Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-14

PRING is productive or many
thoughts in the automotive
!. world, which besides the
- manufacturers includes the
motoring public. Among these
thoughts are new car purchases,
overhauling, and last but not
least, comments over existing
traffic coma lions.
The first two ideas are generally
pretty we'll taken care of. A study
OF ones pocketbook looks after
the former, and little time ana
patience will do for the latter.
Thoughts Are Varied.
But coming to the subject Of ex-
listing traffic conditions, thoughts
along this line are about as varied
as the number of regulations
themselves. Each city has it's own
particular worries, and is ready
to believe that all other cities
have none.
Few followers of motordom and
its intricacieS agree except along
certain lines. Unfortunately these
lines are often non-conStructive.
Groups of this persuasion will
generally agree that "all is wrong"
but cannot offer any desirable
substitute.
Traffic directors in all cities
daily listen to such comments,
taking much of their time for
naught. One resident will COM
plain about one thing, and an
other will commend the same
thing. The trouble generally is
that the complainant is thinking
more of his own personal wishes,
and the traffic director is trying
to reason for the mutual good of
all concerned.
It would not be true, however,
to say all suggestions made are
valuelesS. Often resident will
know more about conditions of
traffic on his block than the di-
rector can learn by locking at tie
square on blue print. Often a
motorist accustomed to going
home daily by a regular route will
discover conditions that others
who less frequently use this route
may perceive. But the value of
the suggestion depends largely
upon the unSelfiShneSS of the in
dividual.
An Illustration.
An example, not too much ex-
aggerated among the many re-
ceived because of it's fooliShneSs,
illustrates in some way the minds
of some of the residents of the
National Capital. Recently Mr..
Harland, director of traffic,
Speeded up the timing on some
of the signal lights On upper Six
teenth street. To many minds
this plan was wise.
But-one resident writes in as
follows: Heretofore, I was able
to get a few minutes of quiet at
my home before the green light
sped the laundering traffic by my
house. Now with the quicker
changing of the signals, the noise
~ in front of my residence is almost
continuous. Won't you have the
lights returned to the old timing?"
Comment over Dupont Circle
has not ceased, although it's in
tenSity is somewhat diminishing
If motorists drove around the
circle as they are expected to do,
and if pedestrians cbeyed the in
StructionS of the Police Depart
ment, discussion might end al
together.
Anent Comment Circle"
However, an automobile dealer,
whose place of business is near
the "Circle of Comment" here
tofore known as Dupont, wishes
the lights done away with alto
gether. He claims that with the
lights, traffic banks up and then
eXplodeS at the same time in every
direction. His chief annoyance
is due to the fact that many of
his prospects" often new to
handling a car, have difficulty in
threading their way in and out
of the lights. Strange the di-
rector of traffic Gid not consider
him more before installing the
lights.
washington almost get a good
taxi driver Almost-but Hack
Inspector Sergt. Joe Harrington
did not let him quite get by. The
aspirant called at the Traffic Bu-
reau the other day. He was from
Frostburg, Md. He wanted to
drive taxi. No, he did not know
1niInh about tho variOIlc Y1Oi11tc nf