Evening star., 1895-12-18
DIS RICT AFFAIRS
Fencing in the Tracks of the Penn.
sylvania Railroad.
QUESTION OF THE RESERVATIONS
No More Sidewalks to Be Laid
This Winter.
THEIR LOCAL NEWS

The Pennsylvania Railroad Comnanv
must protect it's tracks by suitable fence
within the city limits.
That is the ultimatum of the Commission
ers, and already a move has been made to
compel 1t to obey the law. 1t will be re-
called that General Inspector Beggs. in his
report to the Commissioners, which was
published at the time in The Star, called
attention to the fact that the order of the
Commissioners directing the Pennsylvania
railroad to properly fence its tracks had
been complied with from the tunnel at the
Navy Yard to the Long bridge. with the
exception of small strip located between
1th and 9th streets on Maryland avenue,
where the railroad traversed public res
ervation. This, he contended, was a danger
Gus spot and should by all means be pro-
tected.
And the Commissioners agree with him.
The matter has been thoroughly investi-
gated, and the authorities have discovered
there is no reason i'm the world why the
railroad should not fence its tracks in this
reservati ton if it has a right to occupy the
same.
The law upon which the Commissioners
base their action Is as follows:
road Company and the Alexandria and
Washington Railroad Company shall have
or cause to be erected, a substantial iron
or paling fence,not less than five feet high,
along each side of their track or tracks
within the city of Washington, from their
depot or depots, at the corner Of 9th and
B streets northwest along 9th street to
Virginia avenue, along Virginia avenue to
Sd street southwest, and also from the in
tersection of 9th street and Maryland
avenue, along Maryland avenue to 9th
street southwest, with sliding gates at each
crossing, to be closed while trains or loco
motives are passing. Provided, That no
Fart of said inclosed space shall be used
for the purpose of parking cars or the de-
posting of goods or materials of any kind.
That whenever any railroad company
violates any section of this act, a fine OF
not less than sf00 shall be imposed and col
lected as all other fines for violation of the
ordinances of the District Of Columbia, and
that all acts or parts of acts inconsistent
with this act are hereby repealed"
While the District authorities realize the
Importance Of having these tracks protect
ed, they nevertheless are aware that they
have no control over public reservations,
and whatever action is taken against the
railroad will have to be taken by the
United States through its officer in charge
Of the matter.
This is what the residents of South
Washington want, for they feel certain IL
the United States takes hold of the matter.
the right of the railroad to occupy the
reservation will be settled, and they have
no fears of the result.
On the other hand prominent resident
of South Washington, who lives contisu-
Gus to the reservation. says he will destroy
the fence the moment 1t is put there, for
he did not believe the railroad company
had a right to erect any obstruction
through reservation which belonged to
the public, and through which the railroad
had no right to go. 1t was a trespasser on
government property, and had been for
years.
The Work stopped.
There will be no more cement sidewalks
laid in the District until next spring. The
order was issued today directing all District
employees engaged i'll such work to complete
the same as rapidly as possible, and dis
continue the laying of any additional side
walks. This order was issued in view of the
unsettled condition of the weather, for
when 1t freezes the moisture in the cement
freezes and renders the pavement unstable
There is a long list of sidwalks to be laid
under the provisions of the permit system,
but, stated above, no more will be laid
until spring opens and the weather becomes
settled.
Narrow Escape.
Shortly after the District building opened
yesterday 1t was noticed that one of the
elevators, which had been under a course
of repairs, was working hard, and Engineer
Wilkinson was sent for to oil the big wheel
at the top of the building, over which the
hoist ropes run. He ran his hand under the
hoist ropes to get at the shaft of the wheel,
and then the elevator shot up, catching his
left hand and badly cutting the fingers,
ripping the nail of the forefinger out. He
cried out to the elevator boy to back the
elevator, and the instructions were promptly
obeyed. The promptness with which the
elevator was reversed probably saved the
engineers life. His wounds were found to
be painful, but not dangerous.
Strfnging Wires.
Additional arguments were made before
the Commissioners yesterday in behalf OF
the Washington, Arlington and Falls Church
electric railroad, which seeks a permit to
string a wire over the AQueduct bridge in
a conduit for the purpose OF transmitting
electrical power from Washington to Vir-
ginia in order to operate its cars.