Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-26
WANT RAILROAD 10 PAY.
Bridgeport Parties Are Filling ...4. ,..... Up The Lawsuits.

.~. -. ,.... Up The Lawsuits.
 When Every Case Is Heard From It Is
 Thought That a Quarter Million of Dollars Will Be Asked For-The
 Trouble Caused By the Contemplat-
 ed Railroad Improvements in the
 Park City.
 Bridgeport, Dec 26.-'The damage ven & Hartford Railroad Co on ac- count of the improvements ill Bridge port are only beginning. Already suits have been filed for damages in the sum of $40,O00, and now DeForest & Klein, attorneys, give notice of even more suits, which will ask for dam ages in the sum of $52, 1000, making & total of $92,OOO. It is believed that suits will involve a quarter of mil lion before the last has been reached. Under the terms of the agreement, the city is to pay one-sixth of all damages, and legal authorities are of the opin- ion that this amount. whatever it may be, can be collected The contract says that the city shall pay one-sixth of the cost of the entire. construction of the four-track system, and specifies damages which may be asked. A difference of opinion prevails in the city just at the present time re- garding the meaning of the agreement. The understanding is that the sum the city was to pay should not exceed in the aggregate $400,0O0. That is the wording of the contract, but then it is Ialso construed by some as not to be limited in it's amount. the provision for the restriction of the amount re- lating to the moneys due the auditors for their services. One lawyer terms the agreement as ambiguous, but says also that the intent will be apparent at once. and that it was to keep the amount down to $400.00O But here come the damage suits, and If they are allowed. and the city is asked for sixth as it's share, will this money be included in the proportion for the cost of construction? The con- tract which exists between the city and the Railroad company has in the lpast few days been read with care by
 
 discussion in which all do not agree. The provision that the city pay S4oO.- 1000 as its share does not mean that the outlay is restricted to that amount alone. Thirty-year five per cent bonds mean $20,O00 per year interest. For the full time the city will have paid | in interest S6O0.O00. making the ex- lpense a million. If it can be shown that the provision in the contract. to the effect that the city pay onoss&1h of the entire constructing includes the damages, it looks to some as if, de- spite the restricting clause, the extra sums can be collected. admitting, of course, that the sum for constructing exceeds $2,600,000.
 Much more is being said about the contract. The protest and subsequent petition for an injunction restraining the city from entering into a contract with the railroad company, is recalled. The city is paying for the elimination of the grade crossings, but the railroad company is not only eliminating the grade crossings, but is building a four track system through here as well, and for this improvement the city contrib utes one-sixth of the cost. When the four-track system is completed it m cans faster. through train service, so far as this city ill concerned, with the probability that a less number Of trains will stop during the day.
 Meriden's action is being discussed. It is the understanding here that when Meriden was asked by the railroad com. pany 10 give land for it's use, con. tract was drawn up, in which the com. pany was obliged to stop it's trains l there, and they do say to this day thai Meriden has the best train service Ot any city in the state. Norwalk anG l Stamford have the railroad improve ments, with the elimination ce tht grade crossings, and neither city pait a cent for the work
 Others are saying again that stat, law commands the railroad company t l abolish grade crossings without ex pense to the city. There is also statute which says the city, in acquiesc l ing in the work of the improvement, 0 asking that the same be done, may b I assessed one-fourth of the expense. I will be remembered that the commo council acquiesced in the work, an that on a compromise the present rati I of expense was made.
 I The prospects are that the city wi | have to pay a larger sum for the in provements than has at any time bee anticipated, and if bonds are not issue the sums will have to be assesse against the realty of the city and a increase in taxation made.
 
 BALFOUR IS SICK.
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