Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-30


pedestrians who would also be accommodated
on elevated walks extending through the CEN
tiers of blocks thus creating second story
level
The basic feature OF this idea fancifuI as It
may seem has already been put in operation
m the separation of vehicle and railway trafnc
ON Park avenue New York 1t would simply
carry out for the benefit of pedestrians IDEAS
which have already passed the theoretical stage
for the benefit of vehicle traffic. In fact, most
of the hundreds of proposals to build cities
for the greater safety and comfort OF the
citizen look to the separation OF pedestrian
and vehicle traffic
The idea of segregated underground trafhc
is exemplifed in the drawings by Mr. Harvey
wiley Corbett the famous architect. Mr.. Cor
bett suggests two underground lanes for vehicle
traffic with a third and lower lane for electric
trains and pneumatic freight tubes.
Singularly enough, practically every element
shown in Mr. Corbett'S drawing except aircraft
landing fields on buildings is already IN vogue,
though existing separate pieces Of construc-
ton.
The electric trains under New York already
carry SO per cent of its annual passenger list.
Escalators already exist although not Of the
SpiraI type which would be much more eco
nornicaI of space Underground lanes for We
hicular river traffc already are found in the
vehicular tube under the Hudson River. as
well as in every other vehicular tunnel, In
Guiding that at Detrott.
IT Is true but pneumatic mail tubes carry mil
lions of letters at high speed daily beneath the
streets Of Manhattan.
THE use of pneumatic freight tubes would be
less expensive and formidable task than
the excavation of tunnels and SubterTanean
streets, since the latter would have to be con-
structed at least IS feet beneath the ground
TO avoid existing underground installations
white the tubes. Of smaller size. would not en-
counter interference
1t would leave the streets free TO the pedes-
trian In fact, most of the freight now car
ried through the streets of great cities could
be borne more swiftly and economically under
ground.
In the country districts, where the pedes-
TRAN Is often forced to walk along the high
way because there is no other place TO walk,
a movement is now under foot to provide sep
arate walks or paths
Highway paths or sidewalks along the high
way but slightly separated and raised above 1t.
represent the simplest and most economical
move to safeguard the pedestrian in the coun-
try districts Billions have been expended on
highways solely for the use of motorists and
under the presumption that the walker must
dodge vehicles they come along.
This presumption is unjustifed, and the
remedy is so simple that it should be dis
cussed before construction to protect the pedes-
TRAN IN cities is taken up.
The pedestrian upon the country highway Is
almost always an unoffending victim HIS
legal right to walk upon the highway is I'M
questioned; under the common law his right IS
equal to that of vehicles, and this rule pre-
walls in the absence of statutes TO the con-
traTy.
But under modern conditions the presence
of pedestrians on the edge of highways places
them at the mercy of drunken, careless or
speeding drivers. Even when the driver is
careful accidents may happen in which the
pedestrian comes out second best.
Highways are so crowded that it is becoming
yearly more perilous for the country dweller TO
walk from his home TO the nearby village or
for his children to walk to school along the
edge Of the road. Near cities and even villages
the congestion of automobiles on Sundays and
holidays has become so great that often the
pedestrian has difhculty even IN crossing the
highway