Evening star., 1937-01-17

0I-UOWn JHEOIlSS DC Sale, DuI IlldI tIlcy
will go home with the feeling that
Washington is the home Of courtesy
and goodwill. Safe driving is a
paramount need.
The Police and Traffic Departments
are making every effort possible to
make the Inauguration period most
comfortable. Temporary parking re-
strictions will be enforced and every
thing done on their part to aid the
visitors. But, primarily, it is up to
the citizenry to lend every co-opera-
ton. 1t is up to every one to do his or
her share. Patriotism calls for good
citizenship.
Let the District of Columbia respond
with enthusiasm for the day itself
and for the safety and comfort Of
those attending the various exercises,
1t is to be hoped that the taxicab
situation will be Strengthened out
by January 20. so that both the riding
public and the drivers and operators
can be fairly and equally served.
New evidence that cities are making
headway in coping with the traffic
safety problem Is found in reduction
in the total motor fatalities for 1873
cities with over half the countrys
population, as compared with slight
increase in the number for the country
as whole.
This statement was made today by
Thomas P. Henry, president of the
American Automobile Association, on
the basis of an analysis of figures re-
ported to the United States Bureau of
Census for the so weeks ending De-
Cember IL, 1886, as compared with
those for the same period in 1885, and
statistics indicating an increase OF
about per cent in the national toll
OF motor deaths for 1886.
During the 50-week period last
year" said Mr.. Henry, "a total Of
6.524 persons we're fatally injured in
motor mishaps in the 1873 reporting
cities, as compared with 6,988 in the
previous so weeks. This reduction of
Sc per cent represents definite prog
ress, when it is considered that traffic
congestion in cities was greater in 1896
by reason of increased use of motor
vehicles. For the 1873 cities and i'm
mediately adjacent areas, the total
number of motor fatalities was 8,943.
as compared with 9,307 in the 1885
period, decline of 80 per cent. Thus
there was an improvement for both
cities and their outskirts.
While our analysis shows that only
SO of the cities had actual reductions.
the declines were sufficient to bring
down the total motor deaths for all
the cities. We are particularly pleased
that many of the more significant
gains were in cities where active A. A.
A, motor clubs have aggressive safety
programs and are giving maximum CO.
operation to traffic planning and en-
forcement authorities"
Pointing out that the decline in
motor fatalities in cities at q time
when those on rural highways are in
creasing offers definite challenge to
legislators concerned with safety, the
A. A. A. president continued:
With As State Legislatures in regu-
lar and special sessions, or about to
convene, there Is no greater problem
confronting the legislators than that
of highway safety. 1t must be con-
sidered from the standpoint Of high
ways planned to assure maximum
safety for users; from the standpoint
of sound legislation to assume that
operators of vehicles are responsible
drivers. and from the standpoint OF
adequate funds and personnel for
highway patrols. All statistics indicate
that while roads can be made safer,
adequate enforcement Of motor laws
Is a major problem on rural highways.
While the problem on rural high
ways is entirely different from that In
urban areas, nevertheless. If cities can
improve the accident situation, in the
face Of limited street space. an ever
increasing number Of vehicles and
more extensive use of those already
in operation, State authorities should
be able to accomplish results on what
Is generally termed the open road"
However, the progress that State OFF,
cials make must necessarily be meas
ured in terms of support given by the
Legislatures"
The highway program to relieve
unemployment. administered by the
Bureau of Public Roads Of the United
States Department of Agriculture,
had resulted in the construction of
1920 miles of road at the close Of
the last fiscal year, according to the
annual report of the bureau. These
roads cost $636, ,622, SOL, of which
S571. .276,033 was paid by the Federal
Government, says Thomas H. Mac
Donald. chief of the bureau. The
mileage completed during the year
with funds apportioned to all States
was 1879. Part of this report was
presented to the American Road
Builders Convention in New Orleans
last week.
At the beginning of the present
fiscal year, on July l, there was
under construction, or approved for
construction, 1882 miles, at an esti-
mated cost of 1857 7,283,044, of which
$270, ,336,054 was Federal funds.
Under the emergency grade-crossing
program, projects approved or under
construction included 1,407 new cross
ing eliminations, the reconstruction OF
1913 existing structures, and the pro-
lection without elimination of 322
crossings, at total cost of $133, ,524,-
0l9, of which the Federal share was
$130,681, ,697. Although just getting
under way, this program resulted in
the completion of 66 new elimination
structures and the reconstruction Of
10 existing structures.
During the last three years this road
construction and that carried on under
other appropriations in Federal areas
of various kinds has provided nearly
6,0000 900 man-months of direct en-
ployment, or an average rate of 2,000,-
900 man months per year, which Is
approximately double the average Of
employment furnished in the two
years preceding the beginning Of the