The Washington herald., 1911-11-26
RULES AND REGULATIONS DESCRIBED

work in that great city, in which the foot
and mounted police were utilized, which
has received the highest commentator
from all interested sources. The under
taking consisted in the adoption of what
is known as the block system, which did
away with former indIscriminate meth
DDS, and which was followed by greater
regularity in movements and alternate
crossings at intersections by vehicles.
Eno's suggestions Followed.
The education Of owners and drivers
in conformity with the innovation called
for rules and their dissemination, and
the commissioner was afforded support
in their formation, under adverse cir
cumstances, by William Phelps Emo, q
gentleman of culture and means. and an
enthusiast on the subject of street traf-
fic. This was in I9OO-19O3 The splendid
beginning had in the busy metropolis
steadily advanced under the guidance of
Commissioner Bugher, of the same de-
partment, and that great whirlpool OF
social life and commercialism to-day is
said to excel the original standard, Lon
don. in respect to traffic control.
The action of the New York authori-
ties prompted renewed activity on the
part of other municipalities in the mat
ter of systematic conduct of moving
vehicles, and Washington, St. Louis,
Chicago Detroit. Louisville, and cities
of lesser population were forward in
making endeavOr to improve upon in
ferior methods. Not only were modern
rules of the road authorized. and the
police and public informed in accord
anCe with them, but specially selected
members of the police forces were as
signed to these important duties. In
many Jurisdictions the effectiveness of
the control is somewhat lessened by the
inadequaCy of the police forces nu-
merically. Where the area of jurisdic-
ton is extensive and the demands for
general purposes are such as to require
an elaborate disposal of the units of
protection. there necessarily follows a
minimum detail for traffic duty.
Police Must BE Alert.
Where ignorance and Indifference on
the part of drivers is eXtant and the
police deficiency exists, there will fol-
low not only a want of education as to
the laws and regulations, but a conse-
quent nonobservance of them on the
principle that a policeman out of sight
is out of mind. lnadequacy in police
numbers is, in a measure, overcome by
the employment of bicycle and motor
cycle mounts, although the ability OF an
officer to exercise full directing capacity
Is ldIBely ullnInlSned II he must at the
same time care for his wheel
No city, perhaps. presents the extensive
area of surface for travel and control
as does that of Washington. where ave
nues $50 feet in width converge or in
tersect with streets ~ feet in width
Such convergings call for the service Of
three officers to creditably protect and
direct at congested places. and with
limited police force protecting nearly
seven square miles of settled territory
the difficulties TO be encountered are at
once apparent
The speed law is strictly enforced by
a bicycle corps Of sixty policemen, d.
vided into two divisions for service in a
period of sixteen hours, except that ten
OF these are held a station houses as
reserves for emergency calls. These men
are mounted on bicycles OF uniform de-
sign and attached thereto are speedome-
ters. which are tested as to their &C
'uraCy once a month. On the reading Of
these instruments the courts base their
decisions as to speed law violations.
Some idea of the accomplishments Of this
magnificent body of civic guardians may
ne had when 1t is known that the fines
n court. the result of their efforts az
yregate from $4,000 to $40, 400 a year in a
Jurisdiction including about $4,000 people !
These bicycle men are instructed to en-
force the laws and regulations against |