The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-24
REFORM BEGUN IN STREETS.
CAPT. PIPER AT WORK on THE
TRAFFIC PROBLEM.
Doing One Thing at . Ttme-InstructoFs
At broadway and Cansl Sth Avenue
and AID St.-Cruiser Cabmen-No
Cut-On Crossings Cops Must Report.

Doing one THINE ~ 1tme-s"su"es"s
At broadway and Canal; Sth Avenue
and AID St.-Crulser Cabmen-No
Cut-On Crossings-Cops Must Report.
DEPUTY Police Commissioner Alexander
Ross Piper Is rapidly evolving an epoch
marking event in the police administration
Of New York. He is the first head OF the
Police Department who has intelligentiy
and earnestly set about the solution OF
the congestion-of-traffic problem In the
streets OF New York.
At the instance Of Mayor Low he went
TO London recently to study the methods
in use in that great metropolis, where 1t
is generally admitted that vehicular move
ment in the streets is better managed than
anywhere else In the world;
Mr.. Piper went to England with letters
Of introduction which threw wide open
for him all avenues Of information on the
subject he had In hand. From Mayor Low
he had letter TO Sir Marcus Samuels,
Lord Mayor OF London. and from Sir
Michael Herbert, the British Ambassador
to this country, he had letter to Gen. Sir
Edward Bradford, the London Metropolitan
Police Commissioners. Both Gen. Brad
ford and the Lord Mayor used their great
power to the utmost to put Mr.. Piper In
contact with the greet facts OF London
street traffic regulation.
Gen. Bradford gave him letter to Capt.
Bowen. head Of the police OF the city, with
the request that the chief superintendent
be designated TO 60 with the visitor to
the most congested parts OF London and
furnish him with every facility for study
inc the problem as there handled.
Mr.. Piper Is a man Of quick observation
and gifted with a mind that draws swift
and lucid conclusions from what he sees.
He came back from England with mass OF
thoroughly digested facts In his possession
and with very clear views as to just how
far London methods could and could not
be applied to conditions existing In New
York.
1t is upon these views he is now acting
In untangling the traffic in the streets OF
New York from the chaos In which 1t has
been permitted by negligence. or worse, TO
drift, and putting it on a basis worthy OF
American civilization.
sThe subject OF a revision OF the rules
Of the road" said Mr.. Piper yesterday.
has been taken up by the Board Of Alder
men. Alderman Joseph Oatman Of the
Twenty-ninth has introduced an ordinance
bearing on the subject and Mr.. Emo. Of the
Rider and Driver, has also submitted set
OF rules. understand that Mr.. Oatman's
rules have been approved substantially
with few Of those suggested by Mr.. Emo
interpolated among them.
L have been requested by the Committee
on Laws and Legislation of the Roard Of
Aldermen, to report to them my views on
these rules now before that body for dis
cussion, and / expect to do so in a letter
which I will send In on Wednesday next.
THE conditions here are bad in many
ways and am In hopes that the observa-
lions l made in London may be Of value
In handling this subject. One OF the radi-
cal evils here is that too many wagons are
allowed to stand along the curb in direct
violation OF existing ordinances. In fact.
nearly all the abuses are the result Of vio-
lation OF existing ordinances.
1T Is not 40 much lack OF laws - the lack
Of enforcement which h the cause Of the
trouble. or course. judgment must be
used in fixing the time limit Of a wagon
standing al the curb. The law says a
time and the courts have in
q reasonable time to mean
FIVE minutes. But In loading safes or SINH
surdly short time. II IN q case where judR-
ment must be used, Just as are many other
Of the constantly occurring problems OF
traffic movement. But this lettering OF
wagons at curb- is one OF the great exist
ing evils and one that will come In for
vigorous treatment.
Beginning last Monday We have had in
operation at Canal street and Broadway
and at Forty-second street and Fifth ave-
nue. a system which will be extended 10
s..A III.
as possible. am going ahead doing one
thing at q misunderstanding patrolmen
% detail II long string OF rules Is fred
1t the patrolman In one volley the result
Is that none Of the rules is observed.
nave made a corps Of Ave instructors with
David Costigan-who has
lived in London and knows London methods
their head.
AT Canal street and broadway and at
For y-second street and fifth avenue
Tour policemen are stationed, one nj each
corner. with an Instructor la the centre 81
he street. making hye Ia all.
The plan adopted at thsse points and
which will lie extended throughout the city
l. a simple one. but effective. We hold up
he eat and west uafio on Canal street and
FOR, y-s~cond street nj times Of congestion
back az the foo, passenger crossings
Then, hen broadway and Fifth avenue are
We hold up the traffic on those
Ihoro ghfares, aiso back ~ ia. foot pas
.enker cfossihHf, uhtll 4 anal street and
Port y-seoond rireei are relieved
This prevents the hoJ,els~s tAngl.u ~
vehicles on bath siTce,s and ~ leis Irrd.s-
Trans move along Ahfn' iheir b,irin.ss
~itliout I.frfeno. Ia shsi ~. vehielss 40
lhs sire~is are doing, soInsi aug With which
I,s-iss rams have Go Uunosfu AID ffofn
sliicl they should not t,e MADE 20 slfef
'Anotl,sr thins ~ d. that hslI~ sond.f-
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IFuass and tho ias sAso,ss, k.sp olqss slons
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