Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-04
ABOUT DOUBLE TRACKS.
A Hearing Before The City Commftt<
 The SnF,faof

0n The Subject.
 Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Daley acted as chairman of the committee on horse railroads, which held a public meeting last evening to hear parties interested in the pe- titions of the Fair Haven and Westvile horse railroad company and the West Haven com pany for laying double tracks. Aldermen Graves and States of the committee were present, as was Attorney Driscoll. Superin- tendent w. w. Ward of the West Haven horse railroad company said: I desire to build double track through Church street (taking up 15 of the 45 feet width) the same as through Meadow street. Then we could give the people better facilities than now and there would be no delays. We petition the legislature to allow us to lay a double track through Church street and to run cars by steam or any other motive power desired. We propose to ask to run cars through Portsea street, Howard avenue and Kimberley avenue by steam, but don't think the company would run by steam inside of year or two. Mir. Ward further explained that with double tracks the public would be great deal better ac- commodated. In response to MT. Daley he explained, saying that the rail would be laid for the whole distance, both tracks. Then city fares would be reduced also. In response to MT. Driscoll MT. Ward said the company would not undertake to pay for damages to teams caused by steam soaring horses. MT. Driscoll in response said, that being the case, he should advise the city not to recommend steam power.
 MT. Ward-I think the company would give back that right.
 Massena Clark and George Hoadley op- posed the use of steam and were in favor of double track, but the city ought to pave the street from curb to curb.
 MT. Ward-If the city requires that, we don't lay the track. Postmaster English-I am here to repre- sent ex-Governor English, who is on trip South, and in his behalf oppose both steam and double track.
 MT. Ward said the road does benefit the city; it enhances the value of real estate.
 MT. Birdsey Warner said the company should pave between the tracks. Steam and double tracks were all right. There should be cents fare on all the roads.
 MT. Driscoll-I suppose the right of the Whitneyville, State street and Centerville roads to run over your track when they paid g certain sum, which was taken away from them three years ago, would be given back r double tracks.
 MT. Ward--Yes.
 President Ives of tine F. H. & W. H. R. R. said: 'We desire to double track the entire main road. On Chapel street it would take fifteen of the thirty-nine feet of roadway. About three-fifths of all our travel comes from east of State street. We have an aver age of 5000 people day. We carried last year 150, ,000 passengers. I think the com pany would lay rail similar to the one of the West Haven road on Meadow street. In regard to the pavements our company would probably use all old Belgian blocks we could and the rest granite blocks. We have an arrangement with the city in regard to snow that we should clear as much as they would" Aldermen J. c. Bradley and Hemingway and Henry Crawford, R. B. Baldwin and ex- Alderman Kennedy appeared in favor of two tracks, but favored five cent fairs. The committee went into secret session and make their report to the Council.