Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-25

COMMISSIONER.
Grade crossings was the principal theme of
discussion at the meeting last evening OF the
Northeast Washington Association Mt St An
thongs Hall. Il26 It'll street northeast.
The large attendance indicated that the people
Of thi. section are taking q lively interest in
the efforts Of the ASSOCIATION TO promote the
security Of life and limb and the improvement
Of the northeast
The following officers we're elected for the
ensuing year: Mr. W. J. Frizzell. president;
Mr.. Evan II. Tucker, vice president; Mr.. John
ID. HInternesch. secretary, and Mr.. A. J. Don
Aldson, treasurer, and T. W. Brandes. A H. F..
Iolsten and l. Chapel, executive committee.
Reports Of various committees were received
and adopted
A resolution prepared BY the grade crossing
Committee consisting % Me~srs. W. II. Lucas,
A IL p. Holster. L. Chapel. J. II. Higgins.
Y. y. Gunson. Jacob Frech and Evan ii.
Tucker, was unanimously adopted, and com
mittee OF twelve appointed TO present II to the
District Commissioners. IL 10 printed below
IN full:
THE Duty OF THE RAILROAD COMPANY.
"Whereas the act Of Congress OF March 2,
1881 a Stats, p. 476), authorizing the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company to extend a
lateral branch of its road into and within the
District Of Columbia after providing for con-
domination Of lands. &c, provides that when
ever the said company. IN constructing this
railroad. shall find II necessary to cross or in
tsrsect anv established road. street or other
way ID shall be the dnty of the said company so
to construct the -aid railroad across such es-
tsblished road. street or other way as not to
impede the passage or transportation OF per-
sons or property along the same and that the
company, in constructing the said road. shall
enter the city Of Washington at such place and
shall pass along such public street or alley To
such point OF terminus within the said city as
the said company shall find best calculated to
promote the objects OF said road: Provided,
That the level Of said road within the said city
shall conform TO the present graduation of the
streets. unless the said corporation shall agree
20 a different level
ALLEGED VIOLATIONS.
Whereas the railroad company has failed TO
comply with the provisions Of said act in the
construction OF its road. thereby unlawfully i'm
peiing the passage or transportation Of per-
sons OF property along certain streets. blocking
them up and uulawfulv depriying the public
Of he use thereof and rendering the crossings
Of other streets announcement and dangerous by
reason OF nOn-conformity to the grade thereof
in violation Of Law. as the following statement
will show:
statement Of relative grade Of tracks of BaI;i-
more and Ohio railroad. compared with estab-
l-hed grade os streets which they cross. and
the CONDITION Of the crossings:
second street-RailrCad tracks thirteen feet
below grade. crossed BY an old wooden bridge,
which Is considered % be In a dangerous cOndi-
ton. approaches to which are very steep, and
In order to reach the bridge pedestrians must
climb up the side Of dirt o. mud bank and
walk on a narrow bridge along with horses and
Vehicles.
Third street Railroad tracks eight feet below
grade. blocked to the public, and therefore
rendered absolutely useless, there being no
crossing for vehicles or pedestrians. Provision
was made in the appropriation bill for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1891. for paving this
street. 4. 900 being appropriated for the same,
but owing 10 the interference with the grade
by the railroad tracks Congress in a subsequent
bill inserted a clause striking out the item
TRACKS ABOVE GRADE
Fifth street Railroad tracks two feet above
grade approached By steep inclined planes,
unpsved. up and down which pedestrians are
compelled 10 walk in the dirt or mud of the
Roadway with animals and vehicles. no other
provision being made for their accommodation
convenience. Horses cannot draw ordinary
loads over this crossings and in any event
vehicles can only be drawn up and over at q
slow pace, thus unduly lengthening the time
they must remain on the dangerous tracks.
sixth street Railroad tracks seven feet above
grade. blocked TO the public, there being no
crossing for vehicles. and pedestrians in order
90 cross are compelled to climb up steep en-
bankmsn mt at risk of life and limb. This cross
ing IL much used BY the children attending the
Blsir school. but at the risk Of their lives.
provision had also been made by Congress for
improving this street several wears ago, but
owing TO the railroad being so high at this point
the Improvement not made
seventh street Eailroad tracks six feet above
grade with inclined unpaved planes for vehi-
cls- 80 steep A. to make II almost impossible
for loaded teams to cross and With no side pro-
lection TO the rising roadway, so that vehicles
ALWAYS liable to be overturned into the
deep ditch on either side ~ has been the case
For pedestrians uncouth wooden steps and
platforms provided. having insufficient
guards in the form Of hand rails. part of which
has been removed by decay OF otherwise. and
pedestrians are in danger Of walking of and
falling a distance Of several feet Vehicles can
cross the dangerous tracks only at a very slow
pace by reason Of their abrupt elevation above
grade.
Eighth street-Railroad tracks four feet above
grade. practically closed to the public there
being no footvsy- or roadway over them.
Ninth street-Railr al tracks two feet below
grade The intersection Of l. street and the rail-
road i near TO 9Th street that one dirt road
crossing answers fo- both. pedestrians the
same roadway. a. do horses and vehicles, and
all three reach the tracks through mud a foot
deep wet DAYS
THE PUBLIC EXCLUDED.
street-This street Is occupied for several
squares BY the railroad To the exclusion of tine
public. the tracks being thirteen feet below the
grade of "a street and eight feet below the
grade Of Sd street at the intersection OF those
streets-
Railroad tracks five feet above
grade. practically blocked 20 the public at 9Th
street Pedestrians going east on X street
leave sidewalks behind them at 7th street and
follow well-worn path till thew reach the
trark-, which consist Of the exposed ties filled
IN between with broken loose stones and upon
which the four rails Law each being a five-inch
stumbling block, and especially dangerous
when one il hurrying 70 avoid a train. On the
east side Of the tracks on X street there is a
steep bank leading down to the roadbed OF
street. Had there been any decent kind OF
crossing over these tracks on X street, and the
tracks level with the street, the Mcdonald
children could have continued on their way
home by stepping of the east track onto leye!
ground instead of being driven back on the
west track BY an outgoing engine and one of
them killed by an incoming train.
HoritI avenue Railroad tracks four ard a
half feet below grade. This avenue has re-
Gently been improved. and IL order to make il
passable at all the roadway Of the avenue has
been gwen an inclination down to the tracks
and A. the view 10 the north il cut off b. high
bank. shis crossing 4, exceedingly dangerous
for The reason that vehicle once on this down
grade cannot well stop until il gets on the
tracks. There l. not the slightest Accommoda-
g. -.