The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-28

the fact that nowhere In this report,
has any effort been made to show the
relation to the number Of fatalities
and accidents to the number OF auto
mobiles, trolley cars and horse drawn
vehicles in use. If the figures are
analysed in this way, it throws an
entirely new and more favorable light
on the subject n shows that auto
mobiles caused no more deaths last
year In proportion to the number of
cars in use than in previous years.
On the other hand, the ratio Of fatali-
ties caused by trolley cars and by
horse drawn vehicles has increased,
showing that automobile drivers have
become more careful and observant
OF the laws in the last three years
while horse drivers and motormen
have not.
Proof of these statements may be
found in the following table, in which
the record of fatalities and their
classification are compared with the
reports Of motor vehicle registrations
by the secretary of state for New
York n such figures as are avail
able from reliable sources showing
the number Of electric cars in opera
ton eaca year. Unfortunately, it has
not yet been possible to get reliable
figures relating to the number Of
I1o4S SC u " FCAllSISS AL USE n new
York. However, the official figures
from the license bureau in Chicago
show that there are 1000 fewer such
vehicles in that city now than there
was three years ago, and it is a safe
assumption that there are relatively
as many less in New York City
probably at least 5000 fewer. An
elaborate traffic census taken by the
Massachusetts Highway commission
shows that there has beer a decrease
of IA per cent in horse-drawn vehicles
and an increase of 131 per cent in
motor vehicles on the state highways
It Is reasonable to suppose there have
been corresponding changes in traffic
in New York state.
Relation OF highway fatalities to
vehicles In New York state, including
Automobile IA
t~alities ...... 274 34S 451
Motor vehicles
Da 5sgistf r. ,o oo63ss'0o0 17o'sss 1ss'5oo
vehicles -: s.s 1928 s.s7
t]alities $500. 176 213 1877
Hi Sees cars inasssa 1854, % aoz
Deaths to 1000
cars ...:..... SO 1923 6.s1
Horse and wa
gon fatalities 203 205 202
includes elevated and subway cars.
1t should be understood that the IA
t~alities charged against the automobile
include persons killed by motorcycles
and trucks, occupants of the automo-
result of the fault of the driver, and
children killed while roller skating
and playing games in the streets or
hitching. on the rear Of wagons and
other vehicles.
The great number of traffic accidents
and fatalities arising from the increase
in population, he increase in the use
Of the highways and the congestion Of
greatly to be deplored and calls for
some solution. Motorists need to OBJ
serve the utmost caution in driving
IND should offer their best efforts to
all fair and unprecedented movements to
make travel and the use of the streets
by pedestrians safer. Nevertheless, 1t
Is highly important to correct the pop
ular idea that it Is the automobile ana
the drivers of automobiles that are to
blame for the conditions and to prove
by a thorough analysis Of the facts. as
presented herewith, that the motor
vehicle is actually less dangerous than
| cars.
1t is shown, for example, in the re-
port of the London traffic branch OF
the board of trade for 1918, recently
| ALnoC puOAAS Ala Ad4iuB tAd d1LuOuS IL
the number Of passengers carried by
omn1buses In the streets increased
from 2S7 million in 1903 to 551 million
in 1912, or nearly doubled, more than
$50 fewer buses were licensed in the
latter year than nine years earlier. In
the same period there was a decrease
Of more than 1000 cab licenses. The
comparison will be seen at a glance in
the following table,:
Omnibuses and Cabs Licensed i'm Lon
dom.
Horse drawn buses, 1903 1929, 1912
---376; Motor buses, 1903-13, 1872
zoos; Passengers carried, 190s-2s7,-
1885, All. 1912-551,6 22, $685.; Horse drawn
cabs, 1903-11,404,. 1912-23S5; Motor
cabs, 1901, 1912-7969; Total pass
engers carried 80. 000, 900.
The Bonde Motor Co. have had a
fine week and sold three Jacksons and
two Chevrolet cars in the past few
days. They also have sold a couple Of
Hupmobiles and the season starts out
in great shape.