Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-03
Report on the Railroad Crossing at
University Station.
INSPECTOR BEGGS RECOMMENDATIONS.
What He Deems Necessary for the
Public Safety.
9TH E r ACTION TAKEN

10 tne dangerous CTOSSlIS d. 1Hi-
versity station on the Bunker Hill road.
The complaint was referred to General
Inspector z. Y. Beggs of the engineer de-
partment, who made a report on the sub
ject. Capt. Fiebeger thought his sugges-
tons were good, and should, IL possible. be
carried out. In approving the report, Capt.
Powell recommended that the police de-
partment require compliance with section
l6. article 10. Of the police regulations: that
Inspector Begg's report be approved, and
that a copy. showing approval. be furnish
pany.
Inspector Begg's report. just made public.
is as follows: Il have examined the plat
forms and crossings of the Baltimore and
Brookland stations, with a view to deter
mining what is required at those points in
the way of security against accident and
the travelling public, and would suggest the
ends:
LAS to the platforms at the Brookland
stations would suggest, as tending to
promote the welfare both of the railroad
company and its patrons. the extension Of
the existing platforms at their present
width on both sides of the track LIS feet to
the north to accommodate the length OF
the average train stopping at this point,
which. as rule, is composed of three pas
senger coaches and a baggage car. This
would afford ample room for passengers
or upon the platforms.
LAS to the crossing would recommend.
as absolutely necessary TO the convenience
and safety Of the public in general. the
erection of double gates with side arms.
This crossing is now protected with single
gates without side arms, which do not, in
my opinion, effectually provide against &C
cident. particularly to foot passengers.
II also recommend the solid planking Of the
roadway of the crossing, which is now very
rough and uneven, to meet the gate posts
when erected. and the laying of wooden foot
walks to extend across the tracks under
the side arms of the gates when down and
to meet the footwalks on the sides of the
roadway beyond the tracks.
AT the South Brookland station ! would
travel the extension of existing platforms
on both sides of the tracks to meet the
sides Of the roadway crossing at this point.
and also the erection of sheds for waiting
passengers At present the platforms at
this crossing are unprovidei with places OF
shelter, and it is necessary for persons
desiring to take train at this point TO
walk a considerable distance from the road
way in order to get upon the platforms,
whereas. If they We're extended as suggest
ed. they could step upon them at once.
1.-The solid planking of this crossing is also
necessary as a matter Of public convent
snee The amount OF t Tayei n, at .n,s PONY,
safety gates. I would not recommend the
erection of fences as indicated upon the
ton for the reason that 1 think II would
only tend to complicate matters and in
crease the liability to accident. The Brook
land station Is sufficiently well lighted. and
lights are unnecessary at the South Brook
land station
Private Dismissed.
The Commissioners today ordered the dis
missal of Private Mendenhall Of the police
force on the charge of drunkenness. This
was the case referred to in The Star yes
twice tried on the same charge, but let OFF
the first time on his promise TO cnange MS
ways.
A Proposal Accepted.
The proposal of H. 1. Gregory to place a
combined heating. ventilating and dry closet
system in the new school building at the
corner of 18th and G streets northeast has
been accepted by the District Commission
ers.
Building permits have been issued today
as follows: Wash. Danenhower. four two
story brick dwelling, 2oo2 to zoos f street;
8. 100; John McElligott, three-story brick
dwelling, 23i2 9TH street extended; II, 100.
Assessors' Estimates.
Mr.. Matthew Trimble. the assessor for the
District, has submitted the following esti-
mates for the fiscal year ending June 80.
1895: Assessor. 5000: assistant assessors at
81, 800. $500: special assessment clerk, 81 500:
clerks at 81 400, 400: clerks at f,200.
$1,000: clerks at $1,000. $4,000: draughtsman,
81 200: to continue arrears of taxes, 5000;
license clerk, s1.4oo; inspector of licenses.
81, 200; assistant inspector of licenses, $l,000;
messenger, 5000; contingent expenses. $500:
total. $1,000.
The Industrial Home school.
The report of the Industrial Home
school has been sent in to the Commission
ers by the president. Mr.. VIM. b. Gurley.
With 1t is also submitted the annual re-
port of the treasurer, MIR. b. T. Janney,
which gives the condition Of the funds Of
the school.
The amount appropriated by Congress
for the maintenance of the school SIR =
600. and an itemized account of the eXpen
ditures is appended The bank fund.
from the sale of the products of the in
stitution, such flowers, plants. articles
made in the carpenter shop. &c. amounted
pended, leaving a balance of sl,509.93.
In his report as president Mr.. Gurley
then goes on to say: The appropriations
of years past have been uniformly. for
maintenance. sl2500; and the number of in
mates has been in the neighborhood of
100. The last Congress. however. reduced
the appropriation for maintenance for the
current fiscal year. 1894, to 1850, and re-
ferred us to the board of children's guar
dams for the supply of such deficienci es as
might occur. This reduction, however, as
was at once seen, rendered necessary a de-
crease in the number of inmates in the
home, and this was effected, to a great ex-
tent, by leaving untitled the vacancies
which were constantly made by discharS-
ing the children for whom places We're
found, or who We're reclaimed by their par
ents and friends. In this way our number
was reduced to seventy-five. and the board
Of children's guardians undertook to pro-
vide for the support of ten others. so that
We have now only siXty-ive dependent up
on our reduced appropriation, and 1t will
be sufficient during the current fiscal year.
I'VE, however, venture to hope that the
arrangement at the last session of Congress
by which our appropriation was SO greatly
reduced will be only temporary, and we
have. therefore, made our estimates with
a view to the care of our full number of
100 inmates instead Of only sixty-five. 1t
does not indeed appear that Congress in
tended to cripple our operations by with
holding part of the usual appropriation,
since the terms of the reference to the
board Of guardians. which are very vague
would perhaps have warranted that boar
in at once turning over to US out of their
appropriation the amount which Congress
had cut off of ours. This, however, they
did not feel authorized to do. but undertook
to provide for a certain number of our
wards, as already stated. But this ar
rangement, If made permanent, can hard
ly prove satisfactory. Our powers of con-
troll over our wards are entirely different
our objects and methods are to a great
extent different. To have in the home
two classes in the children, one of volun-
tary inmates, bound by no legal obliga-
| tions except those contracted with us by
parents or friends, and the other of COM
| pulSory inmates, committed by the courts
| to the board of guardians, and by them
| placed in the home, and responsible for
| their conduct only to the home, can hard
| ly fail. in the course of time, to give rise
| to difficulties, though Of what character