Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-04
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| FOR the guidance of traffic and it is
noted that special attention is being
given to the location of schools, es-
peclally those In sections where be-
cause OF lack of room the children are
apt 10 be playing in streets or running
| apout SO that they would be in danger
| or traftlc. On some of the highways
tnere are signs placed in vicinity of
schools which order "Slow down, pub
nc school," while there are others 4.
which bear the legend Caution,
school," There is room for a good
many more signs which will warn the
| lautomopilist of dangers into which he
may run or to which he may subject
someone and there is also plenty of
/ room Tor the automobilist to observe
| tne cautions. There are not many who
| slow down when passing the Melrose
school on Derry street near Twentieth,
Tor instance, and Seventh street driv-
ers are apt to be a bit careless about
the Penn school vicinity. The same
is true of the Paxton building at Cam
eron and 'Berryhill streets What
seems to be needed in Harrisburg, ac-
cording to what police and careful
automobile owners admit, is gen.
eral code regulating traffic with a list
OF places where caution must be eXer-
cised and suggestions that unless busi-
ness calls motor vehicles should not
use Thlrd street any more than neces-
sary. Hints where cars could be
placed without causing interference
with traffic and some good, hard ad-
vice on what to do when fire apparatus
is on the street would also be valuable
such booklet could be gotten out by
the city or the Chamber of Commerce
or the Motor Club of Harrisburg and
there would be no excuse for blunder-
| ing after that. Nine-tenths of the per-
sons who run cars are unaware of
| many danger spots and they are will
ing TO do what they can for the benefit
of all.
|
Speaking of automobile necessities
or the future, it is the opinion of some
OF those who have been studying the
traffic situation of the city that in time
the municipal government will have
to provide in the heart of town an
automobile parking place. The streets
are now so crowded that parking
cannot be permitted for any length
OF time on many of the downtown
thoroughfares and with the constant
increase of the number of pleasure
ana business cars and the return of
the Jitneys in an ever-growing flock
a municipal parking place must
be provided. This would mean that
the city would have to buy q plot of
ground somewhere near the center of
the main office and business district
which could be used for the cars of
shoppers and of men down town for
business during an hour or two who
have no occasion for downtown
garage arrangements on the monthly
basis that many have who store their
cars every day. The purchased plot
would have to be easily accessible and
room for several hundred cars would
be necessary. 1t would have to be
paved and drained and policed. The
suggestion is made seriously and may
be brought before Council one OF
these days in an effort to help solve
the traffic problems of the downtown
district.
IT'S wonder that people living in
this city do not make more of an effort
to give information to automobile trav-
elers about where Harrisburg begins
and its distances" said man who
rides about good deal. Il do not
know whether you are aware of it, but
there are very few signs along the
roads telling how close you are to
that marks where Harrisburg's limits I
lie."
Some one has estimated that there
are between 1000 and 100 automo-
biles, motor trucks and other motor
vehicles owned in Dauphin county.
This number probably includes motor
I cycles and the riding attachments
familiarly called bath tubs" which
are becoming SO popular. 1t is not so
many years since the first automobile
in Harrisburg attracted crowds of peo-
pie along Market and Third streets,
and when a couple of enterprising
merchants bought cars they were be-
sieged by persons who wanted a ride.
Now carriage horse is rarity and
about the only animals used are for
carting, deliveries and funerals In
deed, there are times when ten motor
vehicles go by to one horse and the
horse seems to be rather apologize
about it.
At this time of the year, in times
gone by every fellow who could bor-
row or hire a horse used to take his
girl for ride in the country, but
there are mighty few buggies to be
seen even on Sundays along the river
road or the back lanes. The farmers
sons have either to- get the use of the
family Ford or else to take walks.
Horses seem to have been relegated to
farm work in the country and about
the only other service they do is oc-
casionally to go to town to attend
market. In any event the average
farm horse is getting Sunday off. The
motorcycle with the seat attachment
and the small automobile have the
horse locked up as regards use for
pleasure riding.
Harrisburg automobile owners are
taking an interest in the Bennett bill
now in House committee which
would require every manufacturer,
dealer or individual upon consumma-
tion of a sale 70 deliver to the buyer
of car a bill of sale and to have in
case of resale all prior bills deliv-
cred to the last buyer. This is q plan
which many automobile companies
and agencies have followed for years
and Is recognized as a good business
II is designed to catch the people who
have stolen cars. being especially
aimed at the automobile thieves who
have caused much loss in Philadel-
phia.
Automobile parties are commencing
to come to the Capitol again. The
they are being extensively used. A
number of parties who have come
considerable distances have registered
at the Capitol.