Evening star., 1924-12-09
HOLDS POOR LIGHTS
CAUSE ACCIDENTS
Zihlman viii Ask Improve
ments-Disappointed at
Gas Tax.

Better street lighting for the Dis
trict of Columbia as a means OF
preventing night traffic accidents will
be sought by Representative Fred
erlck Zihlman of MARYLAND. From
letters received in his Office and from
personal observation, Mr. Zihlman
said today that he was convinced
that the poorly lighted streets in
the National Capital We're to a large
degree responsible for many auto
mobile fatalities which have shocked
the city.
I drive car myself" said Mr..
ZlhIman, and l know just what the
motorist is up against when he at
tempts to operate on some of these
streets. On rainy highs, with the
rehecion from the inadequate lights
thrown up from the asphalt it is
almost Impossible to see pedestrians
and a motorist must drive vie ex-
IRENE care TO avoid accidents
Plans Further study.
L haven't at this time gone far
enough into the matter to know inst
"hat can be done. l expect, however.
70 take 1t up with members Of the
mouse District committee, and hope
''at something can be accomplished"
with the traffic agitation at it's
height. Mr.. Zihlman believes that
every phase of the matter should b.
investigated and if poor illumination
is TO blame for a percentage of the
accidents. remedial measures should
be pushed vigorously.
appropriations for the fiscal year.
ending next July l, provide for $525,
600 Nfor purchase, installation and
maintenance of street lights in the
District. An additional amount of
$4,000 Is appropriated for replace
ment.
In this connection It was pointed
out that the item Of $3.50 must
cover the cost of gas and electricity
used and that only q small portion Of
this money Is available for purchas-
ing new equipment.
For the next year the Budget Bu-
reau recommends an appropriation
of S5e0,000, an increase OF 5000 for
the first item. and the same amount.
$4,000, for replacement OF light and
equipment.
Gas Tax Revenues.
Mr.. Zihlman also expects to start
an investigation of the revenues from
the gas tax, which, he says, have
come far below expectations.
1T was conservatively figured" he
said, that s960,000 or more would
be realized in the District from the
2-cent tax. Personally l believed that
1t would run much more, possibly as
much as $780, 600. But from pres
ent Indications, if motorists of the
District continue using gas at the
same rate as the returns show, the
revenue will be approximately $780,
600.
"As understand it, the estimated
figure was arrived at in the belief
that with 100000 motorists in the
District they would use on an average
of 10 gallons of gas a week, or very
close to that. At this rate If the
100, 900 motorists each bought 10 gal
Ions the revenues would be some
thing over S1,000,00
Gas Tax Returns.
The present figures show that
local motorists are using only little
over Z gallons a week. 1t is hard
to believe that the average is this low
in the District, as 1 drive a small
car and use at least 10 gallons and
as much as 20 a week.
Figures from the Bureau of Public
Roads show that Washington is well
up on the list of States in the con-
sumption of gasoline. The chart
compiled by the bureau shows that
pproXimately $50 gallons of gas has
cen used by each District motorist
or six months since the tax went
nto operation, and the approximate
mount spent in taxes by each motor
ist to be SIS.
In the light of these figures, Mr.
Zihlman pointed out that If each
motorist spent $5 for the first six
months, he would probably spend
almost as much as that in the last
half. bringing his total tax payment
for the year up to $40.
These figures bear out my belief
that something must be wrong" he
said, "as the $40 a year rate for
each of the 100000 motorists would
bring in s1,000.0O0 a year, the esti-
mated amount. / shall urge that an
investigation of this discrepancy be
inaugurated at the meeting tomorrow
of the House District committee"