Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-05
THE National Capital is to be
congratulated upon securing
ALo coy.rincc IF Mr. Van


Duzer as traffic director.
With the supplementary efforts OF
Mr.. Harland and Mr.. Eldridge,
Washington should lead all other
cities in safe and ideal traffic mat
tiers. The new official comes
highly recommended and COM
plete cooperation should be given
him.
The promise of uniformity in
regulations now seems to be at
hand. After a long series of try
outs along other lines, the
opinions set forth in the so-called
Hoover Municipal Code are about
TO be realized.
Parking Restrictions.
The subject of parking restric-
tions is uppermost in many minds.
Like the problems of settling the
prohibition affairs of the Nation,
there are many opinions and
many differences. What is to be
the best for the majority is the
only real solution. Many indi-
viduals will not see it that way,
but what must be considered is
that the thoroughfareS are pri-
marily for the movement of traf-
f1c, not the storage.
Traffic must be kept moving,
and at the quickest speed that
still is safe. 1t is for this reason
that traffic lights were installed,
and if they fail in this require
ment it would be better that there
were no traffic lights at all.
These problems are now, and
will be studied by the new direc-
tor. and in these matters he is
well qualified.
Registrations of passenger motor
vehicles for 1880 showed a de-
crease from the 1929 figures, but
motor truck registrations in
creased enough to make slight
gain of 0.08 per cent in total
motor vehicle registrations for
the year. according to reports of
the 48 States and the District of
Columbia to the Bureau of Public
Roads, u. S. Department of Agri-
culture. There were 1878 pas
Senger cars, taxis and buses
registered during 1880; 1898
motor trucks and road tractors
city an increase of "a.
Registered automobiles, taXiS
and buses numbered 23,042,8 $40
for the year, a decrease of 78,749
vehicles from the 1929 figures of
23,121, $50; the registration Of
3,480,939 motor trucks and road
tractors showed a gain of 101 ,085
over the 1929 figures. The total
registration of passenger vehicles
and of motor trucks for the year
amounted to $685. 79, as against
26,501 ,443 in 1929.
Registration Statistics.
The States and the District of
Columbia collected in registration
fees, licenses and miscellaneous
taxes in 1880 a total of 1855, 704,-
$50, which is $780, BIT more than
they collected in 1929. The rev.
enue included fees on passenger
cars and buses, on trucks and
tractors and on trailers and
motor cycles; also dealers licenses,
chauffeur and operator permits
and miscellaneous receipts.
In addition to passenger vehicle
and motor truck registrations, Al
States reported a registration of
262, 507 trailers, which is a gain of
69,463, or more than SO per cent,
over the 1929 figures. This gain
in trailers is the largest made in
any one year as compared with
a previous year since the bureau
began to compile detailed regis
trations in 1921 The motor cycle
registrations of the AZ States and
the District for the year amounted
to 107,8l1, decrease Of 1904 from
the previous years figures.
An Eastern and Western State,
New York and California, each
report more than 100000 pas
senger vehicles and motor trucks
registered in 1880. Each of five
States. Illinois, Michigan, Ohio,
Pennsylvania and Texas, report
more than 100000 registered.
After deducting SIG, 196,926 for
collection and administrative ex-
penSes and 9,473,671 for miscel-
laneouS items provided by various
State laws from the total revenue
collected of $685., 704 $50. the States
apportioned the remainder to the
construction and financing of
State and local roads in the fol-
lowing amounts: 1922. lac, 682 for
State roads. 500. SIT ,899 for local
roads and S36.309, 682 was applied
to State and county road bond in
debtedness. Some of the purposes
for which the miscellaneous funds
were spent included refunds stip-
ulated by law. State highway pa
troll, city streets and general funds
of cities and States.
New Tour to Open.
Residents of this city have many
nearby roads that are available
for delightful tours. In the near
future another tour will be ready.
At the same time unemployment
will be aided by the commence
ment Of road work at this time.
One of the most scenic highways
of the country that may ulti-
nlately extend for $50 miles is to
be built along the summit of the
Blue Ridge Mountains throughout
the length Of the Shenandoah
National Park area in Virginia.
Plans for the construction of this
spectacular skyline drive are now
being completed by the National
Park Service in cooperation with
the United States Bureau of
Public Roads.
In this connection decision was
reached to limit main road con-
struction in the park area to this
particular project Already there
are roads just outside the pro-