The morning times., 1895-08-23

In his annual report to the commissioners
for the past fiscal year, L. = Bradshaw,
acting general Inspector of the engineer
department, refers To the situation resp pect-
ing the unprotected grade crossings and
unfenccd tracks on the steam railways and
discusses the overhead wire systems, these
being the main features Of his paper.
He says
q" The situation respecting the steam
surface tracks remains in statu quo, while
the Inconvenience and damage resulting
from the grade crossings and unprotected
portions ,ff The tracks lying in the line Of
the public streets is an ever fruitful
subject OF discussion.
The Baltimore and Ohio road has added
no protection in The way OF fencing during
the year. In consequence, long stretches
of unprotected track lying in and across
the public streets, on an approximate
grade herewith, pass through populated
localities, affording no security whatever
! against accide mt.
NEEDS No COMMENT.
The danger of this condition of affairs
needs no comment, and if existing law
caunot ahate il legislation should be sought
that win at the earliest practicable moment.
1t would seem, however, that the re-
quiremcnt OF fencing, so far, at least, as
the right or way proceeds upon public
property, is within the scope OF the present
police power.
The g. * 7. road within the year has in
closed its tracks along Sixth street as far
J . yq-.r
! Gus piece OF road. along Maryland avenue,
( between Sixth and Seventh streets, so that
there reIna ins tc be fenced the tracks be
I tween Ninth street ana Long Bridge for
I which the company has a permit, ana be
\ tween Third and South Capitol streets
east, which later are Il part above grade
Under this head considerable time and
! study has been given 10 the subject OF
safety Tenders suitable for use on the cars
/ OF the rapid transit roads, the outcome Of
which has been the adoption OF designs
/ combining the action OF what rs styled, the
front pickup and wheel-guard fender
The practical merit OF this equipment has
now been Guny dem onstrated, and its
capacity for saving life proved beyond
\ question.
ROADS FULLY EQUIPPED.
The roads having q fun equipment as
/ required are in the order OF compliance
as follows: The Rock Greek, the Ecking-
ton & Soldiers Home, the Georgetown
/ & Tennallytown and the Brightwood.
The Ninth street electric line has regu-
/ laiion equipment upon such Of its new
cars rs are in operation. The grips of th.
Washington & Georgetown and Columbia
roads are not as yet fully equipped as re-
quired by the regulations.
This office was relieved Of underground
/ construction early in the spring and the
sewer department given control. There
was also one overhead line less TO be
looked after, the old dilapidated rapid
transit line having been removed from the
streets
"Of the remainder Of companies operat'
ing overhead lines, the Chesapeake and
| Potomac Telephone alone has maintained
a respectable standard of repairs or made
any effort in the way Of improving dis
tributng service.
LOSS OF LIFE PREDICTED.
Owing TO the lack Of attention given to
maintenance by the other companies, then
lines Of necessity are daily growing weaker
and unless early legislation SHAH be Sc
cared compelling the companies TO operate
underground conduits, loss of life and
INJURY TO property are likely 10 result.
The systems especially noted as being
in bad condition are the Western Union
line along Seventh street northwest anC
BrightwoOd avenue, and the Postal Com
pauy's lines, which trayerse the city by
way of Virginia avenue, l street south
and Thirteenth street east"
Mr. Bradshaw urges that all places within
the District be marked with the name 0,
the initials OF the operating companies 70
purposes of better Identification.