The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-05-13
TRAFFIC SOME PROBLEM
VARIED SYSTEMS OF CON-
troll ARE USED
Practically Every Sort of Con-
veyance Is Regulated BY Rules
And They Differ
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.1

Chicago, May 11.-Reports from
many cities of the Central Western
states show traffic regulation at
these rapidly growing points to be a
problem of great Importance yet to
be satisfactorily solved or a matter
under regulation but closely obser-
we'd by city governments. Varied and
numerous are the systems of traffic
control used, ranging from the hand
signals and whistles of officers post
ed at street intersections to the new
automatic semaphore system soon to
be tried out in Chicago.
Practically every sort of convey
ance Is regulated by traffic rules ex-
cept baby carriages which are spec
ifically exempted from what are de-
fined as vehicles. Few cities have
the lone way" thoroughfares but the
sticker or tag system of notifying
drivers Of violations of parking rules
is common.
Signal System In Loop
That Chicago will soon see the
semaphore signal system in vogue in
the loop" district is the view ex-
pressed today by officials of the Chi
cago Motor club. The city council
now has such systems under investi-
cation. Automatic semaphores con-
trolled from a central station and
swinging from one position to the
other at intervals Of forty two sec
onds. are thought to be favored. They
are looked upon as impartial traffic
traffic, mutely incapable of argument
and continue to operate If the traffic
officer is called aside. With type Of
semaphore a traffic officer may be
omitted altogether without the slight
est injury to traffic efficiency.
There Is now bill before the H.
Hnois legislature giving cities the
power to designate certain streets as
sanctuaries in which automobiles
may be parked at night without hav-
ing lights burning. Some states have
ward economising on gasoline while
the car is not in motion by permit
ting the use of single fender lamp
and dispensing with all other lights
until the car is again in motion.
Master Town in Detroit
From a city, admittedly one Of the
most congested in the United States,
Detroit has in the short space of one
year become one of the best regulat-
ed traffic centers in the country. In
stallation of master tower" sys..
tenn including devices of lights and
gongs was a big factor in clearing
daily congestion of traffic which
amounted to serious condition in
the Michiagn city. Detroit has also
inaugurated the "impounding" sys--
tenn and autoists who have parked
their cars in forbidden territory find
them at the city pound and are OBJ
liged to pay fines Of from is to 30
to regain them.
In Dallas, Texas. an ordinance
prohibiting 'left turns" is in force
during the rush hours and keep traf
fic flowing in the same direction and
prevents the necessity of zone way
traffic on it's streets. Des Moines
Iowa, also finds this system salts
factory answer to her traffic prob
lem.
In Louisville. a unique and origin
al semaphore system, has done much
to clear a condition that was per-
picking to the traffic department. II
is small box foot square, with
GO" and stop" signs. Attached to
wire about fifteen feet above tne
street, it is operated by the tran1c
officer through the medium of Ions
pole.
The boulevard stop, whereby the
motorist entering a boulevard from a
side street must bring his car to a
complete stop before proceeding is
the feature Of Kansas City traffic
regulations Downtown traffic is reg
ulated by whistle and hand wig -wag
In indianapolis.
In Indianapolis first offenders are
presented with pamphlets and viola
tors of the parking rules find a stick
er pasted upon their car informing
them to report at the office OF the
| traffic chief at certain hour the
next day. Captain Johnson, tranie
Tenders last year, he estimates. Sem
aphore, supplemented by whistle sig
nails are used to signal the move
Cincinnati has five permanent
zone way streets for autos and also
has the impounding and tagging
penalty for violators of the trahic
ordinances. Autos must be equipped
with lighting devices which concen-
trate and project the light into Q
beam that at distance OF go feet II
front shall not be projected more re
than three feet above the surface Of
the roadway.
In Columbus semaphore are used
by traffic officers and the city has
fourteen zone way" streets used sim
ply for parking. Hand signals by
traffic officers direct the stop, and 60
of vehicles in st. Louis while IN
/ Cleveland semaphores, wig wagging
and whistles are all used to guide
the huge flow of vehicles. In Milwau.
kee the wig-wag system is used and
parking rules are strictly enforced IN
the business center.
One of the most novel and success
full methods of handling traffic in any
city of the central west Is that used
in Omaha where 200 business men
make up a force of volunteer citi-
zens to help enforce the city's traffic
laws. Blank report forms are carried
by each member Of this force which
has secured the conviction in court
of many second and third time Often
ders. ..
DAyyruTC CEY EFT MN TITH