San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-13
NEW TRAFFIC
SIGNALS ARE
SATISFACTORY
System Of Lights will Solve
Problem for City,
Is Belief.
MOTORISTS HELP OUT
Officers Have Very Little
Trouble Enforcing
Regulations.
MOTORISTS HELP OUT

No left hand turns on Houston
street.
Don't attempt TO turn 10 the right
when the signal in front vi you shows
red.
stop far enough back of the sig
mails SO that You can see them.
Watch the amber light for warn
ing that the signals are about 70
change.
Don't forget that the signal is on
post 10 your right about 70 feet
from the intersc rtion."
These were the principal warnings
issued by traffic policemen 10 motor
lists Monday morning when San An
tonio's new automatic traffic signal
system was placed in operation.
That the system is a success and
that it will require but short time
for San Antonio Automobiles TO be-
come familiar with it was the consen-
sus of opinion among police officers
and officials alike Two things arc
certain. that it has speeded up traffic
on Houston street and that it has re-
suited in relieving that thoroughfare
of a large amount of traffic. 1t also
seems TO have speeded up pedestrian
traffic at street intersections.
Started Monday Morning.
The system was placed i'll operation
at Z 80 Monday morning under the
personal supervision of Chief of Police
A. q. Van Ripper and Traffic Capt
Il. o. Miller. 1t had been given 8
thorough tryout previously, however
to ascertain whether it was in perfect
working order. Mondays operation
proved that it was.
Despite the fact that this is tht
initial try-out of the automatic sys
TEN in San Antonio. police officers ex
pcrienced only slight difficulty in en-
forcing the traffic regulations Mon
day. True. there were some who wer'
near-sighted and couldn't see the sig
nails. others forgot about the left hanC
turn and still others insisted on max
ing the right hand turn when til;
signal was against them. But all IL
all. officers say, there seems TO be ,
disposition among motorists 10 coop
crate with the police in making tn,
signal a success.
Minor defects. according to City
Electrician Claude Convers. must b
remedied. For instance when the sur
reached certain . angle Monday
morning. il reflected on the red AM
green signals alike. making it diff,
cult for driver TO tell which TO fol
low. This is TO be overcome by plac
ing a small hood lust above the re
Electors. 1t also was discovered thai
signals must be placed at the inter
section of Houston and jefferson ant
Houston and North Presa streets. IL
order TO prevent congestion at thos'
points.
In order to get the system 10 op
Grating smoothly and to prevent traf
fic violations, four traffic men were
stationed at each intersection whe-'
the signals are operated Monday
These officers made no arrests. but
directed the attention of motorists tC
the signals and when necessary ex
planned their operation.
The usual number of people WIKI
even overran traffic signals when the
traffic officer operated his semapbOr'
from the center Of the intersection
were on hand Monday.
A Merry Mix.Cp.
"Hcr. can't Won see that signal:'
shouted an officer Mt st. Mary's anf
Houston streets as q driver proceeded
serenely along with the "red' agairs
him.
II didn't see any signal" tht
driver. very much surprised, replied
Back up and III show it to you,
the policeman ordered.