Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-12
Automobiles and Horses.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
I see that The Star proposes to protect
the citizens of Washington against the
dangerous automobiles and does not mean
to discontinue its efforts to have heavy
fines imposed. Why stop with the automo-
bile? A far greater percentage of people
are injured by horses than by autos, but
suppose these accidents are compared to
the automobile accidents as the cable car
accidents used to be compared to those of
the then called deadly trolley
The present police regulations require
that the starting levers of automobiles be
locked when a machine is left unattended
Horses are left unhitched, however, and as
a result many runawayS occur. resulting in
damage to property and injury to people
For instance, l see that horse ran away
in Anacostia, colliding with a buggy and
with wagon. and throwing a lady from
the latter, causing serious injury. Both We
hicles were damaged. l have been called
upon to appear as a witness In suit Tor
damages as result of the running away
of an unhitched team. It collided with and
painfully injured a horse standing by the
curb. then ran on and demolished buggy
Last Friday there was lively runaway on
F street from 9th to 18th, another I'M
hitched horse. An automobile running wild
would probably not go more than block
before striking a building the curb and
coming to a standstill. The only runaway
auto l ever saw simply went across the
street and collded with a tree. l have seen
horses run for squares. however, leaving
destruction in their paths. The truth of the
matter is that horse runaways are so COM
mon that they are not considered newsy
enough to receive publication. Now, II
these horse runaways are dangerous The
Star should endeavor to protect the public
against them. but if it is not dangerous for
horses to run wild then it is surely not
dangerous for horses to speed to their ut
most when being driven, and the regula-
tons against fast driving should be with
drawn. l see that two arrests for fast
driving were made on Saturday last.
l can't see why accidents from horses are
so easily overlooked and nothing done TO
prevent incompetent drivers from appear
Ing on the streets unaccompanied by skill
full drivers, as is required in the case OF
automobiles. little girl was recently run
oyer in front of a school building. The
driver made off and is still unknown. HAD
a number been displayed on the rear of
his carriage he could have been located. A
wagon ran over a baby carriage on Satur-
day completely demolishing 1t, but fortu-
nately not injuring the child. Had this
been an automobile the operator would have
been in danger of losing his license as in
competent. 1t was a horse-drawn wagon,
however and was overlooked
Now as to this matter of red lamps on
the rear of machines. 1 suppose they are
to prevent rear-end collisions. If this Is
the case then they should be required While
the auto is standing as well as when 1t Is
in notion for there is as much. If not more.
likelihood of an accident. If TINS is agreed
then horse-drawn vehicles should carry
these red lights also. as there is surely just
as much danger of their not being seen as
an auto without lamp, and the damage
from a collision would be just as great L
can recall an instance of a bicycle running
into the rear of a buggy standing unseen
in dark part of the street.
Now, in conclusion, l suggest that The
Star treat this matter fairly, bring the
"horse" accidents as we'll as those of the
automobiles, and not prejudice the public
against the latter.
HORACE c. CHANDLER.