The Press., 1897-09-02

| lL COulu not, hS IL WhS cOLupObou Ol nhEu ledge. Nothing more was said about grading 1t. Then he asked if road could be made around 1t. The answer was, that 1t was uneven ground, but by lengthening it and using money enough it could be done. Probably he inferred by theItwo replies that such change might | be preferable, and: he wished a survey made and brought to him. He said that he did not wish to accept of any survey in | the state of over per cent. grade. He | did not say that he would not accept one, the point, beingS S'toI Iavoidgsuoh grades, if possible, by reducing or otherwise chang l ing them, which was one of the essentials | of Roodi roads. He mentioned several | places in the state where such improve | had been made. Aside from the commis- sioner, an estimate of the amount of grading to be done to bring the grade to 3 | per cent finds that If 500 yards of ledge were removed from the top and 7OO yards of material were filled in by MT. Moul- toms house, which would necessitate making a bank wall to accommodate the road going easterly, and 2,000 yards were | filled in on the southeIly side of the hill, it would bring the grades to near 8 per cent. That would make an easier grade, but leave nearly all of the bill still there. Beginning at the bottom of the Needham hill, the ascent grows sleeper until near the top, where in one place of 50 feet the rise is 4 feet, making per cent, and when at the top the road does not descend again. Such hills are very difficult to go around, and cannot be graded to any ex- tent A hill that immediately goes down again with hollows at each end, can be easily graded, but the one by Mir. Wright's, that has so long a summit, and descends southward to the bottom of the sleeper part, and still descends, cannot be graded | at any reasonable expense. The compari- son between the hill objected to and route around the hill as indicated by | stakes is as follows: First, taking the present road, which is quite hard and | smooth all of the year, and beginning at stake 24, opposite Mir. Moulton's house, then the road rises in 150 feet S.46 feet to No. 27; from thence to No. 37, 800 feet, | it rises 1899 feet; from thence to No. 80, | 100 feet, it falls 1.09. from thence to No. 46, $50 feet, 1t falls 1929 feet, making the whole distance HOO feet, and the whole rise 22.38 feet, and the whole fall 1898. On the route around the hill begin | at stake 24, thence true grade 800 feet, | rising 54 feet to stake No. 10; thence a true grade, 450 feet, falling 3 feet to stake No. 19; thence a true grade, 225 feet, rising l. feet to junction of present road to stake No. 46, making the length 1175 feet, and the whole rise 64 feet, and | the whole fall 9 feet, making No. 46 three feet higher than No. 24. To bring the line indicated by the stakes to this grade line would require 400 yards of earth to be removed, and by straighten- ing the line by MT. Moulton's would re- quire the same fill. The greatest cut in center of road would be two feet, and in places for cuts there are no sign of ledge. | The whole line of stakes Ia on a side hill | which slopes to the eastward about foot in 2, and Is above low ground. A culvert would be necessary at stake No. 9 and No. 19. E. Y. FISK. Dynamite Explosion.
 The people of the borough were awaken ed quite early and suddenly this morning. People found themselves out of bed in va rious positions about o'clock, with an idea that something had happened. As they gathered their wits they realized that there had been an explosion. The rumbling and reverberation continued for several seconds, and the houses rocked as in an earthquake. Many thought that a safe had been blown open by burglars somewhere on the street. Others thought there had been a boiler explosion in one of the mills.
 Investigation showed that the explosion was at Comins' shop, and 1t was soon learned that 1t was caused by 100 pounds evening. The explosive was brought from Monson yesterday by Supt. Moore and G. c. Flynt, of the w. N. Flynt Granite Go. |, in a buggy, and was to have been used in blasting the ledge on South street which Is to be removed.
 Superintendent Ellis asked permission to have the dynamite placed in shed connected with MT. Comins shop for the night. Two workmen in the employ of MT. Flynt put 1t in the shed. It was | carefully laid on a board on the ground. How 1t was exploded is a mystery. The theory has been advanced that 1t was rats. Several who were on the scene early in the morning were inclined to blame a large Thomas cat, whose body was found near the scene of the accident. Others advanced the theory that the jar of the cars touched 1t of. One man thought
 
 lightning. It Is thought by those who understand dynamite that none of these theories are correct. Men who have handled the explosive for years think there Is but one way that the accident was caused. It Is thought that a fuse and cap was used by somebody who want ed to see what the result would be.
 Dynamite does not explode easily. It can be burned in fire, and will stand con- siderable jolting. Phe workmen who put 1t in place are as much surprised as any body, and take no stock in It's accidental discharge. Warden Adams has formed a theory in his own mind, and does not think 1t a case of accidental explosion. MT. Ellis shares the general opinion. G. c. Flynt was notified by telephone, and arrived here at 9 o'clock. He smiled when he was told of the theories advanced of accidental discharge. MT. Flynt said that the man who introduced this brand of dynamite to his company would put it in newspapers and build bonfire. He would put 1t in hole and tamp 1t all out or any other jar touching 1t of was thought
 by MT. Flynt to be preposterous. It Is shipped to the company on the Boston and Maine railroad to Belchertown, and brought from there by teams, as the Central Vermont does not receive it. The iolting 1t receives on trains and in teams is much more than 1t would natur. ally receive in the shed where 1t IS stored.
 While there is uncertainty as to how fl was done, there is no question but what 1t was done, in the minds of those who have witnessed the wreckage in the vicin- ity. Kindling wood Is scattered all the