davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
MARYLAND DETOURS.
Weeks Traffic Routes Announced
by State Road Commission.

Detour bulletin for the week ending
December Y, announced by the Mary
land Road Commission, is as follows:
/. Garrett County, Northwestern
Pike-Westbound traffic turn right
900 at top of mountain, turn left 4.O)
on State road at Gerdner, regaining
road at Redhouse $50. Length of de.
tour, miles; condition good.
?. Washington County. Boonsboro-
Sharpburg Pike at bridge over An
tietam and Little Antietam Creek
From Boonsboro 900 go north toward
Hagerstown on National Pike to Mill.
point road, turn left 40 on Millpoint
road and follow to Lappan. turn left
CD on HagerstownS harpsburg Pike
to Sharpsburg 02.6l. Condition, ex-
cellent State road
3. Frederick County, South Market
street, Frederick-Proceed west on
West Patrick street one block TO Court
street. left or south on Court street,
one black TO West All Saints street,
left or east on All Saints street 10
South Market street and left or south
on South Market street to Wash
@AA6 eS~e . aAzAnA
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
PSYCHOLOGIST URGES
STANDARD SIGNALS
Confusion Caused by Present Sys-
tenn of Traffic Signs, Says
DR.. Dunlap.

BY Science Service.
Traffic signs and signals should be
made so simple and so uniform that
guiding an automobile would become
as automatic as walking. This is
the difficult goal for traffic engineers
set before the Highway Research
Board in a report by DR.. Knight Dun
lap, professor of psychology at johns
Hopkins University.
Drivers will never he trained TO
the point of an automatic, unrefiect-
ing stop on the red light so long
as other uses of red in signals are
retained" DR.. Dunlap said. Fatal
accidents have occurred from use OF
red lanterns on road distractions. But
the more important factor in such
cases is that the misuses Of signals
prevent the proper training of the
motorist and are therefore conducive
TO accidents at other points. 1t is
entirely feasible to do away with the
use of red fer all traffic signs not
meaning stop
Many types of road signs lead to
bad habits on the part of drivers, the
psychologist pointed out Frequent
use of dangerous curve" markers at
gentle curves, for example, cause mo-
florists to ignore such signs at points
where the warning is needed.
Drivers hunting parking space in
busy streets often put themselves and
other people in danger because of the
complex process involved in finding
out where and how long they can
park in a given street, he said. A
recent detailed examination of the
parking signs about Washington
streets was cited by DR.. Dunlap as
showing how colors and shapes are
used indiscriminately, so that they
mean nothing definite, and how the
words on signs are not standardized
enough so that the motorist can grasp
the idea with a minimum OF reading.
BY a system established in Balti-
more the driver can see nearly a
block away from a given place wheth-
er he can park there or not, and, II
so, how long, and this system is prov
ing itself sufficiently satisfactory to
serve as a model in other cities, he
said.
Standardization is urgently needed
in traffic signs and signals to increase
safety" DIR. Dunlap stated. But bad
standardization is worse than none
Before standards are established there
should be experiments and investga.
tons to establish facts about matters
which have been too much subject
to theory and guess. ss.se
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
AUTO INSURANCE RATES RAISED;
COUNTRY PAYS LESS THAN CITIES
More Powerful Cars, Larger Damage YER
diets and More Frequent Claims
Reasons Given For Increases.

