The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-07-15
TRACKS ON WHITNEY AVENUE
HERRING BEFORE THERIILROADS
 AND BRIDGES COMMITTEE.
The Petition for Permission to Lay Double Tracks Recommended-Opp sttfOn from Church Street Resldcnts- ExtensiOn of Tracks Across Derby Avenue Bridge Also Favored

ExtensiOn of Tracks Across Derby
 Avenue Bridge Also Favored.
 The railroad committee last night
 held a public hearing on the petitions
 of the Fair Haven and Westville Rail-
 road company for permission to lay
 double tracks through Church street
 and Whitney avenue and to lay tracks
 In Derby avenue to the Orange town
 line In regard to the double tracking
 of Church street and Whitney avenue
 John K. Punderford, representing the
 Fair Haven and Westville road, ap-
 peared and said that the company de-
 sired to lay double tracks as it realiz- ed that it could not handle the traffic
 of that section as it should be handled, with single track and complaints concerning the matter are frequently received. He said that if one car gets off it's time on single track then all the cars on the line are thrown out of their regular time and it often happens that men going to their business are delayed in the morning for this req son.
 In regard to the argument that Church street was too narrow for a double track, MT. Punderford quoted figures to show that double tracks have already been laid on various streets in the city which are consider ably narrower than Church street He said that there was no question about Church street being wide enough for double tracks and that a single track might as well be run all the way through Whitney avenue as through the Church street portion of the line.
 He contrasted the inconvenience that might be caused by banking snow against the curb on Church street with the great advantage a double track would be to those who live on Whit ney avenue beyond Church street, and who are dependent upon the trolley ser vice. He said that at present two cars are run together every twelve min utes during the afternoon, but if double tracks are laid six minute ser vice will be inaugurated at once while if a single track remains six minute service cannot be given for ten years
 Alderman E. I. Atwater stated that in the ward which he represented live one-third of the people who patronize the Whitney avenue line, and that they, HUI LII OI Dl ddlCy SllCtl, OIlc anu all, demand double tracks and a better ser vice. Population in that section is in creasing fast and business men are To- eating there and demand good ser vice. He believed that the residents of Church street would be no more incon- venienced by double tracks than are those on Grand avenue, where double tracks are laid.
 Others who spoke in favor of grant, ing the petition were J. E. Killam, c. w. Ives F. H. filling, H. c. Taitnor, L. W. Robinson and F. N. filling.
 Dr. Gustavus Eliot appeared to op- pose the granting of the petition. He said that the service on Whitney ave- nue was already good, and better than that on any other line in the city. He suggested that the petitioners wait two years and then petition the legis- 1ature for permission to lay a track through Temple street. by which ar engagement double track could be laid through Whitney avenue and the tracks branch off at the junction of Whitney avenue and Temple street, leaving only a single track to go through Church street.
 Others who opposed the granting of the petition were Dr. Bishop, Charles H. Townshend, Frank F. Trow wbridge and Rutherford Trowbridse.
 In executive session the committee decided to recommend that the petition be granted.
 A large number of citizens from the western part of the city appeared to be heard on the petition for permission to extend the tracks on Derby avenue. All favored giving the desired permission if the company would agree to run cars beyond Norton street on a six minute schedule Anthony Carroll ask ed if the company had not agreed to pay part of the expenses of building | the new Derby avenue bridge if it was given permission to extend tracks over the bridge. MT. Rutherford said that | the company had not so agreed MT. | Carroll held that the company had | promised to pay the cost of making tbe bridge strong enough to support | cars.
 Ex-Director Beecher of the depart ment of public works stated that the bridge had been built strong enough to carry any traffic that might come that way, but not particularly to car ry cars. He said that the bridge was built wide, not to accommodate the company but to comply with an order which had passed the com mon council that all bridges should be built the full width of the roadway leading to them
 Rev. Father Russell, one of the di- rectors of St. Lawrence cemetery, faV- pred granting the petition. Linus Mead and Solomon Mead, MT. Sickles and Henry s. Bradley favored granting if if a six minute schedule was estab- lished for cars.
 In executive session the commit tee decided to recommend the grant ing of the petition.
 The petition of George Smith for the removal of tracks in George street, be- tween State and College streets, was continued as there is a possibility that the tracks will be used.
 Ss5 900 for Methodist Societies.