Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-08-07
AUTOMOBILE LIGHTS
Report of the Public Utilities Com.
mission.

I
! Inc pubhc utilities commission in its
annual report, which was recently filed
Win tine governor and council, states that
ever since eieotric lights were placed upon
sutonoohes ana upon electric cars those
/ persons VINO nave hsd occasion to travel
4 upon our highways after dark have had
/ forced upon them full realization OF the
oahger resulting from the glare OF the
nents Oh esen OF THESE vehicles.
upon eutomoeies the strong head
| hght' undimmed, has been menace to
/ persons travelling In teams and to an equal
II not higher degree to the occupants of
otner AUTOMOBILES" say the commission
ers ~ tneir report
I'm tne tuit glare OF an electric auto
1 momie heaaiight Traveller upon the
highway 10 any Kind of vehicle would
be absolutely blinded and rendered power
less TO afford himself the slightest pro-
tectlon, many accidents resulting. The
strong searchilghts upon electric cars pre-
sehseo situation equally dangerous.
sometimes the motorman would shut OF
MS hgh's when team or an automobile
was approaching ana sometimes he would
not.
Ihe attention OF the legislature was
caiieo 20 TINS matter ana the law enacted
at the 1917 session required all vehicles
| TWIN certain exceptions) TO carry certain
hghts atter dark, and required this COM
mission to make rules and regulations
Win reference 10 headlight on electric
cars ana automobiles. We Immediately
entered upon an investigation, sought the
ADVICE OF the Maine Antomooiie associa-
'ion ana the Maine dealers ASSOCIATION
Win reference 10 auto neaoignts ana
sought ana secured the prseticai cooper
alton OF tine electric fsiiroao companies
win reference 10 heaalighIs upon their
Vehicies'
| win reierence 10 tue iat'et we oecshe
oonNihceu 'ha' tne'e snouiu pe oo'he ar
rshgetneht entirety OUT Oh tne controi Oh
the motosman ny "nicn sunicient orNihg
hgnt cooia DC ootaiheo ano sim NC gar
ing rays thrown into the eyes OF traveller
upon the hieh"sy' A gfouhosgiass lens
WIN an e'hps'csi opening Oh pam glass NJ
the potion "ss 'r'eo OUT ana It's use
authorized experiment ha' since SHOWN
'ha' owing 20 'ae 'act 'ha' neaoi'sh's are
carried at oiHeteh' osstshcs from 'ne fah,
iens "bien operates perfectly upon one
| type OF car VIII not DC sosoiGteiy osaoie
upon All types OF cars.
/ win reference TO su'omooiie mead
iIgnts practicai solution was iraught
witn some aimcuities. we iouno thst
IL tue hsnt ouio e&eesoeo twenty iou'
cahaie-Po"et ala not MAKE nuen uii-
ference what sind OF lens was useo vi
the heaoiignt. tot'y-nSe candle power
nitrogen niieo tungsten quo viii sno"
gisfihg rays through any lens "hien mas
yet been manufactured. on tine other
hand, there are several types OF patented
lenses "hieh WIN ouio OF less Insh
t"en'y-tour canaie-po"er snow an entire
absence OF glare. But upon the nearly
S'oo AUTOMOBILES IN use IN TINS state
probably not more than fifteen per cent
were equipped with this patented lens,
the balance having absolutely clear glass
1t WAS from these headlights that the
glare came and 1t was these headlights
which had to be regulated.
"ln our regulations We cut down the
candle power OF bulbs to twenty-four or
less and required either some form OF
scientific lens or, In the case OF plain glass
lens, that the same should be frosted or
in some way rendered opalescent to a
point one inch below the center OF the
light bulb. This regulation, il followed,
will absolutely prevent all glare. The law
did not provide any means DIV Wllc0 TINS