The Newtown bee., 1892-06-24

sire to have the hill reduced, but don't care how it is done. If the hill was i graded reasonably that would satisfy me. l went around the proposed lay out two weeks ago. Went over it rather hastily. Should suppose it would catch some water from the hills on the east side. Ask for less grade, that is all.
 | The question whether the doctor would just as soon have the old road graded as a new road was objected to. Judge Beers stated his reasons. Said that If the town of Trumbull had voted to improve the old road, the circum- stances would be entirely different, but maybe they never will. This hearing is to take things as they are. Quite dis cussion as to whether the question was to be admitted. Judge Beers quoted from a Supreme court decision that common convenience and necessity mean reasonable public exigency. A large amount of travel will justify a large expenditure and small amount of travel will justify smaller expenditure.
 After dinner, it was decided to admit the question. Judge Beers took except ion. If the old road could be made the same grade, Dr Beardsley would just as soon have it. Signed the petition. Stat ed to LeGrand Beers, Saturday, that, when I signed the petition, thought it was to change the grade of the old road. May have told him that, in my opinion, it would be better to grade the old road | than to have a new. That has been my view. Seems to me, signed a petition, some years ago, in relation to grading the hill. Don't know whether anything was done about it. In my judgment, would prefer the smallest grade possible. Have travelled up hills so much have a horror of them. The hill is very obiec- tionable as it is. Should take the least grade, other conditions being equal.
 Dr Seth Hill of Tashua knows both roads. Travel over the old road once or twice month. Have known it 25 years. In my judgment, it is matter of con- venience to have new road. It isn't a necessity to have a road at all. In the blizzard, it was blocked and people got along without it (laughter). The new road is easier to travel; not so steep. The old road is quite steep and crooked. In Winter, if an icy time, it is slippery. Use the road to travel on Qaughter). Went over the new road twice within two weeks. All roads made of dirt are necessarily soft in muddy time. The up- per part of the road will be soft, be- cause springy. The same dirt brought down to fill in the lower part will not be necessarily muddy. If the old road could be graded sufficiently, common convenience would be satisfied. Quite a good deal of timbering done of late years. The old road isn't in any repair, most of the time. You go over the rocks and that's the end of it. Put any thing on and it's off pretty quick. If I was in a hurry, should go the short road. If with load, should go around.
 Dr John G. Stevens of Monroe is ac- quainted with old road. Do not know the new road personally, The old road is very steep. Particularly in Winter hard to travel. In my opinion, the new road would be much better road and a matter of necessity, as we'll as conven- fence. Have been over the old road a good many times and think the proposed layout the most feasible of any could think of. Never particularly examined the old road to see if it could be graded. If the old road could be graded same as new road, it would, in my opinion, be preferable, because a shorter route. If a person had a light load and wanted to save time, he. would take shorter road even if sleeper grade. In my rides as physician, should prefer the short route. If the road over the old hill was graded to II feet to 100, think it would be a matter of common convenience and ne- cessity to have new road with less my judgment, the convenience of the travelling public and necessity means the carrying of heavy loads up and down the old road. Think I petitioned the town to make a new road. Am a sub- scriber to the petition.
 Lewis Brinsmade of Trumbull lives little over half mile from the layout. Was born in the neighborhood. The travel is business and pleasure travel. Most of the farmers are engaged in the milk business. Four milk wagons go over the road daily. Road to church, grist mill, post office; carriage back from Bridgeport is grain and coal. Is a very hard hill to get load up; take three quarters of 8 load. In Winter, ice obstructs the road and have to cut away the ice before going up the hill. Snow fills in in Winter. Last Winter, it had to be shovelled out. Always use shoe to block wheels in passing up and down the hill. Two or three are kept at top and bottom for use. Have been over the new layout. First, second and third fields were owned by Edwards Beach. He has turned them oyer to Ste phen Beach, his nephew. First lot is good soil, meadow, gentle slope; second, steep grade, thin soil, grass and sowed corn; third, pasture lot; fourth, Ste phen Beach owns, very good pasture. In my judgment, it is a matter of com mon convenience and necessity to have new road. This new road would benefit me and my neighbors. Cannot tell in dollars how much. The road cut through the farms diagonally would be benefit to them. Stephen Beach is one of the greatest travellers on the road. Could carry third more load by the new route. There will be short hill left. but horse can. when fresb take a