The Washington times., 1894-07-25
DVARFED BY CROSSINGS
Effect of the Baltimore and Ohio
Tracks on the Northeast.
CITIZENS TALK LOUD AND LONG
But They Are Afraid That Congress Doesn't
Propose to Remedy Their Greivance-Cut
OF from the Rest Of the City-Growth Of
the Section Prevented by the Obstruction.

The vigorous opinions Of the northeast
grade crossings expressed by residents of that
section OF the city wore obtained by THE
| TIMES yesterday. Interviews were had with
their names made public. the great majority
of whom held views in accord with those
| given below:
S. W. SMITH. grocer, No. 600 K street north
east: II think the present grade crossings are
| decidedly detrimental to this section, for we
are in manner cut of by them from the rest
OF the city. 1t ispositively dangerous to have
the streets crossed by the trains as now,
especially dangerous to children. If some
thing is not done it will become worse. Isaw
the Congressional committee out here not
| long ago looking at the crossings, but don't
know whether it will amount to anything or
| not The Sixth street crossing l consider
very dangerous. They have no gates there,
nor watchmen, either. There is nothing at
that crossing to warn the people of approach
ing trains. II there had been a watchman
there it was pretty certain that Hooker's
child would not have been hurt the other
day."
W. W. HAIsLIp, dealer in provisions. No. 301
II street northeast: my opinion is that the
railroad ought to be moved out Of town-out
TO the suburbs. There is a way to get pas
sengers in from an outside depot, and there
would be no danger from crossings. 1t would
be much better for the city even in the matter
OF cleanliness. But the main thing is in get
ting rid of the crossings. Every week or SO
fvafs hlIr ri
ing takes place. 1t would be a great benefit
to this part Of the city, in the increase OF busi-
ness and improvements, to have the road out
of the way. This northeast section would
have chance TO build up"
ELEVATE THE TRACKS.
JOHN BURNS, No. 1000 Third street north
east: Il think the views of the people have
been already pretty we'll expressed to Con-
gress. 1t would. OF course, be great benefit
to this part of the city to have the trains
come in on elevated tracks, II permitted to
come into the city at all. l don't believe the
freight trains ought TO be permitted to come
in under any circumstances. People are de-
tanned when on the way to church, and to
market, at all times when business calls them
to the northwest or to any place beyond H
street."
]. F. BROOKE, dealer in groceries. No. 400
X street northeast: Il certainly think there
should be a change made. The crossings are
dangerous and an inconvenience. / believe
this section of the city would build up much
faster If the dangerous obstruction could be
removed
J. J. CAYLoR, grocer. No. 1923 Sixth street
northeast: The grade crossings ought to be
removed, or the tracks elevated. The present
arrangement is an outrage upon this part of
the city. / know 1t is a drawback to US, II
stands In the way Of growth and prosperity
in the northeast. Had the tracks been ele-
waited Hooker's little child would not have
been manged by the cars, and other lives
would not have been sacrificed. / have often
to send boy across the tracks and am un-
easy constantly until he gets back"
NJ. ". TUCKER. provision dealer, No. 62s
Third street northeast: "EmphaticalIy. there
ought to be something done to reduce the
danger at the crossings. There is always
danger there. The gateman allowed my wife
to pass one gate in buggy, about two weeks
ago. and then closed it. keeping her inside
when train was coming. A gentleman ran
from fuckers store on F street and helped
her to get out OF the way. Then think of the
Inconvenience from delays. / have been de-
tanned as much as half an hour at the cross
ings in the early mornings awaiting chance
to pass on my way to market. You can never
see an officer about, either; a policeman could
compel the cars to move 1t has seemed to
me often that th Q railroad men kept me wait
ing needlessly-that is, they could have moved
the trains If they would. do think something
should be done"
PEOPLE KEPT AT The CROSSINGS.
W. R. REED, wholesale dealer in crackers
and cakes. No. 710 Seventh street northwest:
Il have been kept at the crossing, both at F
and G streets, for half an hour before get
ting a chance to pass, and all the time the
trains would be backing up and down the
tracks. have to go to the northeast 70 deliver |
goods 10 my customers. But il isn't any use |
to be talking about il, Congress will never do |
anything against railroad. There is too |
much influence on the other side''
JAMES M.RsHALL, dealer in family grocer |
les. No. $50 Fifth street northeast: III had |
my way about it, and the law didn't interfere,
/ would be one of a crowd TO go out there |
and tear up the tracks. That is the way I |
feel about ii. l could get plenty of help in it |
too. You see there are no buildings Ia this |
section nothing going on. Everything is |
dead. and 1t has been that way for |
twenty years, TO my knowledge, all on ac- |
count OF the railroad. That tells whether the |
crossings are an injury TO the city. Some OF |
the best territory out here, that ought to be |
rs prosperous as any other portion of the ,
city, is positively vacant, and it will always
be so unless Congress does something to re-
move the cause. But an afraid it never
will. The only remedy as l STE it, is to give |
the people of the District the right of suffrage.
That is the only thing that will put
a stop to it. Look at the Fifth
street crossing. The watchman leaves
at o'clock every evening. He has to, in or
der to get any rest. From o'clock until
the next morning the gates are open. Trains
pass every hour in the night, almost. What's
10 prevent them from killing people at night?
It's more dangerous then than it is in the day
lime. The company should put three watch
men there instead OF one and let them take
turns in watching, night and day.