Evening Star Newspaper, October 31, 1937, Page 87

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON D. C, ' OCTOBER 31, 1937—PART SIX. 190,000 Autos in D. C. Today Far Cry From 1,247 of 1904 Bicycle Traffic Was Problem for City Fathers at Turn of Century— 50,000 in BY W. A. VAN DUZER, Director of Vehicles & Trafc. To an automobile owner the annual reports of the District Commissioners of 40 years ago present some interest- ing reading. In them may be traced the history of the automobile in ‘Washington. . In 1896 automobiles, s0 numerous today, apparently were no problem to the governing fathers; they were con- cerned with the bicycle traffic. The assessor and the superintendent of police were re- questing a law re- quiring registra- tion of bicycles at $1 each as a means of indeti-| % fication, and the|g. . superintendent of & 4 Jpolice was re- questing fundsj for a bicyclel &quad of 15 men to help control £ these machines which were esti- mated to number 50,000, but no" mention is made of the automobile in the reports for that year. However, in 1898 amendments of the police regulations were adopted re- quiring “motor carriages” to have a suitable gong or bell and to carry lamps at night. Other provisions of: those regulations granted the right of Van Duzel way to all vehicles on north and south | etreets, and required all vehicles to keep on the right side of the street, but provided that Pennsylvania avenue ghould be considered as two streets separated by the car tracks. In 1899 the regulations were further smended to extend the speed limit on bicycles, which was 6 miles per hour at | intersections and 12 miles per hour between intersections, to include “other horseless vehicles.* The bicycle squad now numbered 36 men who apparently still were able to handle the “speed demons.” It is also interesting to note the police department had only one ,captain who was assistant superin- tendent and that the inspectors and the precinct commanders were only lieutenants. First Motor Ambulance. Maj. Sylvester, then superintendent of police, requested a motor ambulance for the Police Department in 1900, stating that the speed of the age Use Then. In March, 1925, the office of the director of traffic was created by Congress, charged with the licensing of automobile drivers and the regu- lation of traffic on the streets of the District, and on November 26 of that year the first traffic signals were in- stalled at Eighteenth and New Hamp- shire avenue. These were soon followed by installations at Fifteenth and H streets northeast, North Capitol street and Florida avenue and on Sixteenth street from K street to Flordia avenue. During the fiscal year 1926-27, all motorists were required to obtain new permits which would expire three years from the date of issuance, as at present, and duping that year 108,471 permits were, issued, as compared with 852 issued in 1902-03 when permits were first required. Signal System Expanded. During the next few years the signal system was steadily expanded, the greatest number of installations being made in 1929, during which year sig- nals were placed at 131 intersections. It was also during 1931 that angle parking was abolished, and it is interesting to note that this prohibition was in the police regulations of 1900 but had been allowed to lapse with the advent of the auto. In 1931 Congress created the De- partment of Vehicles and Trafic. This department replaced the office of the | director of traffic and in addition to | the duties performed by that office it | was charged with the titling and regis- tration of motor vehicles and more recently with the administration of the | financial responsibility law. During 1931 the first flexible pro- gressive system of traffic control was | installed on Rhode Island avenue and | since that time this system of control has been extended to all the inter- | sections in the down-town area and most of the outlying sections. During 1934 the first rush-hour one- way operation was tried on Thirteenth | street northwest and it has proved so | successful that it has been extended | to other streets. Also during the last | few years multi-movement timers to permit separate turning movements | of traffic have been successfully tried and the department also has experi- mented with pedestrian signals. Studies have been made of the starting hours of Government De- | partments and private businesses in an effort to relieve the heavy peak of traffic just before 9 am. at which time 53,000 Government and 15,000 private employes now begin work. The Mother’s Vehicle Stalled in Park; Patrol