Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-26
TRAFFIC POLICEMEN
LOOK OUT FOR J|TNEYs
Officer Stationed Mt Laurel and
Franklin, Where Travel
Is Heavy.
100 CARS PASS IN HALF.noUR
New Form OF Travel Adds Greatly to
Problem of Keeping Streets Safe.
Werner Orders Men to Look Out
for Motor Car Thieves.

Automobile traffic has reached such
tremendous proportions along Franklin
street. betw cen B"lviderc and Schafcr
streets. and along Broad, but especially
between Seventh and Ninth on Broad
mat l have been forced to designate
Special men to handle the situations at
these points," said Chief of Police Wer
ncr last night.
MAJOR Werner said that the steady in
crease in the jitney bus business. com
olhcd with the ever-growing number
OF pleasure and business cars which
pass the points named. has made II i'm
perative that officers be stationed there
for the sole purpose OF directing the
traffic.
n traffic policeman made his appear-
ancc at Laurel and Franklin Streets
yesterday. and worked his entire shift
at that one point. not leaving his post
until late last night. when the traffic
had ceased to be heavy. He reported
TO Hajor Werner that a citizen had
noticed the great number OF cars pass-
ing that point and that he had counted
them for a half hour. The citizen re-
ported that he counted $50 machines
passing the corner in that space OF time.
FRANKLIN STREET CORNERS
REGARDED AS DANGEROUS
Most of the jitney buses pass Laurel
and franklin Streets, but the traffic at
the Belvidere and Pine street corners Is
heavy also. and IT is probable that men
VIII be stationed at these corners. too,
II there continues as great an increase
In the traffic In this section as has been
noted during the last few weeks. Major
Werner said last night that he did not
think II necessary to post men at these
points just yet. hut that they were be-
Ing carefully watched and the step
would be taken IL II was found neceg-
sary.
The principal trouble noted on Broad
Street Is the incessant stopping and
starting of the jitney buses as they take
on or discharge passengers. Crowds
standing on the corners at Seventh
Eighth and Ninth Streets while await
ing their cars. also interfere, 1t is said
me police however. are concerned prin-
cipally with the danger to titncy pas
senGers when the car from which they
are alighting stops outside OF Il car ut
the curb and they step into the middle
or the street. 1t Is feared that accidents
may happen at any time, as the pedes-
TRAN is left standing Oh the street with
traffic passing on either side Of him
POLICE AUTOMOBILES
MIN WITH TRAFFIC.
However. efforts Of the police toward
regulating the speed OF the cars are
believed to have been productive Of
considerable good. and II is thought
by Major Werner that this danger to
the pedestrian has now been reduced
10 the minimum. During the last two
weeks. two Ulcers In police nutomo-
biles have been constantly mixing with
the jitney traffic. keeping watchful
eye on the speed OF the cars and the
methods used by the chaufteurs in
plotting their machines. The fact that
a number have been hailed into court
on charges OF speeding and for viola
lions of the traffic ordinances, and that
they have been convicted in almost
every case. is considered ample proof
of the efficiency OF the police efforts.
But, according TO Major Werner. the
police troubles are not entirely caused
by the jitneys. On Saturday Major
force the countless number of auto
mobile thcfts which have been report
ed to the police. and again urged the
officers to exert the greatest efforts
toward apprehending the thieves. The
apprehension of the offenders Is con-
sfdered difficult in the extreme, though;
and. although all OF the cars reported
as having been stolen have been re-
covered by the department. there has
not been n single arrest or conviction
In closing his talk concerning the in
crease In the traffic here. Major Wer-
ner called attention to the regulations
which prohibit cars being driven by
children less than sixteen years OF age
and without n police permit, and those
which require drivers to stop their ma
chimes as close to the curb as possible
when discharging passengers.