The Washington Times

TRACKS SHOULD BE FENCED
Uninclosed Portions Along the B. and P. R. R. Are Dangerous.

CROSSINGS IN GOOD REPAIR

General Inspector Beggs Submits a Report to Commissioner Powell- All Crossings Equipped With Gatemen-Recommendations Presented for Adoption.

General Inspector E. G. Beggs recently made an inspection of the Baltimore and Potomac Railway tracks within the city limits, and submitted his report to Commissioner Powell yesterday. He says the tracks and switches throughout the line between street intersections and the fencing of inclosed portions are generally in good condition. Crossings at street intersections are in most cases in a good state of repair, and where needed repairs are in progress. All crossings are equipped with gatemen, either for the whole of the twenty-four hours or between the hours of 6 a. m. and 5:30 p. m., and a list of the places, respectively, where complete and partial service is rendered is given, with all crossings fully protected and manned and minor improvements completed. Mr. Beggs is of the opinion that the future requirements as to safety and convenience will be fully met. The report continues:

…The necessity for fencing the uninclosed portions of these tracks is obvious to the most casual observer, and if this were done there is no question that those portions of the road, passing through thickly populated localities as they do, would be relieved of much of their dangerous character. As it is now, persons may be seen crossing the tracks at any point, and children everywhere playing close by or upon them. Nothing, however, has been done since my report on this subject, except the fencing of the tracks on Virginia avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets southwest.

PROTECTION TO LIFE AND LIMB

"The fencing of the piece of road on Maryland avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets southwest, which heretofore has been considered impracticable, has, in the absence of other provision, become a necessity, and believing the protection to life and limb which will be afforded by thus inclosing it will more than compensate for any inconvenience to which the residents of the street may be put, I have no hesitancy in saying it should be done."

A complete list of the lamps, with the location of each, for lighting corners and crossings is also given, and the report closes with the following recommendations:

That the roadway space of the north side of the New Jersey avenue southeast crossing, between the tracks and the end of the New Jersey pavement, be leveled up with dry ballast.

…That the switch crossing the sidewalk of Half street into Marlow's wood and coal yard be ballasted to a level with the top of the rails,

…That an additional gateman be stationed at Sixth street and Virginia avenue southwest crossing during the day time.

That an arm be attached to the single gate at the Maryland avenue and Sixth street southwest crossing, to cover the north roadway of Maryland avenue

"That safety gates be erected at the Thirteenth street crossing of the Richmond and Danville tracks.

…That the fencing to be done shall include all of the straight track and to stop at a joint in front of No. 614 Maryland avenue southwest, in addition to the piece of track on Maryland avenue above noted.

…That the plank footwalk on the north side of the New Jersey avenue crossing be extended in line with the east sidewalk of New Jersey avenue across the switch leading into the wareroom of Barber & Ross.'

The present lighting of the tracks the inspector thinks sufficient.

Referring to the requirements of gatemen, Inspector Beggs says:

GATEMEN HAVE TOO MUCH TO DO.

"These men are charged with the duty of lowering and raising these gates as occasion requires, which varies materially, according to local conditions and traffic over the road. At points where trains are being made up and the constant shifting of cars is going on, or where the road diverges, as is the case at the Sixth street crossing of Maryland and Virginia avenues, the duties of gatemen are necessarily more arduous and require greater skill and vigilance. Moreover, as was seen in regard to those two crossings, on account of this disadvantage in local position, it has been necessary to provide them with greater protective facilities, so that each have, respectively, two or three separate sets of gates, and still there is wanting additional protection of the same kind at the Sixth street crossing of Maryland avenue.

These considerations, and the fact that only one gateman is employed at many points, admit of but one conclusion, viz:

There must be constant danger of accident at these crossings, and admitting that they are subjected to travel in even the slightest degree, but one question presents itself for decision: Have these men too much to do to properly guard these crossings? The answer is they have, and the fact that they have thus far so successfully averted accident is a high tribute to their vigilance, skill and judgment.

I desire to note in this connection, in view of the fact that Thirteenth street southwest is the outlet for much of the traffic of Water street, the necessity of providing some protection for the Richmond and Danville tracks where they cross that street into their storage yards. These tracks are occupied continuously during the day and there is every possibility of accident."