The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-08
LOCOMOTIVES TOO NOISY
Citizen Complains of a Nuisance in
the Southwest.
Thaddeus' s. Clark Says the Engines
Stand on the Reservation In Front
B. the Neighborhood - Claims That
the Railroad Violates the Law.

|
| inissioners that a nuisance exists in the
vicinity of his hnme, caused by locomo-
| tives standing on the reservation between
| Seventh and Ninth Streets and at the in
| tersection of Street with Maryland and
Virginia Avenues
Several years ago. he writes, II made
complaint to your Board that the steam
| railroad company was committing a nui-
sance, and in violation of law, as / believe,
| in the practice OF standing its engines at
{, certain hours on the reservation as above
| described. The detached locomotives Of the
| Southern Railway are the ones to which
particular reference is made in this con-
| nection. inasmuch as every one OF them
| before going to the passenger station to
| take out a train. whether by day or night,
| first stops on the reservation in front of
my residence sol Street southwest, re-
! naming there half an hour or more. dur
ing which time It makes SUFFICIENT noise
from exhaust OF steam, etc. to render
life burdensome to anyone happening to De
in the neighborhood.
AT the time of my first complaint the
District authorities proved themselves ut
terly incapable Of compelling the railroad
| individuals are made to do, but as the per-
sonnet Of your Board has changed since
then, and IS there is a new incumbent In
stalled at the head of the Police Depart
ment, / nov renew the complaint, and ask
that you direct Major Sylvester to take
proper steps to prohibit the use Of the res
ervation or of the avenues connecting
| herewith by loafng their locomotives
there. The proper place for them Is the
shnt1ld n
til he arrival of the time for them to at
tach to the trains for leaving the city.
'At the time of my first complaint Major
Moore now deceased. after comforting with
a Mr.. Mckenzie, probably superintendent
of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad, in
formed me that the latter stated that there
was no necessity for detached locomotives
to use the streets or. the reservation in the
manner described. and that the practice
would be discontinued. Major Moore also
sent police officer to me to ascertain the
hours when the nuisance was being COM
mitted, and as result the people OF this
neighborhood were relieved this much of
their railroad troubles for week or per-
haps little longer, after which the rail-
road lapsed into its former habits which
1t still practices.
There are many other violations of a
similar nature on the part Of the rail-
road company in this section. They care
nothing for injunctions, perpetual or 9TH
erwise. Whenever II suits their conven-
fence they stand trains of cars on Virginia
Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh
Streets. and on Maryland Avenue, west of
Ninth Street, while only few nights ago
five freight cars without engine were oc-
cupying the reservation referred to for a
prolonged period. 1t would seem from the
enormous amount of shifting Of passenger
and freight cars along the avenues and the
reservation mentioned that every train en-
terlng or leaving the city, except perhaps
the through trains, is shifted along this
route, all of which / have been informed is
a violation of law.
II realize how difficult It is for the Com
missioners tofdeal with the problem. but
at the same time I ask nothing beyond my
rights as taxpayer or beyond the powers
and duties of your Board, when ISrequest
that laws which are enforced in other sec
t:ons of the city be likewise enforced in
the Southwest section relative to the rail-
road
You are familiar with the privileges
and obligations of this railroad and If you
will detail an intelligent officer of the law
to watch its violation along this reserva-
ton for a day, and then again during an |
evening up to midnight, you will have Sc !
cured sufficient evidence against the rail-
road to keep your legal advisers busily en- |
gagged
II do not think ask too much when |
request that an intelligent person be de- |
tailed In this neighhorhood permanently, |
with view to patrolling the tracks and !
keeping the employees of the railroad within /
the requirements OF the law. Permanent |
detail is the only thing that will afford |
lasting relief. as every prosecuted resident |
of this section knows that the roads will /
indulge in violation of the law just as soon
as the representatives of the law turn
their backs ett1
Mr. Clark's complaint was referred to
the Police Department for consideration
and report.