Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-19
exceptionally good one from the roads of


the entire country. Replying to an inter
rogation, the attache said:
ITO my mind, the record Of 1Saa will ex-
eel the year just passed. [ account for the
1884 record as resulting directly frcm the
great improvements made in the early
months Of 1898 to accommodate the I'M
menSe traffic of the Chicago exposition. In
any of the western states, where, pre-
vious to that year, sidings only existed,
miles of double track Were called into serv-
ice. Then the relaxation from many hours
of overWork to the employees back to q
normal condition made them realize that,
10 matter how long and ardNous their reg
uiar laborS had been previous to 1S.r3, they
could still be worked harder. They showed
their appreciation of this in 1894 by giving
strict attention to business, and as re-
suit the train service was the gamer
ITO take the matter under humane con-
sideration, l believe the railroads OF the
country have about done enough for the
occupants of their cars and that they
should look after the people on the out
side. 1 do Tot particularly refer to their
employees, but to the citizens that are COM
PEELED to cross their tracks, both in the
cities and in the country. l have been
watching the records of fatalities that
come under this head, and the dire result
is astonishing, as il almost equals the num-
her Of people killed and injured whose dali
ly occupations take them in direct contact
with railroad traffic. The Star has been
pushing this subject to the front for years
past, but Washir gton is worse off than
the many little towns in New Jersey along
the route from Philadelphia to New York.
Some day the legislatures of the different
states will wake up, and as a result the
fatal grade crossings of the country will
either be buried under substantial bridges
or raised out of harms way upon elevated
structures.
The Deadly Grade Crossing.
''This state of affairs exists in England
to a great extent and why it should nct
become general here is mystery. OF
course the length Of the lines in this couE-
try has prevented general adoption of
this improvement on account of the eA-
pense, but with the new era of prosperity
dawning and contemplated safeguards to
be put into practice, this grade-croSSirg
bugaboo could be eliminated to q great eX-
TStent. The great ambition OF all the roads
is to attain great record for speed but
how this can be done with the grade cross
ing staring them in the face is problem
too much for me. If you'll take the trouble
TO interview an engineer running between
Washington and New York you will find
that the spots that try his nerves the
most severely are those that contain grade
crossings.
He is not allowed to slacken speed to
any great extent at many of them, and as
d result, a week never passes without an
additional human being is offered up on the
altar of carelessness and neglect. If it is
not the employees fault then the injured
one makes the Idtal oversight, the result
is the same. Many good engineer has
been put out of the business through these
Embarrassing accidents, as nerves are err
ratio things at the best and will not stand
too much jarring In the winter months
the Embarrassing record is something aw-
full on account of the snow, the travellers
approach being deadened and the watch
man deceived into fancied safety. I be-
lieve twenty-five lives have already been
sacrificed at grade crossings this year, tax
iEg the entire country into consideration,
and 1895 is but a few days old
AN additional comfort. for which the
passengers should he thankful. is that of
steam heating, which received almost
universal trial the beginning of this WIN
ter. Last winter but few companies had
their cars equipped with the STEAM pipes
but they worked well that a general
adoption followed, and at the present time,
no matter how cold the weather may be-
the passengers are almost as comfortab BILE
as during the summer months. 1 have seen
reports from the western states, where
travel in winter has been extremely I'M
comfortable, and they TEEN with praise of
the system. The loss of steam for heating
purposes does not handicap the engineer.
the improved engines making the extra
quantity of steam with ease"