Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-03
GRADE CROSSINGS.
The Principal Subject Discussed in
East Washington Last Night.
TIE PROPOSED VIADUCT SYSTEM.
It is Approved, and Will Be Urged
Before Congress.
THE JAMES CREEK CANAL.
IE PROPOSED VIADUCT SYSTEM.
THE JAMES CREEK CANAL.

A systematic fight will be waged against
the deadly grade crossings at the next ses-
sion of Congress.
East Washington is waking up. Its citi-
zens are in earnest, and the meeting of the
East Washington Citizens Association last
night was an evidence of the interest felt
in the matter.
The two citizens associations have ANAL
gamated on this important question and the
fight will be waged until success crowns
their efforts. Altogether 1t was an inter-
esting meeting. Secretary Sperry interrupted
the regular proceedings Of the meeting and
introduced a delegation from the Northeast
Washington Association. President Frizzell.
who headed the delegation. stated that for
some years Northeast Washington had suf-
fered from the railroad bugaboo. What his
association wanted was unity of action. and
the help Of the East Washington Citizens
Association was necessary. The committee
on legislation of his association had pre-
pared a bill which had received the unani-
nous approval of the Commissioners and
was generally acceptable to the people.
Grade Crossings Are a Blight.
He introduced Mr.. Evan Tucker the chair
man of the committee on legislation, who
spoke Interestingly on the subject of the
railroads in East Washington Grade cross
ings, he said, are a blight to every city
where they exist. Within the past year six
people had been killed and a great many
more had been MANNED at grade crossings.
great many more had been killed and in
jured at other points along the road. Had
there been a viaduct, over which the tracks
could run, these accidents would never have
occurred. The great question that was alb
sorbing the minds of the people of East
Washington was: How to abolish grade
crossings.
| The lives and limbs of the people were
at stake and Ii was only through concerted
action that anything could be done. 1t had
| been stated by the representatives of the
railroad that there was no measure upon
which the people could agree. This was
not correct and the association was pre-
pairing to prove 1t. The entire eastern sec
| ton of the city had been divided into fifty
| two districts, each district containing four
squares.
| A Monster Petition.
To each section one member had been
assigned and petitions In that way were
being circulated. When Congress met again
a monster petition containing 10000 names
would be presented in favor of the bill.
| He stated the route of the road according
| to the bill. 1t provided that the tracks ly-
| ing outside of the city ard north of Boun-
dairy street make a connection and proceed
southerly with four tracks to reach via
duct or elevated way to the north line of
Boundary street where IT intersects Della
| ware avenue, thence southerly along Della
ware avenue to it's interg ecton with F
street north, thence following its present
line of route to and into its depot building.
Secretary Sperry asked for information
| concerning the height, grade, &C, as far
as it affects the residents of Delaware ave-
nue..
Mr.. Frizzen replied at length. He said
| q ViatnCt he i1a
| base SO to accommodate four tracks at
| its top, and the arches not less than
| twelve nor more than sixteen feet high.
| The people of Delaware avenue, north of
+ street, had made no objection to the pro-
posed bill far he knew. The people
| on Delaware avenue south OF F street could
not be in a worse condition than they are
now as far as railroad matters are con-
cerned. He stated the bill had been pre-
| sented In the Senate by Senator Sherman
and had received the unqualified approval
| of the District Commissioners.
| The Vinduct IndOrsed.
Mr. NJ. l. Weller stated the association
could not refrain from indorsing the bill
as it had placed itself on record as being
| in favor of a viaduct system He referred
! to the publications in The Star on the SUBJ
! ject, which had been fully and carefully
| prepared. A viaduct system would be a
great improvement on the present condition
of affairs. Upon motion of Gen. Birney the
| Dill was approved by the aSSOcia ton and
referred to the committee on legislation
| tc confer with similar committee from
| the Northeast Washington Association. 1t
was also resolved that the chair appoint a
committee to circulate the petitions in
| favor of the bill.
The James Creek Canal.
Prof. Conrad, under the head of new bus
mess, offered a resolution thanking the
Commissioners for cleaning James creek
canal. The resolution set forth that as the
canal having ceased to be nuisance should
be treated according to the original plan of
1t as a waterway of great Importance to the
city for trade and transportation. The ex-
pensive project of arching 1t over should be
abandoned. The canal should be kept clean
by daily f1ushings. and the banks should be
improved as landings or wharves for mer-
chandise. He spoke at length on the good
that had been derived from the reclama alton
Of this important waterway. In time, he
had no doubt, it would be the means of re-
lieving the overcrowded wharfage of the
river front.
Mr.. NJ. /. Weller, under the head of new
business, gave notice that at the next meet
ing OF the association he would call atten-
ton to some matters relative to the public
schools. He had heard ugly rumors concern
ing the award of contracts for school books
and had heard it stated that a prominent
school official-one who received a salary
for his serviceS-was interested in the sale
of school books. If such a thing were So he
wanted the association to make a full in
veStigation of the affair and air the matter
thoroughly. He also wanted to inquire into
the manner of selection of school trustees
Upon motion, the association then ad-
journed