The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-08-24
CAR SERVICE
IS WRETCHED
Declare the Speakers at City
Council Meeting
TO MAKE FORMAL PROTEST
Vermont Public Service Commission to
Be Appealed To-B. & M. T. &P.
Co. Given Right to Extend
Washington Street Line.

It took a meeting Of the aldermen
and special meeting Of the city council
70 clean up the business on hand last
evening, and when adjournment was
finally taken at 1880 It was to meet
again at o'clock this morning for the
purpose Of completing certain arrange
ments with W r Durkee, whose prop.
erty on Prospect street is TO be pur-
chased by the city in connection with
the changing Of the river bed The city
engineer informed the council that the
contractor wanted to start the work Of
excayating for the new channel this
morning and would begin at Prospect
street on the Durkee property. As the
deal with Mr.. Dukee for his property
had not been completed, the council de-
cided that meeting would have TO be
held this morning and with Mr.. Durkee
present close up the deal. The deeds
were passed to-day, Mr.. Durkee receiy-
ing 5000.
The Barre Montpelier electric road
was the principal bone Of contention
in both the meeting OF the aldermen
and OF the council last night. The ques-
tions were, the kind Of service which
he road is giving the public, the request
of ihe road to extend its tracks on
Washington street, and the extension Of
the tracks on South Main street, which
the council has been trying to get ac-
complishcd for long time. A COM
munication from the treasurer Of the
street railroad company, 7. H. Deayitt,
was read in the aldermen's meeting. in
whicn request was made for permis-
sion 10 extend its tracks on Washington
streets from the present terminus to
Nelson street.
The company claimed that as the
street was 10 be M tdamized this ex
tension could be aec-7s ,llshed, now. bet
ne 4, sup street a had bsepllf se,l Tiey al.o y
stated that this 81 8n had nothing
to a. with tie ext Don Of the tracks
on South Main stf t and that they
we're ready TO senfsofheir engineer mere
10 90 over the proposed route with the
citv's engineer, whenever the city would
set a date. The letter also stated that
they had orders IN for four new cars,
which they expected would be ready for
service on October !.
Crowded on Cars Like Cattle.
The aldermen decided that this mat.
ter should be attended to by the coun-
Gil and left il for that body. The city
clerk at this time raised the question
OF accommodations. The clerk said he
had seen tne shameful manner in which
people were crowded onto the cars at
certain portions Of the day, when the
traffic is the heaviest. Sundays aud at
noon times, when the workmen were
coming home to the dinner, and when
they left or work at night, they were
packed into the cars like cattle. The
clerk said that he recently saw 20 people
piled into the space in a car which was
made TO accommodate eight people He
claimed that these conditions were un-
necessary, as the company had sufficient
cars lying idle in the ear barns and ex
ira conductors that could be put into
service to run extra cars.
Furthermore. he stated that tne com
pany's franchise stipulated that they
should at all times give the public good. |
safe and convenient accommodations. lie |
said that it was time that the city put |
44- A.. f..l
pile on passengers to the number ex
ceeding the regular capacity of the cars,
rs it was not only inconvcnient to the |
but was unsafe. He thought |
that ii il was possible the city should |
take measures to place limit on the
number Of people the cars should be I
allowed to carry at one time. and with |
such restriction he was confident that |
The company would see their way clear |
to have enough cars to carry all the |
people, and they would then be carried |
with some degree of comfort
When this matter was taken up in the !
council meeting. which followed, a res
olution was drawn up BY the city clerk |
It the instructions Of the council, ap-
Dealing to the public service commits
sion to take this matter up and if pos
sible limit the number Of people the
sars shall carry at one time and make
my other changes for the betterment
If the service they may see fit. On
motion Of Alderman Brown, the resolu-
ion was adopted.
Washington Street Extension.
The council also after considerable
discussion voted to grant the road per
mission to extend its tracks on Wash
ngton street. This extension was first
brought up by the mayor on July 10,
md the council then voted to lay the
natter on the table until such time as
hey received assurance that the road
would take favorable action on making
he extension on South Main Alder
nan Wiley thought that this extension
IN Washington street should not be held
ip, and as the road nad now made 4
equest to make the extension he would
move that they be given permission, and
he motion was carried
Alderman ThHrston wanted to know
Why the city engineer had not furnished
he council long before this time a plan
i the proposed route for the South
liain stret extension and had the route
talked out, SO that the council gould
,ass on it. He said that he considered
hat this neglect, if it was neglect ON
he part Of the city engineer WAS moth
ng less than an insult TO the council
rne mayor sai6 that he had spoken to
he engineer several times in regard to