Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-23

ible from the front and read, We as
81 me that the provisions of section 3
requiring US to make rules and resu-
lations necessarily involve the matter
of the annoying and dangerous glare
Of headlights on automobiles and cleo
trio cars and the dangerous practice of
dimming the lights on either OF these
vehicles when passing the other con-
veyances.
In ORDER that you may be fully IN
touch with the necessities Of the case,
we shall go into considerable detail as
the matter is of importance to very
many of our citizens and such rules
and regulations as are finally approved
should be workable, not too drastic,
and designed particularly to promote
safety and comfort for travellers Of all
sorts upon our highways.
Speaking first Of electric car head
lights. those Of us who have ridden up
on the highway in any kind of We
hicle have observed the binding and
dangerous effect of the glare Of the
electric car headlights thrown directly
into our eyes. Under such circum-
stances it has been impossible for the
driver Of the vehicle upon the highway
to see anything ahead or upon either
side and many accidents have occurred
or been narrowly avoided. Upon some
of the electric roads, motormen are un-
der orders to switch off the headlight
upon approaching any kind Of a
vehicle This leaves the motor man IN
the situation where at one moment ne
is looking ahead along a path of very
brilliant light and the next moment
he is in practical darkness with the
car still proceeding at twenty or thirty
miles an hour and perhaps approach
ing a curve When he switches on the
light again, * requires little time LOT
his eyes to become accustomed TO the
new condition. 1t has often happened
that where a car headlight has been
switched off to allow an automobile to
pass in the opposite direction, team
has been crowded onto the track ana
when the motorman switches his
lights after passing, he finds this team
a very short distance ahead in a posi-
ton Of danger and in circumstances
which have, upon occasion. resulted In
serious injury.
Our experience as individuals and
our investigation as officials (Which in
vestigation caused us to consult with
the number of electric railroad officials
and employees) lead us to the hrm
conviction that the headlight on an
electric car should never be turned out
and that the light should be so ar
ranged and protected that the motor
man will have no duty whatever to
perform concerning the light and no
control over the same. In other words
the headlights should be so arranged
that 1t will not be a menace or dan
ger % the travelling public and at the
same time will afford full protection
to the passengers and operator on the
car and any traveller who may unfor-
tunatelv be forced momentarily onto
the track. This result can he obtained
by some sort of clouding of a portion
of the clear glass of the headlight thus
rendering it translucent and incapaole
OF sending glaring rays ana at the
same time leaving a suffcient amount
of clear glass through which the llght
can he thrown ahead to enable the
motorman to see a distance OF at least
1900 feet. We have received the advice
and corporation Of electric railroad
officials and employees. have inVestl-
gated the experiences which commits
sions or committees have had in other
states, and have personally expert
mented with various devices. We find
that the only efficient and safe ar
rangement consists in frosting or sand
blasting the upper portion and part
of the sides Of the glass in the head
light. leaving in the lower segment OF
the lens a clear space through sWh'ch
tho light will shine ahead but which
will not permit glaring rays to pc OF
sufficient height above the track TO
strike the eve of person riding in any
vehicle Experiments have Demon
strated that with reference to lamps
upon electric cars in which incandes-
cent lights are used, there is no neces-
ity Of an attempt to minimize the rays
Of light because there is no appreclaple
glare and no annoyance to persons IN
a vehicle sufficient to require any
hecGins or heading of Il Q light coming
from such a lamp. With reference 10
lamps ir which arc lights are burned
even with the frosting or sand blasting
OF the lens. there will he left quite
brilliant neaOIlGHt, bul lHt hSh' . 49,
OF a binding character and does no,
prevent the driver Of vehicle from
clearly seeing what Is gong on ABOUT
him in the highway. We have teit
that we could not prohibit the use OF
arc lights because upon our high speed
interurban cars it is necessary that the
motorman should have an excellent
driving light and if we reduce the
candle power Of the lamp, the rays VIII
not be projected ahead sufrcient dls
tance to enable him to clearly see MS
right Of way. We are convinced that
the regulations which we submit with
reference to electric cars Will Go away
with the dangerous glare and will rem
der driving in vehicles upon our hleh-
wavs much safer and less annoying
than formerly.
With reference to automoolles heao
lights. the Commission has devoted a
vast amount of time, investigation ana
some few sleepless nights In the frst
place. any regulation Of this sort az
fects approximately $4,000 Of our own
citizens who are interested in automo-
biles. 1t will also affect two or three
times that number bf people who, dur
ing the summer months, come from
other states and use our highways IN