The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-04-25
WANT MILL HILL
AVE. ROUTE FOR
STREET CAR Line
Residents of Central Avenue
Declare Mill Hill the Logical
Street

Mill Hill avenue because of it's great
width, 20 feet, about twice as wide
as most Of the streets Of the city,
presents greater facilities for the
operation Of a trolley line than upon
Central avenue, which is but so feet
in width. The hearing on the extern
sion Of the Stratford avenue line
through Central avenue past the hos
pital to the Boston road, and from
Barntm avenue through either Mill
Hill or Central avenue, was heard by
the Common Council at it's meeting
last evening. Much opposition was
brought to bear by the residents of
Central avenue to having the lines
laid in their street. They would pre-
fer If lines are laid at all, to have
the tracks laid in Mill Hill avenue.
Residents of the latter street declared
that the extension is a necessity, and
that Central avenue is the better
street.
Lyman s. Catlin, q director of the
Bridgeport hospital, spoke for the ex-
tension of the line. especially for the
accommodation of the thousands who
visit the hospital He stated that the
hospital directors had made repeated
attempts to have the trolley company
extend its lines past the hospital, but
had always been unsuccessful. Mr..
Catlin declared the extension a great
public necessity, as by actual count
2192 visitors had been to the hospital
in two weeks. The greater majority
OF that number came and went by
trolley. Last Saturday there were
1879 patients at the hospital. He stall
ed that it did seem to him that the
convenience of several thousand q
month ought to outweigh any and all
opposition that might be brought 10
bear against the proposed extension.
He stated that his sympathy was with
the people whose houses the cars must
of necessity pass. but that the greater
mass OF people must be accommodate
ed
DR. r. NJ. Wilson said that he could
not speak from & financial or mecllan-
lea! standpoint but from q l?llnani-
taran view. the extension should be
brought about. There were many pa
TENTS. ne stated. who left the hospital
after a siege of pneumonia or other
ailments who had TO wait at the Bar
nun avenue corner fo~ their car. often
causing further illness. This would
be done away with Il the cars passed
the hospital.
Judge Frank L. Wilder stated that
he appeared for all of the property
owners in Central avenue from Bar
mum avenue to Grant street, every
one of whom is opposed to the extern
sion going through their street. The
street. he stated. is 90 feet in width
from curb to curb, and entirely unfit
ted for the laying of tracks, as the
curbs would have to be laid back, the
trees cut down. and the grade made
over, entailing considerable expense to
the adjacent owners. There is a
school at Grant street and Central
avenue. and hundreds of small chill
dren would have to cross the tracks
daily. At the Barnum avenue corner
there is a fire house With three pieces
of apparatus. Cars stopping at the
curves along with ''jigger" cars would
be great menace to the fire appar-
atus responding to alarms. The res
iGents of Central avenue, Judge VIII
DER said. do not care for any extern
sion. but that if one is made, it should
he made on Mill Hill avenue, which is
much wider. on which there is no
school and at which corner there Is
no fire house.
Former Alderman George W. link
Florist Pfloom and others also spoke
in opposition to the laying of tracks
in Central avenue.
When the clerk read the resolution
for the extension of tracks in Central
avenue TO the Boston road from STRAIT
ford avenue, Judge Wider again stat
cd that his constituents opposed.
The clerk then read the resolution
for the laying OF tracks in Mill Hill
avenue from Barnum avenue to the
Boston road Judge Wilder then stat
ed that those who had sent him to the
hearing were not in favor of any ex-
tension. but that if one should be
made, they heartily approved Of Mill
Hill avenue.
Alderman Jackson stated that he
had no interest in any extension Other
than when they are called a real ne
cessity. He saw that a line to the
hospital was a necessity and favored
the Mill Hill avenue route.
Alderman Paddock whose landlord,
Nh Wells. owns about 1000 feet of
land in Mill Hill avenue, favored that
street. and added that the man whom
he saw once n month did not object.
The best interests of most OF the peo-
pic would be served if the lines were
laid in Mill Hill avenue Alderman
King also declared for Mill Hill ave-
nue..
When Mayor Buckingham called for
position and there was no response.
and was about to close the hearing.
Attorney William 3. Boardnan came
forward. stating that he did not like
to see the line go through by default,
and would therefore oppose the reso-
luton The majority Of the residents
OF the street. he said with whom he
had spoken. are opposed to the lines
in Mill Hill avenue. There We're no
others heard in opposition and the
wing WAS ordered closed.