Published September 5, 2021
By Beth Lane
Private automobile ownership exploded in the 1920’s. In 1919 there were
about six and one half million passenger cars in America. By 1929 that number
had increased to over twenty-three million and American society was forever
changed. The resulting traffic created problems as automobile drivers shared
roadways with horse-drawn vehicles and traffic laws were minimal. The roadways
themselves were often barely passable, and enforcement of the few laws was
difficult in the murky legal landscape. Illinois would not begin issuing state
drivers licenses until 1939 and not require a written examination until 1953.
Quincy did not escape the troubles. In May of 1921, three new policemen
were appointed and new “traffic stations” were established. The intersection of Fourth and Broadway was
to be regulated. This was urgent as Broadway was not leveled to grade, and
traffic approaching from the south or the east could not see approaching vehicles
as the steep hill cut off the view. Other intersections getting first time
traffic management were Twelfth and Maine, Eighth and Maine and Eighth and
Hampshire. The corners at Fifth and Sixth streets on Maine and Hampshire had
already been given policemen. The newspaper thoughtfully printed the names of
the patrolman on duty at each corner.
Problems were also brewing between the street cars and autos due to collisions.
In 1920 the Quincy Street Railway company vowed to prosecute drivers damaging
their cars after a collision at Tenth and State when a driver cut the corner
and turned his automobile into the side of a streetcar.
In one week in August 1921, three patrolmen
were injured chasing speeding automobiles. One was in pursuit by motorcycle and
was thrown when a car suddenly turned in front of him as he was chasing a
“speedomaniac”. Another skidded his motorcycle and suffered injuries. A third
patrolman was with his partner chasing a “speed demon.” When they caught up to
the driver, the patrolman leaped from the police car before it came to a halt
and was “thrown heavily to the pavement.” He was off duty for two weeks.
The city began arguing about traffic laws
and regulations, including parking. On
Hampshire Street which had streetcar tracks down the center and cars parked
head-in at angles to the curb, all it took was one delivery truck to create an
impassable situation. The only traffic rules existing were those set up by the
police department, as there had been nothing official passed by Quincy city
government. In 1921 the lone parking ordinance required that “wheels of cars
next to the curbing to be not more than six inches from the curbing.” It did
not specify parallel or angle parking. A parking regulation had been drafted in
1919, but never reached the status of law and only applied to a small area of
downtown.
In August of 1921, city Aldermen called a
meeting and asked for input from “autoists”. This meeting was mostly pleasant,
with two and a half hours-worth of ideas and proposals discussed. It was then
turned over to the ordinance committee by the mayor with assurances that
further discussion would ensue. Further input was solicitated from other
cities. The Illinois Secretary of State’s office reported that ten lives were
lost in the state every day due to auto accidents.
By January 1923 arguments continued and
parking plans included ideas that for certain blocks parking could be at 45-degree
angle to the curb, while in others a 60-degree angle was permissible on one
side while parallel parking must happen on the other. Around Washington square
a 75-degree angle was okayed and at the courthouse a 90-degree angle was
mandated.
In addition, all left-hand turns were banned
(except between three and nine am, when this rule was waived for ice and dairy
deliveries). It was suggested that people be fined for not moving out of the
way of fire trucks, as equipment was often impeded in reaching a fire by
motorists flocking to the scene. It also decided that “complete turns” or what
we now term “U-turns” would be banned downtown.
Passage was blocked for months by political
fighting, and it was June of 1923 before the regulations were passed. The
various parking angles were included, and lines were to be painted in the different
areas outlining the spaces.
Regulations were to be strictly enforced and
included staying four hundred feet away from the scene of a fire; keeping the
lamps lit on the back of vehicles and dimming headlights at a range of 250
feet. Police Chief Kenneth Elmore ordered all officers to arrest anyone, and
everyone caught breaking the rules.
In the summer of 1923, the patrolmen at
intersections were issued whistles to enhance their arm signals. Whistle codes
were created – a short blast meant stop; a long blast meant go for east-west
traffic; two long blasts meant go for north-south traffic. It was an improvement over hand signals, but
still left room for error.
And
it was May of 1924 before simple sign poles were placed at intersections where
the words “Stop” and “Go” were written and could be turned by the traffic
officer on duty. This innovation came
after a successful trial in the intersection at Fifth and Maine streets during
“Safety Week.” It would be much longer before electronic stop signs were
installed.
Sources
“Auto Drivers Must Observe
Traffic Laws.”
Quincy Daily Herald
, 15 June, 1923.
“Birney Derailed Traffic
Stopped.”
Quincy Daily Herald
, 16 November,1922.
“Car Company Alleges
Traffic Violations.”
Quincy Daily Herald
, 10 August,1920.
“City Council Passes New
Ordinance Monday to Regulate Traffic.”
Quincy Daily Journal
, 12 June
1923.
“Complete Turns Are Barred
by Traffic Rules.”
Quincy Daily Journal
, 27 June, 1923.
“Final Action by Council
on Traffic and License Laws Blocked at Monday Session.”
Quincy Daily Journal
,
05 June, 1912.
“New Police Officers Begin
Work; Traffic Stations Increased.”
Quincy Daily Journal
, 18 May, 1921.
“Stop-and-Go Does Work
says Traffic Cop.”
Quincy Daily Herald
, 13 May, 1924.
“Traffic Code Outlaws Left
Hand Turning.”
Quincy Daily Journal
, 18 January, 1923.
“Traffic Officers Now Use
Whistles to Handle Traffic.”
Quincy Daily Journal
, 26 July, 1923.
“Traffic Regulations
Recommended by City Welfare Committee.”
Quincy Daily Journal
, 25 June,
1922.