rates were based. covering the period
from 1923 to thus far in 1927, showed
that the downward trend in accident
claims turned into an upward move
ment during 1925, and in 1925 the
companies, as group. sustained an
underwriting loss on account of the
sharp reverse.
More Powerful Cars.
1.-THE contributing factors causing
this are found quite generally to be
that automobiles are more powerful
and capable of being operate ted at a
greater speed: that the total mileage
Of improved highways has increas
steadily, resulting in greater average
use of automobiles: that there is an
increasing tendency on the part of
injured persons to demand larger
amounts as damages, and that there
has been a marked tendency on the
part of courts to award larger verdicts
in such cases
But while these factors have con.
tributed to a rise, it is true that the
increase would have been considerably
larger If it had not been for the ear
nest efforts on the part of the State
and municipal authorities, local organ
iZations, newspapers and insurance
companies in aCCident.preYention
work.
Mr. Matthai said that while the re-
suits of the safety work in Baltimore
We're not outstandingly noticeable he
believed that the Baltimore rate would
have had to be higher had it not been
for such efforts. He based his conclu-
sion upon the fact he said. that where
rates were decreased or increased only
slightly the fact was due almost in
varibly to safety measures.
Members of the Automobile Club Of
Maryland are expected to discuss the
new automobile insurance rates at
the monthly meeting of the club on
the second Tuesday in January, and
at the meeting of the board Of direc-
tors on the first Wednesday in the
month. The club has not taken any
position in regard TO the rates, hut
that will be the first occasion of which
the club members will get together
with an opportunity to exchange
views on the matter.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
HIGHWAY BUILDING
REACHES HIGH PEAK
64.209.7 Miles Constructed With
Federal Aid Since 1916, at Total
Cost of $1,234,173,1S7.

A total of Ga 209.7 miles of Federal
aid highways have been built in he
United States as a part of the Gov
ernment's Fedora aid program begun
in 1915, which. when completed, will
comprise network of highways
totaling 1S5,772 miles The total cost
of this mileage has been S1.234113,.
1888 of which S544 .SS49l172 was
paid for by the Federal Government,
the remainder by the States. or the
amount constructed under the Federal
aid program 56,740.7 miles have been
built during the past six years and
S,S06 during the past fiscal year.
The figures are taken from the an
nual report of the United States
Bureau of Public Roads made public
Yesterday in it's annual report 10 Con-
gress and are cited by President j.
Borton Weeks of the American Motor
lists Association to show the unprece-
denied progress that is being made
in road building throughout the
United States.
THE progress made will he viewed
with satisfaction by mot0rdom
throughout the country" President
Weeks declared. Approximately 10
years have elapsed since the program
"tt0 oLtAIiOt iHt4. bul dHtllltI ~ y N'R4 =
will see it progress by leaps and
bounds and the motorists everywhere
will gladly contribute their share in
the way of gasoline taxes toward the
furtherance of the national highway
plans. 1t means prosperity for The
country"
The report contains many figures
Of interest TO the motorists The otl
cial motor registra ton on January J
Of this year was Fl $50 S96 cars and
trucks. which il evenly distributed
over the 1S5,772 miles of Federal aId
highway system would mean a regis
tration of 118 automobiles on each
mile of road
The rapid growth of the automobile
is seen from the fact that the janu
airy l registra ton was more than
twice that of 1921, the year in when
the Federal aid system was designated.
A total of $50 miles of bridges was
completed during the year. which II
added to the other bridges CONSTRUCTED
under the program would make one
bridge 1916 miles long. In addition
to this total there are now unhei
construction bridges having an aggre
Gate length of 64.5 miles.
During the fiscal year ending June
so the total construction on the pro
gram was S.306 miles, of which 81
miles were completed in New JERSEY,
The total Federal aid program In
New Jersey calls for the construction
of 1883 miles. of which 1851 miles
have been completed. The total cost
of all Federal aid roads completed to
date in this State has been $24357,'
307.14. of which the Federal Govern
ment's share was $7.939 .9SSs7. Fed
eral aid bridges in the State total 2.3
miles in length.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
MOTORISTS URGED
TO RENEW LICENSES
Car Owners Asked to Save Them
selves Much Time and
Irritation.

