Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-26
RAILROAD HEARING.

Over 5000 Foot Passengers and 1000
 Teams Passed the Washington
 Avenue and West Main Street CrOss- inRs Within Eight Hours.
 Railroad Commissioners Woodruff, Rob- inson and Seymour sat on the bench in the district court this morning and listened to arguments for and against the erection of gates at the Washington avenue and West Main street crossings. City Attor- ney Burpee was present to look after the citv's interests. Superintendent Platt of the N. Y. N. Fl. & H. k. R. and Super intendent Beach of the Naugatuck division, Attorney J. P. Kellogg and many members | of the board of aldermen were also present City Attorney Burpee in opening said that he presumed that the commissioners
 were pretty familiar with the crossings in | question. Last Saturday a man was sta- toned at each crossing from eleven in the | morning until seven in the evening, and
 each made the following report: At the
 West Main street crossing between those | hours l ,235 foot passengers and S45 teams
 passed. At the Washington avenue cross- ing within the hours 1, ,932 foot passen- gers and 2S1 teams passed.
 Commissioner Woodruff said that the case becomes more of legal enquiry than | that of fact The commissioners had al- l ready found that these crossings ought to | be eliminated. and made an order to that effect some eight years ago, which order
 was appealed from by the city.
 Attorney Burpee said that the city had attempted to withdraw the appeal twice. until the possible changes of the | union station had been fixed. The rail
 road people had objected, because it would
 throw the whole of the expense of Burn
 ham street on them. The superior court | would not allow the withdrawal and an | appeal had been taken to the supreme
 court. The city was tired of paying man | at the Washington avenue crossing. He | had friendly conversation with the off,
 cials of the Consolidated road and they
 had suggested that the city make applica- ton to the commissioners to order gates at both crossings.
 SuperintendentSPlatt said that Attorney Burpee was mistaken in regard to the | friendly conversation. The matter was
 already in the hands of the courts and the | company was not willing to hire flagman
 or erect gates until the matter was dispos
 of in the proper way. There was no par
 ticular contention but that it should re-
 main as it was until the courts settle it. Attorney Burpee said it was a character |
 had prevented the withdraw wal of the appeal,
 which was taken with the concurrence of
 this road in order to have this interminable
 unien station matter settled. It is not the
 city's act, but theIr's, because they would | have to pay the expense of the Burnham | street crossing. The elecric bell does not | work at the West Main street crossing and
 people are endangered.
 Road Commissioner Tracy told of ac-
 cidents happening within two years to dis
 prove the statement of Superintendent Platt that none had been reported at the
 Washington avenue crossing. He told of | his own narrow escape since the hagman
 had been placed there, when he got within
 fifteen feet of the track before the lagman
 warned him of danger. They are two of
 the worst crossings in the state, he said. Attorney Burpee said that within a week
 a prominent official of the road had said
 that if the city made application the road | would seriously object. and he supposed | the commissioners had the authority to
 protect the people.
 l Commissioner Woodruff wanted to know
 the hours a fagman would be required to stand at the crossings, and the hours from
 six in the morning until nine at night for
 the Washington avenue crossing and six | in the morning until eight in the evening at the West Main street crossing were given.
 Commissioner Woodruff said that they
 would take the case ard unless there was some disagreement on the legal status of the present cases, the question of negli- gence either on the part of the city or the railroad would be decided and public
 safety insured.