Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-11
THE LOCATION OF TRACKS
Commissioners Respond to Inquiry Respect.
ing the Brightwood Railway.
Question Raised Affecting the Author
of Computing Engineer.

Replying to a letter received by them
from Mr.. Louis p. Shoemaker several weeks
ago relative to the location on Brightwood
avenue of the tracks of the Brightwood
Railway Company, the District Commits
sioners today wrote Mr.. Shoemaker that
the location of the tracks was adopted by
them as the one believed to be for the best
interests of the general public. The Com
missioners also express the opinion that
when the work of reconstructing the road
is completed, the location of the tracks will
be recognized by all fair-minded persons
as advantageous.
In his letter, which was published in full
at the time in The Star. Mr.. Shoemaker
asked the Commissioners if it could be true
that they have the legal right to permit
the company to relocate its tracks, place
them further apart and lay them in the
center of the road without authority from
Congress. before the road has been wild
ened? Mr.. Shoemaker also inquired If it
could be true that all privileges could be
accorded the railway company and nothing
reserved for the taxpayers, land owners
| and the driving public for business and for
| pleasure?
Computing Engineers Views.
| The Commissioners referred Mr.. Shoe
makers communication to the engineer de-
| partment, and Mr.. c. B. Hunt, the COM
| putting engineer, reported as follows the
| oath of last month:
with regard to the several suggestions
! herein, it is believed that the legal right of
| the Commissioners to relocate the tracks
| now being laid by the Brightwood Railway
Company on Brightwood avenue is unques-
| toned.
Second. That, while the widening of the
| avenue before the location of the tracks in
| the center thereof would be the most de-
Sirable proceeding, yet the continued failure
| of efforts hitherto made to secure this
| widening indicates that it would not be
| best TO defer the reconstruction of the road
| d sufficient time to accomplish the present
| widening in advance of the reconstruction
! of the tracks. and this reconstruction should
| unquestonabiy be made on the lines now
| laid out by the Commissioners and being
| followed by the railway company.
Third AS to the presence of an in
| spector on the work, it can be stated that
| il has always been the intention to provide
| such a representative so soon as his serv-
| ices Were indicated as necessary, and the
contractor for the work was advised Of this
| fact before the date of this communication.
| 1t is the intention To send such an inspector
| to the work on or about the 18th instant
| august -. 1890"
up to the present time 1t is my belief
based personal visits to the work and
| frequent reports from others who have
| visited it, that an inspectors presence has
| not been necessary.
| Lighting the Highway.
| 18th. AS to the matter of lighting this
|
the company can be required to do what
| the writer indicates as his wish. and as the
| worl: is believed to be properly lighted as
| provided by regulations. l can only sug-
| gest a reference, il the same be thought
| necessary. TO the electrical engineer for
| any remarks he may care to make.
| II would add. finally, that the new loca-
| ton of the tracks is not the wish act
| of the railway company, but of the District,
| and that so far as / can recall no con-
l "a q
| ferred to In this communication. The extra
| spacing of the tracks cannot be regarded
| as concessions. as they simply have been
| made to conform to standard practice in
| the interests of the safety of the travelling
| public"
| Best interests of the Public.
After considering Mr.. Hunts report Capt.
! Beach. the Engineer Commissioner, sug-
| gested II his associates that Mr. Shoe
| maker be informed that the location of
| the tracks of the Brightwood railway In
| BriShtwood avenue was adopted as the one
| believed TO be for the best interests of the
| general public; that when permanent con-
| struction was adopted by the road which
| might last for great many years it was
| not believed advisable to give the road a
| location which might be suitable for the
| first few years and unsuitable for many
| times that number of years after that; also
| il is not believed that the location as given
| them will interfere, even at present, with
| the travel upon the avenue.
| Due allowance must, of course, be made
for the inconvenience necessarily OCCASION
ed by the construction, but due attention
| will be paid 10 the work to see that the
| road is not INSTRUCTED any more than is
| absolutely necessary, and a way will he
provided at all times through 14th street
road and Piney Branch road. that par
ties need not 9TH street road during
the time of construction south of the cross
ing Of 9TH street road and Piney Branch
| road. It is believed that when the~work of
construction is finished the advantages of
the location will be recognized by all fair
minded parties.'
Capt Beach's recommendation that Mr.
Shoemaker be informed as suggested by
him has been adopted by the Commission
| ers, and he will be so informed