A majority of the Nations %. 900, 600
motor-Car owners are faced with the
necessity of acquiring new license
plates, says c. +. Clark, secretary of
Columbia Division. A. A. A., who sug-
gests that the individual can save him
self considerable trouble and incOnve-
nience If he resolves now TO put this
task behind him before the last-minute
rush.
Every year" says Mr. Clark, "mo-
tCrdom goes through the same trying
few days merely because go many car
owners defer the purchase of their
new tags until the last minute. If the
proposition of getting next years
plates was spread out over six weeks
or more is the motor vehicle authori.
ties make provision for, car owners
would save themselves a tremendous
amount of time, irritation and incon-
Venience.
New plates are inevitable. One
must have them to use a car. Why
not acquire them well ahead of time?
In connection with the purchase of
new license tags, the car owner would
do well to check over his registration
card or title to determine that the
official record of it is straight. 1t fire.
quently happens that serial or engine
numbers are registered incorrectly,
through clerical or other error, and
then, in case car is stolen, recovery
is made that much more difficult.
1T is a wise precaution to check
over this information every year. In
doing So the car owner almost invari-
ably will come across marks and num-
bers which remarkably facilitate iden.
tification of the car in case the need
ever arises, a for instance, when the
most prominent numbers are removed
or defaced by a thief
ION the whole, the season is one
In which the motorist has an oppor-
| tunity to benefit himself in several
ways if only he will take advantage
Of it,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18

BALTIMORE, December II (Spe.
CiaD.-IncTeased power of autos. more
frequent claims growing out of acct
dents and larger damage Verdicts have
caused a general boost in automobile
casualty insurance rates, which in
Baltimore vary from rs to 1888 per
cent.
The United States Fidelity and
Guaranty Co., the Maryland Casualty
CO. and the New Amsterdam Casualty
Co. all of BALTIMORE handle about
S22, 000 900 worth Of auto casualty
business annually.
In sending out their new rates this
week they explained they We're worked
out on the basis of experience in each
locality served.
The rates in the rural sections Of
MARYLAND were changed but little. In
surance people said that it had been
their experience that rural risks were
much better than those in the city.
The rate on the medium-priced cars
in rural Maryland has been raised
from S18 10 $40 and on the expensive
class from $50 to S27. There was no
raise announced for G the cheaper
class.
Raise i'm City Rates.
Rates in the city went from go 10
$50 for cheaper autos, So 10 S35 for
medium priced ones, and from $40 to
s43 for expensive cars. They are for
policies giving $4,000 coverage for in
curry to one person and limit of $l0,-
coo for all injuries in one accident
Joseph r. Matthai, vice president
Of the United States Fidelity &
Guaranty Co, in charge of the auto
mobile department, asserted that this
discrimination was based on actual
experience which had revealed that
risks in rural communities are much
less than in the cities. He then
pointed, as an example, to New York,
where the rate on the cheaper cars
has been raised from SS7 to $115; me-
dunn priced. $l07 to 1927, and eX-
pensive, $136 to $141.
This new rate brings TO an end
a downward trend which has been
pronounced in our rates for the last
few years." Mr.. Matthai said. The
experience data upon which the new
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
Heavier Penalties Sought.

BALTIMORE, December II tSpe'
cia).-A drive by the State attorneys
office to obtain conviction for man.
slaughter cases in cases Of death re-
sultinE from reckless operation of mo-
tor vehicles was announced this week
after conviction of Albert G. Miller,
81, on the charge of running down
and causing the death of a child.
Young Miller was remanded TO jail
under a suspended sentence, awaiting
the outcome Of move for new trial.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
WILL MEET IN ROME.
World Motor Transport Congress
Invited by Duce.

On invitation of Benito Mussolini
the Fifth World Motor Transport Con.
gress will meet in Rome during Sep
TENDER, 1928, according to word re-
ceived by the National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce from George
f. Bauer, manager of its foreign de.
partment, who is now addressing
groups of automobile men in the Bal
kan countries and southeastern
Europe.
Mussolini's invitation was submit.
ted by Senator Silvio Crespi, president
of the Royal Italian Automobile Club.
to the Fouth World Motor Transport
Congress held in London, November
14-16, 1927. which Mr.. Bauer attended
Bureau Permanent International des
Constructors Automobiles. the inter
national association of automobile
manufacturers, has accepted the invi.
tation. Nt@se ~ 49, ~ ~ s.@..
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
Auto
I'm Utility Refutes
Present-Day Boast

It's nice to believe that today's
automobiles are far in advance of
those manufactured in the years of
the industry's infancy and child
hood. But the past holds it's
examples of fine workmanship.
and probably no better in
stance is available than the amaz-
ing record of a 19-yearold ma
chine which still is on duty.
1t has run 100000 miles, or 10
times around the world. 1t still can
do so miles an hour without falter-
ing.
And it's used daily by a munich
pal IRE department.! = .SsssSsas 4
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
NetC Automobile Editor

G.. Adams Howard, an expert
enced motorist and student of
traffic. has been appointed Auto
mobile Editor of The Star, to
succeed William Ullman, whose
resignation became effective last
week.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
SCIENTIFIC DETOUR
AID TO MOTORDOM
Service Available Through
Clubs of A. A. A. Greatly
Facilitates Travel.

