Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-06

those Just noted. The bill requires that
the approaches to r street. Florida avenue
and NJ street and all OF the work not with
in the right of way at said points shall be
made and constructed by and under the
supervision OF the commissioners of tn.
District OF Columbia and paid for from
funds available for that purpose" II also
directs the Commissioners Ito cause all
streets. avenue. ways and alleys 20 be clos
ed as provided by this act and IN accord
ance with the intent thereof, and also to
make such changes In the existing lines
and grades Of any street. avenue or way
as may be reasonably required, deemed
necessary or advisable in the construction
OF the works hereby authorized
In these provisions the company gets all
that is equitahly due. The public lie NO;
to be called upon to aid it in the expense
Of meeting its obligation to supply a decent
terminal station system for conducting Its
own business
1t is enough that the public gives 1t tn.
free right OF way over the public streets
and gratuitous use OF the public spaces and
contributed to pay for the Improvement the
expenses incurred outside the railroads
right OF way without demanding that It aid
in building the railroads station and Gle
waited tracks. To ask for more is impudent
and shows q spirit OF ingratirude for
liberal gift by the public. The railroads
greed Is apparently never satisfied. 1t de-
mands more and more and more. When, In
1887. 1t was eager to secure that which its
rival was unwilling it should have. il made
a plausible offer to the community. Now
1t asks. and is partially granted already
many times what it asked for then, and it
demands in addition that it be paid II bonus
larger than its estimate of the entire %S-
pense OF the Improvement In 1887.
Chicago's Experience.
In this matter of sharing the COS, Of the
actual work Of eliminating grade crossings
the experience OF Chicago affords an in
structive guide That city was, within p
q n
American municipalities, with steam rail
roads crossing streets at grade in many
directions and rendering life and limb ter
rihy pracarioas. Upward of 2!dp OF tlles,
grade crossings existed, each with it's dead
ly record The railroad business of ths
western metropolis multiplied and no law.
were provided to give the municipality
broad authority to compel reform For
tuna tely. however. the general act for th..
Incorporation Of cities gave to The city
council the right ito regulate the police o.
city or village and to pass and enforce all
necessary police ordinances. The'Chicagu
municipal officials finally ventured to apply
this authority to the grade crossing prob
lem, and in this ii had the support OF the
courts, which had repeatedly decided that
this clause includes the right TO provide
and execute all measures necessary to pro-
mote the health oe citizens and the protec-
ton Of Hfe and limb. while later decisions
have gone far tn include the general
welfare and even the convenience of the
citizens.
Despite the refusal OF the railroad o.
ficials to concede that there was any power,
state or municipal to compel them to ele
vate their tracks yet Chicago has been
able. by the exercise Of its police powers. To
very materially reduce the evil by passing
ordinances requiring the railroads to place
gates and guards at all grade crossings. TO
fence the right Of way, regulating the
length Of trains. prohibiting the ringing of
bells in the city and requiring that trains
be brought to q full stop on each side Of
certain crossings. The enforcement Of
these regulations entailed more less en-
pense upon the railroads. we'll AZ lose of
time, and the officers of some OF the COM
panies agreed that If certain concessions
were made by the city the compa MES would
accept ordinances for the elevation Of the
tracks.
Thus the city secured. by indirection. full
power in the promises. The municipality
agreed to allow a slight depression in the
streets and to assume all damages, direct.
incidental and consequential. to adjacent ,
property or business caused by the enforce
ment of the ordinances, or by the excava-
ton, depression or change OF grade made In
any of the streets by the elevation of the
tracks. The public thus assumed the bur
den of all damages and costs incurred out
side of the right of way. This constituted
the public's share of the expense of track
elevation, save the agreement TO defend /
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