Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-17
An Official Inspection Of the B. and
P. Grade Crossings.
INSPECTOR BEGGS RECOMMENDATIONS
Several Crossings Are Not Suffi-
GENTLY Guarded, He Says.
FEN GIN G. THE TRACKS

attention being given to the maintenance or
the road, the means of protection afforded
at street crossings, the fencing of the
tracks, and their lighting.
This report was made at the suggestion
of the Commissioners. who were constantly
receiving complaints that the grade cross
ings Were not sufficiently protected, and
that the railroad company did not properly
guard it's tracks.
Inspector Beggs made a careful investi-
cation of the subject, and his report is as
follows:
Pursuant to Instructions, 1 have the
honor to report result of examination of the
Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company's
tracks within city limits, as follows: The
examination was taken up on the morning
of the 18th instant, and completed on the
afternoon of the same day, careful attention
having been given to features of mainten-
ance; the means of protection afforded at
street crossings, such safety gates, and
the men required for their proper manipula-
ton, and necessary fiagmen; the fencing of
the uninclosed portions of the tracks, and
the subject of their proper and sufficient
lighting.
THE tracks and switches throughout the
line between street intersections and the
fencing of those portions of the road at
present inclosed, were found to be in gen.
orally good condition.
The Crossings.
The crossings at street intersections were
in most cases in good state of repair, and
where such was not the case repairs were
in progress All crossings throughout the
road are equipped with safety gates, OPP
Grated by gatemen, either during the whole
of the twenty-four hours or for a portion
of the day, between the hours of a. m
and $50 p. nj. The following employ the
services of gatemen, and of fiagmen where
specified, during the whole of the twenty
hnf hstnr Af h,f,
regulated by themselves: At 9th street
southeast, double gates, two gatemen; at
Cd street southeast, double gates, two gate
men, at New Jersey avenue southeast,
north side, double gates, two gatemen;
south side, double gates, two gatamen; GEN.
ter of crossing, two fagmen; at South Cap
ltol street, east ana west crossings, single
gates, four gatemen; at + street southwest
double gates, two gatemen; at Delaware
avenue southwest, double gates, two gate
men; at lst street southwest double gates
two gatemen; al Z street southwest, double
gates, east side two gatemen; west side
double gates, two gatemen; at I'd street
southwest. double gates, two gatemen; at
l. street southwest, double gates, two
gatemen; at 9Th street and Virginia ave
nue. southwest double gates, across 9th
street Virginia avenue tracks,, single
gates; across north half of Virginia avenue
east and west of curve Of main tracks into
9Th street, and across the east sidewalk of
9Th street, north and south of curve of main
tracks into 9th street, two gatemen; at
9TH street and Virginia avenue southwest
double gates, two gatemen; at It'll street
and Maryland avenue southwest, double
gates, two gatemen; at 9th street south
west, double gates, two gatemen; at 10th
street southwest, double gates, two gate
men; at 18th street southwest, double gates
two gatemen; at c street southwest, double
gates, two gatemen; at Maryland avenue
and 9th street southwest double gates
across Maryland avenue 18th street tracks,,
and single gate across Maryland avenue
over Belt line tracks.
THE following employ gatemen between
the hours of a. m. and $50 p. M:
AT 9TH street southeast, double gates, one
gateman; at 18th street southeast, double
gates, one gateman; at ID street southeast,
single gates one gateman at / street south
east, single gates, one gateman; at 18th
street southwest. double gates, one gate
man; at 18th street southwest, double gates
one gateman; at Is ID street southwest
double gates one gateman.
These men are charged with the duty of
lowering and raising these gates as occa-
sion requires, which varies materially, ac-
Cording to local conditions and traffic over
the road. AT points where trains are being
made up and the constant shifting of cars
is going on, or where the road DIVORCES, as
is the case at the 9th street crossing Of
Maryland and Virginia avenues. the duties
of gatemen are necessarily more arduous
and require greater skill and vigilance.
Moreover. was seen in regard to these
two crossings, on account of this disadvan-
tage in local position. IL has been necessary
to provide them with greater protective
facilities, so that each have, respectively,
two and three separate sets of gates, and
still there is wanting additional protection
of the same kind at the 9Th street crossing
of Maryland avenue.
Constant Danger.
These considerat tons and the fact that
only one gatem1n Is employed, admit of but
one conclusion, viz there must be constant
danger of accident at these crossings, and
admitting that they are subjected to travel
in any of the slightest degree, but one
question presents itself for decision: Have
these men too much to do to properly guard
these crossings? The answer Is they have
and the fact that they have thus far so
successfully averted accident is a high trib-
ute to their vigilance, skill and Judgment
with these crossings fully protected and
manned, and the completion of some i'm
provementS of a minor character, suggest
ed in my report of August g. 1888, as neces-
Sary at the New Jersey avenue southeast
crossing, / can confidently say that the
crossings OF this road. SO far as meeting
the public requirements of safety ond con-
venience. will be in as good condition as it
is possible under the circums tances to place
them.
II desire to note in this connection, in
view of the fact that 18th street southwest
is the outlet for much of the traffic of Wa
ter street, the necessity OF providing some
pfotecti9E TOT tnS ttiCufnOilu anu DduNllle
tracks where they cross that street into
their storage yards. These tracks are &C.
cupied continuously during the day and
there is every possibility of accident.
Question of Fencing.
1.-The necessity for fencing the uninclosed
portions Of these tracks is obvious to the
most casual observer, and If this were done
there is no question that those portions of
the road, passing through thickly populated
localities as they do. would be relieved of
much of their dangerous character. AS 1t
Is now, persons may be seen crossing the
tracks at airy point, and children every
where playing close by or upon them
Nothing, however, has been dore since my
last report on this subject, except the fenc-
ing of the tracks on Virginia avenue be-
tween 9th and 7th streets southwest.
THE fencing of the piece of road on
Maryland avenue between Cub and 9TH
streets southwest, which heretofore has
been considered impracticable, has, in the
absence of other provision, become ne
| cessity, and believing the protection to life
| and limb which will be afforded by thus
| inclosing II will more than compensate for
any inconvenience to which the residents
| of the street may be put have no hest
fancy in saying It should be done.
Some Recon- am N dn lions.