Morning journal and courier., 1894-04-19
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

tiOn of tho Committee on Ra1lroads ana Bridges That No Necessity K1- 1sts For a Flagman There-State Street Road to Extend to the C1ty Line-The Committee to Take an Early Drive over the Centerville Route Saturday Morning.
 The committee on railroads and bridges held an interesting meeting in the city hall last evening, at which a number of the rail- road magnates of the city were present. Among these were Attorney George D. Wstrous, President Parmelee and Superin- tendent Graham, representing the Fair Haven and Westville Railroad company; Hon. Lynde Harrison and Attorney Carl ton E. Hoadley, representing the New Ha- ven and Csnterville Street Railway com pany: Attorney s. Harrison Wagner and President Corey, representing the State Street Railroad company; John I. Good rich and . number of property owners who, are interested more or less in rapid slansit between New Haven and Centerville.
 The first petition taken up was that of the New Haven and Centerville' Railway company for permission to use electricity ss 6 motive power, to lay double tracks on Elm street, on Broadway. on Dixwell ave nue and on Shelton avenue, from Dixwsll avenue to Cherry Ann street. Ex Judge Harrison was the first speaker of the even ing in favor of the petition. He said that he represented the company and was au- thorizsd to state that the company was willing to make any agreement or file any hor1 mi he o{< {<xyo o{p ko ments which the city has made with the other street railway companies, and stood ready at any time to make any reasonable changes or alterations in the plans and specifications as might be suggested by the committee.
 Attorney Hosdley explained-th plans of the company at length and was followed by Civil Engineer Fields, who drew the plans of the road. Not single taxpayer, property owner or resident along the line opposed the petition and in consequence the question was tabled for consideration in executive session.
 Attorney s. Harrison Wagner, repre- senting the State street road, appeared in favor of the petition of that company for permission to construct its tracks through State street. from Bishops Gate to the city line. It Is intended to build this road for the accommodation principally of the German contingent of the city, as 1t will enable them to reach Scheutzsn park by rapid transit, instead of by slow coaches as at present. The plans of con- struction, which were prepared by Civil Engineers Hill and Ferry,4Were explained at length by David Corey, president of the New Haven Street Railway company, which owns and operates the State street road.
 The petition was also favored by Charles Gerner, who, ss he said, is member of nearly every German society in the city and also by several other German resi- dents of the city.
 The petition of John E. Doughan to cause the Fair Haven and Westville Rail road company to locate . fsgman at the crossing of the Consolidated Railroad com pany at Grand avenue. In support of the petition MT. Doughan stated that the com pany evidently considered the crossing a dangerous one or 1t would not compel its conductors to leave their car and run ahead of it across the crossing. He also made the suggestion that the man who is at present stationed at Chapel and State streets with the word ''Starter" on his cap might be utilized to excellent advantage at that point.
 President Pa,melee of the Fair Haven
 
 that the company was taking every precau- tion possible for the safety of it's psssen gers, and 1t was for this reason that the conductors were compelled to run in ad. vance of their cars. He also eaid that in his opinion the Bridge street crossing was much more dangerous and in consequence yesterday he had caused an order to be promulgated compelling conductors to run that crossing also.
 Superintendent Graham stated that in his opinion there was no necessity for . faRman at the point in question. There had been no accident there for a number impossible for one to occur as none of the csrs of the road are allowed to go on to the Consolidated's tracks until the driver of the car received 6 sig Ral from the conductor that the road wss clear-and then again there is Q signal tower there that gives signals to the engi- neers of all approaching trains. This rule is strictly lived up to by the Fai1 Haven road and all drivers and conductors who have failed to live up to this rule have been summarily dismissed from the employ o1 the company.
 At this point Councilman Brown said "Well, this crossing may be dangerous, but am sure 1t Is not nearly 50 dangerous
 
 avenue" and this opinion was apparently shared by the majority of the committee. Attorney Watrous presented the legal aspect of the question, and closed his argu- ment by propounding the following ques- tion to the committee: "How much of an advantage would 1t be to place fsgmsn there and have him take the place of the conductorsa In my opinion tho work of the conductors is much preferable and cer- tainly more likely to be satisfactory" No member of the committes essayed to an aver the query. Continuing, MT. Watrous stated that all grade crossings were being abolished as rapidly as possible, and 1t would, in his opinion, be but question of few years at most when all grade cross. ings would be things of the past.
 In executive session the committee voted to give leave to withdraw to the petition for fsgman at Grand avenue crossing, granted the petition of the State Street Railroad company and decided to drive over the New Haven and Centerville road Sat urday morning at 7 o'clock.
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