The Washington times., 1910-05-14
Chamber OF Commerce Will
Investigate New York. H.
and 18th intersections.
THINKS FOUR TRACKS
ARE NOT NECESSARY
Standing Committee Is Enlarged to
Look Into All Such Posi-
bic Improvements.
By JOHN MARTIN.

By JOHN MARTIN.
With an Investigation OF the Ninth
and F street crossing shortly to be com
mencsd By the Chamber OF Commerce.
II was ascerta3ned through ar authentic
source today that an Investigation OF
the Fourteenth and II, and Fourteenth
and New York avenue intersections
probably also viii be conducted.
President GUIDE. Of the Chamber Of
Commerce, has announced the appoint
ment OF a special standing committee
10 look into the matter Of dangerous
street crossings.
This is the outgro7vth Of a resolution
introduced by E H Daniel, which was
passed by the Chamber At its last meet
Ing calling for a special committee Of
i've to consider means Of widening r
street. between Seventh and Ninth
streets, on the side next TO the Interior
Department
II was learned today that, following
conference between Mr. Daniel and
President GUIDE. a decision was reached
70 increase the COMMITTEES from five 10
nine members, End 10 make # a standing
committee until a number Of situations.
similar 20 the one at Ninth and F streets.
have been carefully looked into
The committee IS composd OF b H
Warner, John JOY Edison J L Willige.
". 7. Ballard. A W Hall, George G.
Gertman, W. c. P Hazen. and r. y.
HaFpe8
Question OF Tracks.
The object in having the Fourteenth
and H and Fourteenth and New York
avenue crossings investigated. It IS an
uounceds IS 10 ascertain whether II VIII
be practical to have only two tracks on
Fourteenth street. between H street and
New York avenue Instead Of four. as IS
The case II present
In endeavoring 70 work out a plan
upon which TO recommend that two OF
the tracks be removed the committee
VIII find itself up against no incOnsider-
able task Unless Il can be shown thar
Jhe tTackage could be reduced one-haIf
without being likely to Congest traffic,
there Is little probability that the Com
missioners would favor the plan
Il IS understood there already has been
a sufficient preliminary investigation 70
make reasonably sure that there would
De no congestion Of traffic over two
tracks
According 10 statistics on file in the
Office Of the District Electric Railway
Commission, all the cars now operated
-
Chase and Fourteenth street lines. 4
run over two tracks on the square be-
tween H street and New York avenue
would constitute only So-seCOnd head
~ Condition Not Unusual.
Il is not an unusual condition in large
cities for cars 10 be run on q I0-second
Roadway over particularly crowded pOr-
tons Of the principal thOTUUghfares-
L.
ond headway on Fourteenth street for
a distance Of but one block would not
be likely TO produce congestion OF tref-
fic
The accompanying diagrams show the
present Fourteenth street trackage. and
how the street would appear II but Two
tracks extended from H street 20 New
York avenue.
The projected Improvement. II. carried
out would still leave the New York
avenue line, between Fourteenth and
Fifteenth streets, parallel 10 the Capt
tai Traction COmpany's line, or four
tracks on that block
To run the New York avenue line on
the two tracks OF the Capital Traction
Company. between Fourteenth and FIJI
tsenth streets, would undoubtedly pro
dUce congested traffic in that block, II
is said
However, the principal danger to Pc
destrians has occurred on Fourteenth
nue., II Is claimed, so that II the com
UiC1Es succeeds in eliminating two OF
the tracks on the former street II prob
ably VIII make no attempt 10 change
the conditions on New York avenue
Would Eliminate Danger.
From the standpoint Of danger to
pedestrians II Is asserted there are few
points on the local street railway sys-
ten which require more precaution on
the part Of motormen than the -Four
tenth and New York avenue intersec-
ton
Persons alighting from south-bound
Mt Pleasant and Georgetown cars at
This intersection are inevitably con
fronted with the danger Of being run
down by q Fourteenth street car.
II the committee succeeds IN eliminat-
ing this one dangerous point II will
have accomplished enough good TO have
justified its labOTs, Is the assertion
made by those who are planning to
have the matter considered by the com
mittee-
Other street crossing matters will be
brought to the committees attention at
an early date, II is said, but whether
they viii be considered at one time. so z
that recommendation can be made 81
multaneOusly. or viii be taken up sepa-
rstely has not been determined
II IS understood that the chairmanshfp /
- the committee VIII be offered to B. H /