The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-04-09
BETHANY TROLLEY ROAD
SHARP FIGHT BEFORE RAILROAD
COMMITTEE.


New Haven Street Railway and Consoli-
dated Road oppose Granting the Charter
Many Citizens OF w oodbridge, Bethany
and Seymour Want the Road -Meriden
and Cromwell Road Not Contention.
The final hearing on incorporating the
Woodbridge and Bethany Railroad Co.
was held yesterday afternoon by the
legislative committee on railroads.
There were representatives present
from Bethany, Naugatuck, Seymour
and Woodbridge in favor of the incor-
poration Of the company. Vice Presi-
dent Hall of the Consolidated railroad,
and President Corey of the New Haven
Street Railway company were present
in opposition to the petitioners, who
were represented by Attorneys Arvine
and Russell
The incorporators wish the privilege
of running over the tracks of the New
Haven Street Railway company from
the Pond Lily paper mills to the corner
of Orange and Main streets in West
vile, the terminus of the Fair Haven
and Westville road. This constitutes a
ground for objection for the New Ha-
ven Street Railway company, and 1t is
making a desperate effort to defeat the
scheme
The New Haven Street Railway COM
pany allege as an objection to granting
the privilege of their tracks TO
the incorporators that they (the
incorporators) are in league with the
Fair Haven and Westville road. The
petitioners on the other hand reply that
there is no collusion between them and
the rival of the New Haven Street Rail
way company; that they are in the in
terest of no company, and that their
only reason for asking the privilege of
running over the tracks of the New
Haven Street Railway company is to
enable their patrons to reach the CEN
ter of the city from their Westville ter
minus without paying two fares, or be-
ing compelled to patronize the New
Haven Street Railway. The petitioners
disclaim any hostility to this company.
but are not in sympathy with the COM
pulsory patronage that seems to be
forced upon them unless the legislature
grants them the privilege of running
over their opponents tracks.
The distance between the terminus of
the proposed road and the intersection
of Main and Orange streets is five
Fights of mile. This places the pro-
visioners without the provisions of the
general statutes.
The Consolidated railroad opposes
the charter because of its parallel fea-
| lures
| Ex-City Engineer Hill, who has made
a survey of the route over which 1t is
proposed to lay the tracks of the Beth
| any road, testified as to the probable
cost of the road. He was cross exam
| ined by Vice President Hall, who at
| tempted to show that Mr. HilI-was not
sufficiently informed upon the matter
of equipping roads to be able to Judge
of the cost of building electric roads.
Carlos French and George w Beach
did not think the charter should be
granted.
For the petitioners were W. II
| French, A. Lounsbury, S. G. and r. ID
| Davidson, Dwight N. and e. N. CLARK
| of Bethany, II. f. Peck and d. NJ Page
of Naugatuck s. r. Dean, Frank G.
Bassett, Charles Lounsbury. Thomas
| Sharp, Andrew Miles, William Bald
! win, r. Paine and r. c. Newton of Wa
| terbury.
| Several of these gentlemen addressed
| the committee, but as the hour was late
| and other matters claimed the atten-
| ton If the committee, Chairman Ken
dali asked the delegation to "amen'
the sentiments expressed by the speak
ers. The counsel then argued the case
| The petitioners in the Meriden and
| Cromwell railroad case were given
leave to withdraw, as they informed
the committee that they and Judge
| Robertson, the owner of the road, had
come to an agreement. The terms were
not stated.
| The act repeating the special act pro-
viding for the abolition of grade cross
| ings in Bridgeport and the bill concern.
| ing the abandonment of railroad prop.
| erty were heard.
Town Counsel Goodhart appeared be-
fore the temperance committee in oppo.
! sition to the bill relating, to the sale Of
| intoxicating liquors and limiting the
| number of saloons to one for every one
thousand inhabitants. He was also be.
fore the judiciary committee In refer.
ence to the care Of children in county
| homes.