Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-08-04
HARD BUMPS FOR R. STATION
Commissioners Get Olfactory
Proof of Some Assertions.
Chairman Redmond suggests Ihnt
People of Huntington and Repre-
scntntives of Transportation
Companies Get Together.

The hearing before the public SER
vice commission upon petition
brought by the so-callcd committee
Of Is" in connection with the proposed
new union railroad station was re-
eumed at nine o'clock Thursday morn
ing in the county court room. The
morning was entirely taken up with
the examination of several Burlington
citizens. who testified as to the made
ouate. entiquated and unsanitary CON
d,tions OF the present railroad station.
If the present station had eyes it
would have wcpt, ana If 1t had ears,
1t would have blushed redder hue
than Its present brick tnge. As 1T is,
however. It remains stolid and quite
Indifferent.
a 7. Lawrence, the local architect
who drew the tentative blue prints Of
the proposed new station, was first ex-
amined. He said that he had drawn
plans for railroad stations on the New
Jersey Central railroad and was fan,i-
liar with railroad architecture and de-
n,ands. He men toned Meriden. Keene
and Nashua N. H. as places which
have good. modern and clean railroad
stations. He took exceptions TO the
petition of the committee of-ls, which
stated that the city hall was an eve
sore, in fact, a wart, on the landscape,
ana stated that 1t was n fine example
Of the old Georgian architecture and
WAS beautiful in It's simple dignity.
He said that the proposed new station,
descriptions of which have appeared
in the Free Press. would cost about
$4,000, outside the land damages.
NJ c. Grafton testified that while
policeman at the station he had been
the means of averting great many
accidents and that at one time he had
saved a womans life He drew attcn-
ton to the fact that at certain hours.
when trains arrive on both the Rut-
land and Central Vermont lines, 1t was
exceedingly dangerous for passcn gers
Of1cer George Fraser also testified
along the same lines. He said that
one Of his duties was to be at the sta
ton to prevent accidents to people
and ne mentioned the time Of arrival
Of various trains when the train shed
was made particularly dangerous. He
stated that the long freights on the
Rutland road blocked the highway on
College street and that engines We're
continually going through the train
shed. He saw man cleaning the
station but once, although in his orin
ion the place needed cleaning most of
the time.
He told how the cellar at the station
was often flooded. at which time the fire
In the furnace would be extinguished
This water made bad odor aid smilal
smells also came from the toilet rooms,
Robert Roberts said that when the ap
proach to the station was not dusty I
was muddy. The station was ill-smelin.
and one could not get waited upon in tn,
baggage room. When one boarded o
aightcd from a sleeper he was forced Il
walk over tracks, switches and through
mud, rain or dust. He thought that tn
heads of the three local transportation
companies should get together and bull,
new station.
J. l.. Southwick thought that the NAH
issue at hand was the question OF havinl
safe, sanitary and good appearing sta
ton; and how to get such The rairoa,
had conceded. he added, that their pres
ent facilities were inadequate. for the,
have drawn plans for improvements. tn
cost to be $4,000. The Rutland rairoa,
has sought better conditions in the past
The present conditions are rot only in
commodious but unsafe. He thought tina
II was marvellous that the public had es
capped injury for SO long a time
AS real estate man he thought that
would be waste of money 10 process
10 repair the old station. II would Away
be necessary for passengers TO cross tw
tracks TO set TO the west track. TIL
railroads are anticipating the time whe
There will be q greater number of peopl
IN Burlington and when they will hav
much more passenger traffic. He though
that It was for the interest of the rail
roads as we'll as the people TO reach on
and adopt a forward policy. The raj
.oad. if 1t needed new rolling stock. a.
ways purchased such. whether it pal
dividends or not, He thought 1t was a
Important for them to have proper sta
hon facilities.
The State commission. he said, had h
hight TO abolish grade crossings and tn
witness knew OF no more dangerou
crossings than the tracks inside the trail
sheds, or south of the station on Colleg
street.
J. NJ. Ashley and F Henry Parker WEI
me last witnesses during the morninI
Mr.. Parker, formerly employed as chit
1lerk and cashier al the local station. toll
how the local freight business had II
creased since he was employed there
$50. Only two clerks were employed pr
vious to the building of the Burlngto
LAmoillc branch; then an extra cler
was added.
The afternoon session opened with
talk by Chairman Redmond Of the publ
service commission and ended with a tr