Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-06-02
KEEPS TAB ON ALL SPEEDERS
Night Officer Tupper Has Fun with
Inquisitiye Citizen.

Nlght Ohicer Upper is wag in his
qulet way Among the faithful watch.
mans numerous duties is that of car
rylng a clock which records his
whereabouts at the various hours In
the dead of night when the tired
business man is locked in the arms OF
morpheus. Keys for this clock are
placed behind warehouses, in wood
sheds, and other out of the way hid
ing places, and when one of these
Keys Is inserted in the clock and
turned, the exact hour and minute OF
the officers visit to that station is re-
corded. This time-recording appa-
ratus is about the size and shape OF
an ordinary alarm clock and is at
tached to the end of broad leather
strap about the watchman's shoulder
The other evening officer Tupper
came down the street carrying his
clock. A well-known resident, who
was unfamiliar with these. time-re-
cording contrivances, espied4 the clock
and his curiosity was at once aroused.
What is that machine you are car
rying?" he asked.
That? Why that is an automobile
speed tester,' answered Andy" with
out the faintest suspicion of a smile.
"An automobile speed tester" ex-
claimed the curious citizen.
Yes" replied Andy, in his quiet
way. "You see, it is like this. 1
carry this instrument in my hands
and when an automobile passes along
the street, I have only to glance at
the dial to ascertain whether the
driver is breaking the speed limit"
well, what will Yankee ingenuity
invent next?" mused the questioner.
1T does seem like wonderful in
vention, doesn't it?" remarked can
dy." 'And it's a mighty useful one,
too" he added. NOW, only the other
night, Alderman Fuller, Sheriff Grant
and some more of the good bunch
journeyed to Independence in the AL
derman's touring car. Well, didn't
do thing but lie in wait in quiet
corner until their return, thinking
possibly might catch them breaking
the speed ordinance and make a
horrible example of them. But there
was nothing doing. They rolled in
about the time the town clock was
striking midnight and I give you my
word that they were not running fast
er than six miles an hour. There it
was, recorded on the face of this
speed tester in plain figures. There
was no going behind the returns, for
the tester does not lie."
"Well, that is a truly remarkable
piece of machinery" commented the
citizen.
'It is that much, at least" replied
ANDY" as he bade the investigator
good night
This clock, by the way, is nothing
less than nuisance. officer Tupper
does not object to carrying it, but the
business men who are paying him his
salary should object. Such in instru-
ment is a convenience, and probably
a necessity, in the hands of private
watchman employed in mill yard or
manufacturing plant, where the only
danger is from fire. But in the hands
of peace officer, it is no less than
a hindrance to the proper perform
ance of duty. For instance, if Bill
the Burglar" were to visit Dallas
with burglarious intent, he would
only have to keep an eye on this
clock winding watchman for about
two nights to enable him to carry on
his work without fear of molesta-
tion.
The hoodlum, on mischief bent,
would probably tell you that this
clock should be in the hands of every
night policeman With the officer
making his regular rounds, the rowdy
has only to wait until the watchman
departs for the South end of town
before beginning to start things" in
the North end.
Considered from these two import
ant standpoints, the watchman's clock
is a nuisance rather than a benefit
otherwise, it is a useful contrivance.