Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-21
THOMASTON TROLLEY
City Wants Title 10 Certain Land
 Decided By the Court

The Thomaston trolley question Is still on the boards, but in all proba- Ibility it will soon be removed and the difference adjusted. not because the city will have to recede from its position, but on account of the fact that those who thought they had the city government in tight box ana were ready to act with the Thomas ton promoters to force It's hand Tn turning over to private corporation the use of public property without a > reasonable return in exchange there for. It is quite evident now that the whole trouble was the result or transformation on the part Of people who didn't suppose that the city s position was as secure as It has turned out to be, and as a conse- uuence a good deal has been said k that never would have been men toned if those who undertook to @enlighten the public had been as fa- smiliar with the case as they would have their neighbors believe. Many wonder why the city officials failed to come forward and tell it's whole business to the Thomaston Tramway Go and it's attorney, but those who look at 1t that way should remem- { Der that the city of Waterbury has an attorney and officials charged with the management of public mat ters prefer to be governed by the counsel of their own attorney rather than that of some corporation who happens to have a difference with the municipality. Does anybody sup pose that MT Bradstreet or Attorney { Garfield has stated in public way the details of the agreement entered into between the Thomaston Tram way Co and the Connecticut Co. who is to take the road off their hands after it is built? Of course not. Nobody would look for this. but on the other hand the city is expected to step forward and unbosom itself to every private corporation no mat ter what 1t wants or where 1t comes from.
 Within the past few years certain parties, supposed to represent the Chase interests, have been buying up all property both sides of the Naugatuck river, all the way from Waterville nearly to Reynolds Bridge. Among other pieces they tried to buy the strip, about 1,600 feet long, between the Thomastor road and the river from Hinchliffe bridge to the town line between Wa terbury and Thomaston. This strip has always been regarded by the town and city officials as included within the limits of the highway as laid out in 1901, and in 1891 the thirty-six inch pipe line was laid in and across it without obtaining title from anyone. When. about one year ago, 1t was found by MT Cairns that parties were offering to buy 1t from the Johnson heirs, he obtained promise that the said heirs would quit claim to the city any interest they might have in the land where the pipe line runs. that Is, to mar row strip fifteen feet each side of the pipe and about 100 feet in length. He then brought the matter to the attention of Mayor Thoms. but the latter declined to take the quit "laim on the ground that 1t would be all acknowledgement of private owner ship. Mir Cairns then took the John- son quit claim in his own name, pay ing for 1t out of his own pocket.
 The resulting situation is some thing like this. If there are no other claimants to the property except the city and the Johnson heirs, then the pipe line Is fully protected, however the litigation between the city and the Thomaston Tramway Go may terminate. If the city proves that the strip is part of the highway. 1t can itself protect the pipe line, put ting on the railroad whatever con- ditions 1t finds necessary to provide for access to the pipe. On the other hand, If the city Is beaten, then the railroad company must get its right of way from Mir Cairns, and he has already agreed with them that he will deed them a right of way across the pipe line strip under certain con ditions which leave the pipe line ac- cessible to the city and save the city from any expense by reason of the presence of the tracks MT Cairns built the pipe line and is keenly ir- terested in everything that affects 1t, so that 1t was natural for him to guard 1t In every way possible.
 Subsequently to his purchase the balance of the long narrow piece of land was quit claimed to Henry s. Chase. and it is understood that the lNIfoforxl11A -. f0 u,k HhArA transferred his interest, has made an Arrangement with the Thomnston ITramway Co by which the railroad may build over 1t. Thus the rail lroad company has it's right of way secured, provided that 1t can prove that the title to the land vested in Ithe Johnson heirs and that it wss mot included In the old highway.
 In any case the mayor, the de- partment of public works. the board of aldermen and the engineer. with but exception, all sworn to protect the public interests of this town. have approved the Thomaston trolley ap- blication with certain conditions et- tached. and 1t does seem that their Judgment ought to command tie support of those who have clothed Ithem with authority to act for them. 1There is no politics in 1t. I: is a matter of business pure and simple. so that at the present time the Ques- ton sinners down to whether we prefer the judgment of the Thomas ton trolley people or that of the en- tire city government of Waterbury.