The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-07


To see the mountains traversed
nv the National Pike between
Wheeling and Washington, array.
ing themselves in the innumerabIe
Incompatible colors of autumn. was
what brought touring to the capital
today Frank II. Blowers and Port
Glass, two well known citizens OF
the Ohio County metropolis. That
sight was we'll worth the trip, they
said, but to have had the onpoftu.
nifty created for them by Senator
Sutherland to meet and talk with
President Harding was an unex-
pected event which caused their
cup 6f pleasure to overflow its
brim. Mr.. Blowers is a member
OF the Ohio County Republican com.
mittee, and Mr.. Glass a member OF
the county hoard OF equalization. It
Is the first time the latter has paid
a visit to the capital in fifteen
years.
October" said Mr.. Blowers >dis.
cussing the trip through the noun.
tains, "is the rare month for tour
ing over the Old National Pike. The
scenery Is more beautiful than in
any other month. The Pike Is in
tine condition now. While work Is
being done on IL here and there.
there are no detours. The work is
being done principally on curves,
which are being banked, to render
them safer. We left Wheeling at
5 o'clock Of the morning and ar.
rived here at 5 in the evening. We
did not have to hurry to make the
time"
Seven Days For Safety" Is the
slogan that a nationwide chorus
Of motorists are expected to chant
throughout the week OF October s
to IA with traffic officers Ginning
In ever and anon with harmonious
chords. 1t is all to be directed by
the Bureau of Public Roads Of
which Thomas H. Macdonald is thA
chief.
Discussing the weeks observ.
ance. Chief Macdonald today said:
with the constantly growing
volume Of traffic on our highways
aud the corresponding increase In
accidents the question of highway
safety, although considered import.
ant in the past by, highway off.
6Ials, is worthy OF even greater con.
sIderation.
"a very large proportion Of the
accidents can be eliminated by safe
and sane driving, but they can be
reduced to a minimum only by y
combination Of careful driving and
the elimination OF dangerous grades
and curves, narrow roadways and
bridges and the deadly grade cross.
Ing. In federal aid construction.
In cooperation with the states,
much has been done along those
lines and every step has had the
support Of the public, particularly
in the matter of grade crossing
elimination,
"In the state OF Maryland the
patrolmen are required to report
to the state highway department
the location and cause OF every &C.
cident that occurs on the state
roads. The information acquired
in this way Is used by the depart
ment as a guide in the planning Of
improvements which, will reduce
the accident hazard. When numer:
Gus accidents are found to occur
at any point the dangerous feature
Is eliminated even at considerable
expense.
"All over the country there are
points on the highways which were
[ comparatively safe for the traffic
4 Of q. few years ago, but which ara
now the cause Of many accidents.
The dangerous conditions at these
points must be eliminated and each
state highway department should
have data available so that the
elimination Of the most dangerous
ones can be undertaken first"
Ent,., .,.a So. "a 80