Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-22

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Last Saturday a collision occurred al the
corner of Ninth and F streets between two
motor cars of the Metropolitan road as a
result of misunderstanding of the signals
that are supposed to give the right of way
at such points to one car or another. Re-
Gently motor car of the same road collided
with horse-car On Pennsylvania avenue
from the same cause. a Misunderstanding
of the signals.
These two accidents. which fortunately
strongly to the need of an enforcement of
the regulation adopted by the Commission
ers some months ego that gives them the
power to compel the rapid transit street
railway companies to station flagmen at
points where two such lines cross. The
original regulation on this subject was
peremptory but was not enforced and an
amendment lately adopted and promul-
gated declared it to be unlawful for rapid
transit car or train to be propelled over
such crossing after the Commissioners
had directed the stationing there of flag
man. Thus as far the police rules now
stand there is nothing to prevent the en-
fcrcement of the flagman system at once
and this should be done.
The signal system upon which the roads
have been running for some time is based
on the theory that four intellects are more
reliable than one. and that it Is practically
impossible for the series of bell-strokes
given by griImen CT nrotorn.en and con-
ductors to be misunderstood. The recent
accidents effectually disprove this assump-
ton. When such accidents occur as a result
OF Misunderstanding ii Is practically i'm
possible to fix the responsibility upon one
Of the four men who form the chain of
s1gnallings.
The solitary fagman. stationed close to
the intersection of the tracks, has a clear
view OF all the conditions. He has but one
duty, that Of giving signs to the car that is
entitled first to pass. He is not distracted
by questions of gripping or loosening cables
regulating currents, or avoiding pedestri-
ans. Trained to the duty of dispatchlng
the cars, he can be relied upon to greater
degree of certainty than can the four men
who. in each instance of disputed Roadway
under the present system, must distract
their attention from their normal duties to
work out distinct problem.
The railroads themselves should long ago
have observed the economy of the fiagman
system. especially in view of the possibility
of such accidents as that of Saturday night,
which net only destroyed valuable property
but blockaded one line for an hour. That
accident alone probably cost in damages
and lost traffic more than enough to pay
the services of the lagmen necessary at
that crossing for the next twelve months
but even If it did not, if the cost was
trIfiing. II should serve as a warning of the
danger that eventually this so-called system
of signals will cause a collision with heavy
money damage and perhaps a loss of life.
The public's interest, however, is to be
alone considered by the Commissioners in
their contemplation of the matter. The
safety of the passengers comes first and
next the public convenience. which may. as
on Saturday. tie seriously interfered with
by the blocking of traffic for a long period.
Under such circumstances, with the prac-
teal demonstration of the inefficiency of
the signal system now clearly afforded by
the corporation that devised and strenu-
ously supported 1t, no time should be lost
in the issuance of an order compelling the
stationins of fagmen at every rapid transit
crossing in town. This Is all the more nee
essary in view of the fact that the Capital
Traction lines will soon be again running
en- a rapid-transit bass and the danger at
certain congested points will be greater
than ever before.