Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-09
1T is A MYSTERY
Why the B. and O. Neglects Its
Deadly Grade Crossings.
RAILROAD MANS OPINION
There Should Be Two Watchmen
for Each Gate.
BUSY SETTLING CLAIMS

Station Master Thomas of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad in Washington was a
the Police Court this morning. where I.t
had gone in regard TO the recent accident
on NJ street northeast. when The Star re
porte. tried 10 find him at the depot TO-
lay.
Station Master Thomas, with the aid CT
Assistant Station Master Props. who has
been in the railroad business for sIxtaer
!eafs. is doing the work formerly carricc
on by General Agent Alvey of the road
whose office was abolished August l. This
matter of the responsibility of the rail
road in regard to its alleged negligence il
failing to provide watchren at some of the
crossings after . O'Clock at night the off
cials here say. comes rightly under tht
jurisdiction of Superintendent CT the First
Division J. Z. Spurrier. whose office is al
Camden station. Baltimore.
lie has the real supervision and order
ing of the grade street crossing matters,
Assistant Props said to Tha Star reporter
at the depot. and get the resp1nsi-
biity-" He continued tc express himself
Unreservedly in regard to the matter.
Hard tn Understand.
Il cannot understand he said, why the
railroad allows any of the crossings to he
unprotected at any time as it does. We
have had lot of bother at different times
on this question, and the claim agent has
teen kept busy, at various times settling
up these with the others. 1 wish the rail-
read would end the thing by having two
"atchmen to every crossing. as il will
eventually have this to do, and this Is the
quickest way out of il.
Il suppose the roads idea in the matter
Is the saving of expense. bu. 1 should
think it would cost more. in the long run
TO settle the claims, outside of the bother
E,1 am host
additional men OF. The pay is only 81 y
week for each one. which. with the insur-
aHce taken out. amounts to only something
like ninety-fve cents a day | wouldn't
work al il, myself. for such paw and fer
Sucn long hours. IL is from q in the morn
ing until ut night
II suppose the roads idea is that after this
time at night the traffic is reduced TO al
most Eothit g. and that the places where
they TAX off the watchmen at . O'clock
have little traffic, ana few persons passing
at any tire This does not seem 20 be
the case. though.
The railroad haS at different periods
teen forced 10 Put two watchmen where it
had only one. The citizens of the north
east section have made such a powerful
fight that the officials were forced to 10
something. This was the case at Massa-
chuscJtS ard Delaware avenues northeast,
where TWO watchmen n have been employed.
Twenty Crossings
There are about twent, places in the
city where the road crosses the Strce-s
and l ucECve there ere two watchmen en-
ployed there during the two watches Of
ircm Is in the morning until . at night
and Till ., with the exception of four
These points. l believe, at 1st and l.
streets northeast. lst and NJ 18th and | and
New York avenue and Boundary. There
were one or two accidents. l believe at
Massachusetts and Delaware avenues
northeast. which led the people in That
heighhOrhood TO protest. and TO the ap-
rointment Of the double force. Somebody
had a horse killed there. / believe. whi..h
was the final accident that brought about
the change.
The station master and myself have
our hands practically tied. 1t IS impos-
sible for Us TO do anything in the matter.
as all orders on this and other affairs are
issued by the division superintendent"