Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-02

county and ones where land and improve
ment values are the highest.
Much progress has been made in the prep
aration OF the plans for all the other sec
lions; those for the second and third sec
tons are well advanced.
Frederick Law Olmsted, represented by
Messrs Olmsted, Olmsted & Eliot, land
directs, for aid in preparing the plans and
was assigned the part of the third lection
lying west of Rock creek and north of Mas
sacnusetts avenue, for preparation of orig
inal plans.
Street Railways.
The lexington and Soldiers Home Rail-
road Company built three branches from
street northwest, on routes authorized by
the act approved August %. 1894 and oper-
ates two Of the branches by horse power:
1t has failed to operate the branch from
New Jersey avenue to North Capitol street
and New York avenue. The Commissioners
invited the attention of the Attorney Cen
eral to this failure, April =, 1895. in view
OF the fact that whatever action taken in
the premises toward maintaining the rights
OF the public has to be taken through his
office.
Similar action was taken by the Commits
sioners, May /. 1895. in reference to the
abandonment Of the Kenyon street branch
of the Brightwood Railway Company. The
company afterward resumed operation OF
the branch.
A car. worked by the electromagnetic
system, has been running under the auspices
of the lexington and Soldiers Home Com
pany on its North Capitol street track
north of New York avenue
The lexington company's charter requires
that its right to use overhead wires in
Washington shall cease July 1, 1895. After
some delay, and after instituting Directing
measures, the company removed its poles
and wires in Washington, except at the
eastern end of New York avenue. and has
since run horse cars on New York avenue.
The Washington and Georgetown Com
pany, now merged into the Capital Traction
Company. commenced the construction of a
building to contain the union passenger sta
IoI required to be built by that company
at Roth street between M and Prospect
streets; work on the building Is still in prog
rcss. The extension Of the company's tracks
from their former terminus in Georgetown
to the uhfor station site has been made
The Columbia company changed its sys-
tenn to cable Of the Broadway, New York.
kind.
The Metropolitan company completed the
Installation on its north and south line of
an underground electric system of propui-
sion shortly before August 2 1S6. except
the part on Florida avenue between yh and
1th streets and on Ith street extended;
disagreement, now waiting settlement by
the court, occurred between the Metropoli-
tan company and the Capital Traction COM
pany, formerly the Rock Creek company.
as to the Join. use OF the conduts on
Florida avenue The Metropolitan company
is now constructing and has nearly COM
pieted its conduits ard new tracks on the
part OF its east and west line east OF 9th
street west.
The road BEDS tracks, cars and equip
ments of the Columbia company and the
electric line Of the Metropolitan company
are first-class; the two systems appear to
work satisfactorily. 1t was required by
the permits for construction that the TRACKS
should be laid at approved locations and
the rails and conduit structures should
not project above the pavement surface, in
order to reduce obstruction to travel
The Washington and Great Falls COM
pany finished the building of ITS road from
Georgetown to the District line Shortly
does not require that its tracks or cars
enter the union passenger station. but fixes
the route On Prospect street. beginning a
the station; therefore, the Commissioners
have located single track for this com
pany east of Beth street AMI close 10 the
curb along the front of the station build
Ing; passengers will have to cross the side
walk, enter the station through a covered
way at the Prospect street level and de-
scend to the NJ street level by elevator.
The law requiring reciprocal transfers be-
tween street railroads whose lines connect
is not complied with where the connecting
railroads compete for traffic in the same
territory. The additional fare, where one
is charged, for the reciprocal transfer is 2
cents.
AS authorized by provision in the Dis
trict appropriation act of 1894 the Commits
sioners adopted list of certain tenders for
mechanical motor cars, and made regula-
tons to enforce the use of the lenders:
these regulations are now very generally
complied with.
The adopted tenders consist of a front
pickup fender and an automatic wheel
guard: the latter hangs near to the pave
ment and falls to a close and iirm contact
with it when tripped.
Since the introduction Of the tenders
eight persons have been saved fro mat
least serious injury by the pick ups, and
ore person was saved by the wheel guard.
A child fell on the track behind the wheel
guard and suffered injury which resulted
in death.
Grade Crossings of Steam Railroads.
The recommendation in the last report is
renewed. viz that a law be enacted compel
ling steam railroad companies to change
their track crossings from grade levels in
Washington, within two and a half years,
and in the county within five years. upon
plans subject to the approval of the Commits
sionerS-
So far as known, no action was taken by
any/of the steam railroads in the District
TOWARDS changing the elevation of their
tracks from that of the street or road cross
ing
Notwithstanding precautions of fences.
gates. watchmen or signals, accidents con-
tinue to occur, by which persons travelling
on the public highways are manSled to death
by passing trains. The list of accidents and
narrow escapes is appalling.
The stoppage by trains Of street traffic is
a matter of serious Inconvenience and loss to
the pubic.