Evening star., 1920-12-06
8KIL[EDB by AUTOS
IN DISTRICT IN 1878
Highest Record to Date Near
Iy Equals Rate for Whole
Country, Census Reports.

The death toll in Washington from
automobile accidents has mounted
steadily during the last four years,
until in 1919 5S persons, or 1874 per
cent of the total population per 100,-
600 persons, met death as a result Of
such accidents, the census bureau an
nounced last night. Increase in the
number of deaths attributable to auto
mobiles in Washington has nearly
kept pace with the increase in the
United States as a whole, the bureaus
announcement said, total of 3,S0S
persons meeting death in automobile
ing 1919. An automobile accident
death rate of al out of every 100000
persons in the country was reported
for last year.
In 1915 there were IS deaths at
tributable to automobiles in WASH
ington. a percentage of 4.6 per 100.-
900. In 1916 there were 80 deaths. or
a percentage of 9.3. and in 1917 IS
persons died here as a result of ac-
cidents. while 81 persons died in 1918.
Bureaus Sugxestfons.
Suggestions made by the bureau
for traffic improvement follow:
Erectiens at street crossings of
most dangerous spots, should be very
close together.
Construction of additional crossings
in the middle of blocks. where auto
mobiles can approach from only two
directions.
Demonstration of great skill in
driving each machine before granting
drivers license for that machine.
Reduction oA the speed limit. es-
pecially at crossings.
Fine, revocations of license and
imprisonment each to have. it's place
as an actual penalty.
Youngstown. Ohio. heads the list
, of sixty-six cities in the automobile
death rate with 2S.5 per 100000, but
showed a decrease from the previous
year. when the rate was 31.9. Rich
mond. Va. had the lowest rate. with
80. but showed a slight increase
over 1918, when it was 5.4.
New York had the. largest total
number of deaths with 7S0. an in
crease of SO over the previous year
and more than double the number in
1915. New York's automobile death
rate was IA per 100000 persons.
Chicago's total deaths numbered
5eS. an increase of 81, with death
rate of 12.3.
In Other Cities.
Statistics for other cities of 100000
or more population follows: Philadel-
phia total, 19I. decrease, as; rate, -0.6.
Detroit, 139; Increase, IA: rate, 14-4
Cleveland. 136: decrease, AZ: rate. $50.
St. Louis. 105; Increase. IL; rate lat
Boston. les: increase. II: rate. 16.S.
Baltimore, los; increase. 4 rate. 14-S
Pittsburgh. "a =. decrease. II: rate.
1S.1. Los Angeles, 119; increase. 2S:
rate, 211. San Francisco. S5; increase.
IL; rate. 1s.9. BHffalo. 6S; decrease.
%; rate136 Milwaukee. so; increase,
12; rate 132-3gsWashington. 5s; in
crease, 4: rate<as4. Newark, 81; in
crease, 20; rates 200. Cincinnati, 81;
increase. S;frate, 1871; New Orleans.
3s; increase. s.; rate, 9.4. Minneapolis,
IS: decrease. rate. 1o.1. Kansas
City. Mo-. ~; decrease. %; rate. Isl.
Seattle. SIS: increase. 10; rate. 16.0. In
diauapolis. 26: decrease, !; rate. S.4.
Jersey City. 40; increase, 10; rate, 13.5.
Rochester, 32: increase; z; rate. 10.9.
Portland. Ore, 81; no change: tate,
f21 1Denver. Il; decrease. 2: rate, ISL.
Atlanta, AZ; increase, %: rate. 21.7.
Birmingham, 21; decrease, 2: rate.
1L9. Dallas, 10: increase, s; rate. III. |
Houston. IA; increase. 1: rate, 1913,
Louisville, IS; decrease, 8. rate, 81.
Nashville, IS: Increase, 4; rate, i5-3.
Memphis. 2S: increase, 2; rate, 1T.4.
New Orleans, 36: increase, 8; rate, "a.
Norfolk. "a; increase, IL; rate, 21I.
5Richmond, 10: Increase, 1; rate. 5.9.
San Antonio. II; decrease. 3; rate, S.S.
Duty of Autemobile Drivers.
"The tendency of some writer's to
exonerate automobile drivers and to
place the blame of accidents upon
pedestrians indicates lack Of fulfil
comprehension of the problems in
volved," says the bureaus statement
'"The teaching of caution Is admi-
rable and in time pedestrians will un-
doubted1y become more and more
careful. but there will a1wayssbe on
our streets the person who misjudges
the speed of an approaching auto
mobile and. becoming confused. knows
not which way to go; there will al
ways be the child who has not vet
acquired the uitra-cautious habit, and
there win always be old people who
cannot hear and see so we'll as they