Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-09-08
Service


op into prolonged war over the proposed
abolishment OF tie railroad grade cross
ings in Randolph village took place last
Friday at q hearing given by the Public
Service commission. 1t was indecisiye.
The next clash will occur the last Tues
day in December, to which time the hear.
ing stands adjourned.
Answering a call by the village trustees,
a large number of citizens met Thursday
afternoon at Dubois q Gays ball to con
slider ways and means OF fighting the pc
tition Of the Central Vermont Railway
company. v. |. Spear presided. r. NJ.
Harvey Of Montpelier, who had been en-
gased as counsel for the village, n. M.
Wilson, N. L. Boyden, L. B. johnson and
others spoke. They were all OF one mind
as to the necessity for opposing the petit
ton, and the sense of the meeting, voiced
by q unanimous vote, was registered on q
resolution offered by DR.. T. c. Angel TO
the effect that Randolph objected to the
abolition OF the Main and Pleasant street
crossings and the substitution OF the Sum
mer street underpass as proposed, and IA
yored instead the placing OF gates st these
crossings and the removal Of the freight
depot to the eastern end OF the yard.
The members Of the Public Service COM
mission, Messrs. j. w. Redmond OF New
port, chairman; z. H. Porter Of Whining
ton, 8. Hollister jackson OF Barre; and
the clerk, Rufus W. speare Of Newport,
we're ali present at the hearing set for
Friday. The commission met counsel for
the several parties at M. NJ. Wilson's office
in the forenoon and also went over the
ground and considered the proposed alter
atoms.
At the afternoon hearing in Dubois q
Gays ball, a large number OF citizens we're
present and great interest was eyinced in
the proceedings. C. W. Writers repre-
sentedy the Central Vermont; Stanley G.
Wilson Of Chelsea appeared for the state
n. L. Boyden for the town of Randolph,
and r. M. Harvey and NJ. NJ. Wilson for
the village Of Randolph.
At the outset, NJ. NJ. Wilson moved that
the petition OF the railroad be dismissed
on the ground that the quota OF crossings
that the Central Vermont must abolish
this year has already been filled, and an
additional petition was not pertinent at
this time. Mr. Writers opposed the mo-
ton. The commission ruled that the pc
tition would be heard, notwithstanding
the completion OF this years quota, mas
much as il was not proposed to order these
crossings abolished until next year, If
done. and ii would then count on next
years quota. Another hearing would be
allowed before any step was taken, so that
Il would 20 over till next year anyway.
Meanwhile the question would be kept
pending.
To this ruling, counsel for the village
and town excepted, and exceptions were
allowed.
The commission announced that II
would hear both the petitions by the Sc
lectmen of Randolph originally brought,
ana also the cross-petition filed by the
railroad. The hrst OF these asked for the
elimination OF the School street crossing
by means Of an underpass at or near the
same point the second that steps be taken
10 protect traffic from danger at the Main
and Pleasant street crossings. The rail
roads petition asked for the closing Of
ali three crossings and the substitution OF
Ar uuderpass from Weston street through
the railroad embankment to the corner OF
Summer and Railroad streets.
n q. Morrison, civil engineer OF the
Central Vermont, was called TO the stand
in behalf OF the railroad petition. he
submitted blueprint drawings OF the pro-
posed u~nderpass and approaches. he sala
tbat the estimated cost OF the underpass
vas $4,000. not including land damages.
A steel oyerpass at Main street 100 feet
lono and eight feet wide, with stairs at
each end, for use Of pedestrians where tne
crossing now is. would cost about s~S,oou.
C-ross-examined by Mr.. Harvey'-A new
highway beside the track connecting
Pleasant and South Main streets
would be livery convenient hthe Pleas
street crossing were given up. II
would cost / ,000 to = 900 perhaps The
damages covering the approaches 70
he subway might be y 800 TO s5,OOO.
weston street might have to be wideneu
near the subway entrance. some ouiu-
inos ,rould have to be moved. The high
reonired would be "very expensive.
A., underpass 10 feet wider than pro-
rosad With a 38-foot roadway, would IN
roive 4 great additional expense, requlr-
! direrent form of construction. Inc
rosa under the e~mbankment would be I
-, iorer than the present level OF Yves
street and ~ feet lower tpan sum
r,ey street. To reach a proper grade itom
s,mmer street il would be necessary 10
hegin excavation some distance down the
s,rset from the corneri also hailroao
strset. where it intersects, would nave 70
- gradsd down in both directions 70
-, .be level. The surface water woulo
aow into the subway from both direc-
,ions being a lower level. A ll-lncn
saaor 10 drain ii to the river would COST
:, sno ana was included in the
,hought such q sewer would drain tne
a'h-av and leave a good roadway 81 All
times unless in freshets. he naa nesel
snown Of large ponds forming on weston
...sst tbat would obstruct travel. Inc
n-ssent village sewer through the en-
would have TO be relocated Is
!, Il In the way. There would he seVerAI
- turns IN the streets II the subway
ere buiIt. II is proposed to have q SIX
sidewalk on each side OF the roao
~ and six feet higher than the Ioau
,.-sl The roadway could be wlaehsu y
% tast At a cost OF another $1,000.
C-ross-examined by States Attosney
wi1son.-Mr. Morrison considered Main
- crossing q livery dangerous cross
~ tbs most dangerous Of the three un,
sa- consideration, largely on account y
- amount Of traffic over 1t. IL Wooiu Is
~ danoerous il there were less shifting
~ vsyd. It would still be dangerous
~ ~ aapusn as people dont