The times., 1897-09-11

Stirred up by the recent railroad cross
ing accidents, the District Commissioners
have decided TO ascertain TO what extent
tho citizens of Washington are exposed to
danger from this source, whose fault il is
when accidents occur, etc,
The first step taken in the matter was to
iassruct the attorney for the District, as
published in yesterdays Morning Times,
To formulate ms ideas as regards preventive
legislation. Another was an order issued TO
the liedIenants of the various precincts
through which the railroads run, directing
them To report upon the nnniLer OF grade
crossings nnder their jurisdiction, the pre-
caution taken TO avoid accidents, aud all
relevant data.
The precincts affected are the Second,
Sixth, Eighth, ard Ninth. The reports
from tie leutenaittS reached the Con.mis-
sioners yesterday. Lieut.. Heffner, Of the
second precinct, gives as the result of his
Investigations the fact that there are two
grade crossings OF the Metropolitan branch
of the baltimore and ohiJ IN his section,
one at First and l. streets, and one at First
and n streets northeast. There are gates
at the crossings operated by watcamvn
from s N. to 8 p. IN The gates are
no. watched after 9.
sergt. slattery, detailed by Lieut.. Ken
ney, of the Eighth precinct, reports:
The following are the names and loca
tious of grade crossings with and without
safety gates and watchmen on the Metro
polltan branch. Baltimore and Ohio, Rail
road, in this precinct: New York avenue
and Florida avenue, gates operated by
yatphmau between the hours of 6 a N
and 8 p. m.: K, s and I streets and Bates
road northeast, neither gates nor watch
men. University station, or the Bunker
Hnl road, gates operated by watchman
between a m and p. n.; Chase road,
Lamond's STATEN, and Chestnut avenue
neither watchmen nor gates; Takoma STA
ton, Carroll avenue, gates operated blythe
agent
IL transmitting this report he says: lin
addition to tie sergeant 5 report wish TO
add the information that the man named
Charles Dickinson at Takoma, d. c., has
lhe following duties 10 perform: Gateman.
ticket agent express agent, freight agent,
He gees on duty. / am Informed, at 6
! O'clock a. M, and goes off at > O'Clock
D. IN. rhe gateman, BENJAMIN Melton, at
University station, u. c., and the gatema n.
Melton Cramer, at ne Florida az enue cross.
ing, 20 on duty al the same hour and CONF,
ots al the same hour. They Laveuothing 10
do with the station work except 70 Keep
tie station clean and tend 10 the gates
| betW cen the hours named. The crOssing
at University Station has an electric gong
| that indicates the approach Of ali trains
and is in opera ton all OF tie tive nty four
hours. thi- being in addition to the safety
gates at that pnint.
Lieut. Keuney, OF tie Sixth, states that
there are eight crossings in his precinct
All guarded throughout the night except
! the one at Delaware avenue and ID street
| Enere, although there is flagnan, tht
/ gates are never lowered.
The re!Ajrt of Lieut.. McCauhran, Of tn,
Ninth, reads:
Grade crossing at Langdon, D. c.. la
no gates or watchman.
Grade crossing at Ivy City and Noun
| OIiyet road have gates and j waUchual
between 6 d. N. and 8 p. m, but non,
afterward.
Grade crossing at Florida avenue be
| tween Ninth and Tenth streets, ant
at L street and Ninth, has gates and :
a Waterman between a. m. and p. IN.
but none afterward.
s'Grade crossing at Seventh, between
an K, has gates and watchman from e:3'
a. n. until . p. m, but none arteU mid
night.
"Grade crossing at Fifth and I street
has gates and watchman between a. III
and Z. M, but none arterward.
"Grade crossing at Fourth and ] street
has gates and watchman between 6 a n
and M, but none afterward.
"Jrade crossing at Delaware avenue All
Il street has gates and watchman, both Ga.
anG entire night
Grade crossings at Delaware avenu
and street has gates and watchman, dur
ing day snd entire night.
''Grade crossing at First and II stree
northeast has gates and watchruan durin:
entire day and night.
"Grade crossing at Delaware avenue ant
/ street has gates and watchman from
6 a, M. to 8 p. m, but none during TIN
night
Grade crossing at Delaware. avenue ant
] street has gates and watchman hetwec
6 a. IA. and =. M, but none during tn
night.
"Grade crossing at First and streets ha
gates and watchnan during the day an
entire night.
Grade crossing at First and X streets ha
gates and watchinan between a. m. an
8 p m, bat none afterward.
Grade crossing at First and L street
has gates and watchman between a. n
and p. m. but none afterward
'Grade crossing at First and NJ street
has gates and wa lehman between a. II
and 8 p. M but none afterward
The tracks at Sixth and l streets, Will
considerably above grade, are approache
on either side by wooden stairway ttIre
feet wide for use of pedestrians, but ha
nc wafohman OF gates. At night it Ia
ar electric light above it.
Grade crossing at BenDing road has u
gate or watchman.
Grade crossing at Deanewood Anaco;
tia road, has no gates or watchman
''Grade crossing at Sheriff road has IL
gate OF watchman'
Iorrens system Not Approved.
Attorney for the District Thomas ha
submitted TO the Commissioners an adver.
report upon Senate bill No. 2, 276, proyi,
ing a new system of re Starinsy Ian Il tjtIa