Evening star., 1938-02-27

way underpasses were secured. Streets
were widened, street cars removed and
additional improvements have been
made due to the fact that the Penn
sylvania Railroad erected a super sta
tion, necessitating q new nne-up In
streets to its approach.
A NEW city highway under the name
Of State Highway No. 21 has
almost been completed. Other State
highways around the city, numbers 25
and 20, have been completed. Con-
gestion In Newark Is still pretty bad.
but what 1t would have been II these
improvements had not taken place Is
difficult to imagine.
Unquestionably these improvements
during the last 10 years have been
considerable. Outside Of the famous
Newark Airport perhaps $4,000, 900
and upward has been expended. 1t
has not been paid for. Real estate
and personal property rates are high.
They were 369 for the year Just
ended, but were based on a supposed
valuation OF IS per cent true value.
Newark has gone all the way in
giving up its street car lines. They
have adopted what is called the "all
service vehicle" which is a combination
of the trackless trolley and the auto
bus. 1t runs on rubber tires with its
double trolley attached to the usual
overhead wires But with f1exibinty
it can move out of the beaten path
as far as IL feet on either side. Then
when needed 1t can abandon at will its
overhead connection and travel along
as an ordinary bus by means Of an
electric generator turned over by gaso-
line combustion. This need not worry
Washington, due to the happy lack
of overhead wires.
According to John O'Toole, vice
president Of the Public Service Co. of
New Jersey and in charge of public
relations, this vehicle is more flexible
In operation, more comfortable and
more economic. However, In the opin-
ion of Matthew J. Bolger, inspector of
traffic and radio Of the police depart
ment, it has its drawbacks. Being
smaller it requires three such vehicles
to carry the equivalent number Of
passengers that the street cars could
before. And, he added, instead of
finding double parking on the streets,
we find triple parking Newark has
% square miles, including about or 6
square miles of marsh land. The Dis
trict Of Columbia has 10 square miles.
RACK to comparisons again. In the
city proper Newark has either the
bus or so-called "all service vehicle"
carrying charge of cents. Newark
has 230 traffic men available for duty
as against around $50 here 1t has IS
motor cycle men as against 80 here.
1t has every hour Of the day and
night 25 scout radio cars on duty
manned with two for special traffic
detail. Its entire police force is about
200 less than in the District Of Co
lumbia. There are 500 taxis there
compared to Washington's 1900.
Hope now lies In the compulsory
inspection of motor vehicles, which
the present law requires semi-annual-
ly. But, in this matter, Inspector
Bolger warns, Don't have q false
sense Of security. A machine in per-
feet condition will not materially aid
thoughtless driver" He stated that
it was his opinion that too much at
tention throughout the country was
being given to motorists, but not
enough to the pedestrians.
Another hope toward better condi-
tions is the installation of the parking
meters. Bids have already been sub
mitted. Mr.. Van Duzer favors trying
them here.
A solution. impractical as 1t was, was
given by one official, whose name is
purposely omitted. He said that the
only answer was to ban forever all
motor vehicles, as they are responsible
for many evils of today, including
tragic deaths, crime and immortality
OF course. he added, that plan is
too late now.
Leaving Newark. Mr.. Van Duzer
remarked: well, everybody is trying.
wish every resident of Washington
could go on inspection tours of this
sort. Our National Capital would not
look so bad to them then"
Maybe the pastures on the other
side of the fence do look little green
er, but their verdure changes on ap-
proach.
But let's not give up trying to ind
the trafflc answer.