Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-08

gain new converts for it than could in a week" 1t
be submitted. and whose judgment, 1 am
sure, would command the respect of all our
citizens.
The Pennsy1vanfa's Policy.
81 am glad 20 have this opportunity to ex-
plain the relations Of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company to the question Of grade
crossings. This company has long recog-
nized the necessity for their removal in the
interest Of the public and has omitted no
| opportunity Of joining literally and heartily
with the municipal authorities in the con-
slructiOn Of overhead and underground
crossings. 1t believes that this policy will
not only relieve the public OF a very serious
danger. but also, the railroad company of
the grave responsibilities devolved upon 1t
by the maintenance Of grade crossings. In
pursuance Of this policy it has succeeded in
eliminating all such crossings from its main
line in the city of Philadelphia, and for a
distance of nine miles beyond. 1t is GER
tainly within your recollection that In order
to reach the present station at Broad street
by an elevated road it expended between
four and five millions of dollars, and thus
secured the removal of all the freight
tracks from Market street and the abandon
ment of the then existing grade crossings
between 18th street and the Schuylkill
river. The same policy has been pursued
by the company for many years past on It's
main line in the city of Pittsburg, with
the result that all grade crossings. with
important streets within its limits, are now
avoided
Mr.. Roberts then proceeded to cite the
language of the governor Of Pennsylvania
in his message to the legislature, recon-
mending grade crossing legislation and con-
tinued: THE governor of the common
wealth in his recommendation has followed
the practice, not only of almost all Euro
pean communities. but also the established
policy of the states of MasSa chusetts, Con-
been pretended that the wholesome pro-
visions Of law that require the avoidance of
grade crossings by steam railroads in such
cities London, Liverpool and Berlin have
in any manner interfered with their
mercial prosperity, although it Is certainly
true that they have compelled railroad
companies seeking admission TO those cities
to expend larger amount of money than
they would have done had grade crossings
been permitted. But think you will agree
with me that the public safety Is the su-
roads can reach our large cities without
sacrificing the lives and limbs of our peo-
pie it is certainly their duty to do So"
Following closely this letter of Mr.. Rob-
erts. the Pennsylvania railroad in 1890 paid
all the expense within the lines Of its right
Of way In Philadelphia Of constructing six
teen undergrade and three overhead bridges
On the other hand, when special benefits
accrue to the railroad, as by gratuitous
land grants of public streets and spaces
for railroad use and benefit, there should
be and usually is Offset from even the
right Of way" share of expense borne by
the public.
Equities In the h. and O. Case.
There are special equities to be reckoned
into the case of the Baltimore and Ohio to
diminish the bill against the public The
pending legislation proposes to grant to
the corporation ten acres Of lands and
many valuable privileges such that OF
erecting side tracks and stations at will,
hos los do pft,er f,n HA
any portion of a section Of the city extend
ing from the Capitol grounds to the city
limits and from North Capitol to I'd street
1t conveys perpetual renewal Of the ex-
pfring right to use steam. Heretofore 1t
has compensated the public for such re-
newals. Now for the first time the great
favor of q renewal is granted gratuitously
and bonus Is demanded besdes. A new
and broader right Of way is granted to
the road. and, in addition, call streets, ave-
nues, ways and alleys within the area to
be occupied and used for terminals and
terminal tracks, as shown on said plan filed
In the Office Of the Engineer Commissioner
shall be completely vacated. abandoned and
closed, and the use thereof and OF any pub
lie reservation or street spaces OF the United
States within said area be granted to the
said railroad company or terminal COM
pany constructing such terminals for the
purposes Of the same"
How the Account Should Stand.
Applying to the Baltimore and Ohio the
general trend of custom and law In this
particular of the division Of cost, 1t is to
be seen that the sole demand upon the
public, II any, should be based upon it's
share Of the expenses which lie without the
right of way. The pending bill already
provides that the public shall take care of
all such expenses But there are special
equities which, In accordance with the rule
which obtains elsewhere, should operate
here to reduce even this charge against
the public. Some of these have Just been
mentioned, the grant Of valuable lands and
privileges, and In particular the grant to
the road free of it's long-sought southern
connection. for which 1t was willing In 1887
to tunnel Capitol Hill at a cost Of 81 ,25O, 000
The pending bill. however, presents the
anomaly that instead of the special bene-
fits enjoyed by the road reducing the cost
to the community, the corporation demands
that a bonus of $4,000 be paid to 1t
after the public has taken care Of all that
Is due from It under the general plan of an