Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-11-01
RAILROAD GATES QUESTION.

! mems chamber laSV Dl2nl 10 consider
the bill now before them requiring the
erection OF railroad gates at several of
/ the street crossings within the CITY,
I The committee invited the representa-
tiyes e he railroads and such citizens
aS we've interested in the matter TO be
pres TIT, and in response to the invita-
,,ou Col. j. i. Smith and Supi. Brooks,
representing the Washington Southern
road, Mr.. l.. Marbury, representing the
Midland road and less than a dozen
citizens were present. Messrs. Cation,
Leadheater and Evans, of the commit
tee, head the statements of those in
teresled.
Col. Smith said the committee at its
last meeting had kindly postponed the
consideration Of the matter till he could
communicate with Mr. Brooks, the SUI
perintendent of the road, who was now
present ard would make statement
on behalf Of the company.
Mr. Marbury said Mr.. j. S. 3. Thomp-
son, of the r. & d. company, had tele-
graphed stating that it would be impos-
sible for him TO be present.
Mr.. Cation then stated that the COM
mittee would hear statements from the
representatives OF the railroads.
Mr.. Brooks requested to be shown
copy of the proposed ordinance and
asked how many streets were open to
the railroad. On being told seven, he
said he BELOVED in full protection at rail-
road crossings and would be glad to see
the entire city gated, but the expense
must be looked into; each gate would
cost $500. aud each Waterman $500 4
year. II the road was doing good
business and paying expenses it would
be another thing, bat it was not; dur,
ing the past month or so about $4,000
had been expended in repairing wash
outs, &C., and this was an inopportnnc
time to talk about more expenses last
months report showed that the road
had not paid expenses.
Col. Smith said that two roads were
running through the city and if they
passed through six squares, at least u
gates would be necessary. Continuing
he said the old A. & F. road had never
earned enough to pay the interest on
its debt; during the last few years the
w 5. road had done better, but the
property was far from being profitable.
Now when everybody was reducing eN-
peuses it was an inopportune time 70
require this expense for gates. So far
as he knew but three accidents had &C.
cured and be believed that no one who
exercised ordinary prudence would be
endangered.
In reply to a question Mr.. Brooks
said three men were employed as
watchmen at $50 each a month, at
Duke, Prince and King streets.
Mr. Marbury said so far as the R. &
D. road was concerned, the whole sys-
tenn was in the hands of receivers who
were cutting down expenses at every
point to pay the current expenses; the
road was now trying, however, to make
arrangements to give employment 10
more men during the winter to prevent
suffering as far as possible; the road
tagged all its trains, and if an ordi-
nance was passed now requiring the
erection of gates it would necessitate
the reduction of expenses elsewhere
and would hurt the city more than it
would benefit it; in time he believed the
matter would be attended to by the
company.
Col. Smith said he did not believe
the ordinance now before Council
would be passed, as it delegated too
much power to committee in allow
ing them to name what streets should
! be gated.
Mr.. Cation replied that that section Of
the bill could be amended.
Mr.. Brooks, in reply to question as
to what he would suggest for proper
protection against accidents, replied
that he thought the city was now prop.
erly protected; ne thought there should
be man at the crossings at King,
Prince and Duke streets, as at present.
Mr.. Cation said there were some
points that needed much more protec-
ton than at present for the safety Of
the public. He asked if the Il. & d.
road would be willing to put watchmen
at such crossings as might be desirable.
Mr.. Marbury said he could not an
swer that question, but be would say
that every train on the r. & d. road
was tagged and the engine bell was
rune as the trains pas sed through
the streets; he knew of many accidents
having occurred Washington and else
where by persons being caught between
gates, and thought watchmen better
than gates.
Mr.. Cation said that accidents had
often been narrowly averted on Wilkes
street; frequently the hagman would
be three squares ahead OF the train and
the noise of vehicles prevented the
hearing of the engine bells.
Col. Smith suggested that for various
reasons the laws gave the railroad the
right of way at street crossings.
Mr.. Leadbeater asked how many
hagmen were employed by the L. " D.
road, and Mr.. Marbury replied that he
only knew that every train on that
road was properly tagged.
The other side was then heard and
Mr. w. H. Hellmuth said that in going
from the city to his place near by he
used Cameron street and frequently
had his wife and children in his wagon:
he drove at a lively gait. There was
no tiagman stationed at Henry or Fay
cite streets; the hagman ran way ahead
of the trains; he had been caught twice
aud nearly run over, and once when
he demonstrated he had been cursed;
once, his wagon had been scraped by a
train and he narrowly escaped with Lis
life, and the engineer, who was much
frightened at the accident, had told
him he would not have killed him for
the world. He thought gates should