The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-10-21
mAsHrNGToN, y. 81. %

WAsHrNGToN, D. c., Oct. Il
Why motor accldetS?
The Bureau Of Public hoaeS nav
been studying that quesLOn "
:find the answer. They have neen
.stuaying it for three months.
Maryland ROADS, among the very
bsst in the country, we're chosen
he scene Of their investigation
tFbev hare made q preliminary re-
bort covering the perIed of time
mentioned
rOue OF the interesting develop
ments,r their report says, "ts that
the largest number OF accidents
have occurred al the places that
ave always been considered
safe. while the sections which
have been commonly regarded as
heinz dangerous are proving to ne
relatively free from accidents.
Where the state highway cross
ss, the Blue Ridge Mountains ~
the western part Of the state and
grades are straight and curves
sharp, there were but eight acct
dents during three months On
the National Park. between Bal
timore and Frederick, where there
are 4 miles Of this straightest road
sin the State, the record for the
same t.!Re showed is accidents, 5
az which were fatal. "And yet"
says the report, few stretches OF
highway in the whole road system
are so free Of any features which
might he considered as danger
On the Baltimore Washington
road, with all apparent danger
spots removed, the record shows
that during the same period there
was one accident for every .
Mules OF road.
There seems to he only one
answer to account for these
hitherto unsuspected conditions"
reRds the report. That answer is:
rEven the lass careful motorists
drive cautiously in the presence
ol recognized dangers, such as
steep grades, SHARP curves. grade
crossings, Aatc, while tbs absence
az such dangerous features gives
Che driver a sense Of securit!
(which prompts him TO take =
schance and yield to the we'll nigh
universal passion for speed
Few accidents were due. it was
founa, to the condition OF the
roads Themselves, and most o.
those we're due to slippery sur
faces caused by rains.
Arlington. where this Nations
UAknown hero Of the Worlds War
Mil be laid at rest with honors
never before accorded an Ame:.
lean citizen. Is the largest and
finest cemetery i'll the United
states. Its location is Of surpass'
ing beauty. 1t was more by acct.
dent than design that the govern
fnent acquired It. It is commonly
supposed that its requirement was
i part Of the general plan OF I'M
preyemept and expansion OF the
National Capital. The estate came
into the Lee family by the mar.
riaSe OF the father Of "Marse
Robert 70 a Miss Custis. From its
stately mansion General Lee went
forth to take command of the
force OF the Contederacy. There
Vpon, the government took posses
sion and used 1t as n hospital. The
first patient to die theFe vas "
Confederate taken prisoner. II
was found convenient and less e1'
nensive to bury his remains there
That was the first start Of Arl'6-
ton as 4 national shrine-a great
silent, lovely city OF heroes who
sleep in the eternal, waVeiess
calm of death. Following the war
the estate was put up at auction
Tor taxes. There vas $4,000 due
on it. The government bid It IN.
some years later an heir OF the
Lac family successfully proSecut'
ca . claim against the government
Il was settled by compromise
the government paying the claim
S15O,60o, For the first time In the
history Of Arlington, the eyes OF
the civ'lized world will be upon It
NoTemh 18th. Armistice Day.
Touris, entering the great
war, Stats, Navy Building are
halted Just inside the entrance by
4. striking tablet which shows Its
neYness. 1t is interesting to watch
them as they read the lcttered
tribute on the bronze; when part
way through It, the men instinct
lively take off their hats. Faces
Of the women grow grave. Sentl-
nnent has touched their hearts. 1t
Ik the tablet dedicated with fine
ceremonies a few days ago to the
horses and mules who did their
bit and paid with their lives for
doing it.
lery piece. fully equipped with
horses and riders and cacconoers
II. action on the field of battle.
American nag which hid it
view until the ceremony Of
Medication was undraped from 1t
~ the hand Of the First Lady OF
the Land.
SThis tablet reads the IN
seription, Commentaries the
serTices and sutferings OF tbs
s43,136 horses and mules en-
ployed by the American EXpedi-
tionaTy forces oversease, during
the great World War. which ter.
minated November II, 1918, and
which resulted in the death OF 3d..
e93 az those animals. What they
suffered is beyond words to des'
sA fitting tribute to their i'm.
porta6t service has bsen given
&fFyASha C0mmander In chief OF the