The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-04-24
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
NETV HAVEN AND FAIRFIELD C0UN-
 TY REPRESENI.A MEET


 mated Hearing Concerning Telephone
 TOlls-Address by President Tyler of the
 Company-Ma Other Matters of Inter
 est.
 Hartford, April 23.-There was meet ing of the representatives of New Ha- ven and Fairfield counties held at the capitol this morning at 11:30 to consider the use of the Washington bridge by electric cars, Representative Keller of Bridgeport, the clerk, called the meet ing to order and Senator Johnson of New Haven was appointed chairman. The agreement drawn up by the com mittees from the two counties was read by the clerk. It provides that the speed of cars shall be not over four miles an hour oyer the Washington drawbridge; cars of twenty-siX feet and weighing not more than twelve tons may be run; all trucks and teams shall have the right of way; the bridge to be strength ened by heavy steel beams under the double tracks; four electric lights on the bridge to be maintained; every car to stop thirty feet from the end of the bridge, the conductor to operate electric
 
 cross; the county commissioners to erect railings seven feet high at the side of the tracks; cars to be provided with lenders; the company to furnish extra power for operating the draw if found necessary; compensation to be at the rate of $6250 per quarter to the treasury of each county, the penalty for any vio- lation to be $50.
 The report of the committee was eX- plained in some of it's details. In reply to the question of why double track was to be laid it was stated that this provision would equalize the weight of the cars. The bridge is eighteen feet in width, with ample space for double track.
 MT. Wakeman of Westport suggested that the derailing switches used at the bridges on the New York division of the Consolidated road be used.
 MT. Marsh of Bridgeport stated that the ends of the bridge were protected by gates and it was required that the cars stop before going on the bridge. He thought the provisions for safety were ample.
 MT. Tucker of Ansonia thought there was hardly a possibility of a car run ming into the open draw.
 Mr. Wakeman said the people of Westport thought the Bridgeport Trac- ton company should pay from $1,5OO to S2, 900 per year for the service over the bridge.
 MT. Judson of Stratford said that in the committee he was opposed to the company paying any compensation. It was a free bridge and should not be. turned into a toll bridge. The bridge should be kept in repair by the rail road, but he was opposed to the idea of making the bridge a revenue producer. The service was for the benefit of the people who used the cars and who were unable to hire or own carriages. For five cents the company were to trans port people from Bridgeport to Milford, 3 distance of ten miles. Unless the cars could run over the bridge people would have to pay two or three fares.
 'I move" said Mr. Judson, that the of $500 be stricken from the contract
 'It only pays to operate the cars for six months in the year. This burden of should be entirely remov- ed for the benefit of these towns. There Is an influence working against this railroad It is the influence that this Is a parallel road. In any event, we want this electric road to cross the bridge"
 MT Downer of Hamden said that if the railroad used the bridge the life Of he structure would be shortened. The sum of $500 could apply to a bridge | sinking fund, MT. Judson said the engineer who con ,tructed the bridge had stated that it l would last for one hundred years. It | vas not necessary to legislate for the | lext century MT. Keller explained the agreement l urther He said the company would | blank the bridge at once, which would | ,ost $600 They would also illuminate l he bridge with electric light and erect | , safety railing For only six or eight | weeks would the operation of the road i ,ay. The people demanded this service. He seconded the motion to eliminate my compensation from the company | or this service. It was only fair that | he company should have the free use f the bridge.
 Senator Marigold stated that the com any was obliged to go to a great ex- ense in preparing the bridge and it. The bridge would be .ept in good repair by the company, Thich was great saving to the coun- les.
 MT. Judson said it had been intimated hat he was an attorney for various in- erests in the legislature. He denied hat he was an attorney for the trac- ion company. It had also been inti- lated that he was the attorney of ie Oyster Growers association, and of lw breakers, as adverse to the law and rder league. All such reports were un- 'ue. He had not the least interest in le traction company, and on the other and had prosecuted suits against the The people wanted to get ut of the city of Bridgeport into the ,untry and to the shore.
 MT. Fairchild of Trumbull saw no req ,n why the railroad should not pay ne half the expense of maintenance of le bridge, and of the interest on the )st of the same. MT. Tibballs of Milford thought the