Evening star., 1900-05-28
ACCIDENTS NOT UNUSUAL
REPORT IN RESPONSE TO COM
PLANTS OF ANACOsTIANs.
Monroe Street Said to he Rendered
Dangerous by Widening
of Car Tracks.

Mr.. Albert L. Richardson Of 81 Monroe
street, Anacostia, several weeks ago in
vited the attention of the District Commits
sfoners to the alleged dangerous condition
of Monroe street. caused. Mr. Richardson
and other residents Of Anacostia claimed.
by the widening of the street car tracks.
1t being suggested that the roadway In
question should be widened. Mr. Richard
son mentioned the wounding of horse in
front of his office. and his letter was re-
ferred by the Commissioners to Mr.. L. P.
Bradshaw. an inspector in the engineer de-
partment, who has submitted the following
report thereon:
After investigation as to the cause Of
these accidents and observation of travel
of this street at various times, l have to
report the facts, as follows: AS regards the
accident in question: it was the immediate
result of the horses. country team that
had stopped at the curb, frightening and
becoming unmanageable at the approach of
a car from behind, the horse next to the
railway tracks rearing simultaneously with
the car passing. and In its descent throwing
running board of the car. By virtue of
contact Herewith it was more or less badly
cut. The driver was on the seat at the
time. and is said to have had hold of the
reins, but that he has rega rded the mis-
hap, although the animal at the time was
thought to be badly hurt, as the direct re-
suit of the horses fright and his inability
to manage them. Is evidenced by the fact
that he has not asked the railway company
for compensation. usually prompt pro-
ceeding in such cases.
Same as on Other Roads.
'It appears also that other accidents of
the kind have happened on the street, but
so far as I have been able to ascertain
confined to country teams unaccustomed to
the appearance and noise of electric cars.
the same that may be seen along any OF
the trolley roads. and even on the, streets
of the city with horses not yet used to the
larger style of car. That in most cases the
drivers are at fault, however, Is evidenced
by the railway companies files. One case
of an accident on this street 1 quote: This
is to certify that the cause of my accident
was my horse SHE'D. 1t was due to care
lessness on my part and was entirely my
own fault (Signed) E. L. Mcdonald, For
restvlle, Md.
THE widening of these tracks was In
trinsically a matter of general public ac-
commodation, incidentally affording Ana
costa the means of through service which
could not otherwise have been had, and so
far the clearance left for wagon traffic
on either side, has been before stated. 1t
is as much upon some of the city streets
occupied by railway tracks, and my obser-
walton now is that it is amply sufficient for
the average width of wagon, measuring
from out-to-out of hubs, and that the eX-
ercise of due care on the part of the cOun-
try people will obviate accident OF course.
greater widths of roadway would the better
facilitate the use Of the street for driving
purposes. but this cannot he had without
the curtailment of the sidewalk. now aver
aging thirteen feet. the sacrifice of most Of
the shade of the street, and great expense
of setting back lamp posts. sidewalk fix
lures. telegraph and trolley poles. and it is
not believed the abutters a unit for
making these sacrifices
Mr. Bradshaw's report and the other
papers in the case are now being considered
by Capt. Beach, the Engineer Commits
sioner.