Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-26
AZ OTORISTS who drive their
M cars on F street in the
VI downtown theater and


cradle" conditions there with re-
Spect 10 traffic.
W. Ford Harvey, manager Of tic
club, has appealed 10 Mai. HaSSe.
superintendent Of police, and
other authorizes 10 ban from the
street cruising" taXicabS and So
called drugstore cowboys in
parked machines
He wants f street wreSted from
such invaders and restored to its
,rightful owners" namely, the
Legitimate users"
Between lodging the cruising
,taXicabS and the car in the hands
OF irresponsible boys" he said,
"the woman driver who seeks To
Use F street suffers a nervous
strain that calls for action"
He added. How long must We
wait for the police and the Dis
trlct government to restore this
important thoroughfare to its
richtful ownerS9'
The nolice have not been IN
mindful Of these "intolerable"
conditions described by the club
Official Indeed. they have been
greatly concerned over them, &C
cording to Inspector Brown Of the
Traffic Bureau.
I'VE recommended the pronul-
cation Of an ordinance against
cruising taXicabS on F street at
the time OF the establishment OF
11ackStan6S on cross streets along
that busy thoroughfare," lnSpec-
tor Brown points out.
The recommendation was not
adopted. however. The situation
has steadily grown worse, despite
the hackStand space set aside for
Athe cabs. principally because the
sseab drivers seem loath to make
use 81 the stands as they should.
II firmly believe that the only
solution to this problem is to pro-
i?ibit cabs from cruising along
that street in quest of customers,
Then they would seek the hack
stands and stay there until
called"
Inspector Brown said that con-
ditions are most serious during
-,
with slowly moving cabs whose
drivers are looking for fares III
front Of motion picture houses
and stores. All other traffic is
slowed up as a consequence.
The Traffic Bureau is sympa-
thetic 10 Clifton L. Adams novel
suggestion that the present ''un-
satisfactory" method Of number
ing automobile identification tags
be changed. but the officials are
not certain Mr.. Adams has hit
upon the best solution.
In a circular letter sent TO the
bureau, as well 2S 10 all State traf-
&c authorities. the Silver Spring.
Mo. man advocated use OF trick"
words in combination with few
numbers as q means for facilitat-
ing Identification Of cars. It
would be easier. he argued. for
bystander TO remember Soft Il"
OF a tag Of a car fleeing from an
accident than 10 fix in his mem
c-y q long number such rs
'42s5825."
The problem of developing an
easier method Of Identification
has been taken ID from time 70
tine By traffic experts in various
parts of the country. and at the
tine CT the recent of Mr. Adams
letter the local bureau was inves-
tigating a special numbering sy5-
TEN proposed by a Government
eY1Di0ye.
Mr.. Adams letter, in part. fol-
lows.
"Has it ever occurred 10 you
that the present system Of num-
bering motor vehicles is high
" unsatisfactory? Theoretically
each vehicle is distinguished from
al .bthers BY is license number:
practically the large numbers that
are necessarily used are SO indis-
tinguishable from each other as
10 frequently fSil as a means Of
identification, especially in times
Of accidents. when Identification
Is most essential
There are IN the United States
nearly Is 100000 automobiles. The
total number in each State varies
from about 100000 in the District
Of Columbia and the less poDulat-
ed States 10 upward Of 2,000,000
IN New York. These are desig-
mated b. numbers as in Maryland
and Illinois. by letters and num-
bers as in New JERSEY and the Dis
trIct Of Columbia. or b. a combi-
nation Of letters and figures as in
New York.
IF you see a car No l276724 run
down a pedestrian and speed
away what are your chances, first,
Of reading the number. second, Of
naemOriZing ii. and third. Of being
able 70 swear 10 the correctness oT
your observation and memory
thereafter? II you do read it and
yecotd Il Or nlennOrlZe It, haven't
you while doing this overlooked
important details Of the accident
that materially lessen your value
as a witness? Cases Of inability
70 identify the offending vehicle
are reported every cay. and 1t IS
not TO be- doubted that the Grim
inai and the reckless driver de-
peDc UPON Ila5 pFODaD4c IdAufe II
Identification
Owing 70 the limitations Of tx
human mind. meaningless large
numbers Or combinations o. fig
ureS and letters. although excel
lent IN fling systems. 90 not
serve as 3 positive and speed"
means % distinguishing one
yasa EsEl =
What may be substituted? Word
plain words We read them and
use them every DAY, hundreds Of
them. Many " Us use too many
Of them b0t at least our frequent
use has made us familiar with
.neEll. 50 TIA We rccnoniZe then