Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-09
LOCOMOTIVE sCREECH1NG

LOCOMOTIVE sCREECHING
 Is Not Popular withfn the Limits of
 waterbury-A Number of Gentlemen
 GiveTheir Objections to The Rail- !
 road Commissioners.
 In the district court room this morning | Railroad Commissioners Hayward, Sey- mour and Woodruff met the complainants against the superfuous car whistling which has disturbed the people of Water bury residing in the neighborhood of the crossings. Superintendent Beach of the Naugatuck branch of the N. Y., N. H. & H. railroad, Superintendent Platt of the New England road and Superintendent Crawford of the M. w. & 0. R. railroad were present to represent their respective roads. Lawyer Terry appeared for the city. In introducing the witnesses MT Terry said additional testimony was re- quired to show how far whistling could be cessity for whistling before an engineers house nor to call into the yard men who are out for drink, nor to whistle at all crossings, some of which are not yet opened. There was no serious complaint against the Nau- gatuck or the Meriden road, but the prin- cipal objections were raised against the New England.
 The first witness called was F. B. Rice, living near the New England road cross ings. He thought this continued whistling at night was unnecessary. From o'clock in the morning until 3:15 he counted twenty-two whistles, coming within radius of fifteen minutes. He thought something should be done to remedy the nuisance. He did not think the public would be endangered by the cessation of whistling, as the ringing of the bell would answer the purpose.
 J. I. Elton voiced the opinions of NIT Rice. He was decidedly opposed to the man. He thought that it was unnecessary to blow four or five times to call in brakeman. He thought a bell letter safeguard than a whistle and would especially urge the disuse of so many signals between different engines. l A. O. Chase was not acquainted with the method nor code of signals, but thought that this continued whistling to wake man was entirely ucnalled for and unnec essary. A messenger could be employed, saving time and avoiding nuisance. He did not know whether as he grew older his learning was improving, but of late the nuisance had been terrible. It seemed as if the signalling was done to receive the echo which sounded so musical to the ears of an engineer on still night.
 l G. s. Parsons touched more on the crossing question. He thought between the hours of p. m. and 6 a.. m., with the exception of the Washington express, whistling could be dispensed with. He even when it was allowed. A bell would be sufficient warning on freight trains coming in early in the morning.
 M. Guilfoile claimed that no whistle was blown until the train was on the crossing at South Riverside street and then the whistling was so frequent after a. m. sleep was impossible to any people living in that vicinity. He counted six trains inside of thirty minutes on Sunday morn ing, all blowing the usual screeching signal, and was of the opinion that it was time some action was taken to put stop to it.
 Rev J. H. Duggan said that there was really only difference of train and one half, and within that distance eighty whistles are blown during the night. He was compelled to cease administering to the sick at different times, the screeching whistles so affected the patients. He would suggest that the gate tenders be loft on until after the Washington express had passed by. He thought the engineers take delight in whistling when they know |
 Fire Commissioner Kelly was of the opinion that coming into the city limits a continued ringing of the bell was sufficient. Traffic continues until II o'clock, after that hour whistling could be dispensed with Dr Dubru cited few sick cases where the whistling was source of annoyance and prevented the quick recovery of the
 persons ill. He was also of the opinion that after 1Op p. m. until 6 a. m. whistling could be done away with.
 All the witnesses seemed to agree on the
 hours when the whistling should cease ,| Superintendent Beach said that as it was l seldom any trains run on the Naugatuck after 10 o'clock he could voice any opinion on the matter. As to the signals, uni. versal custom was being or is established
 whereby all roads will use the same An, swering signals must be given, but the f force could be so regulated that the whist
 ling would not be a nuisance. Three 2 years ago short whistles were ordered
 on the Naugatuck road and at the l present time the law is thor signals for fire, distress and danger, and
 on several occasions have used them to the , city's good. He would be satisfied with |, any law laid down by the commissioners Superintendent Platt of the New Eng , land road, against which road the most l complaints are made, agreed with the wit 1 nesses that too much whistling had been lndulged in by tho engineers. He said
 they whistled now for five crossings but , could conveniently cut down the number He said they used no whistles within the
 limits of Hartford or New Britain and
 could include Waterbury in that list He
 would prefer, however, to have the com
 missioners make the law for the whole
 twenty-four hours rather than between
 any certain hours.
 West Main and Bank street crossings
 were the ones over which the traffic is
 the greatest, and the commissioners will
 probably issue the law to read No