New Britain herald., 1921-09-01
SAFETY FIRST
 PLEA BY S7OECkEL
Addresses Large Gathering Of
 ROtarialS at ElkS

Robbins Stoeckel of the state mo- tor vehicle department addressed a large gathering of Rotarians at the first meeting of that organization for the 1921-22 season held at the Elk's club on Washington street this noon. MT. Stoeckel made an urgent plea for the people of New Britain aided by the Rotary club to observe Safety First" week which shall be held throughout the State of Connecticut beginning September 19. According to Mir. Stoeckers statements it is the plan of the state motor vehicle de- partment to make a drive during this week for safety first along the state highways.
 Tt is amazing to know" MT. Stoeckel stated, that there was an increase of 20 per cent in the num- Der of cars on the road in 1920 over 1919 and so far there has been an increase of IS per cent in 1921. Ac- cordins to these figures there will be a larger increase by the close of the year and it is apparent that some care has got to be taken on the high ways or else there will be more ac- cidents and there are enough of them today he stated. The roads will be and are overcrowded,'' he continued, and there must be an increase in the number of roads. If the rate of traffic continues within the next few years to be as great as it has been in the past it will be necessary to have two roads paralled with each other to handle traffic. This, how ever. will not be possible immediately and it is for that reason that driv- CTS and owners of automobiles are asked to take greater care when tra yelling on the highwayS." '"
 Mir. Stoeckel also stated that 2S per cent of the accidents involve children and that the majority of these chill dren are about five years of age. Most of the children accidents hap pen from to in the afternoon, ac- cording to MT. Stoeckel when they are coming home from school. The condition can and must be remedied, MT. Stoeckel added.
 Safety First Week.
 Safety first week will be observed in New Britain at the Alme time it is being done all over the state. Chief Rawlings will have charge of the event and will be aided by the Ro- tary club. It is planned to have mer- :rg pictures on the streets which will illustrate the cause of many ac- cIdents and how they may be averted. Small Town Officers. Previous to his talk on Safety First" MT. Stoeckel told of some of the troubles of the state police and motor vehicle departments. The greatest one was that with the small town constables. In some towns there Is little trouble while in others driv- CTS are being arrested for no reason at all. This cannot be overcome at present. according to Mir. Stoeckel, but
 1t IS hoped it will be eventually over | come.
 Rotary Notes
 Previous to the address by MT. Stoeckel. several announcements of importance were made by President Leon Sprague. He has received sev- eral complaints from members to the | effect that the luncheons are held to | late at noon and the members do not get out on time to return to business. effect that the luncheons are held too ] the cal elessness of some members who did not arrive until Is or 20 minutes after scheduled time. All are urged to be present sharply at 12:15. It is not known where the next meeting will be held but the announcements will be made through the papers at a later date At the meeting next Thursday, c. l.. Campbell, general manager of the Connecticut Light and Power com pany of Waterbury will be the speak CT.
 Flowers to Mir. SIade.
 On a motion from the floor it was voted to send flowers to Louis P. Slade, an active member of the club who is confined to his home with illness. H was also decided to send a telegram of congratulations to Johnstone Vance. recently married to Miss Anna Gauer. Junior Achievement Fund President Leon Sprague gave a short talk in which he told of the
 work on the newly organized Junior