Evening star., 1935-10-04

safety officials for action and, in addi-
ton to the regular 60-day check-up,
there is further check by officials on
each job Of the condition Of equip
ment from day to day.
As result of the w. P. A. activities,
Wheary pointed out. seven States
already have enacted compulsory auto
mobile inspection laws and others
have enacted State drivers license
laws.
The safety program conducted by
w. P. A. has not only saved lives and
property, but has richly paid Uncle
Sam. A total Of S28, 900 900 had been
set aside for payment Of death tolls.
workmen's compensation and claims
resulting from accidents on emergency
relief jobs. Through the expenditure
of s2,00o,o0o in accident prevention
work, w. P. A. was able to turn back
$17,5oO000 Of this amount.
I'VE have had splendid co-opera-
ton from State and local officials in
our compulsory automobile safety
work." Wheary said. "An outstand-
ing example is in Minnesota, where
Gov. Olson put the State government
solidly behind our safety director and
extended the work through the State
government, with the result that Min
nesota today enjoys one Of the lowest
highway accident and death rates in
the country"
The w. P. A. constantly drives home
the safety lesson to its workers, many
Of whom never had safety training Of
any kind, and hopes to return them
to private industry thoroughly trained
in safety habits.
The 5000 trucks and automobiles
in use in the District of Columbia on
w. P. A. construction jobs and in
connection with Federal Emergency
Relief operations Of all kinds are sub
jected to the rigid 60-day compulsory
inspection rule, Wheary said.
In connection with the distribution
to all local w. p A. workers Of Star
safety driving pledge cards and wind
shield stickers. Wheary's office is send
ing to each worker q special bulletin
stresSing the Importance Of their in
dividual support Of the campaign and
the desirability Of their signing the
pledge and living up to each of the
primary safe-driving rules.
Traffic Light Asked.
An appeal for assistance in obtain
ing traffic lights at the intersection Of
Ontario road and Columbia road, and
at Columbia road and Seventeenth
street for the safety Of children at
the Henry D. Cooke School and other
pedestrians has been received by The
Star Safety Council from Mrs. Flor
ence A. Brockwell. president Of the
Parent Teacher Association OF the
school: Miss B. L. Van Driesen, in
charge of the boy patrol, and others.
THE teachers and parents Of the
Henry D. Cooke School feel keenly the
necessity for placing trafflc lights at
these intersections" it was stated in
letter to the council. I'VE have
appealed to the Traffic Bureau for
lights at these corners for four years,
but so far have not been successful in
having them placed there.
There is also the question Of the
fire engine house on Lanier place,
which adds another danger to both
motorists and pedestrians. We feel
that there should be some way in
which the fire engine company when
on call could regulate this light.
THE Cooke School Is an elementary
school through the sixth grade, and
our schoolboy patrol has some very
small boys"
In its IS years OF operation In
Washington. the company never has
had a personal injury case, Bush
said. 1t is averaging 100000 miles
year of travel, practically all of which
is in Washington, and is carrying an
average of $4,000 to 10000 passengers
q year.
The Other Side.
With harsh criticism Of the death
dealing propensities Of automobile
drivers heard on every side, 1t Is
pleasant to hear another side Of the
story.
The following one-act drama was
staged and acted all in the space Of
a few minutes recently on a quiet
street in Petworth. The 4-year -old
son of Rev. j. Albert Trader was play
ing with some companions in front
Of the family residence in the 800
block Of Webster street when gust
Of wind carried the boys inflated bal
loon far out into the street. Thought
lessly. without regard for his mothers
strict orders to remain on the side
walk, the lad darted for the balloon,
right into the path Of an oncoming
truck. The quick -witted driver jammed
on his brakes and stopped Just in the
nick of time, stepped calmly down and
retrived the vagrant balloon, presented
1t to the boy and escorted him back
to the sidewalk. With a smile, the
truck driver bid bood-by to a very
surprised and frightened youngster
and drove off followed by three auto
mobiles whose drivers had stopped in
the rear of the truck and were silent
witnesses Of the unusual incident.