Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-02-01
A Question Of Frogs.

The State board Of railroad commits
sloners gave a hearing in the reading
room of the Elmwood hotel Friday i'm
| the case OF the Maine Central petitioners
and the Waterville & Fairfield Railway
and Light ca.
| IL appears from the allegations of the
petitioners that the frogs, now in service
| at the crossing where the tracks of the
Waterville & Fairfield Railway and Light
Co, cross the tracks of the Maine Central
| in Fairfield, are considerably worn and
cndanger the public safety through the
traffic on both lines. II also appears that
| the Maine Central civil engineer who re-
Gently inspected the crossing decided tn VI
it was unsafe, and instructed the road
master to put up SLOW boards" at points
on each side OF the crossings: that the re-
suit Of said engineers inspection was the
issuance of an order from the 4, ne. Il
managers office, requiring all engineers
OF the Maine Central to slow down to a
speed of not over four miles an hour.
This order has been in effect several days
There does not appear TO be any serious
objection to changing or putting in new
frogs, by the Waterville & Fairfield Rail
way and Light Co, hut rather the ques.
WIN WIZ sunni tfit tAlttlSt VI tue
same, is for determination by the commits
s.oners
MI. Allen, the civil engineer of the
Maine Central testified TO his having in
s2ected the crossing and the result of
said inspection rs stated above, and that
ii was the general custom of street rail
roads in Maine TO provide the frogs at
points where such crossed the tracks OF
he Maine Central. He had reported the
condition of the frogs vt Fairfield to the
general manager office of the Maine
Central, and he knew that Mr.. Libby OF
the Waterviile x Fairfield Road, had been
requested to put in new frogs. There was
no specified form or style Of frog that the
Maine Central asked to have pnt in at
Fairfield; ii was only asked that the frogs
be made safe.
Mr.. Haines, for the W x T. Railroad
Co, asked MIR. A lien to put in as evidence
the drawings of the frogs now in use Mr..
Haincs had succeeded in obtaining the
number Of cars that had passed ovelssthe
crossing on the Maine Central Railroad.
with the intention of show ing that the
said road had worn the frogs more than
the Electric Rond had, with the evident
intention of claiming that the Ele trio
Road having first placed the frogs in posi-
ton at that corporations expense the
Maine Central corporation, through
much more traffic or "wheelage had
worn out the frogs and should bear the
expense of replacing them.
A. +. Gerald, for the Electric Road, tes-
titled that formerly when horses were
used the tracks of the Maine Central
were crossed by notchcs being cut in that
corporations rails. The first real frogs
that were put in We're placed at the ex-
pense of the Street Railway Co. Mr..
Gerald thinks the frogs should be repaired
at once.
When the hearing closed it was evident
that the Street Railway Co. believes that
the Maine Central should share at least
halt of the expense of replacing the frogs
with new Ones The former corporation
says half and half, but the Maine Central
does not care to establish precedent that
they would have to follow in years to
come II they share the expense this time.
The hearing closed at 2 T. NJ, the COM
missioners reserving their decision until
their next meeting, Feb. ).