The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1889-01-04


There we have the New York and New
England; the Housatonic main line; the
Danbury and Norwalk division of the
Housatonic railway and it is the south
erl terminus of the Shepaug, Litchfield
and Northern. One station building is
used by all roads, securing convenience
in changing from one road to another;
equal in point of fact, though not as
elaborate in arrangement as the union
depots in many of our larger places.
There is seldom minute of the day that
one cannot see a train there and, Oft
times, from two to a half dozen, all busy
and working under a complete system,
which has secured for the place a repu-
tation for accuracy in work and safety to
property, which is not a small consider
alton.
About 20 trains in "a hours pass, de-
part from or arrive at Hawieyyille sta
ton. The Winter schedules, of course,
show a smaller number of trains than
the Summer schedules. Yet what Is lost
in passenger traffic is made up in increas-
ed freight traffic and, though the pleas
ant countenances of many people who
pass to and from their city and country
residences during the Summer, are miss
ed for the Winter months, yet their boxes,
barrels and bundles pass back anG forth
and keep their memory eyer green. 1t
is practice, among people who own
country places and who live in New York
or adjacent cities during the Winter, to
obtain their supplies from their country
places, thereby having them fresh and
from their own farms. Many obtain their
daily supply of milk and butter in the
same way, shipping by express to secure
rapid transportation and quick delivery.
A four wheeled truck, with the capac-
| ity of a common hay rigging, is used in
transferring this matter at Hawleyville
and it often happens that there are two
men hold of the tongue and one ON each
corner showing, to move the truck from
one train to the other. In the Summer,
there are sometimes two and sometimes
three Of these monster truck loads to
transfer. Everyone about the station
moves with rapidity, accuracy and decis-
ion, knowing just what to do to save
time and just how to do it.
| The station building has become en-
tirely inadequate for the service and
alterations are being made which will so
alter and improve the convenience Of
handling business that its present incon-
venience will be entirely forgotten in its
| added greatness. large addition is be-
/ ing made on the westsend, extending the
\ main building so feet in that direction.
"a platform will be built 20 feet long by
30 wide at the west end and will taper to
ls10 Feet wide at the end joining the sta
i ton. 1t will be the height of a car floor.
Side tracks are to be built alongside this
platform for the accommodation of cars
Ito be loaded and nnloaded at the station.
The local business of the station is of
no great consideration, but the transfer
ring from one road to another of small
lots OF miscellaneous merchandise will
4 foot up many carloads a month. It's nc
exaggeration to say that 200 cars pei
4 month would not accommodate that SER
i vice, while the transfer Of solid ear loads
1 will foot up rnany hundreds per month,
it being nothing unusual for Is cars pei
day to be interchanged between all
roads.
4 This immense business is handled BY
one set Of men, paid by all roads inter
ested at the station. Mr. E. F. Jones acts
as joint agent. with one assistant in the
freight department, two telegraph oper
ators during the day, one acting as tick
ct seller and one operator nights; two
assistants about the station to look aftel
signals, baggage, express, lighting thu
station and switches and four car inspect
ors, three on day duty and one for thu
night. With increased facilities, there
Il viii probably be increased work, there
fore more to do It.
+ Thus we mark the advance Of the rail
road business done within the limits 9.
our own town and, while NewtoWn PEG
pie may never give the matter d thought
iit nevertheless follows tina, with oui
Bofsford and our Hawley vile, we are il
\ Il faIr way 10 become an important poin
III fIlis ea NH y surface and our sssleep'
mar ni)t be 30 sound With a these train
I tddis 4 few NOR