Evening star., 1942-03-28
Traffic Light Control
In Sudden b|ackouts
Is Given 10 Wardens
200 Keys Distributed;
Dimmine Equipment
For SisnoIs Due Soon

WdIucIlS VI dll IIdlUC COIlJIUl OOAcS
was instituted last night with the
assignment of switch box keys to
wardens from each area at meet
ing in the Pepco Building.
Effective last night, trafiic lights
in the District are to be automati-
cally turned of from midnight to
$50 am. until 1t is possible to
equip them with rheostats which
will enable the wardens to reduce the
operating power of the lights from
ITO volts to ~ on given signal.
Arrangements Explained.
Should a warning be given before
midnight prior to the installation
of the dimming device. the wardens
will be responsible for cutting of the
switch at each of the IS control sta
tions. which will turn of the traffic
lights completely.
They must turn the switch on
again when the all-clear signal is
received.
After the rheostats are installed.
lights will operate at 10 volts until
midnight, when an automatic me-
chanical device in each control sta
ton will dim them to q volts II
warning Is received before midnight.
the wardens will throw the switch
to dim the lights.
Cost Of establishing central
mechanical system for throwing the
switch at all control stations upon
receipt OF warning signal would be
IN the neighborhood of 100000, Mr..
Van Duzer explained. 1t would re-
quire considerable supply of cop
per. difficult to obtain under the
priority system.
He said he expected the delivery
OF the dimming apparatus within 10
days. and estimated that after its in
stallation traffic signals would be
visible at distance of 500 feet when
the dimming process was in opera
ton.
This, he said, would permit cau-
tious drivers to operate with safety.
although the lights would not be
detected from the air.
Alternate System Explained.
Chief Air-Raid Warden Clement
Murphy told the gathering of nearly
300 wardens they must arrange for
continuous supervision of the con-
troll boxes. Only 200 keys were
available for distribution last night.
but enough to supply three wardens
for each box will be provided as
soon as they can be made.
nrdnr that kox -L~ Lo
left unguarded at any time, wardens
were cautioned to inform each other
of any absence from the city, and
if necessary to provide an alternate
from among their family or neigh
bors whenever they could not be
instantly reached for emergency
duty.
Mr.. Murphy outlined a cascade
system" to warn wardens when
the warning signal has been given
Each link in the warning signal is
to notify two other wardens, accord
ing to the plan. until in rapid
progression every man has received
notice of the warning.
Boxes Marked With ct"
Traffic Director William A. Van
Duzer advised the wardens immedi-
ately to locate the control boxes in
their respective areas. which, he
said, were painted aluminium with
the letter 1T" at either end. He
suggested that they test their keys.
which were made by the prisoners
at Lorton Reformatory when they
could not be obtained from a regu-
lar locksmith, before using them in
an actual blackout.
Col. Lemuel Bolles. executive di-
rector of civilian defense, in a brief
address to the wardenS compared
the importance of each mans job
with that of the individual stations
at Pearl Harbor.
1T means attention to duty night
after night" he declared. Some
where along the line. unless we are
favored by God Almighty, every
man will have to be there and
ready to function"
Comparing Washington's prob
lem with that Of nearby Baltimore,
which has 10000 gas lamps to be
put out individually in the event of
raid, Col. Bolles boasted this city
would do its job lust as we'll, and
maybe little better!"