Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-13
GROOVED RAILS.
The commissioners Oppose the Bill Pro-
viding for their Use.

The Commissioners have sent the following
letter to Senator Harris, of the District COM
mittee: In answer to your letter of January 81
the Commissioners of the District have the
honor to say that the amendment requiring
street railway companies to adopt the fiat
grooved rail, &C.. in the District appropriation
bill, on page II, is of too sweeping character,
and, in their opinion, should not become law
This provision would impose very heavy ex-
pense upon the railroad companies, seriously
embarrassing all of them, and would practi-
cally ruin some of the weaker ones
The approximate cost to the different rail-
road companies of carrying out the provisions
of this amendment would be as follows:
Washington and Georgetown R. R. Co. .S175 900
metropolitan R. R. Co. ;....;-a..;,. 10000
Washington r. r. Co. 132, 900
Columbia r. r. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. $1,000
Anacostla X. X. Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
This would be the approximate cost if laid
with the best character of rails and the present
pavements replaced
The Commissioners believe that the result
aimed at by the Senate can be accomplished in
more gradual and complete manner and
with far less hardship to the railroad COM
panies.
The Commissioners invite attention to House
bill No. 1OS99 "a copy of which is enclosed),
RoooSA
sion Of the FOrty-ninth Congress, and which, if
enacted into law, would enable the Commits
sioners to gradually improve the character of
rails and pavements in the street railways of
Washington as fast as, in their judgment, it is
practicable to do so.
If this bill were enacted into law it would
enable the Commissioners, in case of all ex-
tensive repairs or changes of grade, to require
the railroad companies to relay their tracks
with an improved rail, and, if necessary, with
an improved pavement.
1t would also enable many highly objection
able street crossings to be paved in a proper
manner. SO as to afford the least obstruction to
people crossing them, and would SO amend par
agraph Is in section Of the act establishing
permanent form OF government for the Dis
trict of Columbia, as to enable not only the
space between the tracks but the tracks them
selves at street intersections to be paved with
the same character of pavement as is in use on
the street intersected by the railroad
AS bearing upon this question the Commits
sioners have the honor to submit herewith copy
OF letter received by them from the attorneys
of the various railroad companies in regard to
this Senate amendment, with an Endorsement
OF Capt. L. W. Symons thereon, to which they
invite your attention.
NIB. BARBoUR's BILL.
The bill referred to was introduced by Mr..
Barbour, Jan. "a, 1887, and empowered the
Commissioners of the District to make and en-
iorce oruers prescribing the grade ana the
form and character of rails that shall be laid
upon the public streets, highways, and public
places within the District of Columbia, and to
prescribe the materials and character of the
pavement or roadway, and of any re-
pairs to the same, that shall be laid
or made, and the manner of laying and
making the same between the tracks
and rails and for space of feet exterior and
adjacent to the outer rails Of any street rail-
road Section 2 provided that the cost bf any
work so ordered shall be borne by the COM
pany owning or controlling said railroad, and
it was further provided that If any street rail-
way shall neglect or refuse 10 comply with the
orders of the Commissioners as provided for in
this act, the work required shall be done by the
District Of Columbia, at the cost of such COM
pany, to be collected as prescribed in section s
OF an act OF Congress entitled IAN act provid-
ing permanent form of government for the
Disrict OF Columbia" approved June II, 1873
The win Of Ann Ballentyne, fled to-day,
leaves TO her nephews, Alexander @. Ballen
tyne, OF Baltimore, and T. +. James 800
each, and the proceeds of notes for q, 100, to
be equally divided between Thomas r. and W.
K James. The residuary legatees, Mrs. Flor
ence Solger and W. E. James, are named a.
execuoru.
At > meeting last night . military company
composed Of pension Office clerks was formed
Of1cers were elected e. follow: Captain, VIM.
r. Seville; Arst-heutenank Thomas +. Riley: