New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-16
D4yGEROUS SPEEDS.
radiation.

Dr. Louis Bell, a well known electrical expert
living in Boston, discusses for the readers vi
"'Tbe Newly oFk Electrical Review the Dangers
attending the development OF high speeds oy
trolley cars and automobiles He does so Win
such intelligence as to deserve CONSIDERATION
even if we do not entirely agree with MS con-
cIusions Whether the number OF fatallues on
electric railways is still on the increase, as Dr
Bell imacines. or has already attained its maxi
mum can be determined only by statistics
Though he does not supply them, it is rot I'M
likely that he has collected figures which would
sustain the former opinion. 1t would hardly be
safe to dispute the point Besides, it is of minor
importance. The essential question is, How can
such accidents best be checked? From the Bos-
ton writer's answer there will probably be little
dissent
After sfmmering down the explanations given
bv employees and officials of electric roads for
fatal collisions one usually gets a residue OF
complaint against the brake. DR.. Bell thinks
that this is not altogether just. On most cars
in city streets and on country roads where ser1-
Gus mishaps occur, the brakes are, in his judg-
ment, what they ought to be- and are inspected
with adequate frequency. He also credits the
average motorman with intelligence and so
briefly. The wea kest point in the system, ther
seems to be the inability of this employee to
danger should be expected. Recent tests have
shown that in order to stop car weighing eigh-
teen tons and running from twelve to eighteen
miles an hour run of from one hundred to two
hundred feet is requisite. The best kind Of
power or emergency brake will do the work in
the former distance, while hand brake needs
ali of the latter. To these figures, however, Dr.
Bell would add 90 per cent as margin OF
safety. He then strongly urges upon the man.
ayers of trolley roads the duty of disseminate
ing information concerning this revelation and
of training the men practically to know what
these distances are.
Some of Dr.. Bells recommendations concern
ing the automobile are equally excellent. They
are made timely, toO by the recent decision in
validating the New-York law designed to re-
strict speed. Perhaps the most judcious and
practicable OF his propositions looks to the in
PRODUCTION Of a clause in such statutes making
injury on the high road with a carelesSly driven
vehicle punishable. An enactment of that kind
certainly would inspire caution. 1t is further
suggested that excessive speed be made impos
sible by refusing a license for any machine
which, being officially tested. is found to be
capable of exceeding the legal limit on level
road. To this idea it will probably be objected
that such a check would deprive the automo-
bile of one of its greatest advantag eS-the abI-
ity to climb steep grades. No one who is famiI-
lar with its previous utterances on this sub
ject will suspect that The Tribune has any SYM
pathy with the kind of recklessness under dis
cussiOn; but if the objection just mentioned be
based on fact lawmakers may we'll hesitate to
disregard it. Perhaps DR.. Bells paper will
draw out helpful comment on that possibility