The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-08-03
MINUTES IN MANHATT TAN
Work of Commissioner Woods, Chief
of the Finest Police Force in
the World


the World
New York, Aug. 3.-It was Fred
erick of Prussia, if / remember right
ly, who stole giants, when he could
coax them, from all over Europe in
order to have a body guard Of big
men.
Right here in New York Police
Commissioner Arthur Woods is build
ing up regiment which would have
made the eyes of the old fighter of
the eighteenth century turn green.
He has given orders that every
candidate for position in the police
traffic squad must be six feet tall.
And most of them are we'll over the
mark.
He's gone farther than Frederick, /
too The Prussian's giants are de-
scribed an awkward numbering crea-
lures, big helpless men. Commits
sioner Woods has just established a /
school in which he is whipping his
traffic GoIiaths into a most polished
| force.
The traffic policemen needs polish,
whether he is the pedestrian stand
| ing Enthusiastically in the center of the
humming street intersection, or the
dashing cayalryman riding his glossy
| chestnut charger to the scene of bick-
ering between draymen.
He needs polish in the afternoon
crowd of Fifth avenue where he
checks the cavalcades of limousines
with a wave of the hand and pilots
from curb to curb richly gowned wo-
men and the other multidudinous
habitues of the newest shopping dis
trict. He has the grace of Arthur
in giving a commonplace direction to
| a stranger and the kindliness of
Galahad as he assists feeble grand
mother to a high street car step.
But even more he needs polish on
1.-THE cobblestones of West street,
where mighty floods of enormous
idrays and auto trucks rumble from
ferries, freight yards, factories and
warehouses, clashing, eddying, over
flowing to the sidewalks and giving
to the spectator some vision of what
the greatest port in the world means.
Suddenly the busy current of trade
is damned. The mounted sees the
cause far down the street. Two
:, trucks are locked. He pushes his
intelligent horse through marrow
lanes to the scene. Two obstinate
drivers are exhibiting a vocabulary
that would shame Billingsgate.
."Oficer, dis Teller bunked right
into me front wheel and toll me to
go t'hen when l asked him to back
up a bit
He's dirty, dago liar, officer, how
could l move when he tries to run
! over met
! NOW, now stop that cursing, both
:! of you, and back up a Bit" cries the
! bIuecoated arbiter.
! .'I1l not move-he kin go t'heu'
| You'll have to come to court fol
| that
! The policeman pulls out a sum
| mons blank, fills it out and hands
| it to the offender. Then he leap
| from his horse, seizes a bride, shout
| orders here and there and soon tn
| trucks are moving in a stead
| stream again.
/ The traffic policeman is 'tsimpll
| grand now, any matinee girl vii
| tell you that, but they will be bet
| ter, Commissioner Woods is sure
when the effects of the new schoo
are seen.
| 1t has heretofore been the Gus
tom when men applied for traffic as
signments to examine them onl
- briefly as to their knowledge of tn
. regulations. Now candidates, all si1
o footers, will be put through a two
. weeks course of tuition. Not all VIII
Q enter the school will pass" Thos
. who fail must go back to regula
q station house jobs. Those who ar
. found competent will be placed on a
. eligible list. When vacancies occu
= they will be detailed. Men now i
. the traffic service may eventually b
Q ordered to take a post gradual
. course.
. The school will make the work {
the traffic division uniform. sis
. nal to stop or to go ahead will be tn