Aids Baby Getting milk for a hungry baby whose mother’s car was stalled in Rock Creek Park was one of the many hundreds of special and unusual services rendered during the last year by members of the Feystone Automobile Club motor patrol. Howard (Continued From First Page.) sumption of gasoline per vehicle in other countries results to a large ex- tent, it is believed, because of con- centration of ownership in the higher- income classes. ’ Total Road Mileage. The total road mileage of the world is 9,268,397, or one mile of road to every 53 square miles of the total land area of 49,411,882 square miles in the world. The United States has & total mileage of 3,065,264, or a mile of road for every square mile. Japan has one mile of road to each 0.2 square m\fles; France, 1 to 0.5; United King- dom, 1 to 0.5, and Germany, 1 to 0.8. Egypt has but one mile of road to each 92 square miles, and Brazil, 1 to 35.2. America’s leadership is supreme, and the automoblle industry can see continued good days ahead, especially in relation to exports. Departing from automotive figures for a moment, let us turn to the traffic picture. It is rather gloomy, isn't it? . This is true nationally and in the District of Columbia. Traffic fatalities are mounting nearly everywhere, Much has been done about it with little success. The only alibi is that there are more cars in use and more people on the streets. But that is hardly & good excuse. No one expécts a Millenium when there are no trafic accidents. But on the other hand no one expects to see the tolls mounting so hideously. There are two main' causes for acci- dents on the streets and highways of the Nation. They might be de- scribed as two “Cs.”” Carelessness and congestion. Now these great faults cannot be eliminated, but they can be reduced. The only real aid is restriction. Restrict more the privi- lege of driving and restrict also the privilege of parking. It is severe and will be a hardship to many, but something must be done. It is nec- essary. Traffic Fatalities. The Nation's traffic toll in fatalities is up about 3 per cent, and Washing- ton at the present time is about 15 per cent. Locally it would appear that there are many driving here who cannot think, or at least, cannot think quickly enough for safety. Sterner examinations for permits should be obligatory. There are some pedestrians who appear not to think. Not much can be done about this except to enforce pedestrian control, and to provide a series of underpasses or tunnels in the crowded sections of the city. This plan was formu- lated by Capt. Herbert C. Whitehurst, District highway director. It is meri- torius and should be carried out. Nearly 90 killed here with still two months to go. It is appalling. Every one should co-operate and enable the National Capital to have a better traffic picture for 1938. That desired drawing would be more than merely aft appreciation. Well, the auto show is on. Visit it and examine the products of the manufacturers. It is well worth while. Go often and stay long and see the new features. Here's to the success of theé show. NEW MOVIE SHOWS HOW CARS OPERATE Bureau of Mines Film Library Adds Reels Explaining All Parts “The Power Within,” a new {wo- reel silent motion picture film that depicts the historic development, con- struction and operation of the modern internal combustion, engine and oper- ating parts of the automobile, is the latest addition to the Bureau of Mines film library. Reel 1 illustrates early experiments to determine suitable fpel for internal combustion engines—first with gun- powder and, after two centuries of research, achievement of success with gasoline. Reel 2 shows by animated photog- raphy the assembly of every part of the engine, transmission, differential and other mechanical parts that go to make up & finished automobile. The operation of gear shifting is ex- plained by animated drawings, togeth- er with the all-important function of the brake system that plays such a large factor in the role of safety. Copies of this film, in 16-mm. 35-mm. sizes are available for ex- hibition by schools, churches, colleges, civic and business organizations and others interested. Applications for the film should be addressed to the Bureau of Mines Experiment Station, 4800 Forbes street, Pittsburgh, Pa. No charge is made for the use of the film, although the exhibitor is ex- pected to pay the transportation charges. RANGE OF “PING” Method for Checking Acceleration Tap Is Given. As most experienced driyers know there should be s slight ping in the engine during sharp acceleration, if the