New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-10
PIpFR'S WORK In AVENUE
MOVES LIKE CLOCKWORK.
WonderfM Change an Traffic at
Forty-second-St- Crossing.

From a state Of inextricaiole confusion, 4 tam
gle OF carriages, streetcars and pedestrians, the
traffic al the important Fifth-ave. crossings is
gradually being brought 60 an orderly flow OF
vehicles. With the regulation OF trafic intro
duced by Deputy Commissioner Piper. and the
new rules of the road in force, the poor FOOT
traveller now has chance to cross the avenue
without being run down by careless drivers.
There has been a notable improvement since
the Police Department began the regulation OF
traffic. This was particularly noueeaDle yes
ferday afternoon at Forty-seoOnd-st and Fllh-
ave. where there has been an increase OF the
detail 10 six patrolmen
In the early morning and late afternoon 'he
congestion OF traffic at this point useo 10 DC
chaos A surging. twisting, turning mass %
carriages and cabs fought to pass or turn lo inc
cross street; horses crowded against eaeh othe,'
rouebt. the drivers sNore and dashed at each
other. streetcars were held up or slowly pusheu
,heir way through the crush by sheer weight
Through this vast entanglement pedestrians
taking their lives in their hands. had 10 WORM
their way Dodging n great dray only 10 Hiu
themselves caught between two carriages Il
they were fortunate they would at last emerge
mud spattered and breathless. on the othe' siUe
Accidents more or less serious. were frequent
=, tba course Of n year deaths from crossing
accidents played small part In the ponce
records.
There was nothing of this sort yesterday,
While the traffic at its heaviest WIN
continuous stream OF carriages moving uptown
and a procession almost as large OF cans
delivery wagons and stages going down. win
The home going throng crossing to the GraIu
Central Station and the elevated stations, there
was none OF the oldtime delay. There was
,,one Of The desperate scurrying TO cross the
street Instead TWO bIuecoated men controlled
she traffic in each street, while two others at
5enaed to pedestrians. warning off with uphiteo
sryn too inpatient drivers Women were eS-
corted across. while men had no difficulty IN
getting across on their own account
There was a policeman in Fifth-ave. below
Forty-second-st., and another just above lhe
cross street while there was also a bluecoat
nm. each side OF Fifth-ave. in Forty-Secohd-sL
The four handled the streams of vehicles with
out difficulty. Two with rowing commissions
,rera left free 70 watch the pedestrians and re-
strain the ardent temperament of the impetuous
drivers with tendency TO disregard the rules
pf the road. The only break in the up and
down flow OF carriages was when one turned
s117o Fortv-second-st. This, which before the po-
lice took hold would have required endless
,rsnoeuvring and considerable time. yesterday
was ACCOMPLISHED without difficulty scarcely
holding I'D the stream Of traffic.
Al the blowing Of a policeman's whistle the
traffic I'D and down FIfth-ave would stop, and
The crosrtown travel would have chance. The
cars. the carriages ana the people hurrying
home crossed without having to watch in sew
eral directions in order to escape wheels. Know
ing there were policemen there TO watch for
Them they crossed safely. hardly thinking of
the remarkable change from the conditions OF
year ago.