Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-08
GLARE AND BL.ARE

MIE are tast coming TO the point in
w Harrisburg where it will be alb
solutely necessary TO take official &C
ton with respect to the glare and blare
Of automobiles and motorcycles. The
use of brilliant search lights on auto
mobiles in the city and the squawking
of innumerable noise devices on these
machines, plus the racket of motor
cycle cut-outs and horns, will compel
some restrictive measures. Many cit
les have already limited the use of the
search lights on automobiles to a GER
tain height and distance and the same
thing also applies 10 horns and other
instruments of torture which are sup
posed TO be necessary for signal pur-
poses.
With the increasing number of mo-
tor vehicles of all sorts some plan must
be devised for lessening the danger
from the glare of these strong head
lights on city streets and much-travel-
ed highways. Numerous serious acci-
dents have already followed the blind
ing OF drivers of automobiles by the
searchlights of cars running in the op-
posite direction. Not only are these
searchlights dangerous from the
standpoint of the operation of cars,
but they are a serious nuisance to Pc
destrians walking along residence
streets.
1t would seem to be an easy matter
for the Motor Club of Harrisburg To
devise some ordinance that will meet
the situation and this organization is
the proper one to prepare such regu-
lations as shall be reasonable and
effective. The Rev. DIR. Parkhurst
discussing the noise and racket of the
city, recently made this statement:
One can hardly be in the coun-
try FOR tWenty-tour hours, in the
midst OF its charms and ,quietude,
without realizing the pandemonium
from which one has escaped in get
ting out of New York City. Its peo-
pie are, with some necessary ex-
ception, nice people, but the town
itself, in its material and mechani-
cal makeup, has a personality OF
its own which is coarse, turbulent
are necessary, and there are noises
which are absolutely unnecessary,
and IL would reduce very much the
uninterestingness of the city If tho
unnecessary noises were dispensed
with. Moreover. dispensing with
them would prove not only matter
of comfort, but also OF sanitation.
II is not generally understood
that noise itself consumes vitality.
Every sound that reaches us cre-
ates in US physical response. We
physically react upon the attack
which IL makes upon us. Consci-
ously or unconsciously, we strike
back when 1t strikes us. We ex-
press the truth of that fact when
we say: 81 am tired of all this
noise!" which means that 1t draws
upon our vital resources. And In
New York City noise never stops.
Thirty years ago in the two hours
from 2 o'clock in the morning till
4 there was silence; at least the
approach TO silence was so close
that 1t could with comparative ac-
curacy be called such. At present,
however, there is not a moment
during the twenty-four hours when
there is any let-up OF the eVerlast-
ing racket and rumble. An that
racket and rumble are taxing the
vitality of every man, woman ana
child, whether awake or asleep.
DIR. Parkhurst has given voice tc
the growing murmur of protest which
Is heard in every CITY, Harrisburg /.