Evening star., 1934-07-22

81 times for the pedestrians too.
large number Of these circles exist
already TN the city. Apparently
nothing can be done about this.
New Circle Planned.
But what seems more unfortunate
in the minds Of many operators OF
machines is the fact that an sddi
tionsl circle Is planned in the very
near future. Of1clsls Of the District
feel the same way about 10 as the
drivers. but until opinion is crystal
i5ed against the idea nothing much
can be done They feel inst the pro-
posed location is the wrong place for
q circle
THIS proposed circle is 10 be AZ the
intersection Of Massachusetts and Nc
braska avenues The circle Is 70 be
constructed primarily that a statue
OF Artemas Ward. famed Harvard
graduate and Revolutionary soldier.
can be erected there. The statue and
land is Gift OF Harvard University.
Congress authorized the erection Of
the statue at place 10 be approved
by the Fine Arts Commission. The
commission has approved the site.
Harvard graduates have bought neces-
sary land from the Glover property
and the American University. BIDS
are TO be opened this week.
Suitable Places Existent.
II has been brought out that a circle
exists already at the District end OF
Massachusetts avenue. A part Of this
circle Is in Maryland. The thought
occurs that the Ward statue might be
erected on this site instead OF at the
Nebraska avenue intersection.
The proposed circle will be 4o-foot
roadway, which at the outside
edge wiz be approximately $50 feet
in diameter. An elliptical roadway
through part of the circle is proposed
TO run North and South. This will
mean that q great volume Of trafflc
proceeding out Massachusetts, avenue
to Wesley Heights, Spring Valley and
the Conduit road win have to make
a three quarters loop of the circle.
This necessity will in no way lend
10 the speeding up Of traffic which Is
one OF the chief thoughts of traffic
ConIIol OF the udy. Nui III anu sOuSil-
bound traffic will not be delayed as
much, but there is five times as much
east and west traffic TO suffer.
There seems to be no sufficient
reason for this circle. 1t is to be
hoped that In the interest OF safety
and relief Of congestion the plans
will be changed From an economy
standpoint, the construction of
circle there would be waste of good
funds. There is no need for the circle.
The statue OF Ward can be placed on
the one already constructed further
out.
Highways at home throughout the
Nation and throughout the world are
of interest. Leadership by the United
States In the building of fine roads is
brought out in Automotive World
News Bulletin, issued by the Depart
ment Of Commerce.
Safety Drive TO Start.
Washington's first ''traflc con-
scious" campaign, designed to reduce
accidents, will be formally opened to-
morrow. At this time 100 secret
civilian traf1c observers will scour the
city for traffic violations and report
the result OF their activities TO the
Police Departments Traffic Bureau.
This drive will be aided by the
''Voice of Conscience" which will be
a police scout car painted white and
equipped with loud speaker Two
officers viii man the car and cruise
the streets. shouting words of warn
ing TO motorists who violate the
rules and TO pedestrians who laywalk
or walk from behind parked cars
This machine is to be delivered this
week and win be placed in operation
about July 30.
The campaign has the Endorsement
of all the District officials and trade
and civic groups. 1t should be taken
seriously by everyone The reduction
of fatalities and accidents here is
vital,
9,l52,2S2 Miles of Road.
There are eI52. .282 miles of high
ways in the world, enough to circle
the earth 366 times. OF this total
3,84e .594 miles are credited to North
and South America. The United
States leads all other nations, both
in total mileage and in improved
roads. The total for the United States
is 3,042 $50 miles, Of which over 7S3,-
600 miles fall within the improved
types that is. with some form OF
surface improvement, ranging from
5l9E43 miles of sand-clay, gravel,
graded and Grained TO S8,640 miles
of cement concrete surface. Water
bound macadam surfaces total 81. .824
miles. macadam- surface treated and
bituminous penetration represent 80
O6S miles, hituminous concrete and
sheet asphalt types lS198 and the
various block types, including stone,
brick. asphalt block and wood block,
the rest-54Z5 miles. The increase
in mileage over the previous year was
SS,7l5 miles However, there stil re-
mains approximately 100000 miles
of unimproved and nonsurfaced high
WAYS in the United States, or more
than 30 times the total improved
mileage.
Canada is second with a total road
mileage of 39S $40 miles, an increase
Of 3947 miles over the 1882 figure.
In proportion TO total miles Canada
shows a relatively higher mileage Of
surfaced types than the United States,
most Of which. however. is in the
gravel surface types, with 255 S66
miles. or the higher types, there are
only 2.0l7 miles OF cement concrete.
Ss4 miles Of bituminouS concrete and
sheet asphalt surfaces, and 3,l94 miles
of surface treated and penetration
macadam Argentina is third with
total mileage of 137,l77 miles. and
Mexico fourth with an estimated mile
age Of 62.lS7 While Argentina and
Mexico do not show any increases
over the previous year, considerable
construction is going forward, most
Of which is reflected in reconstruction