Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-05
BY HOWARD FISK,

By dUWAkU FISK.
HE District Commissioners and
Maj. Richard Sylvester, super
intendent of police, are report
ed as giving consideration to
an entirely new set of traffic
regulations. governing nearly every phase
of traffic over the streets of the National
Capital. That there is room for improve
ment in some of the regulations there is
no doubt On the other hand, the fact that
there has been dee .dct; Improvement in
handling of traffic during the last year
must not be overlooked. 1t has been the
constant aim OF Mai. Sylvester. to have
the city equipped with a modern, up-to-
date traffic squad. Year after year he
has appealed to Congress for an appro-
priation to cover this branch of the serv-
repeatedly turned down. With the impro-
yised squad, such as it is. composed of
bike" men, motorcycle cops and mounted
men, drivers of teams and motorists have
taken heed to the warnings and conse-
quently have assisted materially in safe
guarding the public.
\ year ago there appeared in this col
umn plats showing the proper and inn
proper methods of turning street COR
nerS, passing vehicles on the road, turn
ing at circles and turning vehicles be-
tween crossings, which materially aided
the members of the force and the special
crossing policemen stationed at the rari-
GUS downtown street car crossings. The
crossing men have been invaluable in car
rying out the instructions of the police
department when it came to teams and
motorists driving on the wrong side of
the street, cutting corners too sharply
and lodging In front of street cars at
crossings, much to the peril of life
and limb. Drivers and motorists dls-
obeying the regulations at these points
are warned, their names and addresses
taken and, in the case of automobiles,
the number of the machine recorded.
Second offenses result in the violators be-
ing hailed to court.
An evidence of the necessity for a
change in at least a few OF the present
regulations is shown by the recent ex-
perience of a we'll known motorist of this
city. who has been plotting motor cars
ever since they first made their appear
ance here. The incident occurred in
front OF the National Theater. and to
say that the motorist was amazed at the
regulation is putting 1t mildly. a theater
party, in a large touring car, approached
the entrance from the 18th street side,
with the right wheels of the machine
close to the curb. according to the gen
eral regulations. AS tho motorist pulled
UP in front of the entrance for his pas
sengers to alight, he was promptly ad
mOnlshed for approaching from the east
and was informed that the regulations
called for vehicles to approach from the
west. 1t has been suggested that at this
point traffic be suspended and detours
made when, for instance, an audience is
niing out.
According to William Phelps Emo of
this city, who last year investigated traf-
fic conditions in London and Paris, and
introduced the system now in vogue in
New York city, the keynote to econom-
|ical. efficient and easy street traffic is
the education Of the drivers, the more
free distribution OF copies of the regula-
lions and the placing Of standards in
prominent places on the sidewalks.
In recent interview on the subject Mr..
Emo said:
THE assertion may seem strange to a
great many. but it is O fact that the gen.
erOus width of Washingtons streets and
the ordinarily well-scattered travel Of We
hicles and automobiles make a set of
carefully drawn traffic regulations for the
Nations Capital almost a necessity.
Ordinarily, 1t is congested condition
of city's streets which requires that the
COuStdHl supervision OF Inc ponce Depart
ment be enforced. not only to insure the
safety Of pedestrians, but to obviate the
occurance OF collisions and annoying
blockades of vehicles in the roadways
In Washington the need of traffic regu-
lations remains. hut for the opposite rea-
son. Wide avenues and comparatively I'M
congested thorOughfares are the breeders
OF carelessness in driving. With no road
rules other than custom for their guild
ance, drivers and chauffeurs grow negi-
| ernv,f <,f s.xlx<
may be utilizing the thoroughfare, with
the result that distressing accidents occur
only too often.
Just educate the drivers and you
would soon find that they would take
care of the regulations themselves No
| class of employees in the world takes
greater pride in finding out the pro-
prieties and observing them than the
drivers of passenger equipages and
automobiles. and it is an observable
fact that they frown down and even
| reprimand persons working beside them
who persist in being outlaws of the
| roadway. Furnish all drivers with a
copy of simply devised traffic rules, and
l am satisfied that you will soon find
a large number OF policemen unneces-
sary in seeing that they are enforced.
Every driver. as rule. takes pride in
good behavior while on a city's streets
with his vehicle. OF course, the handlers
] of tradesnens teams are less particular
| In their observances. but good example,
possibly followed by darts from a Sharp
tongue, soon bring them to time"
l
:.
| One week hence-the week commencing
Monday, February IS. to be exact-the
second annual national automobile
show will be thrown open to the pub
lie. All of the contracts have been
closed, and all that now remains is to
haul the exhibition cars to the floor
of the auditorium. The decorative
| features have been announced and ap-
proved by the show committee, and the
contract for the concert music, after
moons and evenings, prepared by Prof.
Will A. Haley
The signs and decorations this year
| will be distinctive feature, and will
be vast improvement over last sea-
sons exhibit. These will be furnished
by the show committee, the exhibitors
being permitted to use only their own
| floor coverings and flower decorations.
/ The signs, which will be uniform in
size. will be Of ground glass and gold.
with blue backgrounds. One will hang
over each exhibit. The various local
dealers are busily engaged in prepar-
ing their cars for the show, and from
present reports there will be some nifty
looking cars on exhibition. A number
of the dealers have surprises In store
| in this connection, and will not an
nounce their plans in advance. That
the exhibition will far surpass the one
given last year is an assured fact
There will be no aeroplanes On dis
play this year, and all Of the space
will be devoted to the display OF cars
and automobile accessories.
I ffoa q 0f the show Is