Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-30
The Action of the District Com
missioners Regarding Them.
PUZZLING DELAY IN PROSECUTIONS
Attorney Thomas Long Ago Showed
tho Way to Remedies.
TIL E LAW IN THE CASE

During the early part of October the at
tention of the Commissioners was called to
the fact that in a number of instances the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad failed to pro-
vide watchmen along its line, which being
contrary to law, should be Immediately
rectified. This question has been agitated
by the Northeast Citizens Association for
long time and 1t was the president of the
association who recently called attention
to the matter.
Attorney Thomas Advises Action.
The letter was referred to the attorney
for the District, who returned the papers
with the opinion that IL the railroad COM
pany had violated the terms of the act Of
1871 of the legislative assembly it should
be prosecuted in the Police Court.
What the Commit -sioners propose to do
in the matter is still an unanswered Ques-
tion. No action has been taken since the
receipt of the opinion, and the delay IS
puZZling many people.
The act of the legislative assembly, to
which attention has been directed, is spe-
cifc regarding the protection of grade
crossings, and says:
Sweeping Provisions of the LAW.
THAT the Baltimore and Ohio. Alexandra
and Washington, Baltimore and Potomac
and National Junction Railroad companies
are hereby directed and required to keep in
the day time, at every point where any
public street crosses the railroad track or
tracks of said companies. a person sta
toned with a red flag, and in the evening.
until arrival and departure Of the last train
at night, at all the street crossings, per-
son with flag and lighted lamp or Ian
tern to give warning of the approach OF
the locomotive engines and railroad cars
of any descriptions of said companies, under
the penalty of $40 for every time any loco
motive engine or railroad car shall pass at
persons
being stationed and such warning being
given, to be forfeited and paid by the said
companies, or the engineer, or conductor In
whose charge such locomotive engine or
railroad car may be. severally and respec-
lively"
Commissioners Sincerity Questtoned.
There are many people who question the
sincerity of the Commissioners in making
the order relative to stopping the steam
cars before crossing streets occupied by
rapid-transit street cars. While they be-
neve the Commissioners are desiross~ OF
compelling the railroads to regard the
ORDER they do not believe that~they VIII
force matters. and assert that the rail-
roads will seek by every possible means to
evade it., The Commissioners have the right
to take them into court for violating the
police regulation, but If the prosecution is
not pushed the railroad oompanie; VIII con-
tinue in their well-beaten track of doing
what they want, without regard TO the pub
lie.
The New Disinfectfng Plants.
The two dis.nfecting plants to be erected
shortly will undoubtedly be of the same
pattern as those in use by the marine serv-
ice Today bids were opened by the Com
missioners for the construction of these
plants. One of them, 1t will be recalled.
is to be erected as an adjunct to the small
pox hospital, while the other Is to be built
upon the same reservation and used for the
disnfection of clothing AID other articles
in connection with TIE treatment of minor
contagious diseases. The cnly bid re-
ceived this afternoon was from the Ken
singtcn Engine Company. The plant for
the smallpox hospital was figured at S1,GOO,
with an additional $50 If the boiler be en-
larged for heating purposes. The bid
for the municipal plant, that is, the one for
disinfeoting for contagious diseases, was
81, 100, with an additional $40 IL two cars
and two transfer tables arc Used.
Description of the Device.
The plant proposed for introduction in
this city, as stated above, is in use by the
marine service, and there is one or more
provided at every quarantine station. The
principal feature is steam chamber, rec
tangular in shape, into which the articles to
be disinfected are placed, by means of o
metallic car running on a track. There 10
a Jacket inside the chamber which gives
perfect circulation and prevents the too
rapid condensation of the steam, and dries
the goods thoroughly. The jacket is filled
with steam during the entire operation.
making the chamber drying oven, so that
the articles to be d:snfected are brought
to temperature before the admission OF
steam to the inner chamber, and thorough
ly dried after the steam has been exhausted