Morning journal and courier., 1884-05-15

traffic alone only with passenger cars, and
to be run similar TO suburban roa DIS runninI
| out of other cities. The almost ananimoui
wish of the people who will ride over THU
| road is, We want it to go at grade This
community has its reasons for this, and they
are these, viz; The physical condition of the
| ground is a level plateau. You cannot de-
| press the track; that is physically impossi-
| BILE. Another, the alternative of going above
| grade. That Is impossible without making
| an unsightly object and disfguring the plains.
Then the expense of bridging would be so
great that our company would not consent to
build it. Several surveys have been made,
and the one now proposed our company de-
eided they would build and would not accept
any of the others. - seems to me that you
can modify your order with perfect safety,
and If you should grant our request there is
no power that can prevent your ordering
gates at crossings. I do not think, however,
that there is any danger at'any of these CROSS
ings.
G. K. Bush spoke for the citizens of the
borough of West Haven. He said although
the law opposed grade crossings, yet as he
read the law it gave the commissioners dis
cretionery power which they could use if
they SO desired. He said that the people
were more unanimous in favor of this road
than he ever expected to see them united
again. He thought the opponents could be
counted by the fingers on his two hands.
1HoI0 was uO ISuG0 tAAb 4ulIy luGb tue " lbASS
of the people except this one. He said there
would be united opposition to build ng this
road either above or below the grade. 1t
amounts simply to this: Your denial to cross
at grade deprives Us of a railroad when pub
lie necessity demands it. We feel that the state
ments that have been made should be sufh
Gent to warrant you IN granting our request
E. III. Reed, vice president of the Consoli-
dated road. said there was ne possible chance
to build the road below grade without coming
to water, and to build it above grade it would
take about ten acres of ground six feet deep
for every mile to build entertainments, and
the earth could not be procured anywhere
near there.
N. D. Spsrry said he appeared as enc of
committee appointed by the Chamber of
Commerce. He read the resolutions adopted
by the Chamber. He said he did not know
that he could add much to what had been
said He desired it understood, however,
that the Chamber of Commerce represented
two hundred of the most prominent business
men in the city and they desired that this
road should be built at grade. Representing
the business interests of the city they are
unanimous in the opinions which 1 express.
AS l understand the law of 1889 you have
the power to grant US this small privilege
which we so earnestly ask. Here is
a community of Is, 600 persons asking
you to let US build the road, and several
thousand more in neighboring village make
the same request. It seems to me that there
is special reason why these people should
be accommodated. Then there is a large
outlying country who seek the cool breezes
of the seashore, and the only accommoda-
ton for them at present is the horse cars
This is another special reason. AS you have
been told, gentlemen, We cannot have this
road If it is built above or below grade. If
this road is built as asked for it will benefit
greatly both New Haven and West Haven /
cannot see why you gentlemen cannot give
US the privilege We ask under the Law. So
anxious are our people upon this matter that
we feel like asking you to give prompt
decision, and if possible before you leave the
city that the road, if our petition is granted,
may be built this summer and our people may
early receive the benefits to be derive from it.
President Dawson, of the New Haven
Water company, said that the petition that
he circulated was signed by representative
men, and they represented the professions
and men of business. We hope your decis-
ion will be favorable and that you will give
| it to speedily as possible.
| Mayor Lewis said to the commissioners
/ that he did not know that he could add any
| thing to what be had previously said to them
| He said the people felt that they had right
| to have this road built. The people of the
State also feel an interest in this road that
| they may reach the seashore easily and
l cheaply, 1t is no more than fair and no
more than right that this road should be
built. The road will interfere solely with
the citizens of West Haven village if built at
grade, ard they are unanimous in favor of
building it. We ask you then, gentlemen, to
| give us an answer forthwith, that we may
know what to depend upon.