Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-19
SPEED OF CARS IS
PROBED BY BOARD
PUBLIC HEARING ON SUBJECT
WILL BE HELD
Absence of Signals at Pacific Electric
Road and Street intersections
Cause of Four Deaths,
Is Statement Made

The matter of regulating the speed
of electric cars in the city limits,
which was brought to the attention of
the city council by a petition from the
Sixth Ward Improvement association
complaining of the reckless disregard
by the Pacific Electric company of the
speed ordinance on its Long Beach
and Watts lines, was taken under ad-
Visement yesterday afternoon by the
board of public utilities, to which the
petition was referred for a public hear
ing and investigation. Citizens living
on the Long Beach line near the YER
non crossing, ]. Mcmillan, general man
aGer of the Pacific Electric company,
and Samuel Haskins, it's attorney; Les
lie Hewitt, city attorney, and j. W.
Shenk, assistant city attorney, were
present, besides members of the board
of public utilities.
The petition, which is in the form of
a complaint by the Improvement as
socaition of the violation of the speed
ordinances of the city by the Pacific
Electric company, states that by rea-
son Of that violation and the failure to
establish gates, signals and watchmen
at the most dangerous crossings the
company has forfeited its franchise.
1t is also stated in the petition that
four deaths have been caused in the
last six months, due to the absence
of signals at the different intersections
of streets and the terrific rate of speed
maintained by the cars on the Long
Beach and interurban lines of the Pa
cific Electric.
A letter from the city attorney to
the commission was read, informing
that body of the speed specified in the
5ifo xxrbi fap Chn1IlH mainf ain
in different parts of the city. 1t is
also the suggestion of the city attorney
that if a new speed ordinance is drawn
a clause be inserted that in case of the
failure of the companies to obey 1t
they be criminally prosecuted for each
violation.
Company Officials Appear
n. l.. Blabon. president of the Sixth
Ward Improvement association, and
Sperry Baker, secretary. presented
their side of the question. ]. Mcmillan,
general manager of the Pacific Electric
company, in speaking Of the affairs,
stated the company was willing to do
whatever the commission suggested
1--WE placed bells at different crossings
in Los Angeles and Pasadena and we
were forced to take them down because
of the complaints of those living near
the bells that they were annoyed by
the constant ringing. If the commits
sion finds it is necessary that we
should place watchmen at the different
intersections we will do that. We have
as much regard for the lives of persons
as any one and we do not take pleasure
in killing people. But the question of
rapid transit is the main question to be
considered. Those living in the beach
towns want to get to Los Angeles as
quickly as possible. If we are COM
PEELED to slow down to eight miles an
hour at every street crossing, which is
now the ordinance, we will not be able
to give those living outside of the city
the service they demand"
Fred Sutherland, 174S East Forty-sixth
street, told of several occasions on
which he has rescued several persons
from being run down by the cars on
that line, which he said were going at
least sixty miles an hour and which
approached the crossings without sig
mailing.
After hearing both sides of the ques-
tion the commission decided to take
the matter under adVisement and make
report later.
The board of public utilities has been
giving much attention to the matter
of protection at the dangerous railroad
crossings throughout the city. 1t was
by the advice of the board that the
council passed the ordinance compelling
the placing of bells and gates at Also
street on both sides of the river.
w. F. Sloan, telephone engineer for
the railroad commission of Wisconsin,
has been chosen by the public utilities
board to aid in local work. Sloan, who
is considered a most competent man in
his profession, will leave for Los An
geles February "a, and will remain here
sixty or ninety days.