Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-30
UNDIRpASS AT LAKESIDE,
Commissioners Intimate That
One May Be Ordered.
Advise City of BurlinEtoa and Rail-
road Company to Reach an Agree
mcnt As TO Type-Investisat-
ing an Accident.

'oncrs, consisting of j. w. Redmond Of
Newport, f.. n. Porter Of Wilmington
md S. H. Jackson of Barre. with p w.
Spear Of Newport. official clerk, held
two hearings in this city Friday, one
with respect to a petition for an under
pass at Lakeside and one to investigate
the death at Wnoosli, Sept. "A, 1907, OF
John W. Gregory OF Waitsfeld.
The hearing on the underpass was held
IN the afternoon. The commissioners, &C
companied by the attorneys in the case.
railroad officials. aldermen and other
city officials, made a trip by special troll
ICY car 10 the place OF the Lakeside
2rossins, whore the premises were ex-
anined The hearing on the petition was
then held in the city court room
The petitioners were represented by
city Attorney j. H. Nacomber. States
..ttorney A. l.. Sherman appeared for
the State in behalf Of Attorney General
G.. G. Fits. Judge r. c. Mower repre-
scented tho Rutland railroad. Claim Agent
McMastcrs and Chief Engineer Moore,
also OF the Rutland railroad, were pres
cnt. Charles f. Allen represented the in
terests Of I,ouiss A. s. Allen. r. A.
cooke the interests Of the Queen City
Cotton company and julius Roland his
own interests.
The witnesses examined were Or. y.
J. A, Bombard OF Lakeside. alderman
from ward six, oX-Mayor James +.
Burkc, the Rev. W. A. Plamondon.
julius Roland. Anthony Donnelly, Max
Classton. Or. J. W. Courtney and form
cr City Engineer r. o. Sinclair
Or. Bombard estimated that 90 persons
employed in the cotton mill passed the
objectionable crossing over the Rutland
railroad a total OF 10 times daily. He
estimated that e. teams cross the track
daily. He mentioned the fart that the
same way is somewhat traversed by en-
ployes OF the Iunerc North American
7ompanys plant. The only access to
Lakeside from the Addition without
trespassing is via the crossing this con-
di ton involving all of the children from
the Addition who attend school at Lake
side and all Of the people at Lakeside
who attend st. Anthony's Church at the
Addition.
From further testimony OF Dr. Bonn
bard and the other witnesses it was
brought out that the pitch on tho east
side of the crossing is very steep and
has been responsible for breaking many
wagons and other conveyances; that the
Queen City Cotton company's mill OBJ
scurcs from the cast sides the approach
Of trains from the north; that the shrub
berry and trees obscure from the east
side tho trains from the south and that
this obsCurity is Increased from the fact
that the pitch approaching the crossing
l. so steep, this latter condition making
II impossible to see northbourfd train un-
Ill one is practically on tho crossing
When trains are on the sidings on
either side OF the main track it is very
much harder to discern approaching
trains. From tho west side. the view Of
those approaching the crossing is OBJ
scurcd by dwelling houses. Tho cross
ing, it was found. has always been con-
Fidered a very dangerous one from the
fact that the pitch on the east side IS
50 steep Then, too one OF the fastest
trains over the Rutland railroad goes
over tho crossing at high rate Of speed
at about noon. the time when mill en-
ployes arc passing to cir homes.
Former City Engineer Sinclair tcsti-
fed that in the summer Of 1905 he made
plans for an unacrpass at Lakeside the
estimated cost being slS,soO These plans
were examined by the commissioners
yesterday.
At the conclusion Of the hearing Chair
man Redmond OF the commission sug-
Gested that within four weeks the city
and tho railroad confer and approve the
type of pass to be installed, provided
ono should be ordered by the commits
had remarked I'VE are quite likely to
order something
THE WINOOSKI FATALITY.
In the morning hearing was held in
the matter Of the death in Winooski
September H. 1907. of John w. Gregory
OF Waitsfield. AT this hearing States
Attorney A. L. Sherman represented the
State and c. W. Writer'S the Central
Vermont railway. The witnesses exam
ined were Mr.. Jacobs OF Winooskt at
whose house Mr.. Gregory was visiting.
Conductor Kent and the engineer and
brakeman Of the train which struck the
victim. The principal testimony. that OF
Engineer Hutchinson. was to the effect
that Mr.. Gregory was standing on the
high bridge just beyond Winoosk when
the train approached from Essex Mr..
Gregory had his tripod and camera on
the bridge. AS the train approached he
moved the tripod and camera and stoop-
cd down on the Orders alongside Of the
rail but the engine struck his hip and
he was hurled over the bridge TO the
water and rocks, 80 feet below. The en-
Eineer thought the man eouid have saved
his life IL he had not tries to keep the
camera and tripod.