Evening star., 1901-02-25
THE HORSELESS VEHICLES
REGULATIONS GOVERNING THEM IN
OTHER CITIES.
Response to Request of Commission
ers for InfOrmatiOn-InF Foreign
Countries.

The District Commissioners, in response
to their recent request have received letters
from the mayors of a number of cities rela-
tive to regulations governing the operation
of horseless vehicles The mayors of Phil
adelphia, Detroit, Buffalo. Boston and IN
dianapOlis write that the number or such
vehicles in their respective cities nave not
been such as to cause the making or any
ordinances respecting them. Mayor
FTeischmann of Cincinnati, however IN
closed a copy of an ordinance passed Jan
uary IS 1901 to regulate the operations OF
automobiles in the city streets This ordl-
nance requires every automobile to carry
lighted lantern between sunset and sunrise,
the light to be visible at least 300 feet dis
tant. These vehicles must also have at
tached whistle or alarm bell. to he sound
ed on approaching and crossing intersect-
ing streets. The speed is restricted to eight
miles an hour, and no two are allowed to be
operated abreast except upon special per-
m IS ion IF the chief of police. they are not
permitted to interfere with any vehicle or
member of the fire department or salvage
corps going to or returning from call. A
fine net exceeding 81 Is the penalty tor
violation of any OF the provisions of this
ordinance.
Foreign Countries.
The Commissioners are also in receipt
frcm the Department of State of consular
reports giving regulations governing the
operatiou of horseleSs vehicles in England
France. Belgium and Spain. The regula-
tions in force in Paris require thf Nehlcles
to be 50 constructed as not to allow any
matter to escape which might cause eH-
pluSiuuS or unpleasant smells, IrlSnteh
horses or OBJ struct the view of the driver
They must carry lights after dark, ana
h. i1ti
so arranged that the driver operator can
work them without taking his eyes OH tne
route he is following. and each Vehlcle
must he D-nyided with TWO distinct systems
of brakes. each capable of shutting off au-
tnmatica, ly the force of the motor anu
bringing it under instant contfol. one tt
least of these systems must act dlrecuy OH
the wheels or aXleS in such manner as
Ia hiring them Immediately to a standstlli
All carriages exceeding 80 pounds IN
weight must be able to reverse the!r ma
chnery and run backward. The name ana
address of the maker and owner of the We
hicIe must be displayed on it. and the oper-
atOr must slow down, or, II necessary STOP
each time the vehicle may be the cause OF
an accident, of disorder, or of an INTERRUPT
tion of the traffic. In narrow or crowded
thOrouphfares the speed must be reduced
to walking pace. The approach of the We
hicle must. if necessary, be S'Shdleu ny
trumpet and each one must be proVlded
with TWO lamps, a white one and d green
one. ,., g.,
In Chemnitz the speed of automobiles is
not allowed to exceed that of an ordinary
trotting horse and no one shall run an au-
tomobile faster than horse walks on leaV-
fnf, buildings or sheds bordering on the
street. during church service in the neigh
horhnod of churches, in places where there
is large foot traffic. or where fast dr!Flns
is forbidden, and the automobiles Shaii hot
he left unattended on the street. In SPAN
automobiles are taxed, the tax beng reSu-
lated according to the size of the cities. IN
Belgium one weighing $50 pounds or more
is taxed 500 a year, while those uhoeT tna' i
uaiabt are taxed $3.50 per annum. Regu-
1ations similar TO those in force In Paris are
enforced in England and Ireland.