The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-10
STREETS FOR RAPID
TRANSIT VEHICLES
CERTAIN THoRoUGHFAREs TO BE
DESIGNATED BY COMMITTEES
NAMED.
PREVENT FATALITIES
ACTION WILL BE TAKEN TO
ELIMINATE ACCTDENTs-PoLIC
FORCE TOO SMALL FOR add
TIoNAL TRAFFIC OFFICER.
PREVENT FATALITIES

transit vehicles to the exclusion Of
other thoroughfares will be designated
by committees appointed from the ad-
ministrative board. the board of fire
commissioners and the board of police
commissioners in pursuance Of an ac-
ton taken by the police commissioner
last night, when Commissioners Boy
kin. Parker and Mccarthy were ap-
pointed committee to confer with
like committees from the other two
departments
The step originated with the admin
istrative board some days ago, when II
was decided that the increase in popu-
lation and the congestion of the main
thoroughfares demanded that certain
streets should be designated for rapid
transit vehicles and so recognized by
the public. BY this means 1t is hoped
to prevent such accidents as have oc-
Cured to the vehicles of the fire and
police departments, the former of
which has killed one man and injured
a boy. The police patrols have fig
ured In several accidents, though not
one has ever been injured by them.
Rapid Transit Vehicles.
Comprising what are known as
rapid transit vehicles are vehicles of
the police. fire and hospital depart
ments and all other vehicles connect
ed with the city government which are
called upon sometimes to operate at
a greater speed than that permitted to
private vehicles. Certain cross streets
and thoroughfares running east and
west will be named. At the inter-
secting points OF streets SO designated
and others all traffic will halt mo-
mentariiy to see that the way is clear,
and then proceed on Its way. So far
as Is compatible with the work Of the
fire department all its vehicles will be
required to operate on the designated
streets, though it Is recognized that
they will occasionally be forced to
run upon other thoroughfares in or
der to reach a scene Of Are. The neces-
sity of running on streets other than
those designated will sometimes arise.
but rarely in the case of the police
patrols The city ambulance likewise
will but seldom be called on to use
other streets.
Arrest of Traffic Crews.
The commissioners listened nearly
an hour TO Captain A. B. Guigon, at
torney Cor the Virginia Railway and
Power company. who requested the
board to annui It's order that street
car crews shall be arrested on the
formal charge of murder in fatality
cases. Captain Guigon based his
argument against the regulation on
the grounds that an arrest for muir
der, even though merely formal and
resulting in the acquittal OF the
motorman, always casts a stigma on
his name. He said that this was not
the practice in certain cities. where
1t Is customary merely to report or
arrest the motorman for careless or
recklessy running his car. On the
other hand. 1t is pointed out that an
accused motorman bailed on minor
charge In a small sum might escape
trial. ana the practice here of the
police Is hacked up by a like custom
in many ether cities The board re-
ferred The matter to committee
which has had 1t under considAra-
ton for some time. and is still gather
ing data on the subject.
The matter Of rewriting the First
and Second police stations now that
the free current from the Virginia
Railway and Power company is to be
withdrawn will be taken up with the
administrative board. Street connec-
tions with the main wires will have
to be made.
Traffic OGlcer Refused.
A petition from half a hundred
merchants Of East Main street for
a traffic officer at Fifteenth and Main
streets. to be stationed there between
9 A. NJ. and S p. NJ. was heard by
the board. but denied on the grounds
that the police force Is too small to
spare a man for that purpose. In his
recent message to the city council
Mayor Ainslie recommended that
twenty-five more men be placed on
the police force. but the force still
numbers 1853 men. with several not
in actual service. for population OF
10000 people, or about .o00l part OF
a policeman for each inhabitant.
The board received and accepted
the resignation OF Policemen F. c.
Pritchard and J. c. Webster. OF the
First district. the designations to take
effect on August 1st The board will
nil the vacancies at the meeting to
be held July 18th. when charges will
be heard.