James Howard

Policy Entrepreneurshipat the Dorr Foundation

PUAD 777Political Economy of Nonprofit Organizations

University of BaltimoreBaltimore, Maryland

5 May 2008

Policy Entrepreneurship at the Dorr Foundation2 James Howard

Overview

John V.N. Dorr proposed policy to paint shoulder of highway

After resistance from state highway officials, Dorr Foundation sponsored multi-state test

Test showed effectiveness in preventing accidents Dorr Foundation provided information to policy-

makers nationwide on effectiveness Highway shoulder lines now common nationally

Policy Entrepreneurship at the Dorr Foundation3 James Howard

John Van Nostrand Dorr

Born 1896, died 1962 Metallurgical engineer & inventor:

Dorr thickener: settles and thickens pulp Dorr classifier: separates fine and coarse material in

ore pulp Worked for Thomas Edison Founded his own companies:

Dorr Cyanide Machinery Company (1910) Dorr Company (1916)

(Anonymous 1962)

Policy Entrepreneurship at the Dorr Foundation4 James Howard

Dorr Foundation of New York

Established in 1950 Grant-making foundation

Scientific research Post-retirement utilization of professionals Educational projects for youth Support for other organizations in field Focused on chemistry and metallurgy

Generally meets normalized definition of charitable activities

(Schindler 2007; Fishman and Schwarz 2006, pp. 87-88)

Policy Entrepreneurship at the Dorr Foundation5 James Howard

Problem: Driving in the dark

Headlights of opposing traffic can disable vision Drivers may hug center line

May sideswipe opposing traffic Drivers may veer to outside

May run off road at a curve

(Ingraham 1955)

Policy Entrepreneurship at the Dorr Foundation6 James Howard

Solution: White Shoulder Line

Marks outside boundary of road Creates lane between shoulder line and center line Dorr attempts to persuade Connecticut

Department of Highways Letter in 1952 Series of letters in local newspapers

Connecticut tested on Merritt Parkway in 1954 New York tested on Hutchinson River Parkway in

1954(Schindler 2007; Anonymous 1954)

Policy Entrepreneurship at the Dorr Foundation7 James Howard

The Safety Stripe

New York Times photograph of an experimental shoulder stripe in 1957

Sign: “Stay in Line”

(Ingraham 1957)

Policy Entrepreneurship at the Dorr Foundation8 James Howard

Resistance to Change

The public demanded the lines after results showed significant decrease in accidents

Many highway officials believed studies were tainted by various effects

Cost predicted at $150/mile for striping $1150 in 2007 dollars

By 1957, the shoulder line was considered "highly controversial"

(Ingraham 1957; Schindler 2007)

Policy Entrepreneurship at the Dorr Foundation9 James Howard

Initial Role of the Foundation

Dorr redirects Foundation into highway safety Coordinates and funds a four-state study (1957)

7500 miles of stripes installed in CT, NJ, OH, RI Already standard in UT; limited use in AZ, LA, MD,

MA, MS, OR, and VA The Dorr Foundation study

19% decrease in accidents 35% decrease in nighttime accidents 37% decrease in fatalities and injuries

(Ingraham, 1957; Schindler 2007)

Policy Entrepreneurship at the Dorr Foundation10 James Howard

The Foundation's Expanded Role

Following successful test results Provided general information about the studies

Further test results Record of adoption Worked with other highway safety groups and state

departments Fifty years later, shoulder lines are common on

highways

(Jones 1999)

Policy Entrepreneurship at the Dorr Foundation11 James Howard

The Nature of Legacy

Foundation as legacy Dorr Foundation is model for using family funds to

pursue goals of family Foundation provided structure and ability to meet

objectives set by Dorr and his wife Family legacy

Family continues to advocate for safety In 1974, John V. N. Dorr II worked for speed limit on

West River in Maryland

(Jones 1999; Graves 1974)

Policy Entrepreneurship at the Dorr Foundation12 James Howard

References Anonymous (1954, January 9). Night driving test on; Connecticut parkway curbings painted white to

aid autoists. The New York Times, 17.

Anonymous (1962, July 1). John van Nostrand Dorr dies; metallurgist, 90, was inventor; designs put to world-wide use in mining industry-aided highway safety crusade for safety invented classifier educated by mother set up foundation in '50. The New York Times, 57.

Fishman, J. J. and S. Schwarz (2006). Nonprofit Organizations (Third ed.). University Casebook Series. New York: Foundation Press.

Graves, A. (1974, May 26). Speed limit urged for river. The Washington Post, D13.

Ingraham, J. C. (1955, January 5). Line on road's edge is cutting accidents. The New York Times, 1-18.

Ingraham, J. C. (1957, September). Automobiles: Edges; controversial right shoulder line to be tested for safety value four-state test New York's viewpoint. The New York Times, X33.

Jones, M. F. (1999). The other family tree: Leaving your legacy in a private foundation. Albany Law Review 63 (2), 567-592.

Schindler, S. (2007). Preventing crashes on america's highways. In J. L. Fleishman, S. J. Kohler, and S. Schindler (Eds.), Casebook for The Foundation: A Great American Secret, pp. 66-70. New York: Public Affairs.

James Howardhttp://jameshoward.us