The Newtown bee., 1892-07-01
Trumbull's Road Hearing.

David $. Clarke, s. M. Brinsmade, Lewis B. Gray, Lewis R. Beardsley, John L. Beardsley, G. W. Beach, Adolph Hine- set, Arthur Burr, $. l.. Thomas, Edgar Clark, Wells w. Lewis. It is the gener- al opinion among the farmers, who get $l 30 the first day and soc. each subse- quent day, that Lawyer Wheeler has been trying to unnecessarily prolong the case to increase the size of his own bill and delay the steps necessary to get the road before the court.
 Chester F. Brinsmade now works in Tait's paper mill, s. M. Brinsmade, his brother, running his farm. He describ- ed the rocky Daniels Farm hill and the new layout, which he thought feasible. Valued the POP acres to be taken for new road at $45 to $50 an acre and cost of fencing $1 rod. Used to make 100 to l25 quarts of milk daily. Even if old road could be graded and made fair country road, don't think it would com pare favorably with new route. If pub lie require better road, think it should be made. If an earth road was built close to hill, should think there would have to be some protection, perhaps a wall. Has been stalled on the hill with lumber.
 D. $. Clark has lived in Huntington 20 years and considers Daniels Farm road very hard and steep; upper part of hill ledgy and rocky. Usually takes along lever to act as brake in going down the hill. Harness broke and ran into ditch once; got stuck once going up hill. Helped man up the hill once. Should say that the new road was decidedly matter of common convenience and ne- cessity, but, if old road could be made same grade, would as soon have it. Ask ed the town to fix the road, but it didn't do it and they laid out couple hundred dollars themselves; guess have to do same thing again. Mir Clark, who was clear headed and clear in his testimony, described the repair of the Booth Hill road, which cost over $200 to repair. Went around the hill there, instead of grading it. Made road instead of a ca- nal. Man was generous enough to give right of way.
 s. M. Brinsmade has lived in Daniels Farm all his life. Old road steep, ledgy and springy; lower part soft. Man kill ed on hill some years ago. New road is required, but would be satisfied if old road could have same grade as new. Should say new road would want wall on lower side to keep dirt from washing of. New road would be less expensive, better for public and cost less to keep in repair.
 l.. B. Gray, farmer and undertaken, has lived in Huntington for 40 years. Rocks generally bare on Daniels Farm hill no foothold for horses. Has chain ed wheel and used lever to get down in safety. New road required and no indi- cations that it would be softer road than the average. Although under a hill, water need not stay on new road. Sluices could be built to carry it under the road. Something ought to be done for the good of the town. Should be satisfied if old road be made a fair road, substantially as good as new, but the question is, Will it ever be done? No hill as long or steep as this in coming from Bridgeport.
 Lewis B. Beardsley, son of Dr Boards ley, described old road as hard to travel and dangerous, but, if old road could be bettered, the new would not be called for.
 John L. Beardsley of Huntington kept the audience laughing over his quaint answers. Daniels Farm hill hard, steep grade, rocks often bare; new layout would obviate these difficulties. Radical change required, which new route would accomplish. If he had to pull through six inches of mud, should try to find some other way. Prefer longer route and easier grade; steep grade is wearing on team. Shouldn't say new road was called for, if old road could be made fair ly good, but thought it was understood that upper part was to be bare ledge of rocks, as it has been for years.
 G. W. Beach of Daniels Farm gave his testimony with clear toned delibera- tion that was effective and was often el- oquent. Lived in Daniels Farm all his life. Terrible hill to go up or down Nature has so formed it. Our ancestors laid out the road when it was nothing but a bridle path. Represents fourth generation of Beaches. When our fa- thers could, with ease, ride up, we can not draw up our loads. In former years, there was no city of Bridgeport; there is more to draw people that way now. When we have drawn heavy load down the hill and get back all tired out, the hill is too much for the 18th century to endure. One or two persons have been killed going down this hill. The Creator has provided better way not stones throw from this hill that we are toiling | up. Have seen cattle, with heavy load behind them, slide from one break to an- other. Upper part of hill one solid rock, in which horses can get no foothold. New road an absolute necessity; public demand it. Think $l00 an acre low enough for land to be taken. Would take nothing from Beaches without pay ing for it. New road would leave some of land on one hand, some on the other. Cattle way built and $1O0 an acre low enough. Think good road can be built, if perfectly drained. Easier to drain new road than if on level. Gentlemen commissioners, if you give us road, give us good road, or we don't want any. There are enough poor roads in the town of Trumbull. Newtown turn pike was improved at cost of $600o. We ask for a 5000 road, with $200 for fences. They refuse to give it. Didn't