The San Francisco call., 1908-12-18
SUPERVISORS TEST
LIFE SAVING GUARD
Practical Demonstration Made
on Cars in Presence of United
Railroads Officials
j. A. Range Allows Himself to
Be Picked Up While Motor
man Makes Speed

The public utilities committee of the
board of supervisors, several other
members of the board, and some of the
city trustees and public officials of
Berkeley watched practical tests of
car tenders and safety guards at the
Mission cutoff near Tenth street yes
terday afternoon.
Two tenders were attached and prac-
tical demonstrations made under the
supervision of General Manager Black
and Thornwell Mutually of the United
Railroads, and five more devices of diff
ferent design will be tested before the
committee finally selects the one which
will be put into general use in this
city.
An unusual and particularly daring
demonstration was made by the agent,
j. A Range, for one of the Devices who
allowed himself to be picked up by the
guard while the car was running at a
speed of 8 or 10 miles an hour. He
expressed his willingness to cross the
track in front of q car making a speed
of Is miles an hour
AGENT THROWN UNINJURED
Range made his demonstrations at
different angles and at different speeds
walking in front of the car, which
approached him from behind; crossing
close to the guard, and approaching the
car diagonally from the side. In each
test the apparatus worked perfectly
and the man was thrown uninjured into
the cradle like receptacle.
This device consists of a resilient
spring back and rubber roller ex-
tending in front of cage like arrange
ment of steel bands. The roller is
placed about five inches above the
track, and this bar, striking the ankles
of the pedestrian, throws him back
ward and releases a spring that brings
the front up at an angle This move
ment sends the mans head and body
against the spring back, which coll
lapses and forms V shaped cage in
which he is held securely The re-
siliency of the springs and rubber parts
renders the impact practically without
concussion.
The second fender was not tested
in this way, but was merely tried as
to its adaptability for hills. 1t was
found to drag on the ascent of the
grades in Haight street leaving Market.
Some of the other devices which were
examined by the utilities committee
have not as yet been put to practical
test. They were operated by emergency
air brakes and others automatically.
Thornwell Mutually and Manager
Black Of the United Railroads pointed
out the deficiencies of each of the
fcnders and showed that the sweep
outward of the guards, most of which
extended about three feet in front of
the car was a menace to traffic, par
ticularly in the crowded districts and
rounding curves.
Most of the supervisors believed that
both of the tenders tested were dis
tinct improvements and would save
many lives, but Mullally said that the
fender problem never had been worked
out satisfactorily.
MULLALLY STATES OBJECTION
TN New York, where the traffic is
particularly thick 1t has been found
impracticable to use a fender that
projects out in front OF the car said
Mutually, "and at present, after test
ing everything. they are running cars
without tenders"
Supervisors Johnson, Murphy and Nc
Leran said that it was their purpose
to select the fender which was most
suited to the needs of San Francisco
and that one or the other of those un-
der inspection probably would be
chosen.
Hundreds OF lives are being lost in
streetcar accidents in this city, said
Johnson, "and any of these tenders is
fender that proves to be the best for
live saving. Something has got to be
DONE
The objections pointed out by the
streetcar officials said Murphy. "such
as the sticking on the grades, are no,
serious and can be remedied This is
merely matter Of adjustment. We
will get a report from the New York
public service commission before choos-
ing fender. They have all these
types there, and a thorough test will
be made"