Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-09
AGAINST GRADE CROSSINGS
A General Sentiment in Opposition to Null
tiplying Death Traps in the City.
What II Being Done in Other Cities
The Public Safety the Supreme Law
No Need for Surface Tracks.

The congressional proposition embodied In
the terminal railroad bill to add to the grade
crossings in this city has provoked wide
spread opposition. Washington, for years
has been fighting against the death traps
which already infest the city, and in this
connection Senator Morrill,, the veteran
statesman from Vermont, who probably has
had az extended an insight into District
needs as any other Of its legislators said
at one time concerning these crossings: In
addition to the occupancy of important por-
tons Of Delaware, Virginia and Maryland
avenues, there are now within the city more
than sixty crossing Of streets and avenues
at grade by these steam railroads. as peril
GUS as sixty spring,gun traps and all tend
ing greatly to the depreciation Of the value
of real estate in the city. as we'll as the
multiplication of deplorable ACCIDENTS" In
this city, as elsewhere. attention has been
constantly called to the death-dealing quail
ties Of grade crossings by the frequ ant and
constantly recurring accidents resulting
therefrom.
A minor argument against the crossings
and the annoying delays suffered by pedes-
trains and wagons, and especially the fire
engines. through being obliged to wait
at crossings frequently for considerable
and forth. Statistics which The Star has
published on this subject have shown that
this question of delay has been Of very
serious moment.
The Sentiment In Other Cities.
In all large cities the sentiment has been
steadily growing that the grade crossing 10
relic Of barbarism and must. as fast as
possible, be abolished entirely. The New
York Tribune in one Of its many editorials
on this subject speaks of the fact that in
that state in one year forty-two persons
were killed and ffty-seven injured at such
crossings. In 1887 the number Of deaths
at the grade crossings at Philadelphia was
1873, while in Chicago the list for that year
included 142 names. Chicago has been Pc
culiarly unfortunate in her relations with
the grade crossings. and while the city un-
doubtedly owes q large measure OF its
prosperity to the presence there OF 50
many connecting railroads, 1t is also un-
doubtedly true that the prairie city's grave
yards are crowded full with victims of the
deadly grade crossing. Although the Penn
sylvania railroad has never seen fit to pre-
sent Washington with any better system Of
railroad entrance than the one with the
tracks at grade, President Roberts, In a
letter written for Philadelphia consumption
and printed in that city some time ago. took
no halting stand on the subject of tracks
at grade.
President Roberto Testimony.
In that letter he stated: II do not think
any argument is needed to convince the
public that the time has gone by when the
lives and limbs Of our citizens should be
constantly exposed to. the perils resulting
from crossing the streets by steam rail-
roads at grade" And in the same letter
he says: 1T has not even been pretended
that the wholesome provisions Of law that
require the avoidance Of grade crossings
by steam railroads in such cities as London,
Liverpool and Berlin have in any manner
interfered with their commercial prosperity,
although 1t Is certainly true that they have
compelled railroad companies seeking ad-
mission to these cities to spend q larger
amount Of money than they would have
done had grade crossings been permitted
But l think you will agree with me that
the public safety IL the supreme law In this
case and that II railroads can reach our
large cities without sacrificing the lives and
limbs OF our people, it Is certainly their
duty to do So" -