Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-09-29

: of the day. The plan proved EN-
6 inently successful and since its orig
: inal inception, has been extended L
| some of the other Boroughs.
Special traffic regulations. limit
ing the use of streets by vehicles &c
. certain portions thereof. or 10 GER.
, tain hours OF the day. or prohibit
ing their use by vehicles entirely
during certain specified hours. have
also been found to be of value in
improving traffic conditions at vari-
Gus locations throughout the city.
| An innovation in the handling OF
| traffic. however, on what Is generally
believed TO be the most important
thoroughfare in any OF the larger
cities. is the signal system now in
operation on Fifth avenue. south of
Goth street, in the Borough OF Man
haitian.
For a number OF years. various
plans have been under advisement
for the relief of the badly congest-
ed condition generally TO be found.
and the establishment OF a one-way
regulation was being seriously con-
sidered. where the signal system was
decided upon as a temporary expert
ment.
Fifth avenue, between Washing
ton Arch (Waverly place.. and Cen
trail Park. (59th street,, distance
OF two and one-half miles Is one OF
the busiest thoroughfares in the
world. Between these two points.
II is intersected by five extremely
busy crosstown streets. viz: 14th.
23rd. saith, 42nd and seth streets.
Traffic on this avenue has been very
heavy for years. AS far back as
fourteen years ago, 1t was found,
necessary to assign a traffic patrol
man at each crossing from 14th TO
59th streets. These patrolmen d.
rected traffic in accordance with the
momentary conditions in his own
vicinity. That was called the block
system. This system compelled the
motorists to operate thier cars on a
local schedule OF two block stages.
About ten years ago. we inaugu-
rated what we call the five block sys-
TEN. This was done by placing a
semaphone stanchion at each street
intersection and dividing the ave-
nue. into five zones, with a master
station in the center of each zone.
This proved to be a slight improve
ment over the block system, but ow-
ing to the dense mass OF vehicles on
the avenue, II made Il impossible !
for the officer on the adjoining post
to see the signal displayed by the
master station.
In ha - TQCn I
Deputy Police Commissioner Har-
riss decided that as an experiment
he would change this sort Of sched
ule by means of co-ordinated tower
signal regulation. For carrying out
this plan, five towers were erected
on 5th avenue. Each tower is
equipped with two sets OF three
lights. one set facing north. one set
facing south, and above the center
OF each tower there is a single round
globe unit, the side lights being
colored red. yellow and green re-
spectively. and the central unit on
the top OF the tower being equipped
with red, yellow and green lamps.
which operate in harmony with the
signal lights facing north and south.
stop and Go" signs are not used, !
The lights being bright enough TO
serve by day as we'll as by night.
The yellow light is shown for APP
pi oximately two minutes. During
his time, north and southbound
raffic IS allowed 10 proceed on the
avenue. The yellow light Is then
urned Off and the red. light Is
-...ft,t,15 -, So , ,,arfnd ~ a., cac-
,nds. This Is a clear station sig
hal. Vehicles and pedestrians ap-
preaching the intersection must then
top. while those that are already
within the intersection are allowed
en- seconds 20 get clear. The green +,
light is then turned on and east and
vest traffic is permitted for one
minute, at the end OF which period
he red light again gives the clear
tation. This cycle is repeated !.
throughout the day. A bell In the
over announces the change OF Sig
lals and this is supplemented by :
he whistle of the traffic patrolman
n the street. All five OF these
overs are operated in unison. The =
GO" lights (yellow) for north and
outh traffic, for example. showing =
ut simultaneously in all OF them, =
he entlre system IS operated from
he master station. 42nd street. 7
he signal towers are located so that y
very traffic patrolmen on the ave- y
ne can see at least one OF them.
Prior to the establishment OF this :,
ystem. It was found by actual tests y
0 have taken as long as forty min $
ties for vehicle TO proceed on 5th !,
venue from 57th TO 34th streets, :,
r the reverse way, at certain times !.
the day. Under its operation. =
Is estimated that this most annoy -
ig and costly delay had been re- :"
uced by more than COS or 20 less -
nan fifteen minutes between the -
oints mentioned. :,
Greater safety. conveience an -
omfort 20 all drivers and operators -
vehicles. as well as TO pedestrians :,
nd shoppers on 9Th avenue has :,
cen brought about also under this !,
Ian. -
Its entire operation has met with =,
lie hearty approval OF both press y,
nd public. and II is generally recog- n,
lied as the most progressive step -,
lken for the efficient and expedi- "a
Gus handling OF an unusually heavy "a
olume OF traffic on a congested 80
That this system -
as been successful from the begin a.
ing. Is admitted beyond doubt. -.
II is intended to extend the flash -,
wer system on such thoroughbred =
viii warrant the erection of tow a.,
q and on nfhnrs II Viii hn etrr- - -