Street Traffic Regulation: General Street Traffic Regulations - Special Street Traffic Regulations - Change in Car Tracks and Curb Lines - City Planning - Road Signs - Articles and Addresses on Street Traffic - Federal License and Registration for Motor Cars - Civic Transportation - Police Administration - Police Horses - Equipment - Uniforms - How to Improve City Car Service
Regulation of street traffic was unknown in New York up to January, 1900. Although traffic was much less then than now blockades were frequent throughout the city. Many unnecessary hours and often the greater part of a day and night were consumed in transporting merchandise from point to point, especially in the downtown shipping districts. Charges were increased proportionately with the time consumed. Conditions were execrable so far as time, economy, comfort and safety were concerned, and the police, without systematic direction, were powerless and in fact practically at the mercy of the mob. Collisions between policemen and truckmen, cabmen and others were of common occurrence, and it was only by resort to the "night stick" that in many instances blockades could be cleared away.
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United States Department of Transportation
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