The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-04-20


night dispatcher here, which he said
they formerly did. This was explain
ed by Mr. Jarvis as not being the
custom of the company in several Of
the larger places. He said that there
was notice in each window giving
the name and residence of the opera
tor and that in case Of emergency
he could be Immediately notified and
gotten TO the station. He said that
in this service the telephone has pro-
ven most useful, especially along
some of the country routes Letters
written by Mr.. Hall to the company
regarding the building were produced
by +. w. Lawrence, attorney for the
road and placed on file
Rev. Philip Schuyler had observed
smoke several times coming down
Depot street especially on rainy days.
He said the building should be away
from the thickly settled community.
He stated that the smoke had not
caused him any personal trouble but
he knew of the case of a boy who had
narrow escape caused by train
passing over the River street cross
ing. He said the approaching trains
were blocked from sight and that it
was dangerous with the present sys.
TEN.
The plan of the village was then
produced by f. S. Harris and dis
cussed.
Fred c. Martin, village president.
said that he had passed In that vicin-
ity for nine years on his way to and
from his work at the mill of the Hol-
den & Leonard Company and stated
that the old site Of the roundhouse
was not a suitable place and that the
north part of the lot was the only
place to erect H.
Mrs. Samuel b. Hawks, a resident
of Depot street, told OF how a newly
painted house was In a few days soil
ed blythe smoke and of how il quick
ly soiled white clothes which wree
hung out to dry She said there was
no doubt of the damage by smoke
and of the injury to health and the
discomfort which II caused
General Manager of the Road G.. T.
Jarvis stated that he received various
complaints from Bennington in 1908
and that he Immediately set about
In trying to better conditions. He
said that the nahum number OF en-
gines stored here was four and the
usual number three He stated that
II an engine was properly taken care
OF there was no use OF its blowing
of at night.
John c. Irwin, chief engineer OF the
road, stated that round house so
feet deep and l5O feet wide would
cost TO build on River street about
$4,000. The building TO be of wood.
He said that when an engine was
standing still there was little draft
but under "A stack 1t made material
difference.
Charles NJ Wickham stated that he
had been In the railroad business %
years, beginning first as fireman.
then to engineer and 10 his present
position as foreman which he has
held nearly six years He said that
the incoming trains were always un.
der control, entering the yard at
speed not exceeding six to eight
miles an hour. He said he had never
known Of an accident at the River or
County street crossings. He was
asked Il he had ever known OF any
one having bronchial trouble caused
by working In or near an engine. He
said he never had. He said that he
had never noticed smoke to any dis.
agreeable amount except on windy
days. He told OF having observed
heavy smoke from the mill OF the
Holden and Leonard company. He
said ne thought the smoke could
hardly affect residents In the vicInl.
~ except In a northwest wind.
lie was asked by Attorney Moloney
II he recalled a family by the name
Of Gleason who lived near the for.
mer round house that died OF con.
sumption. He said he remembered
several children dying but he under.
stood that death was due to diph.
tneria.
The instance occurred years ago.
Death is believed to have been caus.
ed from consumption due to the then
existing SCOT and smoke conditions
Mr.. Wickham stated that he had had
number Of complaints from the gas
and smoke and that he had always
tried to remedy Il as soon aa possible.
He was asked n he ever heard the
engines blowing or at night He
said that he had not.
The last to testify was Henry
Marsh, who was at one time In the