The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-01-23
BEGIN LIVELY FIGHT
ON GRADE CROSSING
Suburbanites Will Protest to
Utilities Commission.
LARGE PUBLIC MEETING HELD
HyattsvfIle, College Park. and Other
Towns in Prince George County
Join in Sending Delegation to
Baltimore TO-day-New Line WILL
he Asked to Elevate Tracks.


Hyattsville Ian. 22-When the public
utilities commission of Maryland meets
in Baltimore tomorrow to hear the
Washington. Westminster and Gettysburg
Railroad Company in the matter OF the
protest against that companys tracks
crossing the tracks OF the City and
Suburban Electric Railway at Randall
town, Prince George County, just south
of Hyattsville, they will probably be inn
pressed with the fact that the citizens re-
! siding along the line of the City and
Suburban Railroad are thoroughly
aroused. and regard the crossing Of these
tracks at grade as a menace to the hun
!Teds of patrons of the electric line.
A meeting was held this afternoon ut
| the residence of state Senator Charles
4. Wells. an ardent advocate of the es-
| tablisment of the utilities commission.
Mayor William =. Magruder. who has
taken a leading part in arousing public
sentiment against the proposed grade
! crossing: members of the town council
| of Hyattsville. Dr. Thomas F.. I.atimer
president of the HyattSvilIe Citizens AS
| sociation: members of the association
| Prof. +. Il Bomberger. OF the Maryland
Agricultural College. and n number of
prominent citizets residing along the linc
of the electric road were present.
Will Go to baltimore.
As the result Of this meeting. it is ex-
| pected that a large delegation will visit
| Baltimore Tomorrow to present argu-
ments to show the danger that will at
| tend the establishment Of n grade cross
| ing at Randalltown. 1t is stated that
| engineers OF the Washington. Westmin-
ster and Gettysburg Railroad Company
will present figures to show that the
| placing of their tracks overhead at this
point would cost approximately 5000
| while other expert testimony will be ad-
| duced to show that the cost will not
| exceed $4,000.
1t will be argued that the crossing OF
| these tracks at grade will result in seri-
! ously affecting real estate values in this
section OF Maryland. and instead OF
aiding the material advancement OF the
| community will be n distinct detriment
| Capt R W. Sylvester. president Of the
Maryland Agricultural College, will be
| unable to attend the meeting, owing to
| pressing business at the college, but will
| designate one of the officials, probably
Prof. Frank r. Bomberger. to represent
| the institution, the students OF which. in
addition to a large number Of residents
| OF College Park, use the City and Subur-
ban line. The citizens will attempt to
show that in nearly every State in the
Union the policy is to abolish grade
crossings and to compel new roads tc
construct their tracks either overhead OF
underground.
Mayor Morgan Presidea.
| Mayor w. p. Morgan presided. with
4 ALL NJ ~
| Prof. Frank f. Bonberger. of College
Park. it was decided to ask the utilities
commission to come to HyattsvilIe to
inspect the crossing.
On motion Of Mr.. Fallery, Of River.
dale, ths' vice chairman appointed dele
gates as follows: From Riverdale, f
A. Myer; from Mount Rainier. John S
Morgan: from College Park. Capt. r
w. Sylvester: from Berwyn, S. F.. Smith
! from Brentwood. DR.. John Keenan,: East
! Riverdale Association, Thomas O'Neale
from Bladensburg. County Clerk r. w
| Ryon, and East fayetteville Citizens
Association, J. A. Tusby and ]. A. Whit.
lock-
| A resolution adopted asked State Sen.
! ator Wells to accompany a delegation
| to Baltimore tomorrow, and Senator
| Wells has consented to do so. The dele.
cation says that the citizens in this sec.
ton Of the county should make a vigor-
Gus protest against grade crossings
| Mayor Robert f. Joyce telegraphed the
commission that the citizens generally
| Of Mount Rainier protested earnestly
! against the establishment Of grade cross
| ings.
| DR.. John A. Mudd. DR.. Thomas e
| Lanier, jackson H. Ralston, and Others
spoke against the grade crossings a
] menace to lives Of thousands Of pa
| irons Of the City and Suburban Rail.
road. The delegation will leave Hyatts
vile tomorrow morning at S:45 o'clock
and will number between forty and fifty
| representative citizens.