The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-11
STOP SIGNS
T0BE PAINTED
ON PAVEMENT
Commission Orders Suggestion
Made by One Who Paid DOL
lar Put Into Effect

Following q suggestion made by
4. w. Simons, Associated Press cor
respondent at Bismarck, in letter
to the city commission after he had
been summoned to police court for
violation Of the city stop sign or
dinAnce, the commission Monday
night instructed the street depart
ment to have the word stop
painted in large letters directly on
the pavement at each entrance to an
arterial highway in the city and at
the junction Of each alley and street
in the business district.
It is believed that the word
painted on the pavement will be
seen much easier by the motorist
than are the stop signs erected on
posts at the side Of each intersec-
ton. The ordinance also provides
that automobiles coming from an al
ley on to a street must come to a
full stop before entering the street.
Letter Is Masterpiece
Mr.. Simons' letter to the commits
sion was not only entertaining, Civ
ing the members of the city commits
sion considerable enjoyment when it
was read by the city auditor, but it
contained the suggestion which the
commission adopted and ordered put
into effect Immediately.
Taking it for granted that a
citizen has 4 right to express an
opinion and to make suggestions,
address this letter with all the
humility and knowledge of my own
shortcoming which the occasion sug.
gests,' the letter said.
Il have no desire to be sharp and
there certainly is no reason to be
complimentary. ! refer to the man.
ner in which the city has placed the
stop signs at certain designated
street intersections.
approaching Sixth street or
Broadway from either direction the
signs are very cleverly concealed
behind light posts. If the commits
sion is sufficiently interested in
helping Bismarck citizens obey the
law it can verify this with one look
When cars are parked along the
curb near the signs the camouflage
effect is intensified.
"Unwittingly, without doubt, you
have, in this instance, constructed a
perfect trap, even for motorists who
have every desire to obey the new
ordinance. I do not use the word
'unwittingly' in a sarcastic sense but
merely because it occurred to me
first.
seriously. i, would help citizens
to obey the law if you would place
the signs where they can be seen
more easily.
Reyisits Scene of Crime
"After paying my dollar ! took
the trouble to revisit the scene OF
the crime to see why had failed
to see the sign. The reason was that
it was hid behind the lamp post and
cars parked along the curb ahead Of
it contributed to the effect. A
strange motcrist would have to b.
'gawking' most terribly if he were
to see it. In fact any stranger who
sees the signs in those locations
should be prosecuted for careless
driving. He certainly would not b
observing the rules for automobile
drivers as laid down by the best au
thorities.
"These rules, as understand
them, are to watch the street aheae
and to look carefully for pedestrians
when approaching . street crossing
/ have always tried to observe them
Sadly enough this observance nov
costs me a dollar and how much
more it will cost me and others be-
fore the mighty mind of the cit,
commission moves is mystery.
1T is true that every motoris'
has had ample warning that certain
streets are stop streets but one
small brain cell cannot be xpectec
to earn q living and at the same
time keep the mandates Of the city
ordinances in mind. Unless my eyes
deceive me heads wise enough t.
get themselves listed among the city
fathers have made the same error
At some convenient time the com.
missioners might do little search
inc IT their consciences: it might