Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-31
@RAFFIC conditions at Du-
pont Circle are gradually
clearing up. A weeks ac-

pont Circle are gradually
clearing up. A weeks ac-
= quaintanceship with tie
new lights have proven their
worth. At first the flow Of traf-
nc was badly congeSted and motor
lists avoided the circle as much as
possible.
The new system of the lights
was completing and drivers ag-
gravated the situation by edging
up and blocking all pathways Of
the pedestrians during the rush
hours. The designation of the
croSSwalkS has aided materially
and all drivers are cautioned not
to block them.
Two Steps Needed.
Two additional steps, however,
are needed to make the circle safe
and allow the most efficient flow
of traffic. One is to have the
Washington Railway & Electric
Co. to reroute its northbound
tracks to the east side of the cir
Gle. The present method of allow
ing the street cars to go the wrong
way around the circle should be
changed. Also the tracks should
be moved in toward the inner rim
of the circle, as is the case around
Thomas Circle.
The second step is for the Com
miSsioners to give the city pedes-
TRAN control. Each installation
of additional lights makes this Or
der more imperative. The motor
lists have to come to frequent
haltS on account of the lights and
the pedestrians should likewise
conform to such a procedure.
It Is understood that the off,
Gals Of the Traffic Bureau are
heartily in favor of both plans. 1t
is up to the Commissioners.
New York Lights.
New York is not backward in its
light planning.
The program for the extension
of its traffic light system during
1929 will, by the end of the year,
provide this modern method OF
control at no less than 4,5O0 in
terSectionS in the five boroughS
Two thousand and sixty-one OF
these intersections will be light
controlled on the Island of Man
haitian alone, according to infor-
nation issued recently by Deputy
Police Commissioner Philip D
Hoyt. More than an equal num-
Der will be placed in the Bronx
Brooklyn, Queens and on Staten
Island, where, in addition to the
systems already in operation
there, many extensions are a.
present under construction OF
already in the form of definite
plans.
The change over of control to
the central station on West
Thirtieth street recently, giving
centralized automatic regulation on
six avenues. is only beginning OF
the automatic system which even
tually will be in operation through
out the greater city. Automatic
control of the planned $500 in
tersections will save the city $20,-
O00,00 yearly in the salaries OF
5000 traffic officers who will not
be required for duty at 1000 of
the points. At only about 500 in
tersections will the posting of Of
ficers be necessary in addition to
the lights, and these will be the
most difficult traffic posts through
out the city, where supplemental
direction is absolutely necessary.
Junk Car Worries.
One of the banes of the auto
mobile dealers life, editorially
states the Automotive Daily News,
is the junk car, the vehicle sell
ing for $50 or 500, which ought
really be removed from the roads
in the interests of public safety.
In spite of their unwillingness to
handle these cars, dealers often
have to take them in trade, and
4 many merchants make a practice
of getting a number Of them and
then sending for the junk man
and giving him lot at set fig
ure In order to clear up the whole
transaction.
Obviously, the intention in
selling to the 'junker is to have
the ancient vehicles broken up
and retired from service. But all
too frequently the junk man finds
that some of his purchases still
will wheeze along under their own
power, and instead of breaking
them up, he sells them again as
going concerns" and behold! the
walking junk heap is back on the
road after a brief interval.
Furthermore, sooner or later, the
ragged veterans appear again in
the used car department of the
h "a d automobile dealer,
where they are offered in trade
on the price of a new car. Some
time ago a suggestion for the
handling of these ancient cars
was made by the Pennsylvania
Automotive Association. This plan
involves the amendment of the
automobile law to make 1t obliga-
tory on the buyer Of junk cars to
apply for a certificate of Junk"
This certificate would end the
service career of the car. The
vehicle could not be. registered
again, its official status having be-
come that of junk. The buyer
would have NO choice but to break
up the vehicle and reclaim what
ever of it's anatomy he might be
able to utilize. This would at any
rate end the constant resurrection
Of iunkerS.
It is no question to the advisa-
bility of preventing cars Of this
class from the use of the public
highway. But If such law were
adopted as referred to in the trade
journal, It would be difficult fol
the courts to determine when 9
car was Junk or when 1t was not