The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-10-26
AGAIN THOSE CAR G0NGS.
DISC USED BEFORE COMMITTEE ON
RAILROADS IND BRIDGES.

and COn-Councilman Curtis Scores the |
Railroads. Tacties--Win Await Supreme
Court Decision.
There was a large number of inter
ested citizens at the hearing before the
committee on railroads and bridges of
the court of common council at the city
hall last night. The first matter con-
sidered was the petition for the aboli-
ton of the multiple gongs on the cars
of the Fair Haven and WestviEe road
Fred c. Earle was the first speaker for
the petitioners. He said the gongs were
a decided public nuisance. 1t might be
perhaps that the trouble was more in
the use of the gong than in the bell it.
self. The bylaw requires that a gong
should be rung several times before a
crossing, and 1t is easier to- press this
button once and make the number Of
rings required by the one effort Mr.
Earle kept count of one car, No. 80, from
Gregson alley to the east side of Churcn
street, and it was rung nine times,
there being five or six strokes each time,
and there was not an obstacle In the
way.
Frank c. Bushnell was the next speak
er. He stated that he had had to stay
home all summer and had to sleep with
the windows open. The gong should be
modified as 1t is rung five times as
much as 1t is needed on West Chapel
street "I should think that the Off
cals of the Fair Haven road would be
ashamed of themselves to wait minute
in favoring their patrons by discontin-
uing this devilish noise. IF it was a
benefit to any body wouldn't say a
word, but 1t is used nowhere else and
should not be allowed here"
Mr.. c. S. Leete thought if the road
sense and Judgment there wouldn't be
so much noise. DIR. Dow said that
there was no one in the room who could
say this noise was necessary. Mr..
Howe, Of the firm of Howe & Stetson,
favored a single stroke gong.
F. G.. Coolidge said in the course of a
lengthy argument that the motormen
can ring the bell so easily that they like
to keep it going, If they want to they
can strike one or two taps. Many times
the gongs are not used at all Last
night a motorman ran from Elm street
to Norton street without a single alarm
at any crossing The minute this petit
ton Is removed the gong will be rt1ng
500 times where it now rung hun-
dred He suggested that one of the
hammers of the bell be removed and
then they gve 1t a trial Mr.. Coolidge
said he appeared for several other peo-
pie who were not good speakers, and
and did not like to see their remarks
in print.
The only one speaking In favor of
the gong was Mr.. Larkins, who said he
came to give his experience In travelling
on a wagon around town, and he
thought the gong was necessary Many
a time he would have been run over If
it was not for this gong. I live on
Whalley avenue and don't think the
present gong as much of nuisance
as the old horse car bells a-jingling all
the time.
In executive session the committee de-
cided to take the matter under consider
alton and see If the action of the bell
cannot be modified as to be unobjection-
able.
The matter Of the extension of the
Winchester avenue railroad through
Washington street was then taken up,
although Attorney Webb, for the rail-
road, desired an adjournment, as Presi-
~ 40
The remonstarnts were heard first and
Attorney c. T. Coyle took the floor first
He objected to the road on two grounds:
First, that the street was too narrow,
being only twenty-seven feet wide; and,
secondly, it was the only street leading
from New Haven to West Haven in
which trese was no car tracks. 1t
might be benefit to people at the end
of the route or on the side tsreets,
but it would be a damage to property
on the line.
He was opposed to the line unless the
road paid for the privilege in damages
to property holders along the route. 1t
was only a petition for a single track
now; later 1t would be double track.
A fair sample of the damage done by
the electric roads was the proposed wild
ening of Grand avenue with damages
listed at over 100000 which would new
er have been necessary but for the oc-
cupancy of the street by the electric
road
To Mr.. Webb he stated that he knew
the company had secured a franchise
from the legislature, but 1t had not been
sanctioned by the common council. He
ought to have appeared before the legis-
lative committee, but he realized that
he had no chance against such men as
represented the Winchester avenue
road there.
He had his home partly sold to po-
liceman, but upon learning of the in
tended road, the intending purchaser
dropped his figure $500.
Mr. Armstrong, representing the Tru-
man Allyn estate of over ], 200 feet front
age was opposed to the road. He
thought that the road should pay dam
ages. Mr.. Stevens, who owns some 300
feet, said 1t would damage his property
and be a detriment to his four stores.
To Mr. Webb he said the cars might
take some of his customers down town
to trade.
Mr. Webb then presented a petition
for the building of the road from George
w Skinner and forty-two Others 1t
was decided not to receive the petition