The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-09-25
More Fatalities in Streets Of
American Cities Than From
Zeppelin Raids in
England.
AN APPALLING RECORD
In Eight Months There Have Been
1853 Killed and 4,4e4
Wounded in Ono
City.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service1
NEW YORK, Sept. 25.-More peo-
pie have heen killed and injured by
automobiles on the streets of Amerf-
can cities during this year. than in all
the Zeppelin raids on England. Chi
cago and New York lead in the num-
Der Of deaths with more than 200
each between January first and Sep
tember first. The number of fatalities
in other large cities is proportionate-
1y high, however, varying with the
population of the towns.
These figures, compiled today, on
reports from score OF cities are
based upon police records, which
show constantly growing death list
! as a result Of automobile accidents,
despite improved traffic laws that
have been enacted In New York and
other states, even more drastic 1egis,
lation is being urged.
In the cities from which reports
were available today, figures up to
September first show that total OF
1,04O persons have been killed and
more than 5000 injured. Only par.
tial lists of injured were received and
it is possible that the complete toll
would show almost double this num-
Der.
In Zeppelin raids on England to
date about 36s have been killed and
$50 wounded in two years.
Police reports show 15S persons
killed and 4,4s4 injured on the streets
of New York up to September 1. The
New York State Automobile associa.
tion estimates show 226 killed, how
ever for New York City and for the
state outside of the metropolis, 1872
killed.
Chicago records show 205 killed,
while Philadelphia reports SS.
In Detroit, sixty-three were killed
and 2,715 iSjured up to September /.
as compared with thirty-one killed
and zoos injured during the same
period last year. Los Angeles reports
fifty-seven killed and Columbus, Ohio
forty.
In many cities heavy penalties are
being inflicted for driving car while
intoxicated and other remedial meas
ures are being considered.
Police Commissioner Woods has
urged drastic legislation for this
state. The next legislature will again
be asked to pass a law compelling
every operator Of an automobile to
obtain a license At present only
chauffeurs are required to do this
New York and Chicago have special
traffic courts which handle only vfo-
lation of traffic rules.
Practically all cities now have
strict traffic rules, safety zones for
persons boarding street cars and
speed laws. The traffic systems are
largely modelled after that introduced
in New York but improvements are
constantly being sought. Reports of
fatalities and injuries in cities other
than those already mentioned, follow:
ST. Louis, thirty-seven killed: Cleve-
land, thirty; State of Iowa. thirty and
200 injured Des Moines, fifteen
killed: Denver, twenty-six killed, 524
injured; Milwaukee, twenty-one killed.
Washington, D. c., nineteen: San
Francisco. thirty y-eight; Portland and
Seattle. eight each; st. Paul and Min
neapolis, seven: Dallas, five killed,
thfrty-seven injured; Topeka, Kansas,
five and Kansas City, five. In some
cities detailed figures were not avail
able.