Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-06
URGES MORE POLICE
Maj. Sylvester Pleads Better
Protection for Suburbs.
SERVICE is HANDICAPPED
Holds Force Inadequate to Properly
Patrol Extended Districts.
TRAFFIC CONTROL SUFFERS
Department Chief Quotes Figures of
Other Cities to Back Views
in Annual Report.
SERVICE IS HANDICAPPED
TRAFFIC CONTROL SUFFER

L
| 1011 particular attention is paid to the
| amount of territory the police have to
patrol, and the necessity for better pro-
lection in the suburbs also is discussed.
The report gives the amount Of territory
patrolled by the police Of a number Of
| other cities. Maj. Sylvester says in the
report:
'tOn the principle that those contrib
| uting an equal government support and
| residing in the less dense populated Sec
tons should have afforded them a pro-
lection equal to that extended to those
living in the more congested localities.
| the District is justly entitled to larger
police patrol force.
'The result of police activity would
justify the same conclusion. The oppor-
| tunities for marauding and chances for
escape are best where the means Of pre-
vention and detection are least; the ex-
| tended districts where the reduced police
patrol prevails.
Wide Streets Increase Work.
Reports give 21O11 miles Of improved
thoroughfares and 254.O6 miles Of maca-
dam, gravel and unimproved streets and
roadways, aggregating 464.17 miles
throughout the District territory, which
becomes more extensive for comparison,
from q police standpoint, when the more
than ordinary width of the avenues and
streets Is taken into consideration, the
average width Of the avenues being 100
materially to the work of the police pa
troll in the enforcement of traffic laws
and regulations.
I'm other jurisdictions the widths aver
age from 60 to 20 feet Where 16O-foot
avenues and 8O-feet width streets con-
verge or intersect in the congested locali-
ties, double or triple the force Is required
to master the traffic situation, as against
that required elsewhere.
sowing to the limited patrol force at
command, however, the full measure of
proper service cannot consistently be ap-
piled at the dangerous and crowded in
last mentioned places three or four thor
oughfares interesting.
Outlying Towns Included.
"The roads traversing the District ter
ritory are largely builded along and form
the skeins that connect the many vii
lagos, towns and subdivisions They are
patronized not only by those in high of
fetal life, but by thousands Of visitors.
from throughout the United States and
abroad.
Rock Creek Park, Potomac Park, Cath
Ollie University Of America, United States
Hospital for. the Insane. Pennsylvania
beautiful terminal station, Soldiers
Home, bureau of standards, Army and
Navy Preparatory School, Cathedral
School and hundreds Of important insti-
buttons and homes are included in the
roadway section of the District. Four
| long bridges cross the Potomac and three
the Anacostia river, and all the foregoing
features require close police patrol at
tention. -
sHThe. villages towns and parks ex-
| tended and extraordinary widened thor
oughfares, numerous costly institutions,
such as those already referred to. WASH
ington city. with the Capitol, White
House. departmental buildings, govern
ment workshops, galleries, legations,
steamboat wharves and important and
valuable governmental interests of
kind known only here, as well as the
residential sections, are guarded by a
daylight patrol force OF about 100 patrol
men and night force Of about double
that number.
Assignment Of Force.
'.This situation is the result Of the dis
position Of the privates in the force, they
being the active factors in the work of
prevention and detection Of crime and
preservation Of order:
Total number Of privates June 80.
65S; privates detailed as detectives, 20;
der the law, 81; privates assigned to post
duty, 11S; privates detailed to special
| duty, IS; privates available for patrol
service, 403.
'aThe resultant number is divided into
four 'reliefs Of eight hours each. with
half Of each relief coming off duty
detained on reserve duty for six hours,
at the several precinct stations
It is stated in the report that the police
jurisdiction embraces the entire District
Of Columbia, an area or Sixty-nlne and
seven-tenths square miles.
Other Cities Compared.
washington. Georgetown, Anacostia.
Chevy Chase. Cleveland Park. Ivy City.
Petworth, Brightwood, lexington, Brook
| are included within 1t.
According to the police census compiled
| in 1909, the population Of the District OF
245,861 were white and 81. 142 colored.
The various villages and settlements
along connecting roadways aggregated
3,237 In population at that time. Since
| then the true and floating populations
have materially increased.
| Considered from an acreage area, by
way Of comparison, New York city en-
phia 81. $50 and the District of Columbia
A.. $40 acres.
| The lesser police areas are st. Louis
39,276 acres: Boston, M,613; Pittsburgh.
| is, S2B; Cleveland. 25,378: Detroit, 2.976;
| Milwaukee, 14,O61, and Baltimore, 1920.
BICYCLE POLICEMEN ACTIVE.
Fines in 1911. From 0.456 Arrests.