Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-16
IN THE STREETS

NTOTORCARS lured out into the omen by
4'1 the suavc spring weather would surely
feel. il they had scnsblitcs. that they had
Nentured into most unfriendly world.
What new theory Of trolley car operation
causes so many pay as you -cntcrcrs to creep
swiftly crosswise into traffic at unguarded
street intersections without so much as the
conventional tap of a bell? And what
genius OF chaos has overseen the plan under
which so many of the central streets were
made almost impossible by what 10 the un-
trained eye appears like a wild riot OF
digging?
Clearly some great improvement are
under war--sOme ambitious plan necessary
TO an onward marching civilization is being
accomplished in the streets. But there have
been other such works in the past. and they
were done with some regard for the people
who GO about in vehicles and for the laws
of traffic generally. The cxcavators of the
moment display an extraordinarily broad
technique. They are the futurists or the
cubists of their line. That is plain. There
have been more detours between the Balti-
more and Ohio station and the downtown
district than there used to be between Cam
den and Atlantic City. So blithc. so opt-
mistic are these interesting folk that they
take little precaution to make even the de-
tours safe. There are open streets that no
chauffeur can negotiate without inviting
nervous exhaustion. high blood pressure and
premature old age. At last accounts you
could proceed southwark on Nineteenth
street only by CHANGING an axle at Walnut
street, where somebody took great chunks
out of the paving between car tracks in the
open space and forgot to put them back
again
Wherever in the affected areas an open
space presents itself. there the invading
army Crocts piles of dirt and stones for no
apparent reason. Downtown is a maze be-
cause the sudden riot of effort appears to
have been without any central direction or
any thought of the effects thar blockade
in one central thoroughfarc would have upon
tho tide Of traffic diverted 10 others.
TO some people it will seem that the con-
sequences of sin are being visited upon the
drivers of automobiles. But lct US admit
that rctributon can sometimes be 100
dreadful altogether.
What is it that Makes tho Foot OF
Trolley Motorman Tired?
One might ask Mr. Edison
9 The warning bell that once was sounded
at crossings IS rarely heard any more. Yet
that bell was an extremely useful sort Of
thing. 1t is still a regular equipment on
trolley cars. 1t ought to be kicked occa-
sionaIy. But il is a fixed habit Of some
motormen to ignore Its existence. TO gaze
impassivcIy ont of their windows and slip
their big cars out squarely at r nervous
motor driver without warning, without even
the hint of lifted eyebrow. Fortunately.
the braking devices on motOrcarS are in
genouS and powerful. II they we're not so
the streets would be filled with ambulances
at all hours.
Motor drivers themselves are NOT 10 be
lauded as examples of perfect judgment and
common sense. Many OF them arc had
hammered and many Of them are reckless.
But they are. after all. the only ones who
pay anything like consistent attention 10
traftr laws and regulations. They watch
the signals They have warning devices
which they sound and they ara always alert
TO the various emergencies that develop and
change around them with almost every turn
Of their wheels Horse drawn drays and
lighter horse edrawn vehicles make their
own laws as they 60 along. They. like the
trolleys. plunge without a look to the right
or the left or sign Of warning into the
currents Of traffic. The people who 90 afoot
make their own laws, too. The police seem
10 have despared of trying to reform dray-
Inen But for the motOrcar they have steady
scrutiny and brooding antagonism. Before
traffic accidents are lessened it will be ncccs-
Sary to admit that in ninety nine cases out
Of every hundred a crash is due not TO ono
particular cause. but To whole series of
crcumstances--to negligence on the part of
q number Of people in one vehicle or more
and afoot One thing can be said in favor
Of the motor driver. He is usually efficient
and observant He has to be- When YOU
can say as much for the people who like
most 10 rail at him, street accidents will
be fewer.