The Washington times., 1895-04-07
RLILR0AD IGNORES LlW
Attorney General OIHey Has Been
Appealed to for Redress.
NORTHEAST CITIZENS DEMAND
Charges Filed with Commissioners Alleging
Violations Of Observation-Disclosures Of
the Baltimore and Ohio Company Re-
qnssted-Unlawful Obstruction Of Streets
and Interruptions to Business Alleged.

The citizens of Northeast Washington
through their energetic association, have
filed with the Commissioners OF the Dis
uict a serios OF charges against the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company with
respect TO its alleged unIa wfzl occupation
of streets and disregard OF the plain pro-
visions Of law with reference to the grade
cross ings. They have also requested
the Commissioners 10 refer the same to the
Attorney General of the United States
with a request that Digtrict Attorney
Birney shall be directed to formulate
indictments against the company and have
the same presented to the grand jury.
The charges were prepared by special
committee and We're filed without a first
reference to the association. They cite
that the crossings at many OF the streets,
all being named, are almost and con-
stsndy obstructed, that many of the
streets are blocked daily, that travel and
traffic are impeded by locomotives. and
that the people are constantly harassed
and their business interrupted by the
aggressions OF the company.
n
President Tucker, OF tie Citizens As
sociatfon, said 20 a Times reporter last
night that the people of the northeast sec
ton had come To the. conclusion that Mr.
Birney could not be induced in any ordinary
way 60 proceed against the company, or al
any rate, they had q right TO think that
there is unnecessary delay In the matter,
and that they adopted the present tactics
TO see If by any means they can obtain
redress
Take the Sixth street crossing" /" said
be; 1.-THE Commissioners have long seen
the necessity for a remedy for the evil
complained OF there Inspector Beggs
has naade that point the subject of a spe-
cial examination and report. sustaining
our demand, and Attorney Thomas has
said that the company may be indicted for
maintaining a nuisance there. The matter
has been IN Mr.. BIrney's hands for several
weeks. and be has made no sign OF his
intention To take action"
Mr. Tucker cited the law, which pro-
vides that the company shall SO lay its
tracks as not TO lnpede travel of traffic
on streets occupied or crossed There
is a provision also requiring the level of
the road 10 conform 10 street grades, ex-
cept where special permission might be
given 20 otherwise grade.
He then pointed out where the road is
point thirteen feet and at another eight
feet above. while at another it is two feet
below grade. and name very many other
causes for grievance.
STREET PAVING PREVENTED.
Thirteen thousand dollars, he said, had
been once appropriated TO concrete Third
street. which Is already improved as far as
II street, but owing TO the distractions by
the railroads, the Commissioners reported
that they could not employ the fund, and it
was later diverted 20 some other point.
This has happened also in the case OF other
streets
''There are places" he added, "where
the streets crossed by the railroads are
in the condition that country road may
be expected to be; where pedestrians have
to climb up and down a mud bank 10 get
across the tracks
''Children attending the Blair school
are in constant danger, and as there are
no school buildings north of the railroad,
they are obliged to attend there.
1.-The Commissioners say they are pow
erless. Congress has refused TO act, and
what are we 10 do?" inquired Mr.. Tccler.
I'VE have been contending for cur rights
since 1881" he added, '-and the people
have taken the only step they can now
think OF TO obtain Justice"