Evening star., 1940-08-18
Fifty Years Ago
In the Star

century ago in its fight against the evils
.. inflicted upon the COM
9'9ne'S munity by the Pennsylvania
Give Railroad The Star printed
Reasons daily form petition in pro-
test against passage of bill that would
not only legalize existing conditions but
extend further privileges to the railroad.
In the news columns of The Star Of Au-
gust II appears the following story COW
ering some of the reasons given by citi-
zens for signing the petition:
The number of signatures daily added
to The Stars petition protesting against
the passage of the Atkinson bill and ask
ing in its stead legislation that, while
enabling the Pennsylvania Railroad Co.
to obtain ample traffic facilities here,
shall compel that company to do away
with Its grade crossings, destructive to
life and obstructive to trade and travel,
and the unsightly surface tracks on Sixth
street and the Mall, ruinous to the beau
ty of the Capital, indicates an increasing
interest in the effort made to save the
city from railroad domination.
Mdlly WIIO ol0 llol eASAl dl AL o. dA
now sending in their names Many whose
names were given to the railroads petit
ton under the impression that an effort
was being made to deprive the railroad
company of facilities and the travelling
public of conveniences, have since, with
a clearer understanding of the case,
made atonement for their error by sign
ing The Stars petition. Those who are
Indifferent as to the location Of the sta
ton or who favor its present location
because of its convenience as rule be-
leve that the company should be re-
quired to make provisions for the safety
of the public, such as modern experience
has shown to be practicable and modern
sentiment has compelled railroads to
make in other cities where the opinion
of the people has an influence which
such companies dared not disregard.
Many people thus believing have signed
The Stars petition. With the signatures
to the petition come many letters setting
forth the individual views of the signers.
"A we'll known Washingtonian writes
from Pittsburgh:
Record my vote in favor of electro
cution of all murderers, railroad or 9TH
erwise, but against the execution of our
citizens by the engines of death owned
by the Baltimore g. Potomac Railroad
Another signer of The Stars petit
ton says:
81 fail to appreciate how any one in
terested in the welfare of Washington
can stand aside with folded hands and
see the beauty of our Capital ravished
and the innocent blood of our fellow citi-
zens spilled on the unlawful and un-
guarded tracks. The Stars energy and
interest in behalf of Washington and her
citizens is only exceeded by its practical,
sound and sensible arguments against
the passage of the infamous Atkinson
bill
"A prominent physician residing in the
Northwest section writes:
"T incloSe Star petition against the
Atkinson bill with my signature and that
of several ladies. 1t is to be hoped that
the better judgment of Congress will re-
fuse to saddle the District longer with
the unsightly and dangerous tracks of
the Pennsylvania road But the average
Congressman's contempt for the views Of
the voteless community will, fear, pre-
vail in the interests of the road
Another signer writes:
"I feel it a duty as citizen to enter
my name as protesting with many others
living in my vicinity against the Atkinson
bill and hope that the day will soon dawn
when Washingtonians and not the Penn
sylvania Railroad will rule Washington
"A resident of the Southeast says:
"'Gladly sign a petition to do away
with surface tracks. If all the residents
of Southeast Washington had to wait for
Is to 20 minutes at time at the New
Jersey avenue crossing as I and my fam
lily have done nearly every day, ! think
you would have good many signers
from this section alone
"A South Washington boy writes:
at know some fellows who got hurt
by the railroad. One little one. who goes
to the Jefferson School, had part Of his
foot cut of. OF course, we shouldn't
Jump on for q ride, but when the cars
are 80 convenient. boys can't help doing
1t some way. I guess If they ran right
by the Franklin schoolhouse door the