The evening times., 1900-07-16

The Commissioners have received let
Ter from Thomas Wilson. Of the Smithso-
nian Institution. in which he expresses ap-
probation of the order requiring street
ears 10 stop on the far side of crossings
Il was much gratihed," he writes, with
your order made a few weeks ago requir-
ing the electric cars TO stop on the far
side Of the crossing. l have been CORE
spondingly depressed and grieved when I
heard OF the sad accident by which inland
lost mis- life and which has resulted in the
agitation and proposition 20 go back to the
former antiquated method.
All the discussions and arguments
Whlch nave been made in favor Of stop
ping on the near side have been by those
who used the car and were either mounting
or alighting. To them it makes really
very little difference on which side the
car stops None Of them will be entire
ly pleased, and many Of them will be
only partially so. but il they can only
know, by advertising it, where the car
Is going TO stop that they can mount or
alight they Will soon become habituated
and one side will suit them as well as the
other. The convenience or inconvenience
70 The ear riders is so small that they
nave little or no interest in the question.
The class really interested and the per-
sons who ought to be consulted are those
who, riding in other vehicles and crossing
the car tracks have TO await the move
ments OF the cars. The driver OF a pri-
Vate carriage coming near the car track
seees the car swiftly approaching
II II is 10 stop on the far
side Of the crossing he need
not concern himself any more than with
the meeting OF any other vehicle. but II the
car stops on the near side the troubles Of
the carriage driver Immediately begin. He
first does not know whether the car will
stop. but he must be prepared and take no
chances. He must stop his carriage uutn
the motOTman decides what he will do II
the car stops the carriage must wait not
only during the stop but until the car has
passed on, for he can 90 only in the rear
Of it and not cross across the front
Suppose az this moment another car
approaches from the other direction and
the driver must wait until ;hat motorman
decides what is 10 be done. II bis car
stops the carriage must wait his conven-
ieEce and can only pass behind. Occa-
sionally third car follows these so close
iy that the carriage is compelled 10 wai5
the passage OF three cars. This Is an an
EJyaHce 10 the carriage occupants. and
many a driver. urged BY his passengers.
vclved by a passing car. IL may he that
the care and wIJchfulness of the carriage
driver has prevented any serious accidents
from happening IN this regard. but the op-
portunity offers so many times and there
is such evident temptation to cross ahFd
Of the car and so produce collision. that
rule perpetuating or establishing this
condition Of things should be very charity
enacted An engineer on a steam railroad
hn far- don -
they encountered that made their hair
gray, il was the many they just escaped
The rule Of stopping on the far side
OF the crossing has been in force in hiIa-
deiphia ever since the establishment Of
electric ears there. II gives perfect salts
factio.. to the carriage people. and l be-
lieve there has been no case OF serious ac-
cident. | hope you viii make this the rule
in the District Of Columbia.
) EidridEe Burns Market Master OF the
Western Market. has submitted his report
for the fiscal year ended June so 1890
He states that the total receipts for the
year were Sf.S12.90, being net increase
Of S5115 over the cash receipts Of the
preceding year.
Mr. Burns reports that nothing Of an
unusual character occurred in connection
with the market during the period GOV
cred by the report. He calls attention
suSiaitted on June 16 10 be made from the
appropriation for markets during the fis-
cal year 1901. These repairs included mi
nor improvements which. IL allowed, Mr
Burns thinks would place the market in
first-class condition Mr.. Burns adds that
the receipts for the month Of July are in
excess of those OF the corresponding mOntl
a year ago, and he informs the Commits
siOncrs that he has succeeded in placing
two permanent tenants in the market al
SO a month each. and he states that
he INDUCES the hope that the receipts for
the current fiscal year will reach the
sum OF $5.0CN. The monthly schedule OF
receipts for the period covered by the
report follows.
July. 1899. SAP %; August S397-5O: Sep
tember. 21-50; October, S409-5O; Novem-
ber S402.50; December. S411-75: January.
1861. s413.j0; February. $409.40; March.
SS97-5G; April. S392. 80; May. S397.5O: June,
90