Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-19
|VEN RAW DEAL" LIGHTS ON VEHICLES
diana Official Accuses Agr Rule Extended to Everything
cultural Department on wheels Drawn by Horse.
BENZOATE OF SODA CASE 10 GO INTO EFFECT SOON
General Says State Was Of Accidents and Puts
Hampered in Every Way End to Criticism.
|, WILEY ON STAND AGAIN OLD PROBLEM DISPOSED OF
Commissioners johnson Regua
Show Witness Is Not Expert uon Up
On Subject sulting Police Chief
Rule Extended to Everything
on Wheels Drawn by Horse.
10 GO INTO EFFECT SOON
Preventive Of Accidents and Puts
End to Criticism.
OLD PROBLEM DISPOSED OF
Commissioner johnson Has Regula-
ton Drawn Up After Con-
sulting Police Chief.

4 SASA 0Ao" >eAsSA
sulting Police Chief.
To prevent accidents and to stop criti-
cism directed against the regulation which
forces automobiles to carry lights, while
carriages may dash along any street or
road with no light at all. the Commits
sioners today decided to make every
| horse-drawn vehicle carry bright lights
at night on every road and street within
| the District OF Columbia.
When this order goes into effect-prob-
ably within thirty days-then there will
be nothing on wheels except baby car
| riagee. push carts and the like which may
travel after dark without proper lights.
Text Of Regulation.
The regulation will read as follows:
Every horse-drawn vehicle upon any
public road, space or street. avenue or al
ley In the District Of Columbia, whether
at rest or in motion. shall display, be-
tween one-half hour after sunset and sun
rise brightly lighted lamps, so placed as
to be plainly visible from the front and
sides thereof for a distance OF 200 feet.
and in the case OF public vehicle, hack
VI CdD. 50 pidCtu dS W pidlHiy OlsCiOSG
its number at distance Of twenty feet"
There is no change whatsoever in the
regulations regarding lights on motor ve-
hicles.
s2issioners for several years, and has re-
ceived the especial study Of Commissioner
Johnston, who has had the advice of
Maj. Sylvester on the subject. The police
chief is especially keen to see the regula-
tions In effect and explained just why in
talk with Star reporter this morn
ing.
Maj. Sylvester's Views
While the police regulations already in
force" lie said. have brought about
marvellous changes upon the streets and
thoroughfares-notably In observing the
rules Of the road as to the right and left
side. the slowing down Of motor vehicles
at intersecting streets and congested
points. the stopping with wheels next to
the curb on the business thoroughfares-
there are several matters yet to be ac-
complished before Washington can claim
to be a model city in this regard.
The operation Of about 6.0O0 motor We
hicles upon the streets makes another
and miskaps incident to this largely aug
mented mode OF travel call for all pre-
cautions that possibly can be had with
reason, looking to the systematizing of
tne movements OF venlCleS on the streets
and in the various parks.
Record Of Accidents.
During the nine months which ended
July 81. 1910. there were 2S9 miscella-
neous automobile accidents. There were
66 collisions between automobiles and ami
mal-drawn vehicles. and 16 cases where
animal drawn vehicles came together
with motor vehicles
The total number of automobile acct.
dents in that period was 81, and six
deaths resulted. During the same period,
from July l, 1909. to July 81, 1910. there
were 6Ss accidents attributable to ami
mal-drawn vehicles; 16 collisions Of
animal-drawn vehicles with motor vehicles
and 66 automobile collisions with AMI
mal-drawn vehicles, total OF 1876
There were deaths resulting from ac-
cidents to animal-drawn vehicles
I'm the year 1908 there were 1s1 motor
vehicle accidents. 10 of which were se-
rious. and / death. There were $50
other vehicle accidents, 119 serious, and
) deaths.
In 1900 there were o74 motor vehicle
| accidents, - OF which were serious, and
= deaths. Other vehicle accidents in 19Oo
$50, 73 Of which were serious. and ii
deaths.
Commissioner johnson Convinced.
I'm brief. the situation is such that
Commissioner Johnston, following upon
the reports heretofore given. as submit
ted by the police department, was de-
cidedly of opinion that the time had
come when this city should be modern
and up-to-date in the precautions to be
taken for the preservation OF life and
vehicles upon the public streets. after
giving the matter serious considera-
| ton. the corporation counsel was called
upon to prepare new regulations on this
days after final approval, which win
| mean the latter part OF October.
The changes incident to placing liehts
on vehicles will. OF course, incur some
expense to owners and operators. but
| what is fair to the motor vehicle. II IN
contended. should be fair for the Vehicle
opearted by horse power, as 1t Is plainiy
shown that accidents result from both
| sources.
There have been many serious acci-
dents In Potomac Park. Rock creek
| Park. and other suburban places where
prominent drives prevail. Many OF those
| who own horses and who drove through
out these parks in buggies and carriages
reason OF the danger of being crushed
into by motor-propelled vehicles
Opinion Of Corporation Counsel.
THE corporation counsel. in preparing
| the new regulation, has submitted a brief
He states:
THAT under the power vested In the
Commissioners to regulate the movement
of vehicles on the public streets and
avenues for the preservation Of order and
protection OF life and limb. and the power
| to make and enforce all such reasonable
| and useful police regulations as the Com
missioners may deem necessary for the
/ protection OF lives. limbs. health. COM
| fort and quiet OF all persons, and the
protection Of all property within the Dis
/ trict of Columbia
| This fully shows the authority con-
| ferred by Congress for the inauguration
1 of this movement
1T will undoubtedly mean additional
! duties for the police and the permit
| clerk in the issuance OF numbers, but Il
/ is believed that the favorable results In
the saving of lives, limbs and property
will many times over repay for placing
into effect this admirable scheme.
i '.In other respects the institution OF
/ these new regulations are In keeping with
modern ordinances In the principal cities
/ OF the United States and Europe.
] .sOur sister city. Baltimore. requires