Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-11
ABOUT GRADE CROSSINGS
B. and 0IOmDel Writes to the Commits
ssionet on the Subject
Objects to sQne Of the Regulations
as Welt as the Time Limit
ON Distractions.


Hamilton. representing the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad. to the Commissioners re-
garding grade crossings explains itself:
I'm further REPLY to the communication
Of Hon. John w. Ross. president Of your
beard, transmitting copy of recommended
tions approved by your board, and having
in view the further protection of the public
at the grade crossings of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company in the District
OF Columbia, have to state that your
report has been fully considered by the
officials of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company, and that by them am instruct
ed to say that your recommendations that
the crossings at NJ street, Florida avenue
metropolitan branch), 4th street, It'll street
ana Florida avenue washington branch)
should be for twentyfour hours continu-
ously guarded are cOncurred in by the
company. But in regard to the crossings
at Bunker Hill road. Carroll avenue. 9Th
street and Mount Olivet road from the
information obtained by the company, from
careful observation and watch, the COM
pany thinks that if these crossings are
guarded from O'Clock am. until II o'clock
at night all reasonable requirements will
be met and the public fully protected. In
regard to these last named crossings, there
fore we request that you will, in the light
or the suggestions now made, consider the
same and see, If by additional information,
the position taken by the company is not
a correct one.
I'm regard to the recommendation that
the Monroe street crossing on the Alexan-
dr1a branch should be guarded from Z
O'Clock am. until - o'clock pm, 1 have
to say that at this crossing only one train.
and that a freight train, passes north and
south each day. 1t would seem, therefore,
that the keeping of Waterman there all
day would be useless expense, and we
suggest in lieu of the Waterman that the
&C mpany be required to stop the train each
md
send the brakeman in advance to flag its
approach.
With regard to the crossing at r street,
while as you know the street has never
been condemned across Our right of way.
and we are under no obligations in the
premises, we will cheerfully accede to your
recommendation. and erect gate and
place Waterman there from am. until
Il O'Clock pm, as requested.
1--WE also concur in your views that the
Watchmen should be relieved of any fur
Their duties that their exclusive atten-
tlon may be given to the watch.
Il have to say further that in regard to
the crossings at Bunker Hill road, Carroll
avenue, 9Th street and Mount Olivet road.
hen the travel at and across these places
Increases sufficiently to demand it, the
company will be prepared to accede to any
reasonable recommendation made by your
board.
the regulation which requires that no cross
ing should be obstructed by our trains for a
longer period than two minutes. This regu-
lation is unreasonable and impracticable,
ard If positively enforced would make it
impossible for us to do business in Wash
fngton. The long freight trains, following
each other in quick succession. or going in
opposite directions, or one reaching given
crossing at the time the other passes, would
keep the crossing blocked for a longer time
than two minutes. slight accident or de-
lay in breaking up a freight train would
occasion the same difficulty, and acts and
circumstances altogether outside of the con-
troll of the railroad officials would produce
the same result
Now l ask that you will take up this
regulation in the same spirit of fairness
and practical business direction that has
characterized your treatment of us in re-
gard to the better protection of grade cross
ings, and so amend or modify this regu-
lation as to- make it something under which
we may i've and do business. You can
readily see that it is for our interest to
keep these crossings blocked for as short
time as possible
"The quick dispatch of business is an
advantage and economy to U.S. If there
is to be a time fixed l should think that
eight or ten minutes would be a reasonable
time, knowing as you do that we Will
,, make 1t as much shorter as possible.
Not by the Commissioners, but by GER
tain newspapers the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad has been criticised for delay in
the settlement of the question of this adj
ditional protection at grade crossings. By
reference to your files you viii see that
the report of the Commissioners was not
transmitted to us until October 10. and
the questions there reported upon had to
be considered by the general manager in
Baltimore. On November 6, Commissioner
Wight was Informed by me of the sub
stance of this letter. Two weeks was not
a very long time for consideration of, and
action upon, a subject of such Importance,
and the unnecessary delay attributed to
the company was, submit, without found
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