The evening times., 1895-10-26

| bill be prepared and properly presented to
! Cong for passage. The advantages to be
! secured are stated to be the relief of the
! Commissioners from unnecessary cmbarrass
| nient in appointments, and the securing OF
competent and efficient officers, clerks and
employees.
The subject of grade crossings a MI railway
terminal facilities was brought up on the
| report of Mr.. Frank Hume. Hesaid that the
| subject was not a new one and needed no
| introduction to the board.
| Mr.. Lambert followed. He said that the
| subject was one the Importance of which
| could not be exaggerated. While 1T did
| not come within the power of the board to
| deal directly with the railroads, it could
! inform Congress that 1t could not forget
! what IL owed TO the people Ill this rela-
tion. No city in the land is like ours and
there can be no comparison with others.
lie he'd a document Irvin which he quoted
To show that of the recent casualties the
Il. and o. should be credited with thirty
six. tweDty-three- OF which Were directly
due to grade crossings.
The b. and p. was responsible for sixty
five, of which twenty-siN Were due to the
grades. A formidable list was due To the
Washington and Georgetown, but that die
not come within the scope OF the present
discussion.
DELAY AND DEFEAT.
Failure last year to obtain redress was
due to opposition by the B. and o., which
had a bill introduced, the effect OF which
was delay and defeat.
He showed that the b. & o. iDtersects
Twenty-Five streets, and the i. & P.
twent y-Seven.
He suggested that the grade crossings
could be abolished by a candid and open
conference with the railroads, scheme
satisfactory to them and the people.
Mr.. FriZzell said that it was useless to
repeat ancient history, for the time ahad
come for action. Three years ago the
practices of the Baltimore & Ohio had
been such that the lives and limbs Of
citizens were disregarded. The people
formed an association, but not to an.
tagonize the legal powers of the railroad
The press took it up and the police de-
partment co-operated.
He referred to the great spee,; of trains,
the occupation OF public reservations not
withstanding the objection Of Col John
NJ Wilson.
The speaker gave history OF the diff
culties the Northeast Association had in
getting at the Congressional committees.
The Baltimore and Ohio had set up the
claim that they had vested rights which
even Congress could not interfere with
One committee of the House went out to
look at the situation, and it was their
opinion that it would d-not be tolerated in
even village.
The company asked for time to float
about S15,O0O,0 900 in bonds and then they
would accede. But they have never re-
deemed their promises. 1t is understood.
however, that the company is now moving
in that direction and is about to agree to the
present Senate BILL $685.
Mr.. Tucker, president of the Northeast
Washington Citizens Association, devoted
his time largely to q description of the
proposed depot and viaduct for the Bal
timore and Ohio. which, IL realized, would
settle the present difficulties.
The last address was made by Mr.. LorinQ
Chappelle.
ADOPTED A RESOLUTION.
The following resolution, prepared By
DR.. Richie, was unanimously passed:
Whereas, The continued location of
steam railroad tracks within the City of
Washington at the existing grade of the
several streets, wherein they are con-
structcd, is fraught with increasing menace
to tue lives, the limbs, and the property
of the inha habitants, and
whereas, Besides the peril to life and
limb, there is involved in the continuance
OF such location constant and serious loss
to the business community from hindrance
of traffic and delays in the transportation
or merchandise over streets SO injuriously
occupied; and
Whereas, In the estimation of the Board
of Trade, the needs and development of the
City of Washington, no less than the will |
Of its constituents, the entire people of
the United States-who are in the highest |
sense citizens of the Nation's Capital |
the abolition of the grade crossing
and its attendant casualties, homicidcs, |
and losses. Therefore be it
Resolved, That the committee on steam !
be, and they are hereby instructed |
to prepare for submission to the board, |
at meeting to be called hereafter for |
the purpose. a plan or project looking |
to the speedy and effectual abolition of |
grades, and to the revocation of existing |
steam railroad tracks within the city |
Of Washington, and to the consequent aboli- |
ton of grade crossings, with the view
of securing appropriate legislation on the |
subject al the coming session OF Congress-"
Adopted.
Letters were read from agents of the |
Baltimore and Potomac and Baltimore |
and Ohio Railroads, who were invited to |
be present, stating the reason why they |
could not attend.
After passing q resolution commenting |
the bazar to be held in aid Of the Teacher
annuity fund. the board adjourned.