Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-30

YO1 SO long ago GHeT6 WeIS
M many residents of the Ma
" tional Capital opposed to
the traffic light signals.
Despite the fact that New York
City and other large municipall-
ties had found their use necessary,
letters were received here at the
office of the director of traffic de-
6cribing them as "Small-towniSh
and undignified. Several writer's
went so far as to say that they had
permanently given up their prac-
tice of driving on Sixteenth street.
The antipathy was in some way
similar to dislike Of the early
automobile. when groups of peo-
pie believed that manufacture
and use was contrary to the wishes
of the Almighty. and took bind
ing and solemn vows never to
get In one" Over the early phones
in the country people would call
I'D owners of "horseleSS red
devils" and inquire if a drive was
being contemplated for that day,
and if so, what direction would
be taken. Should the inquirer
find out this important knowledge
he would be sure, If he were
venturing out. to go in an OPP
posite direction.
Antipathy Diminishes.
But this group, like their horses.
began to fear less and less these
works of the devil" and finally
became accustomed to see these
early machines speed" along at
Is miles per hour.
And so 1t has become with the
traffic light signals in Washing
ton. Instead of opposing their
installation, many nf the same
group now wish for more and more.
A few still regard them as an evil,
but for the most part believe them
to be a necessary one. AS acct
dents and congestion are further
reduced on the controlled streets,
their former antipathy will vanish
altogether.
The recent installation of lights
at Connecticut avenue and Florida
avenue and S street, and at Eight
zenith street and Columbia road,
has caused very favorable criti-
cism. These much travelled in
tersectionS have been dangerous
ones in the past, which menace to
life and property has been greatly
eliminated. Due to Florida ave-
nue. being closed on the east side
many left turns on the red signal
have been made by the motorists.
contrary to the regulations. Proper
police warning will prevent these
violations. Objections to lights at
the latter intersection we're raised
by the traction company heads,
but following the installation and
the quick movement allowed the
street cars these objections were
removed.
Speedier Timing.
The timing of these new lights
has speeded up traffic consider
ably. No long delays are neceS-
STATED. Perhaps timing changes
might be worked out for other
controls to advantage. Timing it
self is easy to change when such
a change is found needed.
Traffic officials here have come
to the conclusion that white lines
of paint on the street are the best
markers, at least for this city.
They do not cause any obStruc-
tions, and although repairt work
has got to be- done every so often,
the cost is comparably cheap.
Thanks to: a formula given by the
Bureau of Standards, the paint
now being used is of a better
quality than any heretofore used.
The discs of metal that were
tried out at Thomas Circle and at
Fourteenth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue have not proven
successful. Their cost is high, and
due to climatic conditions here.
the street cracks around them and
is beginning to cause ridges to
develop.
Detours Again.
What may be wonderful drive
way today may be closed thor
oughfare tomorrow. Motorists are
not objecting to the detourS them
SevleS, ibut how they are made
without any apparent regard to
system or order. Every one wants
the streets of the city repaired.
But surely it is not necessary to
repair them one week and have
them dug up again the following
week for sewer or other piping.
A concrete example, or rather a
macadam example, if one prefers,