Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-18
SPEEDING TROLLEY
TRAGEDY PREDICTED
p. r. T. Cars Go at Terrific Gait
(, on Old York Road Stretch,
Is Charge
OAK LANE MAKES PROTEST

A trolley load Of persons returning
from Willow Grove one day will be
victims ot a tragic wreck somewhere
between City Line and Lakeside avenue
if certain Philadelphia Rapid Transit
motormen cannot be compelled to op-
crate their cars at n moderate speed in
the Old York road section.
An opinion to that effect is prevalent
IN Oak Lane.
Such n disaster ms loaded street
car hurled from the tracks and sent
crashing down the hill by its own vcloc-
ity may have the desired effect in curb
ing what Is said to Oc the greatest
menace existing on one OF the most
dangerous strips Of thoroughfarc in
Philadelphia.
The menace consists Of trolley cars
being driven nj terrific speed down n
steep. curving hill. after which they
coast at littlc slackencd speed along a
moderate grade. The thoroug+lfnrC. as
many know. is usCd alike by street cars
automobiles. vehicles of every dcsCrip-
lion, adult palest rinnS and children on
their way to school and home
The sidewalks are mostly in the shape
Of proposed city ordinances. The strip
in question is more than ten squares
long.
4 Terrible Remedy
Joseph !. Cora'. president Of the oak
Lane Improvement Association, yes
terday forecast that such gruesOmC
remedy as a terri. bic wreck doomed i'm
mincnt to cure the apparent theory that
q minutes time is worth Il load of hu-
manity. His association has been active
In the fight against the menace more
than year and half.
After many unavailing protests to
the officials of the =. X. r.. tho Oak
Lane Improvement Association has car.
ricd its fight to the Public Service Com
mission in Harrisburg. In n complaint
filed with that body last Saturday en-
ploycS of the street car company are
charged with negligent and dangerous
operation.
Routes 10 and "a are the two street
car lines that operate on the tracks in
this particular section Of Old York
road. Mr.. Corr said the street car
crews frequently OvCrStaycd their leaves
ut the end of the line. and to make up
time coastcd down the hill at a break
neck rate Of speed.
Lives of school children especially arc
endangered by the speeding trolley cars,
according 10 Mr.. Corr Until recently
certain Of the improvement association :
members volunteered their services to
act as guardians for the children in the
hours they come to and from school.
Aided by the Police
OF late tho association has been aided
In it's work by the police department,
The police lieutenant of tlG Thirty fifth
District has detailed policemen to the
points at which school childreD cross the
tracks. Two schools in thr most dan
gerous section are the parochial school
ut Holy Angels Catholic Church aud
the Elw0od Public School.
At one point, known rs 'Dcadman :
Curve" the street car tracks abruptly
leave the middle of the wide road and
run along the edge. The curve is on
the hill The great danger lies in that
motorists and others think to avoid
danger by keeping to the right as they
go up. Suddenly they find themselves
crossing over the track at a point Just
below which it is impossible to see an
approaching ear.
About ten years ago n trolley ear
stuck on this curve. A speeding trolley
crashed inro il. Fight persons were
killed.