Morning journal and courier., 1886-07-22
THE RAIL ONCE MORE.

AhN n AA<AAA OcNOn 11AOASAHs Hearing Before she Hoard of Public WOrks-York Street Residents Ap- pear i'm FOrce-TheY Are Given Leave to Withdraw.
 There was special meeting of the Board of Public Works last evening for the purpose of hearing the residents on York street who had presented petition, numerously signed, asking that the Board order T rails to be laid in York street by the Fair Haven & Vest vile horse railroad company instead of the center-bearing rails. The petition set forth that tracks of center-bearing rails would be Ca damage to their property and an invasion of their personal rights"
 The room was crowded with residents of York street, and they were strongly fortified by attorneys, there being Messrs. W. B. Stod- dard, Arthur W. Wright, Colonel Charles T. Morse and James B. Thompson. Ex-Judge Lynde Harrison appeared for the railroad company and Corporation Counsel Driscoll was present to look after the interests Of the city.
 After the reading of the petition by the clerk Colonel Morse made the opening ad- dress to the Board in which he set forth the great damage, as it appeared to him, that the laying of the center-bearing rail would be to the property holders. He thought that the should be used, so that damage to private carriages by getting caught in the tracks, as they were apt to where the center bearing rail was used, might be avoided.
 Col Morse called on City Engineer Hill to give his views regarding the style of tracks, and he gave 1t as his opinion that the rail was far preferable to any other at present in use.
 Dr. Judson, of York street, was called and said he drove about the city great deal and he thought the T rail was far preferable to the center-bearing rail to drive over. He thought the laying of center-bearing rail would be great detriment to property on that street. The doctor read letter from Professor Stoeckel expressing his preference for T rail.
 Dr. Pierpont spoke in opposition to the proposed center-bearing rail.
 Gardner Morse in reply to questions said that as it appeared to him any kind of a horse car track in street tended to depre- ciate property. He thought the very best rail to be had should be laid on that street. He thought it would be to the advantage of the company as well as to the people living on the street.
 s. S. Thompson was called and expressed the opinion that the center bearing rail was & great curse to people who had to drive over them, if they were not kept in repair. He said that he kept a number of teams and his wagons were frequently damaged by driving over these rails.
 Other witnesses heard in opposition to the er-bearing rail and whose evidence was similar to the preceding ones were B. H. Sperry, Henry Reynolds, Samuel Hayes, Fred erick Osborne, John c. Mersick and Arthur w. Wright.
 This closed the evidence for the petition CTS.
 Ex-Judge Harrison for the railroad com pany gave the history of the introduction ot the center bearing rail by the Centerville horse railroad company two or three years ago, which he said was then ap- proved by the Board of Public Works. On May 5, said MT. Harrison, the Board of Public Works ordered that I rails should be used in laying their tracks, and the company understanding that this ap piled only for the one new track which they were to lay, went ahead on that basis and contracted for the rails for one new track. They made their contract for the laying ot their new track also, on the supposition that only one track was to be laid with rail. He called for the reading of the votes by the Board of Public Works, which were read by Clerk W aldron. After the reading MT. Har- rison continued his arguments showing the great inconvenience the company would be subjected to if there any change in the order as already passed by the Board. He said if the petition of the residents on York street was granted then it would lay the foundation for petitions from other sections of the city. It seems to him that these gen. tlemen were asking too much.
 Mr. Harrison then called President Pier pont of the Centerville horse railroad. MT. Pierpont said he differed with the other wit nesses in regard to the center bearing rail. He said he would much prefer the center l,1 fD have T rail. He thought that those who preferred the T rail would in four or five years wish they had had the center bearing rail. He said no accident had ever been re- ported to him since the center bearing rail was laid on his road.
 MT. Harrison then said that to call upon the company to change the style of their tracks and annul their contract already made was little too much for hot nigh in July
 D. W. Blakeslee was then called and testi- fed that fe, as contractor, was laying the track in accordance with the instructions of the Board of Public Works. He said if the contract was broken somebody would have to settle.
 Ex-Judge Stoddard then made brief argument on behalf of the remonstrants in which he urged that the Board reconsider it's former vote and order 8 T rail laid through York street.
 The Board then went into executive ses- sion. In about twenty minutes the doors were opened and it was announced that the Board had voted to give the petitioners leave to withdraw.
 The Board referred the matter of grading and connecting the old road from the Orange street bridge to the English drive in East Rock Park to MT. Whitney and the city engineer with power to act. They were instructed to expend not to exceed one thousand dollars in tue work.
 Superintendent of Streets Doyle reported the bulkhead on North Front street, from Chapel street northerly, as being very much out of repair and something should be done with it. The matter was referred to Messrs. Reilly and Crawford to inquire and report.
 On motion of MT. Whitney the superiu- tendent of streets was instructed not to wa ter the top dressed streets more than once day. They have been watered twice day heretofore.
 The contract for straighening West river, which was not awarded at the last meeting, was taken up and referred to Mir. Crawford and City Engineer Hill with power to act. The Board then adjourned.