Evening star., 1928-02-26

driving over this bridge cannot be
complimentary one to the city.
Resurfacing Of this bridge should
be started as soon as possible. In
speaking of approaches, it would
be we'll for the Maryland authori-
ties to drive over the Baltimore
pike. It's present condition could
stand much improvement.
A new light system Is being
tried out on Cathedral street in
Baltimore. A timing device has
been installed upon the traffic
lights on that street. which has
about Is intersections, that auto
matically allows on the same cir
cult various lengths Of time at the
different intersections. This de-
vice takes into consideration the
length of the block, the amount
of cross traffic and the grade it
self. 1t Is similar to the staggered
light system here. the difference
being that the patented appliance
allows different time between the
changing of the lights on each
block. This system is said to allow
the steady flow Of traffic without
interruption.
Various Light Systems.
The use of lights in various
cities is interesting. New York and
other large cities have done away
with the amber caution light.
There, however, the pedestrian is
controlled by the lights, and many
difficulties are avoided. In many
of the cities in the South, espe-
cially the State of Florida. a bell
rings when the lights change. The
bell is an aid when the visibility
of the lights is poor, but how
many objections would be raised
here by the residents of Sixteenth
street should a bell ring at each
intersection with the change OF
| the signal? 1t is safe to say there
would be many. Richmond, Va,
has q poor regulation. On certain
boulevardS a motorist Is allowe:1
to make a left turn on the red
light. But should he be driving Oh
a street crossing this boulevard,
he must wait for the green light
Not very conflicting is it. And
how about the pedestrians? Their
lot there is not a very happy one.
In the final analysis there should
be unified regulation that would
be the same in each city and
hamlet throughout the United
States. The best traffic light sys-
tenn should be adopted every
where. It would not be very sur
prising if the system in Washing
ton was found to be the best. Pub
lie safety demands the same traf-
| fic regulations everywhere. It
seems that this is being brought
about gradually, although a glar-
ing contradiction is to be found
on Capitol Hill.
Trials of the Police.
Amusing traffic stories crop out
every now and then. Some time
ago a crossing policeman had to
caution a woman driver about 60
ing against the semaphore when
it was turned to stop" The driver
took the warning very demurely
and then drove on. The following
day the same driver appeared at
the intersection, this time accom-
panied by a male escort. Very
Sweetly she smiled at the traffic
officer as she stopped her closed
car by him, and not to be outdone.
the policeman smiled back and
dofed his hat. Later in the day
he met the man who was with the
woman. do you know what She
said as she smiled at you," the
man asked the policeman? "No. !
don't" the policeman said. Her
window was closed and could not
hear her" Laughingly. the man,
who knew the policeman. said,
Why she said, oh 60 to the
devil" One never knows.
A policeman one day on Penn
! sylvania avenue was marking
parked overtime cars. Not an
agreeable job. but necessary under
! his orders. He had just placed a
chalk mark on the tire OF a ma
chine and as he walked away he
| noticed a man rubbing 1t out. No.
| 10 be outWitted, the policeman re.
turned later and placed eight pea
/ nuts around each wheel Of the
| automobile. Several hours later,
he came back TO the car and
handed the driver a ticket. why
I have not been here overtime,
the driver eXpostulated. There Is
no mark on my car" The police
man then said that IL any OF tho
peanuts were crushed he would
| admit the man to be right. Care
full inspection proved that all pea
nuts were untouched.
The two walked over TO the first
precinct, where the necessary col
lateral was put up. Coming out
the man stated that he always
was friend OF the police force
and wished 10 remain so. He said
! he had contributed TO their
| charitv. always had bought tickets
/ 70 their base ball games. etc. He
then presented the policeman
with s cents TO be used for
the Policeman's Peanut Fund,
/ Whether the policeman accepted
the proffcrcd donation was not
learned from the news source OF
| .his story.
| However, 1t could not be c!assed
!. as q br!bc.
~s~-@,a~ & &c.