The Newtown bee., 1892-06-24
Trumbulps Proposed New Road.


 The first hearing on the proposed change of layout of the road through the Beach property in-the Daniels Farm dis trict was held at the County court house at Bridgeport, Saturday at 10 a m. The committee before whom the hearing was held was Patrick Coughlin of Bridgeport, Tallmadge Baker of Norwalk and Moses Treadwcll of Weston. The application for the change of the present layout is made by the taxpayers of the district, who wish to have the road built around the hill, instead of running over it, as the highway now does. The selectmen op- pose the application on the ground that the present layout can be cut down to a satisfactory grade. Lockwood & Beers represent the petitioners and Wheeler & Curtis the town. Fifty men were pres ent in the spacious and airy room and witnesses on behalf of the petitioners first took oath.
 D. s. Brinsmade of Shelton, civil en- gineer, was called upon and made sur vey of the proposed layout. A map of the road was produced. It would leave the present highway 225 feet south of the residence of Edwards Beach and run on the west side of the hill. The length of the road is 1S25.S feet, the width laid out 90 feet; the grade of the road eight feet to the 100. No rock construction on the provided for, the ordinary width of coun- try roads.
 Made an estimate of cattle bridge six by eight feet; judge it could be con- strueted for about $100; 10S0 feet of stonework at 9c per foot, $97, stringers feet long, 800 feet of timber cost about $l0; whole cost somewhere from $100 to $ll0. There are sections of the other road that has fall of 14.13 in 100 feet. Another section has a fall of 12.7 to LOG feet. Quite portion of the road has a fall of l2 feet to the 100. Cost of con- struction of new road $6 a rod; 1l0.65 rods in new road.
 Have half interest in lot of five acres on top of hill; have not seen 1t in some years; it may have shrunk. MT Brins- made certified the maps and measure ments offered to be correct.
 Have had entire charge of the Housa- tonic Water Go. for the last 21 years, with most of the local surveying in that vicinity and engineer for Shelton and Birmingham.
 Was born at Daniels Farm. Know the road thoroughly. In my judgment, the new road is certainly advisable. No knowledge of land values. In the upper section, $40 yards of dirt are to be nov ed. Have not figured up the amount of dirt required to fill in. Have not cross sectioned the road, so cannot tell the number of yards of dirt it would take to fill in. Judged by observation and pre- vious experience in that kind of work. Looked over the road yesterday. Veri- fled the map yesterday, but did not have the map with me. The points were talk en once in 100 feet. This map is fair representation.
 Would keep within the layout, but take advantage of the ground. Between a road 900 feet long and II feet grade to the 100, or road 1900 feet long and eight feet to the 100, 1 should haul load around the road that had the lesser grade. l think in practice I should take the lesser grade every time. Should think there would be sluices and culverts required on this road, which would be additional expense. Am not prepared to say how many it will take. Made no pro vision for water shed; that will be ex- tra cost. Based on my judgment, one or more culverts will be needed. Think that two culverts would take care of it. Think there are lots; should prefer to look the ground over before telling in what lots to put the culverts. It would be an ordinary country road; not as soft as the upper part of the road now is. Did not notice that rye had ceased to grow in field on the proposed layout on account of springy and wet field. Es- timate did not provide for fences. That will be necessary on each side of road. That will be an extra expense. Should suppose that the new road, built on a side hill, would be less expensive to take care of than the old road. Should cart dirt from the upper section to fill in grade, then take extra dirt from a con- venient place. Don't think that neces- sity would arise. Should get dirt from between section GOO and 800. It would be better to have road straight. The old road has short crooks that would be worse than the bends in the new road. If all things were equal, l should take the shorter road. The old road is over half hard bottom. One objection occurs to me about the old road; more liable to get blocked with snow and ice. It doesn't seem to me practical to improve the old road in its present route. Have not fig ured on the expense of improving the old road. In my judgment, the new road would be preferable, if the expense of constructing the new road were the same as grading the old road. If the old road was graded to II feet to the 100 and in good shape and so fixed that the elements would not obstruct it, should not be sure that common convenience and ne- cessity would require new road. There would be question in my mind. Was at MT Beach's, last Fall. Don't know the grade of the hill near MT Beach's. Think there are boulders, but no solid rock on the proposed layout. The new road takes down some apple trees. Es- timate did not include the value of the trees, but did their.removal. Did not es- innate the distance on old road sub- ject to grade. From sections 900 to 1000 found grade l4.13 to 100.