Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-02
THE GRADE CROSSING QUESTION.
Necessity for Some Remedy for Ex-
listing Evils.


To the Editor of The Evening Star:
1 beg leave to ask the publication OF the
following letter in the interest of the cor
rection of crying evil existing in our city,
the removal Of which you have often ad-
vocated most earnestly and ably:
ITO the Honorable. the Commissioners OF
the District Of Columbia.
"Gentlemen: 1 am gratified to learn
through yesterdays Star that the early re-
moval of grade crossings in the city OF
Washington is strongly urged In your an
nual report for the year past.
MY interest in this much-needed improve
ment is intensified by the fact that only last
evening friday Mrs. Gallaudet and two OF
my daughters, with friend visiting u.s. es-
capped instant death at the corner of 4th and
1 streets northeast by matter of inches
and seconds through the GOODNESS and quick
ness of our coachman.
THE gates at this deadly crossing were
wide open. not long after IL O'Clock: no
Waterman was on duty: no sound OF bell or
whistle gave warning of the outgoing tram.
The coachman was careful to look Dotn
ways as far as he could see, but the corner
Is so built up on the west side that the horses
were on the track before he had sight OF
the engine, then almost upon them.
There was but an instant in which to
turn the horses to the right, free of the
track when one of them was struck by the
train and both were thrown down.
by what seems almost miracle no seri-
GUS injury was DONE but you will easily I'M
derstand that no narrower escape from a
heartrending tragedy could be possible.
Hoping that you will take measures to
have proper guards maintained at the very
dangerous crossing alluded to, and that you
will succeed in arousing the conscience OF
Congress to an appreciation of It's duty In
the matter. l am, very respectfully yours.
"E. NJ. GALLAUDET."
Mr. Editor: trust l may be allowed a few
words of comment on the incident l have
narrated in my letter to the Commissioners,
for feel that a residence of many years at
a point where the deadly crossing" is a
matter of daily interest and peril gives me a
right to speak with authority on the subject
On nearly every one of the many occasions
when l have appeared before congressional
committees in the discussion of the general
| subject of steam railroads in the federal
| capital evidences of antagonism have ap.
peared that have, very naturally, rendered
any solution impossible. Railway com
| panies. on the one hand, have shown pur.
| pose Of holding or securing advantages In
| the occupancy of streets and avenues which
| Congress and citizens have felt compelled tc
| resist. On the other hand Congress anG
| citizens have manifested a disposition tc
| compel the railway companies to incur ex
| penses which their represen tatives have fell
| obliged to combat as unreasonable and un
| just
1 have always felt that in the determine
| ton of so important a matter such an.
| tagonisms ought not to be allowed even tc
appear. Congress should secure. without de
lay. through the employment of competent
| engineers. quite Independent OF the railway
companies interested, a well-digeSted plar
| for railroad terminals in the city. Some
| suitable judicial body should then be called
| upon to determine what portion of the ex.
pense, il any. of carrying out such plar
should be borne by Congress or the District
| of Columbia.
| And no consideration of expense should be
| allowed to stand in the way of minimizing
the dangers to life and the invasion OF
streets. avenues and parks in city destined
soon to be the most beautiful capital in the
world. E. NJ GALLAUDET.
Kendall Green, November 30 1895