The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1904-08-12
HELD PUBLIC HEARING
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,(Continued from First Page)
another public hearing on the subject
next Thursday night. ....
General Ford said ne had no DISPOSE
ton to stand in the way Of such great
public improvement as is contemplated
in the cut. The conditions that have
existed here for a long time have been
dangerous to travel, and the abutting
property owners, and a menace to the
health Of the city, and in picking up
the matter Mr.. Mellen and the present
administration are to be commended, as
| it is quite time that the existing eOndi-
lions received attention. 1t is surpris-
ing that the road has escaped some
great disaster in this cut similar to
the accident in the New York tunnel.
In common with many others he re-
GREETED that the railroad could not see
its way clear to get around the city
without running running through its
center, with its necessarily unsightly
ditch or cut. He thought that the COM
mittee and city authorities should give
the railroad all the privileges that they
desire, provided that, as their applica-
ton expresses it, "All the alterations are
to be at the sole expense Of the New
York, New Haven and Hartford Rail-
road company, including the payment Of
such damages as may be lawfully as
sessed, TO adjoining property owners in
case of inability to agree with them
with respect to such damages"
Concluding General Ford said he
thought that the railroad company
should be required to properly execute
a bond TO the city Of New Haven with
their words incorporated, and these in
addition and all future damages that
may occur in consequence thereof" In
the event of their not being able to
agree with the property owners, the
damages should not be assessed by any
one board, but each owner should have
the privilege of individually choosing an
Iarbitrator, and no person should be
eligible to act as arbitrator for either
side or as third party on more than
one piece of property.
The proposed layout implies that the
existing bridges win be doubled in
width and raised two feet higher. This
widening will made much more seri-
Gus opening than one would imagine,
| and will increase the amount Of smoke
and cinders that, at the present time,
Ifrightens horses, destroys merchandise,
and fills the houses and offices in the
center Of the city with noise, smoke,
cinders and bad odors.
This should be taken into consldera-
ton and at the principal streets at least
1.-THE contract should provide that the
railroad company erect at least a one
story building on the bridges, covering
the cut back for a suitable distance, as
protection against the frightening of
horses and against smoke and cinders
blowing in the faces of people on the
sidewalk, as occurs at the present time.
These stores would not only protect
the citizens from annoyance but would
afford revenue to the railroad COM
pany and also in measure would re-
imburse the city for the land that they
ask to be taken off Of the tax list to be
utilized for the roadbed,
| General Ford added that provision
should be made for definite record to
be kept in the city hall in reference to
the privileges given the railroad COM
pany, as in his case Chapel corner of
State street, opposite his property, the
grade of the roadway has been raised
twice in his time, and to his surprise he
found that there are no records Of the
lefty having authorized it; that 1t had
merely been done, until the roadway in
front of the entrance to his building
stood fourteen inches above the side
walk. This prevents passengers from
alighting from the carriages onto the
sidewalk. as the sidewalk Is SO far he
low the roadway. This elevation Of the
roadbed causes the water and snow to
be discharged from tie roadway onto
the sidewalk, and the sidewalk becomes
sewer instead of a sidewalk.
Concluding General Ford said: THE
proposed elevation of two feet a little
way above means more shed water, and
I wish to ask the committee of roads
and bridges, or the city engineer, t.
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