Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-28
Herbert C. Lummis Makes
Criticism Before Maryland
Utilities Association Farley.
RHODE ISLAND AVENUE
CONDITIONS ARE CITED
Holds System Should Be Substi-
tuted by Flexible Progress
sive Timing.


singly or in groups, was criticized as
speed reducer" today at the eighth
annual convention of the Maryland
Utilities Association which convened
for a one-day session at the Willard
Hotel.
The criticism was made before the
TRANSFORMATION group meeting by Her
bert c. Lunn1is. consulting engineer
with j. Rowland Bibbins of Washington,
who cited Rhode Island avenue trafnc
conditions as a reason why the WASH
inSton system should be substituted by
flexible progressive timing.
Sessions of the convention, Wnlcn
brought utility. experts mere rom ON. al
parts of Maryland, Will close Win q
BANQUET tonight at which Gov. Albert
g. Ritchie will be the guest OF hcnor
and principal speaker.
Engineering Analysis Lacking.
r,scussine the general topic Max
Inc Signals Move TRAFFIC" Mr.. Lumnls
said There has been too little en-.
1ineerinr ANALYSIS of traffic problems
and uarned that "the only way to MAKE
trafic signals move traff1c is by actu-
ally designing them for it.
Washington's progressive controI sys-
tenn is only a step beyond the cneapest
known system that prevails IN rev
Work. which retards trafdc, he salo' py
chanoinr all lights simultaneously.
Every effort should be made to de-
sirn for at least 40 per cent OF time Ior
through nonstop movement OF tramc
IN ali installations, he pointed out, In
craving attention to the fact that IN
washington, as well as in other cities,
surveys show that at least one-tnlro
of the time devoted to trafhc now In
minor streets during rush hours Is
wasted
"The most important element OF an
sf7cient traffic control is the ability 70
divide the time at each intersection 70
glit the requirement of the now OF
traf1c on each street" Mr.. LummS
said. Coupled with that is the ability
10 change the total length OF the Cyl
to accommodate varying tratnc speeds
and climatic conditions. Fixed stop
and-go periods at each intersection are
time MASTERS and particularly 80 LOr
public transportation"
Cites Rhode Island Avenue.
Taking Rhode Island avenue for an
example, he pointed out that under the
nrevailirg system very few cars can
make the changing lights without stop
While trafic on Rhode Island avenue
IN supposed to average 20 miles an
hour, its actual average is reduced by
light delays to IL or IA miles, since ne
pointed out that only about IA per
cent of the time is given to through
movement. Light delays also reduce
by some 40 per cent the average speed
Of buses using the avenue, he declared
"Changing over to flexible progressive
timing, thereby reducing the light de-
lays" he added, should raise bus
speeds to over 10 miles per hour"
Another advantage he stressed Is that
express runs which are not practicable
now, could be made through the signals
at 20 miles per hour along with other
trafic. "And the motorist would have
lust about three times as much oppor-
tunity to get through the lights without
stopping. as he has now" Mr.. bummS
explained.
Trafhc lights should never be in
stalled unless traffic congestion actually
demands It. he suggested, and lights
installed to save the expense OF police
hire should be cut of during quiet
hours.
Chicago Standards Rigid.
Referring to progressive traffic legis-
lation. he said Massachusetts has incor-
porated in its code that no light be
installed at an intersection unless 500
cars pass the corner in one hour, OF
which 125 are from minor streets
Chicago has the most rigid standards,
recurring a minimum Of 1,2OO vehicles
an hour during the rush period, and
If it falls below 800 vehicles lights are
barred at the intersection. For all Gay
lights the minimum requirement. u
10000 vehicles in a 16-hour period.
The convention was opened with an
address of welcome by Commissioner
Proctor L. Dougherty Of the District OF
Columbia. who referred to the tmpor-
tant part Maryland has played in the
DEVELOPMENT Of the National Capital
since contributing the original land for
the District The latest interest OF the
State is indicated, he said, by the CO.
operation of the Maryland Park ana
Planning Commission with the Nation
al Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion in the development and extension
of the Districts park system.
H A. Brooks of Washington, presi-
dent of the Maryland Utilities Assocl.
ton, presided. Election of officers VIII
be made matter of business this AFTER
noon.
In addition to the transportation sec
ton. other sectional meetings were de-
voted to the electric and gas groups.
Tells of Bus Development.
Raw Smell of the yellow Coach Co.,
Pontiac, Mich, who spoke on develop
nent in motor bus transportation,
cited the types of special service as
rendered by the Chevy Chase de luxe
line as an indication of the progressive
DEVELOPMENT of the future. A. 7. Clark
slluerintendent of rolling stock and
sfiops of the United Railways & Electric
Co. of Baltimore told about Baltimore's
new street cars.
Speakers before the electric group In
Guided M. c. Huse, commercial manager
of the Philadelphia Electric Co.; E
Roach of the National Electric Power
Co of New York and A. L. Billingsley
president, Fuller e. Smith, Cleveland
The speakers before the gas group Wer'
M C. K. Jones, Consolidated Gas, Elec'
trio Light & Power Co. of Baltimore
MI H. Gellert, vice president, Atlantis
Gas Co. of Philadelphia; G. M. Swan
Central Public Service Corporation
Hagerstown, Md, and j. A. Mayors, gen
eral manager, Cumberland 81 AHeghen!
Gas Co, Cumberland Md.
Addressing the afternoon session
Merle Thorpe, editor of Nations Bust
ness, described the spread OF paternal
SEn anG. Bureaucracy in the Feoera
Government as a frontal attack OF
Americas industrial system.
Mr.. Thofre denounced paternalisn
as IAN American brand of state social
ism which Is threatening to UNDERMINE
our democratic institutions. It breed
bureaucracy, and bureaucracy in tn
United States is greater menace thai