Morning journal and courier., 1893-09-01
NO ACTION TAKEN.

The Board of Selectmen Listen to Ar
guments in Reference to the Edge
wood and Fair Haven and Westvflle
EIoadsin Westville, but Defer Action
Until Next Tuesday.
The selectmen at special meeting last
evening wrestled with the question as to
whether to grant the Edgewood Street
Railroad company or the Fair Haven and
Westville company the right to run tracks
through Orange and Fountain street in
westville. The Edgewood company was
represented by Judges Callahan and Hotch-
kiss, W. J. Atwater, J. P. Bogart, L. W.
Beecher and Attorney Zacher, while Attor-
neys Moran and Bucklsnd ably looked after
the interests of the Fair Haven and West
Vile road. No action was, however, taken
on the subject.
At the opening of the session Judge CAL
lahan introduced J. P. Bogart, the engineer
of the company, who explained at length
the pans and specifications of the proposed
road.
Attorney Hobart L. Hotchkiss, secretary
for the Edgewood avenue road, said that
some twenty odd years ago the company
was formed, but no work had been COM
menced. Later, several years ego, applica-
ton was made to the general assembly, but
as the legislature did no business no fran
chise for the uss of electricity was granted.
The last general assembly, however, grant
ed the company franchise and it was now
ready to 60 ahead and push the work to
completion The first payment on the
stock Gas been called in and 1t was the in
| teptton to build the road as soon as pos
sible.
Attorney David Callahan alec appeared
| in the interests of the Lakewood Street
| Railroad company. He stated that the
| people he represented were prepared to GO
| ahead at once and build an electric road.
In reply to question from one of the Sc
| lectmen as to whether the Edgewood ave-
nue. road was going to sell out to the Fair
Haven and Westvilie road Judge Callahan
replied that the road was not to be built
with any such object in view, but he did
not know whether the company would sell
out or not. In any event, said he, the
company ia composed of men of finsncia
responsibility, and as their representative
l can guarantee to you that there will bt
no trouble experienced from any of the
| property owners in that section. We ar,
| willing to accept permission from thi
board to build the road on the special pro
viso also that the town is not to be put tt
| any expense for tbs acquisition of any par
of the road. He also made strong poin
of the priority of right of the Edgewoot
company.
Attorney Zacher, ". J. Atwater and L
W. Bsecher as directors and stakeholder
of the Edgewood avenue company reiter
ated the statements made by its represen
tatiyss to the effect that the road would b
built at once.
| Attorney James T. Moran, representing
the Fair Haven and Westville road, whic
had filed modified plans for the extension
of its tracks in Westville, said: am no
here to apologize for anything which ma
have been done in the past by the road.
has been stated by the representatives of tn
| Edgewood company that the compan
which I represent do not intend to equi
the road electrically very soon and probi
bly, never will. It seems to me that tbi
comes with poor grace from a compan
which acknowledges that it has held
franchise for over twenty years, and ha
. yet done nothing. I state most emphat
cally that the road will be electr
. cally equipped as soon as poss
BILE, and if We secure permissioo
we shall, in my opinion,
! operating the cars by electricity certainl
. | by the latter part of next spring or earl
, | in the summer. I deny most emphaticall
! | that the Edgewood company has priorit
!, | of right, but the two roads have equ
. rights. The question of one road usir
the others tracks ia not question for IL
selectmen to decide as that matter is CO
, cred by the general law of the state. tt
. Fair Haven and Westville road submitte
its plans over two mouths ago and If OF
plans are approved by the selectmen v
are willing and ready to go to work
Westville az once.
+ In reply Judge Callahan stated that Il
. | franchise granted to the Edgewood cor
| pany compelled them to commence the la
| ing of its tracks on George street, the mo
| valuable portion of its franchise, befo
July 1, 1894, as after that date the Fs
4 Haven and Westville road had the right
o lay its track on that street. The Edgewo'
company must build Its road at once
order to retain its rights, and was ready
J. do so as soon as permission was given.
r In executive session the selectmen di
| cussed the question in its various aspec
;. and voted to defer action on the matt
a until the next regular meeting next Tue
dav