Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-22
LESSON IN ACCIDENT TEACHING OF TRADES
The Killing of Mrs. Hubbard Question OF Vocation Schools
AroIses Many Citizens Discussed.
WHOLE STREET TORN UP WILL REPORT AT TORONTO
Side Industrial Education Committee OF
Time A. F. l. Session.
VEHICLES FORCED ON TRACKS LABOR LEADERS ARE DIVIDED
Some in the Movement At
Department officials See Unfriendly
of to the Unions
The Killing of Mrs. Hubbard
Arouses Many Citizens.
WHOLE STREET TORN UP
Claim It Should Be One Side at q
Time.
VEHICLES FORCED ON TRACKS
Police Regulation Is Suggested.
Fire Department officials See
Danger of Collisions.

Aroused by the testimony brought ou
al the inquest over the death of Mrs
Gardiner Greene Hubbard, that both sides
of the roadway at the scene OF the &C
oident were closed to traffic thus causing
all vehicles to use the car tracks for q
considerable distance. many citizens OF
the District are now condemning this Gus
tom. which exists quite generally in and
around Washington, of permitting both
sides of the street to be torn up at the
same time.
Both sides of the roadway at 9Th street
between d and f. northwest were re-
Gently closed for the purpose of resurfac-
ing it with asphalt. During this time.
which continued for several days, We
nicles passing along the street were COM
PEELED to use that part of the roadway
occupied by the two tracks of the street
railway. In addition to the constant
danger of a collision between the vehicles
and the cars. the people living on either
side of the street were put to great in
convenience by the fact that goods to be
delivered on the square had to be I'M
loaded at the corner of either D or e
street.
Fire Department Sees Danger.
Officials in the fire department are
keenly alive to the danger that arises
from closing both sides of the street and
compelling the fire apparatus to dash
along on the car tracks. The same
danger exists. to a certain extent, with
tie ambulances of the various hospitals
Of the city.
The example on 5th street. which caus-
I'd considerable unfavorable comment, is
only one of many cases where the streets
-fy.i. s1n aot1 cir
Sometimes ii is for the purpose of re-
pairing the asphalt, and at others for
mendng or laying water or gas mains
Or telephone wires. Instances have been
trict has cut trenches entirely across a
street. leaving only the car tracks open
to traffic. and making it absolutely inn
possible for heavy. swiftly moving
vehicle. such as a fire engine, to avoid
going along the tracks.
The accident which caused the death of
Mrs. Hubbard is the first that Is at least
partially the result of this condition of
affairs. which many people are criticising
and which they declare 1t is easy to
avoid At the inquest yesterday Lemuel
J. bradshaw. inspector of the engineer
department of the railway, brought out
the fact that the closing of both sides
Of the street at the same time is of fire.
4uent occurrence in the District.
Say Practice Is Inexcusable.
Many persons say they fail to under
stand why this Is not prohibited by the
police regulations or by the engineer de-
partment of the District. They admit
that it is sometimes necessary to close a
street entirely, but that is not the same
as closing all but the car tracks They
believe that it would be quite possible to
DO all the repairing, or other work neces-
sary on one side of the street at a time.
This. they point out. would make ii nOsSi-
ole for vehicles to get out of the way of
rapidly approaching car, and would
cave a thoroughfare for fire engines, am
balances, or other vehicles that have to
move at high speed.
Citizens of the District are said to be
planning to bring this matter to the at
IGNITION Of either the police or engineer
departments of the local government.