Evening star., 1938-08-23
FEW ACCIDENTS
REPORTED HERE
Safety Campaign Is Given
Aid of Two More Bodies.
Pointers Offered.

A few minor casualties were the
only blemishes on the Districts traffic
record during the past "a hours-a
period that brought the support of two
other agencies in the campaign to
decrease the toll of death and in
juries from street mishaps here.
One Of the accident victims was
Motorcycle Officer Herbert c. Wright,
80, Of No. II precinct who suffered
slight leg injury when his machine
collided with an automobile at Queens
Chapel road and Eastern avenue NE,
He was treated at Casualty Hospital.
While the city enjoyed q respite
from serious crashes, the Washington
Council Of the American Youth Con-
gress last night advanced two good
suggestions for the program of the
Commissioners Traffic Safety Com
mittee.
Meeting at the Y. w. c. A. to find
out what is being done about child
fatalities" the council heard Miss
Sylvia Bahar. council treasurer, point
out that in New York schools older
girls were told If they took their kid
sisters to Fairgrounds they wouldn't
have to take care of them at home. :"
These girls grow into mothers, she en-
phasized.
Fairgrounds to Stay Open.
The remark was presaged by dis
cussion Of whether Washington moth
ers were cognizant Of the fact play
areas where they could place their
children for the day in most cases
exist within quarter of q mile Of
their homes.
Another important development in
this connection was decision to keep
all school Fairgrounds open until Sep
tember l9-the beginning OF the fall
term. Normally they close September
l. A ma ajority of the other city play
grounds also will remain open later
than usual.
The second suggestion of the coun-
Gil session came in the form of a res
olution proposing a free guidebook of
existing recreational facilities in WASH
ington be prepared and copies made
available at central points in the
city, augmented by placards announc-
ing their existence and content.
Both suggestions, according to
Washington I. Cleveland, committee
member and American Automobile
Association oflcial, might prove USE
full in keeping children of the streets
and, as = result, cut down the num-
Der Of juvenile traffic deaths.
Junior Chamber Backs It.
The United States Junior Chamber
Of Commerce, which has 500 local
members, last night also pledged its
aid in the safety drive.
In radio address Philip c. Ebel-
ing, national president Of the organi-
zation, said his group believes a per-
manent continuing program of educa-
ton and research will contribute ap-
preciably to the solution of this major
problem of safety"
The Washington Council meeting
was addressed by both Mr. Cleveland
and Miss Sybil Baker, director OF
Fairgrounds.
After hearing Miss Baker outline the
existing playground program in the
District, the council agreed there were
enough properly spaced Fairgrounds.
Land Costs Handicap Expansion.
Miss Baker pointed out recrea-
uonal authorities in the District are
doing their best with the land and
personnel at their command. She
said, however, that Fairgrounds in
what she termed the crucial area of
Washington - bounded by Massachu-
sets avenue, Florida avenue, the rail-
road tracks and Eighteenth street NV.
were far too small and that it is
next to impossible to provide larger or
more areas because Of high land prices
faced by the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission.
She said 1t was the aim of recreation
authorities to attempt to make up for
lack Of space by making the areas more
attractive and engaging the right sort
Of personnel.
II have seen a good supervisor turn
empty space into q paradise for chill
dren through proper organization, -
she said.
1T IS not enough to say land Is
acquired; not enough to say land ex-
lists. We must turn 1t into attractive
areas for all ages and interests" she
added.
AS for personnel, she pointed out.
they are paid less than janitors and
charwomen. I'VE lean heavily, in fact,
on w. P. A. supervisors because of
lack Of funds" she said.
In line with the suggestion to dis
tribute information about Fairgrounds
came observation that younger chill
dren should be taken to and from
play areas by an older person.
Miss Baker told the council play
ground patrols had been organized
among the older children to conduct
youngsters to and from play. Mem
bers Of the council pointed out this
should be taken care of partly by
mothers and older brothers and sis-
tefs.