timing is efciently advanced. It is not generally known, however, that this ping should be evident when ac- celerating from 10 to 15 miles per hour | in high gear, and not all over the speed range. Also it is important that the test in this particular speed range should be made during progressive acceleration, not when tramping on the accelerator pedal. The engine may be equipped with a vacuum econ- trol which prevents spark knock when the throttle is suddenly opened wide. HEAVY CAR SAFER — Drivers of heavy cars too often Iabor under the delusion they would be better off in a collision than it they were driving & light car. This is a dangerous assumption because in most cases the nature of the cole lision and the way cars contact have more to do with the consequences than tieir weight. Also, there is a ten- dency to forget that the heavier the car is the harder it ean hit and the more damage it is apt to do. A heavy car is obviously safer if struck when standing still or moving slowly. 00D MOTOR CO. . 4221 Comn. Ave: Cley. 8400 IT COVERS ROUGH GOING WITH THE CUSHIONED FROWL OF THE PANTHER Buick SPECIAL Serie, required that things be done quickly | and giving it as his opinion that “these | vehicles have reached that stage of | perfection when they are no longer *xperiments.” In May, 1902, a bill was submitted to Congress providing for the registra- tion and regulation of all motor v i i vehicles operating in the District, bmi'h"s EDarvibyhanging thels opening hour from 9:15 am. to 9:30 am., re- it was not acted on and early in 1903 | Jieving the peak by some 8,000 em- starting time of several of the depart- ments has been “staggered” over 15- minute periods from 8 to 9 a.m. and it is hoped that in the near future others also will be changed. Store Owners Co-operate. Store owners have co-operated in the Corporation Counsel advised the| commissioners that they had full authority in these matters within a special act. According, on May 7 of that year the commissioners adopted the first set of regulations for the gontrol of motor vehicles. These regulations established an automobile board of six members to examine all applicants for drivers’ permits and to issue identification numbers for all cars. This board was composed of the three members of the Board of Examiners of Steam Engineers, the electrical engineer, the superintendent of the Water Department, and the vice president of the National Capital Automobile Club. During the first vear this board issued 852 permits, but they did not report the number of tags issued. The tags were made of leather with metal letters. The board recommended charging $1 for them to cover expenses, but this regulation was not adopted until 1908. By the end of the 1904-05 fiscal year there were 1,247 automobiles and 1519 licensed drivers in the - District, but this number grew rapidly and during 1910, 2,262 permits and 2.389 tags were issued, although annual registration was not required, at that time, Vehicles had become so num- erous by that time that during 1910 there were 455 motor vehicle accidents including six fatalities. Operators’ Permit Fee. During this year a $2 fee for operators’ permits was instituted ang by 1912 the assessor reported that a disproportionately large tax was being charged motorists who had to pay $2 for their permit, $2 for their tag plus an annual wheel tax of $3 for a two- seater auto and $2 for each additional passenger seat, and an annual personal tax of $1.50 per $100 valuation, so apparently the “soak the motorist” cry is not a new one. i During 1917 a regulation was adop- ted requiring annual registration of cars. and there was now a way to cherk the number of cars. Accordingly, during 1920 we find the collector of taxes reporting the sale of 54,329 tags in & city of 438,000, as comparéd with a sale of more than 190,000 last year when the city had grown to more than 600,000. ployes. Studies are being made by this | department and by the Highway De- }pmmem of possible street changes to |aid traffic flow. Among other plans | being considered are subways or under- passes under Dupont and Thomas | Circles, grade separations at Four- |teenth and Water streets southwest, | Thirteenth street and Florida avenue | northwest, and Flordia avenue and Eckington place northeast and a road- | way over the old C. & O. Canal or an | elevated highway over K street north- | west from Rock Creek Parkway to Key Bridge to relieve congestion on M| | street. | Among the changes in signals which |are being studied are Neon one-way | arrow signs for use on rush-hour one- | way streets which should make