Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-10
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

There we're not so many railroads in the
middle OF the last century that the grade
Grade nuh,ic at ,arge as : ser,o,s
Crossings. menace. But already in 1856
a beginning was being made
In the crusade against this danger and the
accident on the line between Philadelphia
and New York which caused the death OF
several Washingtonians. noted in this col
umn last week, was seized by the writer of
q letter to The Star Of September 8. as the
text of complaint:
The papers are censurng the Camden
and Amboy Railroad Company for not hav-
ing provided a double track. 1t Is just cen-
sure upon q road connecting the two great
est cities of the continent. and carrying the
great stream of travel between the north
and the south. This particular accident
might have been avoided had there been
double track at this point. but the only Sc
curity against these accidents at crossroads
is an infexible rule that the railroad cross
The money to be paid by this railroad COM
pany in damages to Its property and to the
sufferers or their heirs would suffice to
raise every road which crosses above. or
sink 1t below the level OF the railroad. - .
II a wise regard for their own interests and
for the safety OF their passengers will not
induce the railroads to adopt this means
of safety, let the states or Congress
pose let the public press take the matter
In hand and call for legislation to secure
our lives by well-fenced roads and bridge
crossings. Then there will be an end to the
running over Of cattle and wagons.
Great indignation was aroused by the dis
closure of the fact that the Camden and
Amboy company was relying
D"nABe upon the lack of New Jer-
Claims. . sey statute for Immunity
from damages for this acci-
dent. 1t was at once charged by the public
press that this corporation, in the course
Of a long career OF improper practices. had
succeeded in preventing the passage Of a
damage law through the New Jersey legis-
lature The Star of September said:
Though doing heavier (more profitable)
passenger business than any other similar
company in the United States 1t has been
found impossible to induce 1t the c.. and
Az to establish ordinary guards against the
sacrifice Of life on the part of those who
travel over its road. One OF the victims of
the late catastrophe. Mr.. Gillespie. who
with his wife, his only near connection,
now lies at the point Of death from in
juries received on that occasion. we hear
has made will leaving a property valued
dt SOUuGlulUS more IMAM HalI a m1iIlOn, TO
be expended for the benefit of society, by
defeating it to defray the cost of suits
brought by the manned on that occasion
and by the heirs of the killed, to obtain
proper naturalization from the company.
The public at large will indeed rejoice IL
they are made to pay even the original cost
of their road for the grand result at Bur-
iington of their many outrages on law, JUS
tice. honesty. truth, legislative integrity,
and. in this case, on the lives of the COM
munity."
Conditions in tho Norfolk region, where
the yellow fever was raging, had become
Fever for aid 49, hs;na so,,o.tos
Sufferers. throughout the country in
the name Of the stricken
communities. A committee Of residents of
Portsmouth and Norfolk, temporarily So
journing at Hampton. whittier they had
been driven by fear of the plague, waited
on President Pierce in this city to solicit
government relief. One item of the request
was that the government advance a
months extra pay to all employees of the
Norfolk navy yard; another was that as
surances be given that that yard would
not be closed on account Of the fever prev
alence, and a third was that the govern
merit grant permission for the occupation
of Old Point Comfort by those residents
OF the stricken cities not suffering from the
fever. The requests were taken under adj
visement and the President placed in the
hands of the committee the sum of 1878,
second contribution from himself and
the members of his cabinet for the relief
of the fever cities. He also assured his
petitioners that the Washington navy yard
would be thrown open to all workmen then
in the capital, refugees from the Norfolk
navy yard, who desired employment.
In view of the agitations Incident to the
first meeting Of the board Of education for
Public 100, tho nrs,,roins w. ,,a 49, ~
Schools. Of the trustees ON the even
ing of September f. 1855,
was q calm and uneventful occasion Those
present at the meeting were DR.. Charles W.
Davis (chairman) and Messrs. Dickinson,
Bacon. Polk, McKim, Peters, AtLee Knight
and Pearson. Mr.. Farley was elected
teacher of the male primary school In the
fourth district, vice ]. Smith Thompson.
promoted. Much of the time Of the meet
ing was consumed in consideration of
draft of the annual report. The following
rules were adopted:
1.-THE morning session shall commence at
SA o'clock am. and close at II m, ex-
cept during the months of November De-
cember, January and February, when the
oeSSiou coIuineNCe at y q. The AFT
ernoon session shall commence at III
o'clock and close at Az pm. except during
the months OF November. December, Jam
uary and February, when the session shall
be closed at 31s o'clock. A recess of ten
minutes may be allowed each session"
On motion of MIR. Pearson it was re-
solved that the teachers should incur no
bills for the care of their respective school
rooms during the months of May and Octo-
Der, inclusive and also that the secretary
should provide each school with a Worces-
ter's Dictionary.
II X
In The Star of September is given a
list of the books prescribed for use in the
schools. the names of many
ScnooI OF which are totally unla-
Books. miliar to the members of
younger generations, while
well known to the elders
For Primary Schools-HoIy Bible, Prices
English Speller, Swans Writing Exercises
In Spelling. Swans Primary Reader, Gram
mar School Reader. Colburn's Mental Arith-
metic, Perkins Primary Arithmetic (for
most advanced classes. Cornelrs Primary
and Intermediate Geography. Parley's First
Book of History HoIhrook'o Gonprat,iooI