Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-10

An overworked park guard Is stationed
on the East Drive along the Schuylkill River.
HIS arduous tasks of watching the canoeists
on the river. of tipping his hat to limousine
riders who remember him at Christmas, his
constitutional walks up and down the
shaded path and the morning cleanup of
his euardhouse, crowd his hours of duty to
such an extent that one of the most dan
gerous points to the autoist on the Drive
is unguarded
The danger spot is at the foot Of Nice.
town lane which passes between East
Laurel Hill Cemetery and enters the Drive
between two high walls. 1t is impossible
for the automobile driver to see an ap.
preaching machine until 1t is within few
feet from him. Within the last few weeks
at least q score of accidents have narrowly
been averted. One observer knows of six
machines which missed collidng only by
n few inches.
Still the Park guard gives signal. In
vain does the chauffeur descending Nice
town lane hill wait for a signal to make
the turn into the River Drive, and in vain
does the driver who desires to ascend the
hill from the river receive q nod or a hand
signal from the guard to indicate that the
road is clear To ascend the hill on high
gear 1t Is necessary to make the turn at
fair rate of speed, adding to the danger,
while the machines descending keep close
to the walls and are directly in the path
of the upgoing cars.
The attention of the Park guard authori.
ties was called to the failure of the guard
at this point to give signals. This was
several weeks ago, and for n period of one
week all autoists were warned After that
time. however, the overworked Park guard
resumed his scrutiny of the canoeists,
which, together with his other duties, has
prevented him from warning the autoists
at what is described by many drivers as the
most dangerous point on the Drive.
When the guardhouses we're placed along
the Schuylkill River the dangerous point
was we'll recognized, as the house was
placed directly in front of the Nicetown
lane entrance. From this position the guard
has a clear view of all automobiles descend
ing the road as we'll as those on the Drive.
The laxity of the guard, with the exception
of Sunday afternoon, when all the park
police are stationed in the middle OF the
road, has caused general complaint among
pleasure drivers.
1t is necessary for careful driver to
take the turn into the river at very low
speed, with the constant danger of the river
road car crashing into him. on the other
hand the driver of the car who desires to
enter Nicetown lane from the river, either
takes a chance or throws his speed into
"low" and has a tedious drive up hill to
Ridge avenue.
The organization of the Fairmount Park
Guard consists of one captain, one lieu
tenant eight sergeants and 140 guards. The
cost to the city for maintaining this force
is S16S,40O annually. The annual report of
the Park Commission, just issued, shows
that 562,212 automobiles enter the drives
during the year.
The failure of the guard to perform his
duty at Nicetown Lane, or the failure of the
authorities to insist that he perform his
duty will be presented to the Park Commis-
sion at an early meeting.