The Newtown bee., 1890-12-26
BRIDGEPORT.

Considerable surprise has been occa-
stoned because the Consolidated road,
after deal of trouble in securing OPP
tions on property along Lyon street and
near the present station, had allowed
three of the most important options to
lapse: Those on the property of Miller
& Strickland, the Bridgeport lumber
company and A. j. Beardsley. As pric
es on all three had apparently been sat
isfactory, the motive for this could not
at first be understood; but gentleman
who is interested in railroad matters and
in a position to catch floating straws
has given the BEE an inkling. A meet
ing of railroad men and others was held,
when new proposition, or an enlarge
ment of an old plan, was sprung. 1t was
simply to elevate the tracks through the
southern part of the city. But in order
to do so, they wished to cut down the
street on both sides distance of four
feet, in order that the supporting trestles
for the tracks need not be SO high. This
plan coolly proposed to close the western
South avenue crossing entirely, leaving
those who wish to reach the regions be-
low to go some distance around. Il
hope they'll not be allowed to do it at
all,'' said the BEES informant. TITS
bound to raise big row with property
all along the line. You know they once
compelled people to raise their houses
and lawns and sidewalks, when they car
ried Park avenue over the tracks. Can
they now compel people to undo this
work? And again: The ground is so low
there that drainage cannot be obtained
below certain level. The new sewer
laid on Railroad avenue isn't very mnch
more than four feet below the surface
and probably can't be put much lower ;
if the street is cut down, that sewer will
be SO near the surface that it will be
constantly broken by the heavy travel
on that street. What is most puzzling
about the elevation is the spur tracks for
the factories; they must be maintained
at grade. And the tracks will have to
cross the docks at grade. I've never be-
lieved that the road intended to trestle
the city and think now that it simply
wants to present lot of horrible plans
then show their new route and say, See
how nicely we can go through the north
ern part of the city without disturbing
anybody Then, when this new line il
done, only freights and a few locals will
be run over the old line. All indications
Il - bio, q
pleasant location just east of Clinton av
enue and not far below Sp0oner's farm
house. You know Mr. Spooner is vice
president of Adams express company
and can tell pretty closely the plans Of
4 the railroad. And p. L. Barnum ha!
credit for knowing a thing or two. Well
the way these have developed or helt
back certain lands in that vicinity, with
what have learned elsewhere, leads mt
i only to that conclusion. You'll find, i
the depot is moved, that the down towI
stores will scatter somewhat. And {
| mile or mile and a half from the center
of the city isn't much by horse car, or
rather, electric car, for that line is to run
up Clinton avenue, past this location
The few locals that might run over the
old tracks could use the Housatonic de
pot
Clinton avenue and neighboring streets
are rapidly building up with fine houses,
4 the residences of many families Of
wealth and position. Among those now
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