The Washington times., 1894-10-04
CONCERNS OF THE DISTRICT
General Inspector Beqgs' Discouraging
Report on the Grade Crossing.
THEY WILL STAY FOR A WHILE
Railroad Authorities Have Awakened, How
ever, to the Necessity of Protecting the
Traoks-Parking Commission Report
Sprinkling Of Suburban Streets.

E. NJ. Beggs in his annual report as gen.
eral Inspector Of streets, submitted yesterday,
informs the District Commissioners that. "al-
though there is no immediate prospect OF
getting rid of the threatening dangers of the
grade crossings, vet there is the encouraging
hope that the authorities of both the great
railroad systems have awakened to the neces-
sity Of protecting the steam railroad tracks,
as is commensurate with the dangers attend
ing their existence"
Mr.. Beggs has under his supervision the
grade crossings, as well as their maintenance
and operation, protection and repair, and
says Improvements have been made
throughout the lines Of both roads -Balti-
more and Potomac and Baltimore and Ohio
as far as the District line in the way of addi-
tional protective appliances, and with the
erection OF two or more additional alarm sig
mails and the fencing of the exposed portion
OF the tracks within The city. 1t is believed the
dangers incident will be reduced TO a mini
mum.
The crossings OF the Baltimore and Potomac
road are kept mp to high standard, Mr..
BesGs says. and all within the city are
equipped with safety gates, manned propor-
tionaby as the requirements OF safety and
travel seems to demand.
The Baltimore and Ohio crossings are
equally well equipped. but not correspond
ingly manned, nor has there been the same
effort at compliance with the orders of the
Commissioners relating TO this feature Of
their crossings as was shown by the Balti-
more and Potomac.
THEY OWN OVERHEAD WIRES.
Mr.. Beggs furnishes list of the private
corporations, seven IN number, that own and
operate overhead wires in the District, and
says there was practically no conduit con-
struction by any Of these companies during
the past year. They were engaged mostly in
renewing their overhead lines replacing old
with new and stronger poles. and substituting
copper for iron wires. He recommends that
the Rapid Transit line, which is practically
an abandoned line, be removed from the
streets.
The United States Electric Lighting Com
pany, he reports, has not complied with the
orders Of the Commissioners for the removal
OF the line of poles from Fifteenth street
northwest. between and l streets, nor OF the
overhead wires across Seventh street north
west, between G street and Florida avenue.
The report concludes with the following:
Advances have been made during the
year. the outcome OF recommendations from
distribution service from conduits. The COM
panies are now extending their branch con-
duits well into the interior of squares, which
is deemed especially advantageous. in that it
will admit of accommodating the smaller
squares by the erection of a single pole, or of
two poles at most.
Recent legislation authorizing the erec-
ton of telephone poles in alleys ought to
simplify matters respecting the overhead
system of the telephone company, and ulti-
mately result in the removal of many of their
poles from the public streets. though il is but
just TO state that the poles of this company
would already have been removed from GER
tain streets that are provided with conduits
had they not been occupied by District
wires
The annual report OF the parking commits
sion 10 the District Commissioners shows a
total Of 73. $50 street trees, $50 being planted
during the year. The unexpended balance of
SIS 900 appropriated for the work of the COM
mission is 1914. The sum of $4,000 is
asked for next years expenses. of which
$4,000 is for wire netting and the work of
wiring, SO. 900 for the care of trees, and
$4,000 for planting new trees.
The attorney for the District has further
amended his bill drafted regarding the care
OF vacant lots. requiring the sidewalks to be
kept clear OF snow and ice.
STREET CLEANING REPORT.