those | streets easily identifiable, and Neon | pedestrian signals displaying a “don’t | walk” indication as well as a “walk"” llndlcanon s0 that pedestrians as well | as motorists will have a “stop” signal. These and other changes in the streets and in the control systems which are being studied or planned will contribute materially to the speedy and safe movement of traffic in the District and add to the comfort and safety of the users of its highways. R e R Speed Variation Aids Motor. Don’t be discouraged if you are obliged to slow down a few times on a long upgrade. The engine will bene- fit by this variation in speed because it will be better lubricated than if operated with a' constantly open throttle.” Tests have shown that clos- ing the throttle occasionally on the upgrade will keep the engine running cooler and enable it to develop more power. et Gas Pedal Balanced. Perhaps you have noticed it before, but often your failure to speed up the car in an emergency is due to press- ing on the wrong part of the accel- erator pedal. Pedals are hinged either at the top or the bottom. Nervously and impatiently many drivers press ing results. WASHINGTON AUTOMOTIVE TRADE ASSOCIATION 18™ - ANNUAL OCTOBER 30th to NOVEMBER 6th See these Local Radio Broadcasts from the Show! Sunday, Oct. 31st WMAL, “H. G. Moock” 3:30 to 4 P.M. WRC “W. A. Van Duser” 6:30 to 6:45 P.M. AUTOMOTIVE INCLUSIVE Your Only Opportunity to See and Compare the New 1938 Automobiles . . .. Side by Side! SHOW IS OPEN: Week Days.. 11 AM.to 11 P.M. Sunday ... 2P.M.to11P.M. ADMISSION PRICES: Week Days, to 6 P.M. Sunday and Evenings__ EXHIBIT HALL 24th St. N.W. BETWEEN M & N on the hinged part and get disappoint- | One ride will show you why TORQUE-FREE SPRINGING, and the new DYNAFLASH ENGINE, make the 1938 Buick the most modern chassis in the world HE seat fits you, that's the first thing. It's broad and deep, and it’s pitched right, and there’s a high comfortable roll back of your shoulders and behind your head. You look out past the driver in front of you, out over thatlong graceful bonnet—there is no neck- strain; looking any way, to front or to side, you can see. Then there’s the feel of sound and secure con- struction all around you, steel fused on steel, strength knit to silence, the whole borne on a chassis that’s taut and firm and finished as a cup defender. But it’s when you hit the rough going, the rutted road, the railway crossings, the cobbled paving, the “washboard” gravel, that this wondrous new 1938 Buick shows you what science can do with a ride! Under you now is something fresh and tireless and new in automotive design, not the old-type leaf spring of yore, but the great soft coils of shock-smothering TORQUE-FREE SPRINGING. Gl asenssssnsassssssessessessresssssansesesasssanerssassesseness STANLEY H. HORNER, 1015 14th St. N.W., Washington, D. C. Tel. NAtiona! 5800 WADE MOTOR COMPANY, INC. Georgia Ave. at the Visduet, Silver Spring, Md. Tel. Shep. 3272 COVINGTON MOTOR COMPANY, 6001 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, Md. O—— * * A As the beautifully poised car streams onward under the spur. of the amazing DYNAFLASH engine, the wheels may dip and curtsy but the body rides true and level as a flung lance. You sit in 'the cushions, relaxed and rested. You're safer—skid risks are blessedly reduced. You save money—rear tires last measurably longer. And the whole eager car handles with a sureness, a “directability” never before at- tained. Please don’t stop with admiring the new Buick. Know what DyNAFLASH power and the lullaby ride of TorQUE-FREE SPRINGING mean, by sam- pling them first-hand on the highway. BUYER’S DIGEST OF THE 1938 BUICK % NEW DYNAFLASH VALVE-IN-HEAD STRAIGHT-EIGHT ENGINE % NEW TORQUE-FREE SPRINGING * TORQUE- TUBE DRIVE % NEW QUIET ZONE BODY MOUNTING % ANOLITE PISTONS % AEROBAT CARBURETOR * NEW BULL'S-EYE STEERING s TIPTOE HYDRAULIC BRAKES * KNEE-ACTION FRONT SPRINGING s UNISTEEL BODY BY - FISHER % BUILT-IN DEFROSTER CONNECTIONS » AUTO- MATIC TRANSMISSION OPTIONAL ON SERIES 40. NO OTHER @AR IN THE WONLD HAS ALL THESE FEATURES, Inc. YOUR MONEY GOES FARTHER IN A GENERAL MOTORS CAR ) NEW DY!AjLES'! . ion wh Power.pyy “Buick carries the banner forward" B 50 mile, or (8) buily EMERSON & ORME 17th and M Sts. N.W., Washington, D. C. HYATTSVILLE AUTO & SUPPLY CO. Hyattaville, Md. INC. Tel. Wisconsin 5010 Tel. GReenwood 1810 Tel. District 8100 WINDRIDGE & HANDY, INC. Rosslyn, Va. TEMPLE MOTOR CO. Alexandria, Vs. Tel. Alexandria 3055 *+ ON DISPLAY AT THE AUTO SHOW AND AT ALL BUICK ,DEI&ERS' *x * - ) : A A Tel. WAInut 2302—Clarendon 1860 * *