In an effort to combat the inconven-
fences 10 motor travel caused by erro-
neous information from roadside
sources" scientific detour service is
now available 10 motorists through
the $50 motor clubs affiliated with the
A. A. A, according TO the national
motoring body.
A nationwide survey by A. A. A.
motor clubs has disclosed that mac
curate information on detours, given
to motorists at gas stations, stores,
farmhouses and from other unofficial
sources, has, in thousands of in
stances, caused the driver to take
longer routes over bad roads, when
correct data would have routed him
over good road and the shortest
route.
New Service Outlined.
The new service is described in the
following statement issued by the Ma
tional Touring Bureau of the A. A. A:
The A. A. A. is perfecting one of
the most complete and scientific serv-
ices to give correct information on de-
tours that has ever been attempted in
the history Of organized motordom.
The importance of this service can
he seen from the fact that on Deem
her / there were / .75S detours on the
main trunk line highways only. east
of the Rocky Mountains. When it Is
taken into consideration that there
are thousands of miles of subsidiary
and county highways also carrying
construction projects, it can readily be
seen that it is impossible for the mo-
torist to make a trip of any extent
without running into one or more de-
tours.
This service. particularly to mem
hers, consists of the issuing Of four
regional detour bulletins, covering all
territory east of the Rockies. They
are issued for the Northeastern, South
eastern. North Central and South Cen
trail States. giving correct detour in
formation for trunk line routes and
principal connections.
Benefit to Motorists.
"Diverting of traffic away from con.
struction projects on highways not
only adds to the peace of mind Of the
motorist but also allows the project
To be completed faster and with more
thoroughness. Adequate sign-posting
of detours by States is also advocated,
and many States have fallen in line
with the suggestion and usea part of
State highway funds for this purpose.
Others are showing a willingness to
lend their cooperation by requiring
contractors 10 sign-post the detours on
the project on which they are work.
ing.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
Problem Called Important.

The Interstate Commerce Commls-
sion sees "a problem of constantly
increasing important in the lack OF
regulation Of interstate motor bus ana
truck traffic and announces it will
give all parties a chance to be heard
before a final report is made. Special
hearings will be held before the COM
mission in January in the form OF re-
buttal testimony following the hear
ings held earlier in the year all over
the United States.
Under the measure all interstate
travel hv motor bus or motor truck
over the roadways in the United States
would he regulated by the interstate
Commerce Commission in several
wavs Motor vehicles would he di-
vided into two classes, A and b, and
both would be required to have GER
tifcates Of public convenience and ne
cessity to permit their operation.
Glass A carriers. the motor busses,
would he required to submit schedules
Of operation, their termini, character
of business, statements showing their
assets and liabilities and much other
pertinent information.
In addition they must furnish the
Interstate Commerce Commission or
the State commissions, in the case of
purely interstate operation, with
schedules of rates and charges for
transportation of persons and prop
erty, and shall be liable to conviction
in a Federal court if found operating
in violation of the provisions of the
act. The measure would appropriate
the sum of 100000 for the use of the
Interstate Commerce Commission in
administration of the act and the oper-
tor shall he liable to imposition of a
fine and imprisonment.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-18
BY W. r. McCALLUM.

