In our century
The September 1915 edition of The American City included a description of Cleveland’s first-year experience with electric traffic signals at a major intersection downtown. According to the article’s author Alfred Benesch, the city’s director of public safety, the signaling system’s main purpose was to improve safety for traffic officers who were previously stationed in the center of intersections to direct traffic with hand signals and whistles. The system by the locally based American Traffic Signal Company took the traffic officer out of the center of the street and placed him in an elevated booth at a corner of the sidewalk so he could see over the heads of the crowd and see in three directions at once.
To direct vehicular traffic, red and green electric light signals were suspended below the trolley wires at the test intersection and were controlled by the traffic officer using electric switches mounted in the booth. The booth also contained instruments that would receive fire signals directly from the fire department headquarters so officers could stop traffic quickly to allow passage of emergency vehicles. In the event of a fire, the traffic officer would sound an alarm from the booth, go to the center of the street and clear out any congestion before emergency equipment arrived. Officers would direct fire equipment through the intersection with hand signals to prevent any accidents between emergency vehicles.
A telephone connection to the fire and police headquarters also was contained in the booth, which was heated in winter. In addition to controlling vehicular traffic, the officer would direct pedestrian crossings from the booth. Following the system’s use for one year, a city committee recommended an allocation of funding to install more systems at principal intersections.
Previous “In our century” Stories
- In our century — July 1914
Among the early efforts to improve public health, cities invent and seek weapons of mass fly destruction - In our century — August 1913
When bond issues fail, cities seek alternative funding for infrastructure improvements and other public projects - In our century — August 1914
Cities improve cleanliness and public health by strategically placing public restrooms and encouraging their use - In our century — December 1914
Cities begin the tradition of decorating enormous public Christmas trees to celebrate the holidays - In our century — June 1910
Government accounting methods and reports mature from vague and incomplete records to standard formats. - In our century — October 1909
Investigations into corruption and mismanagement lead to (some) reforms in government policies and operations. - In our century — January 1913
Cities experiment with road surfaces and set out methods for funding road construction and maintenance. - In our century — September 1909
Limits on outdoor advertising are set through cities’ hard-fought battles over billboard sizes, messages and locations. - In our century — August 1911
Fire departments gain authority, modern equipment to prevent and improve response times to structure fires. - In our century — June 1910
Street lights become symbols of communities’ economic success, and lighting technology efficiency evolves. - In our century — September 1909
With urban growth comes city leaders’ desire to control and direct it for the community’s greatest benefit. - In our century — September 1909
Cities embrace playgrounds as valuable public assets for children’s safety, health and social development. - In our century — September 1909
Women embrace public causes, work to improve their communities and expand their societal roles. - In our century — March 1910
Cities develop methods, mechanisms and regulations for residential solid waste collection and disposal. - In our century — November 1909
Occupancy laws and social workers emerge in the early 1900s to clean up inner-city neighborhoods. - The way we were
Publisher’s son remembers American City & County‘s roots.