The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-26
C. A. Willard Designs Rod to BE
Shot Out From Rear of a Car
to Save Persons From
Danger on Parallel
Track.

10 prevent SlIebt-CtT dSl4ASiLS- "hNtV -
sons pass around the rear platform and step
| In front of another car approaching from
the opposite direction a parallel track.
c. A. willard of No. 5s+i West Cabanne ave-
nue. has invented device to serve as an ac-
tual restraining guard as we'll as n warning.
Tho device is in,the form Of rod which
may be shot out fspm the rear of Il car. the
rod to be more than long enough to reach
across the sidewalk crossing where 4 car
stops.
At night the rod would be equipped with
| an electric light.
| The continuance can be operated by the
nrotorn,an opening a valve on the front
platform.
| Throwing the rod into position is accom-
pl.shed in second. or before the car has
! time to run its own length, even at high
rate OF speed.
This quickness of action is designed to
make it impossible for 4 person to get be-
hind a car in time to be struck by the pole
| o. roc.
Motormer would be required to throw the
| rod into position before reaching n crossing
| whenever a car is approaching from an OPP
posite direction on the adjoining track.
The patents were granted recently and
| Mr.. Willard is now negotiating with vari-
| Gus street railway systems to place the de-.
vice in use many lines.
The inventor is Il retired lumber merchant.
| in comfor;a circumstances.
| In working on the device he has thought
| less of possible emoluments than of saving
| life and limb.
WITNESSED ACCIDENTS.
Living in the West End and using the
| cars constantly on comparatively long trips
out to the county line, he has made a study
| Of the traffic After witnessing several ac-
cjdents he became resolved to do something.
| il possible. to reduce the number.
| 1t is estimated that about one-third Of
sons stepping. from behind one car in front
| of another. Mr.. Willard has saved a clip
ping from The Republic on this subject,
motorman saying:
Il never come to crossing to pass
| hating car headed in the other direction
but imagine l will run over some one.
That is where the greatest danger lies
| for running down persons Experienced
ones know that when they pass behind one
| may be coming there. Not all are expe-
| rienced, however, and primarily most nf the
| experienced folks are sometimes careless.
They make motormen sweat blood in keep
| ing a sharp lookout
BY the use Of a tail rod. such as he has
invented. Mr.. Willard says these accidents
The rod would not be projected unless
car is approaching from the opposite direc-
ton and knowing this the public would be
person from crossing Immediately behind
the car. where the danger is greatest. be-
cause view of the other track IS entirely
shut off. BY the time a pedestrian circled
around to the end of the pole he might
catch glance of the other car. even If he
We're not aware that the fact of the pole be-
ing extended meant that there was dan
ger.
TO PAY FOR EXPERIMENT
Mr.. Willard last week opened negotiations
with the Transit Company to give his de-
vice trial
Il have offered to pay the expense of the
experiment" said Mr.. Willard. land feel
confident that trial would show the
tire practicability and virtue of this safe
guard.
Accidents of the kind which my inven-
ton would prevent occur evey few days.
know of so many that l am deeply anxious
to be of some use in preventing occurrences.
Experts have pronounced the mechanism
pressed air. with which modern street cars
are equipped. II is also operated just as
easily by electricity.
Il am in correspondence with Eastern
lines, and also with parties in Cleveland,
o.. who indcrse the apparatus. and say that
It would reduce accidents by one-third. This
is all care for. desire to prevent 50 many
persons from losing their lives being
crippled
A. B. du Pont. vice president. and John
Grant superintendent of the Transit Com
pany, have taken Mr.. Wizards invention
under advlsement. but are not yet ready
to give a decision
As an advantage to street railway serv-
ice. Mr.. Willard points out that the device
would enable the cars to make better sched-
ules. He says:
ut is of the utmost Importance to move
cars rapidly and regularly.
ITO this end carefully calculated sched-
ules are arranged, but cannot be enforced
owing to the loss of time in slowing down
on meeting cars from which passengers are
alighting: the passengers not seeing the
approaching danger. are liable to step in
front of a moving car Just as are ordinary
pedestrians. who reach a crossing and at
tempt to pass behind a car that has
stopped.
1.-THE use of the safety guard saves this
loss Of time, and makes possible regular