Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-04-16
Safety First.
PROPOSED ABoLIsHMENT Or GRADE CROSSING
AT SILVER SPRING.
IMPORTANT PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT souoHr

IMPORTANT PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT Sought.
EDITOR OF SENTINEL In late years there
have been many narrow escapes from dis
astrous collisions between the B. & O..
trains at Silver Spring and the trolley cars,
automobiles and horse-drawn vehicles on
the highway.
Since this highway was taken over as
State road the traffic ON the same has
greatly increased, until it amounts to about
one thousand every twenty-four hours for
horse-drawn vehicles and automobiles
alone. In addition to this. there are nearly
one hundred crossings of loaded trolley
cars per day, and very many pedestrians,
mainly school children, clerks and me-
chanics going to and from the District
Line. Over fifty B. &. o. trains daily in
tersect this traffic. The only protection
are railroad gates, which, on numerous
occasions, have failed to meet the de-
mands of safety, and that disastrous
collision with loss of life is imminent is
only rational prediction. These circum-
stances have justified the Silver Spring to
Capitol View Citizens Association in TAX
ing steps to avoid this risk by proposed
concrete bridge for the roadway and trolley
cars. The people who are affected are not
only the citizens of Montgomery County
but of Howard, Frederick, Carroll. and, in
fact, all the western portion of the State
of Maryland and the great numbers of au-
tomoble travellers from the District OF
Columbia, who are making this the great
highway TO the north from the National
Capital.
A preliminary study of the subject, from
an engineering point shows that an over
head concrete bridge to carry the trolley
cars and road traffic is easily practicable.
A preliminary drawing thereof has already
been made.
1t contemplates the lowering of the B.
& o. tracks at this point about eight feet
and using the dirt thus excavated to fill in
the approaches to the highway bridge to
be built. The present grade of the B. &
o. tracks from Takoma to Silver Spring
going north, is steep up grade. From
Silver Spring north to Woodside is down
grade. The lowering of the Grade at Silver
Spring takes off this ridge and the building
of an overhead bridge of concrete to carry
highway traffic secures the following adj
vantages to the various interests concerned
For THE B. & o. RAILROAD.
!. 1t would save the current expense Of
the two gatemen employed at Silver Spring
which cost the road sixty-seven dollars q
month, or per cent. interest on SIG, 900
2. II would save the expense of contin.
ually ballasting the frogs at this crossing
which are continually hammered down by
the hammer blows of the b. & 0. and troll
ley cars several thousand blows a day
from the wheels of the cars
3. 1t would save delays to the B. & 0
trains at the crossing and allow long freieh
trains to stand here with no time limit.
4. 1t would avoid the climbing of tn,
grade at this point in both directions.
S. 1t would entirely relieve the great anC
constant risk Sof heavy damage suits re
sultine from increasingly threatened coils
ions.
For WASHINGTON RAILWAY AND ELECTRIC
COMPANY.
l. 1t would save delay in its schedule.
2. 1t would avoid the necessity of main
tanning the present derailing switch at thi
point with its attendant insufliciencies.
3. 1t would avoid the contingency o
damage suits from collisions.
For The TRAVELLING PUBLIC.
1t would give them freedom from DANCE
/ to life and limb. would inspire confidence
and promote that good will which Is 8,
necessary to the friendly relation between
common carriers and their patrons. Cor
porations already recognize the necessit!
of this new friendship.
There are some engineering difficulties
the chief among which is the interference
with traffic pending the CHANGES For the
trolley cars this can be taken care of By
shuttle cars. stopping at. but not passing
Silver Spring. For the B. & o., one trac!
may be lowered at a time. while the othel
does double duty. and the readjustmen
of the switches, sidings and platform al
the Silver Spring station can no doubt be
taken care Of by the intelligent engineers
Of the B. & o. road.
The expenses of this change could ne
doubt be equitably arranged between the
B. & o. road. the trolley car line and the
State Of Maryland. so as to make the cost
not an onerOus one on any Of the interests
involved and the results would be in line
with progressive ideals and humanitarian
principles.
1t is hoped that every public.sprited
citizen of Western Maryland will lend his
aid to the promotion Of this desirable i'm
provement. This community has already
had object lessons in the frightfu wreck
at Terra Gotta station few years ago
with its horrifying loss Of life, the late
fatal crossing accidents at Takoma and
Hyattsvie. and the conditions are immi-
nent for a repetition in a more constantly
threatened way at Silver Spring.
EDWARD W. BYRN,
President Of Silver Spring to Capitol View
Citizens Association.
A Pretty Home Wedding.
Of