The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-09

The recent collision between q truck Of
the Fire Department and ear Of the
Metropolitan Railroad. and its disastrous
consequences. has ava kened discussion
again on the question of stopping cars on
the near side Of the street. The Chief
Engineer of the Fire Department is re
ported 10 have said that the accident at
the intersection of Connecticut Avenue
and # Street was due to the present rule
of stopping the cars On the far side CT
the street to take on or to let off pas
sengers Whether the Chief is correctly
reported or not in this opinion, it is a
fact that he has from the first opposed the
far side rule Last summer when the sub
iect WAS under discussion. before the
Commissioners issued the order resulting
in the change to the far side rule. Mr..
Paris addressed a letter to his superiurs
taking strong ground against the proposed
change from the near side regulation
Now, as formerly, there IS no unanimity
| Of sentiment upon the subject In the
Board Of Commissioners it is understood
that one of the three has always advo-
Gated the near side rule, and another the
far side rule. while the third is not wed
ded TO either opinion. but holds himself
| open to conviction as to the practicable
/ ness Of either method If it accommodates
/ more people or is a source Of less danger
to life and limb.
| The Commissioner referred TO believes
/ that there is little 10 choose as 10 the side
| Of the street on which the cars stop. if
! they are run at proper speed and kept IN
! der control by the motorInan at dangerous
! crossings. The conditions as TO public
! sentiment is much the same as in the
! Board Of Commissioners. CT three IGen
picked out at random one will favor enc
side of the street. one the other. and the
third viii be found with NJ positive no.
/ tions Upon the subject.
With reference TO the accident which
cost Fireman Keefe his life Gne advocates
OF the far side rule insist that the regu-
| lation in force had nothing to do with the
collision. They says that the car was not
| going TO stop at that particular crossing,
| and hence was running at the regular
speed as i approached II Street. AdvO-
Gates OF the other opinion say that # the
near side rule had been in force the car
would necessarily have beer under better
! control as the motOrman could not be GER
tain that there would not be d passenger 10
| board the car until he had arrived Cppo-
site the near II Street crossing They say
/ he would irstiEctively have had his car
under control. which they say was not the
I case al the time Of the collision
There is. however 2 notable difference
between the regulations coverings the
movements OF fire wagons, while running TO
fires. and CT the street cars. The Manual
OF Rules and Regulations of the Fire De-
{ parrmenI contains no less than four spe-
cifr directions relative to this matter.
One Of them is contained in section OF
the duties OF the foreman, which says.
Foreman shall not permit the appara-
/ tus 10 be driven al a rate Of speed liza Die
/ 10 cause accident. and IN responding JC
! calls. tae bells on all vehicles and appara-
! tus Of The department shall be ruEg upor
! fnteTsecring streets and roadWGys, and al
| all other times when such ringing is nee
/ essary and proper
Another regulation of similar import If
| contained in section 80 OF the duties OF The
foreman: "Foremen shall use all neces'
sary. precaution IN crossing steam anC
street railroad tracks"
| A third rule is contained IN section Il o.
| the regulations TO be observed on re
ceipt of alarms Of FIRE: To guard agains
collisions and accidents when proceed
ing 20 fires the bells and gongs shall b
rung al short intervals, and always OF
approaching street crossings.
The fourth rule relative to the matter
is found ia section 4s, Of the same d.
| vision: al proper despatch shall b'
used in reaching a fire consistent Will
. t=fety. Officers of the companies shaI
. hold their drivers responsible for cecA
. | lcez driving When turning corners o.
. turning from railroad tracks the driver
: shall lessen the speed, even to walk
il necessary"
In calling attention TO these rules, Chic
Paris is reported TO have said that IN
company IN charge of truck B on th'
morning Of the collision could not hav
been 20 blame. as the testimony Of eye
witnesses IS agreed that the rules we-t
, observed Hence his belief that the stop
, ping Of the cars upon the near side 0
the street might have avoided the trag d,
Of last Thursday.