Years Ago That's New to You from Vintage Kansas City.com

September 18, 1908

JAMES O'NEILL SEES THE CITY.

For the First Time, Although He's

Been Coming Here 25 Years.

James O'Neill, the veteran actor, who is appearing at the Willis Wood theater this week, has been coming to Kansas City for something like twenty-five years. He even recalls that his first appearance here was during the boom days, when he invested in several pieces of property for speculative purposes. That he was successful in his speculations is not particularly pertinent, but during the twenty-five years he had never had a more extensive view of the city than that which was necessitated through his daily trips from his hotel to the theater.

Yesterday, accompanied by George R. Collins, an old friend, Mr. O'Neill rode over the boulevards and through the parks of the city. It was a revelation to him.

"I was absolutely astonished," he said last night immediately after the last act of the "Abbe Bonaparte." "The cliff drive, particularly, is a thing of remarkable beauty. It reminds me very much of the Palisades in New York. There is something about the boulevards and parks, and again I say particularly the cliff drive, that relieves one of that feeling of the 'made' drive. By that I mean the boulevards and parks that are literally constructed."

Labels: Cliff drive, New York, theater, visitors

July 13, 1908

NO ARRESTS BY MOTOR SQUAD.

New Patrolmen Haven't Been Able

to Find Any Speed Outlaws.

Automobilists and drivers have been warned the last four days about keeping within the speed limit, and the motorcycle squad has been getting in practice trailing autos and horses that were going too fast. The squad has patrolled the boulevards and Cliff drive, learning the favorite streets and byways taken by the speedy drivers who are willing to risk being arrested for hitting up a fast pace.

Sunday was the day the squad as to get busy and prove the efficiency of the new motorcycles in overhauling the gasoline wagons, but up until 10 o'clock last night no arrests had been made. It was expected that the cycle men would have two or three arrests each to their credit last night. The officers will be given orders today to be strict in enforcing the speed law from now on.

Labels: automobiles, Cliff drive, motorcycles, police

August 20, 1907

TO LIGHT CLIFF DRIVE.

Park Board Issues Order to Lay

Gas Mains.

A contract was let yesterday by the park board fro laying gas mains on North Cliff drive, and a resolution adopted asking the city to prepare to take care of the 159 gas lamps that are to be installed on that thoroughfare.

There are stretches of the boulevards that either are unlighted or that are illumined at night by means of obsolete gasoline lamps. The park board is having gas installed. In the interest of economy at the time the park board made the boulevards it did not incur the expense of putting down gas mains. Accordingly laying mains now means the additional expense of repairig the boulevard lawns and crossings.

Labels: Cliff drive, public works

July 6, 1907

EIGHT MILES AN HOUR LIMIT.

Speed Fixed for Automobiles on the

Cliff Drive.

Alderman Launder, Hartman and Halpin were driven over the parks and boulevards and Cliff drive in automobiles at speeds varying from six to forty miles an hour, yesterday. The aldermen decided that six miles an hour is too slow, and forty miles an hour too fast. Therefore, they decided that eight miles an hour is a proper and safe limit for automobiles that traverse Cliff drive and they will recommend that speed when the ordinance is reported out Monday night for passage giving automobiles use of Cliff drive half days on Tuesdays and Saturdays and all Thursdays.

Labels: automobiles, Cliff drive

April 9, 1907

AUTOS MUST GO SLOWER.

Speed Limit of Eight Miles an Hour

on Cliff Drive.

The board of park commissioners yesterday adopted a rule that automobiles using Cliff drive must enter from the east side, and depart by the west side. Speed limit was confined to eight miles an hour, this regulation, it was stated, being necessary because some of the automobilists have been taking speed liberties both dangerous to themselves and others and the wheels of machines have been tearing up the macadam of the roadways.

"I was going to suggest giving automobiles additional days on the drive," spoke up Mr. Hudson.

"Don't do it, for I would not be in favor of giving them any more days," objected Mr. Fuller.

Labels: automobiles, Cliff drive, Park board

March 26, 1907

AUTOS AND THE CLIFF DRIVE.

All Day Thursday and Tuesday and
Saturday Afternoons Set Aside.

Automobile owners may hereafter use Cliff Drive every Thursday, all day, and Tuesday and Saturday afternoons. The new order was made yesterday by the park board.

The drive in the past has been given over to automobilists on Wednesday, but this has not been satisfactory to owners of machines engaged in business pursuits and yesterday the club members asked that Sunday and two week days be accorded them on the drive. The board objected to automobiles on the drive on Sunday as that day is used more than any other day for carriage travel, and finally compromised by making Thursday a full day and half days of Tuesday and Saturday for automobiles.

Labels: automobiles, Cliff drive, Park board

March 19, 1907

ASK FOR ONE MORE DAY.

Automobile Owners Want to Use

Cliff Drive on Sundays.

The Kansas City Automobile Club, which, by virtue of permission of the board of park commissioners, has unlimited possession of Cliff drive each Wednesday of every week for the use of autos, yesterday petitioned the board to have Sunday added to its privileges. The communication accompanying the request set forth that busy business men owning automobiles cannot avail themselves of Wednesday to use the drive, and if they are to enjoy it they must have Sundays when they are not occupied with commercial responsibilities. The request was laid aside until all the members of the board can be consulted.

Labels: amusement, automobiles, Cliff drive, Park board