The Washington times., 1922-10-01
Bames dcross Me Continent
RAY MCNAMARAS
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copypcr 1922 py TIE ctRsTy WALSH SYNDICATE
copypcr 1922 BY TIE clRvsTy WALSH SYNDICATE,


You may be bowling along over a
good twenty or thirty-foot paved
road at high speed. II you have
clear view of cross roads twenty-five
10 thirty-five miles per hour is not
unreasonable at the crossing. How.
ever. suppose the barn, house,
orchard or hedge extends right up
to the property line. Then II would
be unsafe to travel twenty miles per
hour at the cross road. Always re-
member that the fellow travelling on
the road to the left or right OF you
may at anytime assume the right OF
way, so in order to avoid accidents
you must have your car under con-
troll at all times.
Probably one of the greatest
dangers met with in touring or in
the city for that matter. is the
grade crossing, either trolley or
steam roads, In both cases, you
have the heaviest form OF vehicle TO
contend with which is quite dis
advantage. You know they have the
right of way and their speed may be
anywhere from 80 to go NJ. p. II.
Not a chance in the world IL you
meet one, and yet you will see some
drivers crossing railroads without
looking in either direction. trusting
a flag man or q bell warning signal.
In some cases, drivers become ex.
cited at the approach OF a train and
choke their motors right in the path
OF danger. How much easier 1t
would be to watch for danger at the
sign OF Stop, Look and Listen"
All railroad crossings are danger.
Gus, even though they have flagmen
or gatemen. These fellows are all
human and make mistakes as is
constantly evident from the daily
papers. Therefore. first make sure
that the road Is clear in both direc-
tions. When a grade leads up to a
crossing get into second speed or
low speed, IL the grade IL very steep.
II the tracks are rough get into sec.
ond speed. In this way. you are not
so liable to choke your motor in
emergencies. II you do choke your
motor and II does not start readily,
drive off the tracks with the start
ing motor. Do not under all circum-
stances park on the steel right Of
way for a moment.
All accidents at railroad crossings
can be avoided II motorists will keep
a clear mind as well as a clear view.
and II you don't have a clear view
send some one ahead.
Perhaps the most dangerous rPil-
road crossings ! ever saw is on the
Lincoln highway crossing the Sierra
Nevada mountains in California
along the line Of the Southern Pa
cific railroad. On account Of the
heavy winter snow fall It is neces.
sary for the trains to run through
forty miles OF wooden snow sheds.
You can appreciate the extent Of
the snow fall when l tell you that
in crossing this range the last week
in June OF this year, l spent three
hours crossing a snow drift six feet
deep and a little farther on l passed
through one that had been cut out
by the road workers with walls tif-
teen feet high. barely enough room
for a car to pass through. How
ever. getting back to the dangers OF
grade crossing, the trail cuts
through the snow shed over the rail
road, l believe. twice. 1t is abso-
lutely impossible to see a train ex-
cept through the opening provided
for vehicular traffic, being alone 1t
was necessary for me to stop and
go ahead on foot to do the looking
and listening, and / did ii even
though / was in great hurry.
Very often grade crossings loom
up suddenly after rounding curves
in the highway or coming down
hills. Remember that 100 per cent
brakes will not save you in a case
like this, so keep your car under
control all the time. Practice juGg.
ing distance and brake stops. This
is more important when touring be.
cause YOU are on strange roads.