Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-10
GRADE CROSSINGS
Considered by the Northeast Wash
ington Citizens Association.
FAVOR THE EXTENSION OF F STREET
Teachers Bazaar Discussed and
lndorsed.
AN INTERESTING MEETING

In opening last evenings meeting of the
Northeast Washington Citizens Associa-
| ton President Tucker called attention to
| the dangers attending the numerous grade
| crossings in this and other cities. He. said
| that when he picked up newspaper the
! first thing that always attracted him was
grade-crossing accidents. He produced a
| clipping from a paper and read of the mar
| rev escape Of Senator Plat at a grade
!! crossing at Waterbury, Conn. If the Sena-
| tor came so near being killed in Connecti-
| cut in a small town, certainly some Of
| them must expect to meet with more seri-
| Gus consequences In this city, where these
| dangerous places are so numerous Senator
| Platt, he thought, would be good man TO
| put on the railroad committee of the Sen
| ate. and he thought the association might
urge the name Of the Senator as member
| of the committee.
| President Tucker said that since the last
| meeting there had been several acci-
dents at grade crossings on the Baltimore
| and Ohio railroad. A carriage was demol-
ished. but nothing Of this accident got in
| that fragments Of victims of the grade
| crossings are always removed as speedily
| as possible. Prof. Gallaudet's family, he
said. had narrow escape at the Atm street
| CROSSING the crossing which Is so much
used by the people living north Of the
tracks, and this crossing. he said, had been
spoken of SO often by members Of the asso-
| citation. Then, too. he said, a colored man
| was struck by train and injured at the
| 7th street crossing This man made an ef-
! fort to cross while the gates were down,
] and although he should have waited, the
| fact that the crossing Is there maintains
| the dangerous place and does not reduce
| the danger
He read from Prof. Gallaudet letter de-
| Ginning an invitation to address the meet
| Ing for the reason that he was called out
| of the city. In his letter he assured the
members of the association that he was
| still in sympathy with them In their efforts
| to get rid of these crossings
Watchmen Mt the Crossings.
Mr.. Frizzell from the committee rail-
road affairs, said that the committee had
| no formal report to make. He desired to
say. however, that he had been told that
| the company had watchmen on duty all
night and day. and he also told of the rail-
| road suits instituted against the Commits
sioners.
Several members complained of the grade
| crossing watchmen and their conduct while
| on duty. Mr.. Sowerbutts said that he had
| noticed ole of the watchmen reading a
| book while on duty, and this was at one Of
| the most dangerous crossings.
That's nothing unusual" Mr.. Miller re-
marked: That's done almost every day at
| one crossing 1 kI ow Of
| And" added Mr.. Babbitt. Il guess most
President Tucker called attention to the
| report made by Lieut.. Kelly. as published
| in The Star some days ago, and said he was
glad to see that Commissioner Truesdell
was taking such an active interest in the
matter. Lieut.. Kelly, he said. had sue
ceeded in getting two crossings in his pre-
cinct guarded. but he thor ght the leuten-
| ant should see that the law is enforced and
! the company made to guard all their cross
| ings. He thought the association might
| now ask that similar work be done in the
/ e.. TO
| cerned he intended to keep up the fight I'M
! til the railroad company complied with the
law.
Chairman Martin of the street committee
| reported from that committee the follow
Ing:
Report ON Streets.
I'm compliance with resolution. which
was adopted at meeting of the associa-
| tion concerning the extension eastward Of
| F street, we respectfully report that in
| vestigation has disclosed the fact that F
| street. which is enc hundred feet wide
| and Is a very popular thoroughfare from
| Northwest Washington to the northeast,
| and the suburbs thereof. Is cut off at 18th
| street by a subdivision known Rose
| dale. with a confusion Of short, narrow
| streets. which do not properly connect
| with or conform to the city streets. Ben
| ming road, as is we'll known, is the direct
route for the large and rapidly increasing
| traffic btween the city and a large por-
| ton of the eastern suburbs, and the farm
and garden districts beyond, and the ap
| proach to the great thOroughfare Is mar
| row and partially occupied by tracks upon
which is constant traffic of rapid tran
sit cars. rendering 1t dangerous and in
convenient.
After a careful consideration Of the
| above facts and many other points in
| volved. We are firmly Of the opinion that
| the best interests of the public who use
these thoroughfares and of q large ma
n ha
subdivision would be subseryed by the ex-
| tension Of street as suggested in the
| resolution, for the following reasons:
First. The extension Of F street seems
| to be the best method of relieving Rosedale
of the existing confusion and making it
part of the city with great and popu-
lar street through 1t instead OF being sew
| cred from the city with little relation
thereto.
Second. 1t would be a great conve-
| nience to the thousands Of drivers, and
bicyclists who use Benning road in going
| to and from the race tracks and the out
| lying suburbs.
Third. In view of several steep grades
| on Benning road. and other annoyances
| and Inconvenience at its approach, which
would be avoided by the proposed extern
sion, the same would be of incalculable adj
| vantage to the many farmers and gard
eners who use this thoroughfare by fur
| nishing them a direct route from Benning
bridge to the business portion of the city,
| over a wide level street unobstructed by
rapid transit cars.
I'm conclusion permit us to state as our
| sincere belief that if the extension of F
street Is overlooked, and not provided for
| in the street extension plans, it will he an
everlasting blight to that portion of the
| city and will be regretted by its present
| inhabitants and future generations We,
| therefore. recommend the adoption by the
association of the resolution"
Other Matters of Business.
The report was adopted and will be pre-
scented to the Commissioners.
Rev. William Hawkins asked that the
| association indorse a petition to the COM
| missioners asking for lights in Trinidad,
where people cannot always find their way
| to Nash's mission after dark.
There was no formal report from the
school committee. but President Tucker
| had something to say about the school
| teachers bazaar. He said 1t was crafty
| ing to see many familiar faces from
| Northeast Washington at the bazaar on
| the night set apart for the third division,
| which. he SAID, was one of the most sue
cessful nights at the bazaar last week.
| This he thought was good evidence that
| Northeast Washington is not behind other
| sections in supporting this beneficent I'M
| dertaking of the teachers and he hoped
| the absent members of the association