Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23

Washingtonians. pedestrians and riders.
must be aroused to the end that street
accidents be prevented: they must
awaken to the fact that Washington is
city-not village-and that city traffic
rules, both written and unwrtten must
be vigorously observed. Especially must
parents and others having young chi-
dren in charge be conscientious and un-
firing in instructing children to be careful
while crossing the streets.
The foregoing was the consensus OF
opinion expressed yesterday by a large
number of persons prominent i'm District
affairs in connection with the several
street accidents which have occurred
within the last few days.
That steps calculated to arouse the pub
lie to sense of duty in this matter and
impress on each and every individual the
necessity of using caution to prevent in
1uries and fatalities will be taken by per-,
sons in position to do SO was asserted
by several
Schools May Cooperate.
DR.. William NJ. Davidson. superintend.
ent of the public schools of the District.
intimated that he would take action to
see that the schools give all possible CO.
| operation. There are approximately TO-
600 school children in the District who
each day have to cross one or more
| streets
It was stated. 1Asst office Of the
washington Hallway and Electric
Company that the company is contem-
plating campaign among the school
| children of the District, to the end that
| they exercise more care not only as re-
Cro dc fivxr>
| mobiles motor cycles and horses. At the
Offices of the Capital Traction Company
1t was stated that efforts are already
being made to awaken the public to it's
| duty in preventing accidents.
Something Should Be Done.
Something should be done to educate
| the pedestrian DR.. Davidson said, dis
| cussing traffic conditions in this city.
| I'VE ought to shake things up inside the
schools.
There have been too many accidents
| recently. When we are averaging two or
| three accidents a day We are averaging
| too many. We should have no accidents
Alexander T. Stuart. director Of inter
mediate instruction in the public schools
and close observer Of traffic conditions.
declared that a campaign Of organized
instruction should be given in the homes,
| in the schools and In the press"
Il have long thought We have needed a
course to make girls get or the cars the
right way" Mr.. Stuart said. az really
| think this should be part of the physical
culture course for girls in the high
schools"
Mr.. Stuart spoke with special reference
to the fact that many women in alight-
ing from street cars face backward.
Difficulty at 18th and n.
He said he had found it difficult recent
ly to cross 14th street northwest between
New York avenue and H street In safety.
This is one of the worst stretches of its
kind in the District, in his opinion.
Ernest L. Thurston, assistant euperIr~
tendent for white schools, said that many,
children play in the streets during the
| recess hour because there are no facili-
ties about some schools for playing other
than in the streets.
when the old schools were built" ha
said. mo need was felt for Fairgrounds.
Plenty of vacant lots were about the
schools in those days. But now the
vacant lots have buildings on them and
the children have no place to play other
than the street
Children playing in the city streets
constitute a problem with which every
city has to deal 1t is one Of the prob
the most dangerous thing about children
playing thus is that many times they
are running about on the sidewalk and
unconsciously run to the street from it."
Lectures to Children.
The plan now being considered by the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany for teaching children to avoid accl-
dents consists mainly OF lectures to chill
1,x, ~
which makes such lectures business. If
it be given. 1t will ready be brief sup
Elementary course III the schools with the
idea of minimizing all sorts of accidents.
Children Will be given buttons enrolling
them as members OF safety league"
These buttons, to be worn on the dress
or coat, serve as reminders of the rules
Of the league to avoid accidents and to
help others avoid them. The officials Of
the company will probably reach deci-
sion In this matter in the near future.
Another step which the Washington
Railway and Electric Company Will prob
ably take will be to have printed and dis
tributed blotters for school children On
these will be the request: The Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company wishes
YOU to look out for street cars. autos
and horses" and Help your parents to
save your lives.
Rules to Be Given.
Then will follow the rules: Don't play
on streets where there are car tracks"
'"Don't cross car tracks without first
looking both ways.
Don't get OH or of a car while it 10
moving.
Don't cross the street il you see q
car approaching.
Don't lean out OF the car window
"Don't face to the rear in steppiu6