More than two years Of playing
around with Federal legislation TO
place interstate motor busses and
motor trucks under the jurisdiction.
with respect to rates and charges. OF
the interstate Commerce Commission,
and as many more years Of thinking
about it. may come 10 an end during
the first session Of the present Con
cress. provided the Interstate Com
MERGE Commission does its part.
The commission is nearing the close
Of An exhaustive inquiry into trans
portation by motor bus and motor
truck, and viii shortly present TO Con
gress a comprehensive report as re-
suit of hearings held in a. score OF
States by several examiners and by
several members Of the Federal rail
body. Meanwhile Congress is To have
before it again at this session the so
called Parker resolution, termed
In the nomenclatur of the legislative
body "A bill 10 regulate interstate
commerce by motor vehicles operating
as common carriers on the public
highways" This bill is to he reintro-
duced at this session, supplementlng
the report Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission with the lengthy hear.
ings held on the measure year ana
a half ago.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-07-08
SHOULDER HUNT
WITH CONDITION
APACHE TRAIL

PHOENIX, July z, P)-Declaring
that Governor Hunt and the state ad-
nninistration could find means to fl
nance the completion of the Apache
trail if they saw fit, and condemning
the closing of the famous scenic route
as an Unjust discrimination against
Maricopa county, the board Of direct
ors of the Phoenix chamber of COM
merce today adopted resolution in
forming Governor Hunt that the cit
izens are looking to him to see that
the conditions are remedied.
The failure of James H. Kerby,
secretary of state to provide addition
al necessary automobile license plates
to Maricopa county was also brought
out during the meeting and included
in the resolution, which asked in add
ition that Governor Hunt provide i'm
mediate relief in the emergency.
The general opinion, of the repres-
entative men at the meeting was that
there were several ways in which the
completion of the Apache trail might
be financed if the state highway de-
partment sees fit to have the work
done. Because of this condition, the
resolution calls upon the governor to
see that the highway department. ac-
cept some method toward finishing
Of the work and opening the road.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-07-08
CHU CHAI-HSlN
QUITS LEAGUE;
RETURNS HOME

GENEVA, July 7, P-Chu Chao-
Hsin, who has been representing the
Peking government on the council OF
the league of nations, today informed
Sir Eric Drummond, the secretary
general that he intended to return to
China and to become politically free
lance.
Inasmuch as the league deals Off
cially only with the Peking government
the council will be obliged to accept
whomever the Peking government
should appoint in Chu's stead.
Chu'ss abandonment of his post has
created considerable stir in league
circles since his action leaves China
without a representative in the coun-
Gil to which it was given seat in the
last session of the league assembly,
1t is assumed that Chu will enter
the service of the Marking National
ist government He is a personal friend
of DR.. G. G. WI, the Marking for
eign minister and General Chang
Kai-Shek, the Marking military lead
er. Only recently he issued II COM
munique in the name of the National
lists stating that China would not ac-
cept any decisions that might be TAX
en- at the Geneva tripartite naval con-
ference as regards the situation in
the Pacific unless she we're consulted
AS far as recognizing the National
lists is concerned, the league mas TAX
en- the position that it cannot concern
Itself with the internal political gitua-
| ton in China.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-07-08
CENTRAL ARIZ.
! IS VISITED BY
VIOLENT STORM
Church in Gila Bend Is
Hurled Across Street By
High Winds

PHOENIX, Ariz., July Pl-Proper-
ty damage totaling several thousands
of dallors, caused principally by high
winds, and decentralization Q fthe water
users power system, leading - Pnoe-
nix from Roosevelt, Horse Mesa and
Mormon Flat dams. Followed IN the
wake tonight of one Of the worst
storms which have visited central
Arizona in years.
The greatest damage, according to
reports received late tonight was
caused at Gila Bend from high winds
which totally demolished the Cath
olic church there, tore the roof from
a residence and blew down several
fences and numerous trees.
The church, small frame structure
was literally picked up by the wind
hurled across the street and depos-
tied in the front yard of a residence
occupied by E, M. Stevens, Gila Bend
representative of the Standard Oil
company. The church was OF fairly
light construction and had stood in
Gila Bend for many years.
Rains, almost torrential in violence
accompanied by extremely high winds
and electrical disturbances swept the
central portion Of the state, extending
apparently across the entire state.
Light showers, accompanied by ell
ectrical displays, fell at Globe tonight
Heavy rains we're reported falling in
the Pinal mountains, seven miles
southwest of Globe.