Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-15

Engineer commissioner, tnrougn tapL rleDe-
ger, the following report of his investigation Of
the street cars Of the Washington and George
town railroad and the Tenleytown Railroad
Company where they cross each other at SD
and VI streets. Georgetown, and OF the WASH
ington and Georgetown and Rock Greek rail-
roads where they cross each other at l4th and
streets northwest
Pursuant to your instructions have the honor
to report that have taken observations at differ
ent times at SD and NJ streets northwest, where
the Washington and Georgetown and the Ten
leytown Railroad Companies tracks cross each
other, and OF l4th and U streets northwest,
where the Washington and Georgetown and the
Rock Creek Railroad Companies tracks cross
each other, with view TO ascertaining whether
or not these companies are complying with the
order OF the commissioners regulating the right
OF way OF their trains or cars. or whether said
companies are otherwise conducting their roads
to the Inconvenience or detrlment of the public
welfare.
With respect to the order Of the Commission
ers. az promulgated April %, 1898, regulating
the right of way of street railroads have TO
report, after careful observation at various
times. that L saw not a single instance of its
violation, all cast and west-bound trains or cars
being brought TO a full stop before crossing in
tersecting streets, and the conductors thereof
running ahead to notice the approach of north
or south-bound trains or cars; also all north
and south-bound trains or cars momentarily
l must here call attention TO the fact that
absence OF police to enforce the order of the
Commissioners with respect to this matter was,
however. noticeable at latin and streets north
west, only two having passed that point within
an hour, and one of them stopping only for
moment.
At SD and NJ streets northwest. though. an
officer was stationed, presumably for the pur-
pose of seeing this order carried out How well
he performs this duty may be iudged from the
following:
l noticed him frequently conversing with
conductors or gripmen, who were apparently
of duty, and walking away from the corner
several times. remaining away once as long as
eight minutes; also riding in the Tenleytown
car from the terminal near the canal 10 N
street. With respect to the occupancy of the pub
lie streets by cars or trains of the Tenleytown
and Washington and Georgetown Railroad
Companies in Georgetown, have the honor to
state that the north-bourd cars of the Tenley-
town Railroad Company started from a
point IN line with the south building line OF NJ
street, from which point the motorman may
observe the approach of east and west-bound
trains of the Washington and Georgetown Rail-
road Company.
This may be economy for the railroad COM
pany, in that II saves a stop at that point
which it's cars would otherwise have to make il
they were started from any point south OF the
south building line of II street, but regard il
lie interests for The reason that il tends to OBJ
struct the street at that point. particularly upon
the arrival of south-bound cars. which are
stopped alongside Of the waiting north
bound cars while they are being emptied Of
their passengers. The roadway of SD street
Immediately south of NJ street Is only thirtv-
five feet from curb to curb. and when both
tracks of the railroad company are occupied by
cars standing side by side there remains only a
thoroughfare ter feet wide either side of the
tracks for the use of travel, which Is frequently
obstructed by the vehicles OF persons having
business along the street.
My attention was brought to this by the
policeman notifying me that was obstructing
the roadway under the circumstances de-
scribed, whereupon / Immediately drove off
and took my notes from a less Objectionable
point on the street. / would suggest as a
means to obviate this that the north-bound
cars of the Tenleytown Railroad Company
start from a point, say twenty feet south of the
south building line of VI street. This will
leave one track always open and admit of q
width Of street for the use Of travel of twenty
feet instead Of ten feet, as under the present
arrangement.
The occupancy OF NJ street northwest west
of SD street by The Washington and George
town Railroad Company to the extent and in
the manner in which it is occupied is simply q
public nuisance. tending not only to the con-
slant annoyance Of residents in the vicinity Of
joyment of their hours OF recreation by day
and their requisite and necessary sleep by night
but also to the serious disadvantage and
detriment of the business interests of
the street Almost continuously for at least
eighteen hours out of the twenty-four the
tracks west OF 3od street are occupied by the
trains OF the railroad company. which are all
made up IN the street. involving the shifting and
switching of at least 400 cars propelled BY horse
power and as many more grip cars propelled
H. l.. n.
ringing OF bells by conductors and gripmen,
often unnecessarily and in violation of the rules
of the company. For instance, quote
from their book Of rules. section %. under the
head Of general rules for conductors and grip
men. 1.-The gong attached to grip car ID the
gripman's bell to be used for warning signals
only" Yet 1t was observed that this gong was
frequently brought into when there was
really no occasion for it. The simple OBJ
servance of the rules respecting the use
OF these bells will do away with any grievance
on that score. The roadway of NJ street is fifty
feet from curb to curb 1t Is ordinarily one OF
the busiest thoroughfares in the city. and being
the main inlet into the city from the country
districts west IT is subjected to all that increase
OF travel Particularly is this the case on mar
ket days when the country people are bringing
in their produce, at which times the street is
almost entirely obstructed.
The car tracks occupy fourteen feet of this
roadway space. and being continually occupied
by shifting and moving cars. they are practic-
ally no use for roadway purposes. in conse-
quence Of which the traders along that portion
OF the street adjacent to the railroad tracks are
subjected to Inconvenience and loss. because
their customers, who are to a great extent
country people. prefer to trade where there is
more room and less liability to accident.
L would suggest as a remedy for all this
that the railroad company either extend their
tracks and cable to some point further west,
beyond the resident and business portion OF
the street, where they may have room to make
up their trains and do their shifting without
detriment TO either. or into their own premises,
where they have ground area Of CO. 303 square
feet, and thus relieve the public street.
Accompanying the report is a schedule show
ing the number of trains and the intervals at
which they are run within the space Of one
hour on the various roads observed.
LANrEI HEIGHTS AND THE STREET EXTENSIONS
Representative Breckenridge, representing.
the property owners of Lanier Heights, for
warded the following petition to the CON-
missioners today against any change beng made
in that subdivision under the recent act of Con-
gress 10 extend the streets of the city:
We the undersigned, desire TO communicate
to you our views in regard to the extension OF
the streets of the city under the recent act OF
Congress. In any discussion of plans for the
extension Of the streets of the CITY the frs,
thing to be considered is the carving out OF
the general plan upon which the city is laid ont
ar IL ,,l