Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-28
GUARDING THE C1TY's CROWDS
Some of the Tasks and Responsibilities in the
Days Work of a Traffic Patrolman
BY LIEUTENANT WILLIAM B. MILLS
OF tho PHILADELPHIA TRAFFIC Squad

vi tho FhhhoeiphA franc squad
THE first real attempt to relieve traffic
i congestion In Philadelphia was made in
1904 when detail of two squads OF ten
mounted patrolmen each was assigned to duty
on Chestnut street during the Christmas holl-
days. The action was repeated in 1905 and
met with such success that the men were
permanently assigned to this duty The
rapid increase in vehicular and pedestrian
traffic has necessitated the continual addi-
ton to the force until the Bureau of Police
now has on traffic duty one lieutenant, IS
sergeants and 365 patrolmen, of whom 2O5
are reserves, 10S mounted and 81 on motor
cycles The district covered embraces Arch
Market Chestnut, Walnut and intersecting
streets from the Delaware to the Schuylkill
River; Broad street from Locust street to
Glenwood avenue and the commission
markets at Front and Callowhill streets,
Dock street and 32d and Market streets
These men perform eight hours continuous
work, in some sections reporting for street
duty as early as 3 o'clock in the morning
The late squad goes off duty at midnight
The traffic men are picked from the police
force at large for special ability and fitness.
Both patrolmen and the mounted contingent
are given a course OF training before assign
ment to the congested districts.
Temperament and Traffic
The polceman's temperament and his con-
duct under various trying conditions are
carefully watched, and he is placed where
his qualifications seem to be those required.
The patrolman who efficiently directs in the
quiet morning hours the slow moving heavy
laden produce teams manned by drowsy
drivers who have slept on the way from the
farms, might be dazed and useless in the
swirl and noise of noontime at Broad and
Chestnut streets. and the man who tactfully
controls the afternoon shopping crowd on
Chestnut street might fail in bringing order
out OF confusion in the heavy traffic along
the river front.
The general public does not realize the
amount Of information regarding city Ioca-
tions which the trafic patrolman on duty in
the centre OF the city is called upon 10 Inn
part daily in answer 20 hundreds OF ques-
tions. He must be ready TO reply ohfhand.
giving exact locations OF large once build
ings, stores, hotels. places OF historic inter-
est, hospitals; what street car to take to any
part OF the city, and so on down the list.
He must listen to one inquirer while answer
ing another keeping watch at the same time
for aged persons, children. eripples and the
blind who desire 10 cross the street, obsery-
ing whether the motorist has the proper
tags on his vehielei seeing that the Itlnerant
raker does not open up a stand along the
curb while his back is turned. and ali the
while closing and releasing the trafac cur
rent as conditions warrant He must be
constantly on the alert TO prevent accidents.
and when they do occur 70 render prompt
assistance, sending IN can for an ambu-
lance or police patrol wagon. whichever
the case calls for, and taking the names oe
witnesses; ana hnally he has TO clear away
the crowd OF curious pedestrians who gather
very quickly at the slightest disturbance.
Peril Of Blocked Street
The vital necessity of keeping the traffie
stream 'movins viii be realized when
one considers statistics which have been
gathered By aetnai counts during the rssh
hours from Z 70 5:ao p. a. It was found that
an average q 1853 vehicles per hour pass
the tFefie patroinaH On the east slde q city
Han and go either north 90 Broad street 81
eass on Market street. This does not incInde
the rs street cars per hour which pass sa.t
On Market street &C that fIme oE dsv
SeFents-ase vehicles io speak "a averaess
will rontest zae turn aeaund city nam
frosa 4unipel aHd tIeFtaz asfesls 81 Drssa
ane south Pens saeares HosIee3 "a ~
pfE of tte netf1iuAn slatiqael s. shis noIns
#oaia eaek - - FaIae ere arst soash-
sqenc ~ or ~ sz it F