Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-03-28
WATERBURY RAILROAD MATTERS

Committee Upon Two Important Bills.
 | Representative O'Neill, Gordon B. 1 Lawrence, John Byron. Mark $. Chip
 man and others appeared before the | railroad committee at Hartford yeSter- day afternoon in the interest of the bill prohibiting locomotives whistling with | in the limits of Waterbury between 10 o'clock D.. m. and 5 a. m. In the hear | ing it was brought out that there are | four crossings in the Brooklyn district and that every train passing through night or day whistled sixteen times. Committeeman Amber suggested that perhaps the railroad commissioners
 would abate the whistling. After the above hearing closed the union station
 bill was taken up and arguments pro
 and con were presented. Representa- tive ONeill explained the bill and said
 that the present was as good an oppor- tunity as ever would be for the erection of union depot. There was vacant land near the depot, and by d slight change in the rails the desired result could be obtained at comparatively little expense. He said there would be objection to the railroad commissioners fixing the site, but wanted it understood
 that the work should be completed at a certain time.
 City Attorney Terry said that the
 New England and Naugatuck road
 should run parallel, through the city thus avoiding many grade crossings. City Engineer Weld explained three
 plans. By the first a change of track began at the Bank street station of the
 Naugatuck road. The tracks were nov
 ed to the south and west, cutting off part
 of the Curtis property, where the coal sheds stand, crossing the New England | road about 100 feet farther to southwest | than at present. The Naugatuck track would then curve to the north, running | nearly parallel with the present New | England road and west of it, giving a | long straight stretch of track in the mid q He of which a union station would be | located, facing on Meadow street south
 of the present New England station. The Naugatuck track would then curve | to the west, cutting across the corner of the Brass companyS yard and joining | it's own track again. By this plan l the New England track, entering the | city from Hartford just south of West | Main street, would swing over to the west and then run parallel to the Nauga- tuck track just described. After pass | ing the present station it would curve to the east, and come back on the present New England track. This plan necessi- | tates taking some land from the Curtis
 heirs and Waterbury Brass company and
 would necessitate a change of both roads in their yards to some extent. The esti-
 mated cost would be 800, ,O00, $50, ,000 of
 which would be for the station. The second plan was to make the cross ing of the New England and Naugatuck roads a little south and west of the pres | ent crossing, and place the station in the | angle where the two tracks crossed fac | ing on Meadow street, with long covered platforms running up the New England | track and down the Naugatuck track. | No land would have to be taken, but the tracks would have to be shifted some what in the road yards. The cost would be about S62 ,0O0, including station The third plan outlined by MT Weld brought the New England over the Naugatuck track near the present juno
 tion of the Watertown branch with the Naugatuck road, and brought the New England down on the west side of the Naugatuck road parallel to it, both roads crossing over West Main street. It then
 changed the Naugatuck branch to run parallel to the New England road from the present New England station
 to Fifth street. both roads passing over Bank street, Burnham street and Fifth street. 1t placed the station practically
 
 This plan eliminated grade crossings. The cost would be S24S, 900 exclusive of right of way.
 F. B. Rice, L. l. Munson, c. H. Bron- son and others spoke of the need of the
 proposed union station.
 Judge Lynde Harrison, who appeared
 for the Consolidated, was opposed to the passage of what he termed drastic bill.
 Attorney Robinson, who also watched the interests of the Consolidated, thought 1 the matter should be left with the rail | road com -niSsioners.
 Attorney Robbins, representing the New England road, thought the matter should be left to the railroads to agree on.
 Superintendent Charles M. Crawford of the Meriden road said his road ter minated at Fifth street. He would not feel like building another mile of track. If necessary his road could come down | tn