Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1919-07-17
MEASURE
REGULATING TRAFFIC
By F. A. Cannon, Executive Secretary
Good Roads Association of
Wisconsin.
Article No -

Article No. ..
(This is the second of series o1
four articles covering the important
highway legislation enacted by The
1919 session of the legislature. A
reading of them will show that many
vital changes have been made.)
Except for fragmentary provisions
Wisconsin has had no law regulating
highway traffic With the increase in
the number of motor vehicles, and the
advent of the motor truck with its
big load, within recent years most of
the eastern states have devised meas
ures of this character. Wisconsin has
Just stepped into the breach with a
traffic regulation law upon which
State Highway Engineer Hirst and the
Joint Highway Committee spent much
time and study and which has passed
both houses.
In its broad outlines, it covers the
size, weight on tires, width of tires,
weight of load, and speed of motor
trucks, trailers, and tractors used on
public highways. By the term tract
or is not meant the farm tractor, but
those used for commercial hauling, as
defined in the bill, ga self-propelled
7ohicIe used exclusively for CONNER
cial hauling purposes"
| The new measure limits the maxi
mum gross weight of vehicle and load
combined to $4,000 pounds, and the
maximum gross weight of vehicle and
| Dad combined on any axle to $4,000
pounds. The total weight of the por-
tiOn of the vehicle and load combined
resting upon any wheel is limited to
800 pounds per inch width of tire. 1t
provides that motor trucks or CONNER
cial haulage tractors shall have tires
of rubber or some other material or
construction of equal resiliency 1t
limits the width of loads to 96 inches.
and the length to 80 feet, except
when the load carried is loose hay or
straw or similar material
In the matter Of speed, the bill fixes
it for vehicles more than three tons
and less than six, including vehicle and
load, equipped with pneumatic tires
at 20 miles per hour; equipped with
two or more solid tires, 16 miles per
hour. Vehicles weighing six tons or
more with pneumatic tires 16 miles
,el' hour, and with two or more solid
tires II miles. Vehicles equipped with
metal tires weighing more than three
tons load and vehicle combined, are
limited to a speed of six miles per
hour. These speeds are to supplement
and not replace those otherwise spe-
eifed in the statute.
There are several clauses providing
for exceptions to the operation of the
act. Permits may be granted for the
operation Of trains Of tractors, trail
ars. or wagons not exceeding 100 feet
in length between 8 p. m. and a. m. on
routes specified in the permit. If ne
cessary to transport a single article
weighing $4,000 pounds or more,
permit may be granted upon depositing
bond or certified check to hold the
unit of government granting it harm
less for any claim, and conditioned up
ho Of CT oI11
vert which may be injured thru trans
porting the article.
If a highway or street is liable to
| be destroyed or seriously damaged by
vehicle, being in a soft condition, the
load weight on tires may be restrict
ID to 400 pounds per inch by the prop
ar officials placing a sign prohibiting
| traffic in excess of that over that sec
ton of road. This prohibition may not
extend over sixty days in any calendar
year. No load on any motor truck,
| tractor, or trailer, shall project more
| than four feet beyond the end of the
vehicle unless during a period after
IA half hour after sunset and before
! one half hour before sunrise on the
next day, and a red warning light
shall be carried on the projecting load.
The bill strikes at the narrow wag-
On tire evil by providing that no wag
on or other wheeled vehicle, except ami
NAL drawn pleasure vehicles seating
less than eight persons, with tires less
than three inches in width, shall be
sold in Wisconsin after July 1, 1920.
This bars the sale of the two inch tir-
ed farm wagon, but permits the sale
| Of buggies with tires that width.
1t regulates farm tractor and trac-
lion engine transportation by provid-
7ng that no trcator or traction engine
With a fange, cleat, spud, lug, or 9TH
r projection extending more than two
inches beyond the surface of the wheel
;hall be permitted on public highways.
Another section of the bill prohibits
7ehicles from standing along the road
way in such a manner as to interfere
with free traffic, except to make abso-
Iutely necessary repairs. There must
De left a free and usable passageway
IF at least 18 feet.
Cities of the first, second and third
/ class are empowered to enact such ad-