The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-04-24
SOUTH AVE. VS..
ATLANTIC ST.
Which is Center Route Fol
Trolley Extension to Fac
tory District
Contributor to Farmer Gives
Reasons Why South Avenue
Plan Should be Adhered to-
1ntimates That Trolley Co.
and Crane Co. Have Pooled
Issues
70 the Editor of the Farmer:

To the Editor of the Farmer:
Sir-What is back Of and is actual
ly the real reason for the Connecticut
Company's opposition to extending its
tracks through South avenue? Why
does the company say that it will no,
build an extension to Seaside Park
unless it can build by way of Atlantic
street and Iranistan avenue? Is there
not something that a careful effort is
being made to conceal? Is there not
colored gentleman hidden in the in
nocent looking wood pile?
A lot of men interested in civic af-
fairs are asking these questions. A
lot of workingmen, who would be
benefited by the right sort of trolley
extension, are asking them. And
some believe that they have found the
answer
In the opinion of these men the Con-
necticut Company and the Crane Valve
Company have pooled their issues
Everybody who watches city affairs
closely knows that about three years
ago the Crane Company put up a
fence across South avenue and is now
engaged in lawsuit with the Park
Board because of the question of own
ersiip then raised. Not so many
know that about the same time the
Crane Company petitioned the Com
mon Council to close South avenue at
point to the eastward Of its big
plant.
The object, of course, was plain. The
Crane Company simply wanted to
have the city give up its right in the
street so the entire street could be
used for the company's benefit. In
other words. the peoples right in the
city streets was to be surrendered.
But no such thing was done. Strong
opposition developed. The petition
was not acted upon for year. nor
for two years. But recently 1t was
taken up and the company was given
leave to withdraw.
Now, oddly enough. comes a propo-
sition to extend the trolley tracks by
way of Atlantic street to Seaside Park
and the Crane, Company is credited
extension by giving the right to cross
its property at Atlantic street and
Iranistan avenue. But curious men
want to know why. They have an
idea that a corporation always ex-
poets to get back little more than
it gives. Now, they say, what does
the Crane Company expect to get.
own question.
Their answer is pretty plainly put
AS they see it, extension of trolley
tracks through South avenue would
forever prevent the Crane Company
from succeeding In efforts to get the
street discontinued. So long as there
are no tracks there Is hope. There
!. fore, keep the tracks off. And the
Connecticut Company falls in with the
plan and says that it will build new
line through Atlantic street but not
through South avenue
Folks who favor a. new line through
South avenue point out that it would
serve a large number Of men employ
ed In factories. FIT started at Main
street it would garry passengers close
to the Smith & Egge factory. closer
than any present line to the Bachelor
corset factory and the Burns & BaS-
sick Company, would run directly to
the Malleable Iron Company and the
Crane factory, and near the factories
Of N. Palmer & Co. and the Bridge
port Manufacturing Company.
Against this. the proposed line west
from Park avenue through Atlantic
street would serve only the Crane en-
ployes in a measure and would be of
advantage during the brief bathing
season of about eight weeks. Men
who are not railroad men but are bus
mess men, believe that an all-the-
year-round patronage would be worth
a
And they are amazed at the position
taken by the railroad company They
wonder why it does not want to serve
all the workingmen and workingwo-
men who would be benefited by such
an extension as is proposed, and why,
on the other hand, It takes such a
deep interest in the bathers at the
park.
These men can see a lot Of advant-
ages in trolley line through South
avenue. Not alone do they see 1t
serving a lot OF folk. at the present
time, but they can see it in the future
being extended all the way to Fayer-
weathers Island, and from there
across the proposed bridge to Brew
vice to a section which now is a long
distance from the nearest trolley line.
South avenue would be a direct route
to this section. A line operated along
such route would be a profitable
one And there is wonder at the at
titude of the company in saying tWe
will not build at all IL we have to build
through South avenue
One objection that has been put for
ward by the Connecticut Company to
the South avenue route is the number
of freight tracks now on or across 1t.
But it is pointed out that crossing
freight tracks is not thought objec-
tlOndDle at congress street, OF at East
Washington avenue. or at Stratford
and Seaview avenues. And attention
is even called to the crossing of main
line tracks at North and Housatonic
avenues. So the workingmen who
would be aided by a South avenue line
keep wondering what the real reason
is.
Before the council tonight there is
to be hearing on the whole matter,
along with others. They are going
to try then to find out, if they can.
Incidentally they may ask a few
questions themselves. They may ask
when the Crane Company was given
permission to lay tracks in South ave-
nue. or when anybody else was given
that permission. They may ask the
Connecticut Company to explain its
attitude OF having it's own way or not
playing, even though the people are
willing to pay.
1t actually does look as though
there might be some real electricity
at the hearing tonight. Not your
quiet sort, but the real blue-fla,shing g
sort that lets everybody know there
is trouble ahead.
CITIZEN