Denver labor bulletin., 1916-12-16

Monday, January !, 1917, the 100000
patrons of the Denver Tramway com
pany are going to be treated to an inno-
yation. On this day and date a brand
new city ordinance, requiring that all
cars stop on the near side of the street
instead Of the far side, as at present,
becomes effective. Therefore, due warn
ing is given for pedestrians, street car
patrons, automobiles, motorcycles, traf-
fic wagons, etc, TO be careful and
watch their step
This ordinance was enacted by our
City Fathers because il is believed to
be in accordance with Safety First"
movements all over the country. Work
ing men and women, who are the prin-
cipal patrons of street cars, will guide
themselves accordingly. Cars will stop
only on the near side. II you go TO the
far side you will have 10 wait for the
next car. because it won't stop there.
The Denver Tramwky company j. go
ing to do all in its power 10 aid patrons
in adjusting themselves 20 the new con
ditions. A set Of instructions has been
prepared for its motormeu and oonduc-
tors that will prevent confusion when
the change is made In event a pros
pective passenger il standing on the far
side Of the street waiting for a car thru
ignorance or lack of knowledge OF the
new ordinance, the motormAn will sig
nal the patron 10 come TO the near side
OF the street. II the unpaved streets in
residence districts are 50 sloppy that
mud sticks TO the shoes the cars will
stop at the cross walks to favor the
passenger On frozen streets or in
streets covered with snow the stop is TO
be made with the front OF the car even
with the lot line or the building line.
MotorInen on outgoing cars will be or
dcred TO wait for transfer passengers
from the incoming cars.
The Tramway estimates that there
are $500 stops In Denver and all of
them. with the exception OF about 25.
will have the near-sidc stop Far-side
stop~ are permitted under the terms OF
the ordinance only when the near-side
stop is impracticable." On lines lire
Fairmount beyond Twelfth street, Aurora
beyond Poplar and on Barnum beyond
the loop at First street, the present
method OF making stops in the middle OF
the street will remain in force because
any other- would be impracticable.
Out Of thirty -one cities of more than
200 ,Oon population twenty -four have the
ncar-side stop.
A recent issue of Tram. C. Grams, the
sprightly little paper printed by the pub
licity department of the Denver Tram
way company, contains the following in
tcrcstinp Inference to the new ordinance:
They tell us that back in the old
horse car days there were no traffic
ordinances. Dear, deari what in the
world do you suppose our pioneer city
fathers and newspapers and drivers of
ono horse shays and street railway com.
panics did TO amusc Themselves One
old. timer says that in those days they
didn't have any inkling cf the tremcnd.
sou amount OF indoor sport that could
be had with n traffic ordinance.
The horse stopped anywhere for
a passcngcr-far side, near side, in the
middle OF the block or in the intcrsee'
ton Of a street. and If you were n lady
and wanted to buy sal soda and n little
oatmeal in Silas Browns City Grocery,
the driver would stop in front of Sis
and wait for you to come back from
your shopping. Many horsc-car driver
would pick up a passenger and, after
collecting the dime, would ask him where
he was going and when he was coming
back, and then promise to return in time
10 take him home. One veteran driver
owned a farm along his line. Between
trips he would unhitch the horse from
the car hook him onto n cultiyator and
irri,atc few rows Of spuds.
Today, however, we have nccumulnt-
cd n lot of civilization and eleven thou
sand automobiles and n Trruiway with
six hundred and twenty cars and nay.
roll Of 81, ,l25 10000 n year. This makes
traffic cops and traffic ordinance nee
cssary.
The city council has ordered US to
stop street cars on the near side of