Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-26
BAD ACCIDENT IS PREDICTED
COMMISSIONERS WARNED AS TO
CONDITIONS ON 14TH ST.
+. w. Fitzpatrick Pleads for at
Least a Footpath or Re-
duced Speed Limit.

Declaring that f4th street extended is a
speedway and that automobiles and street
cars at times run at the rate of nifty
miles an hour, F. ". Fitzpatrick of 400
Piney Branch road has asked Commits
sioner Mcfarland to provide footpaths or
sidewalks along the thoroughfare for the
protection of the lives of pedestrians.
1T is only a question of time" he says.
when an appalling slaughter will occur.
and the District government will be party
to it and deserve blame for not having at
least made an effort to prevent what Is
inevitable under present conditions.
In answer to the request, Commissioner
mcfarland will ask the Engineer Com
missioner what remedies can be applied
at once, and will ask Police Chief Syi-
yester to say what he can do to help
matters.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick description of the con-
ditions is as follows:
Il have suggestion to respect1 uily
submit. 1t concerns an important matteI
and / am profoundly interested in 1t, as a
fellow may well be when the lives OF ms
children and friends and his own depend
upon your decision in the premises.
..Fourteenth street, from Park road Out
here, has become major thorough1are
very much Travelled and the only means OF
access to the city for many OF us. for our
children going back and forth TO scnool
etc There is absolutely no provision ror
pedestrians; they have to walk on the
tracks or in the mud. The road has De-
come popular with automobflists; the al
lowed rate of speed for them and 1oi
street cars is excessively miles-and Is
more often exceeded than not. 1t is q
speedway, and leading to the clubs, as II
does many drivers are extra stimulated
to wondrous efforts in that line. I've seen
them travel at fifty miles and over. Acct
dents are common and the car compan!
is not exempt, for some of these motorinef
are as wildly reckless as the drunken
speed maniacs in motor cars. 1t is only a
question of time when an appalling
slaughter will occur. and the District gov
eminent will. be party to 1t and deserve
blame for not having at least mace an e1-
fort to prevent what is inevitable uhdei
present conditions.
Then Reduce Speed Limit.
IF there is no appropriation for clear
ing and maintaining at least narrow
trail of footpath one side or the Other
of 14th street. then. at least. since 1t Is
city and SO much travelled. reduce the
speed limit to city rate, and then en-
force it, One mounted officer with sew
eral square miles of beat is utterly pow
erless; bicycle officer constantly on that
street, for at least while, might DC
some good. Or if 1t be deemed polite
and commemorate 10 give the street over
to the Auto Club and street railway. Their
please hurry along the macadamizing OF
18th street extended and let us use the
half of Piney Branch bridge that is COM
pieted for driving and walking. The con-
tractor can, at little trouble. do his work
| on the other half without cutting off that
possible route for another seven months
This is no idle plant or croak. hut a
serious prayer. The conditions are intol-
cradle and can be remedied. For the au-
thorities to remain inactive in the matter
will mean, 7 am more than convinced
nothing short of wholesale butchery, to
| which the city will be a party through
contributary negligence.
II know that you will act. and vigor.
| ously.'