Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-07-02
On Change Of Track Location.
HEARING HELD WITH BRIEF ARGUMENTS
PRO AND CON.

Only little more than an hour wa
required on Friday for the hearing OF
the petition OF A. j. Penley and othel
citizens for change In the location Of
the street railroad track. As asked TO,
In the petition, the change was from the
easterly to the westerly side Of the road
from point near F. C. Tribou's to 9
point near r. B. Fogg's livery stable
and to the middle of the street from
that point to point near the Methodist
church. where the track now swings into
the middle OF the street.
Something like dozen Of the inter.
ested citizens we're present when the
hearing opened before the sslectmen in
New Hall, shortly after 10 O'Clock.
Superintendent q. B. Young of the Nor
way & Paris Street Railway was also
present, as was Guy Gannett Of Augusta,
who 10 interested in the road.
There was very little formality about
the hearing. Ernest ?. Shaw said brief
the management of the railroad, the
track running as close as It does to the
door of his store is of great inconven-
fence, and his conditions would be much
improved if the track could be moved
farther away, so as to give him some
clear space.
F. B. Fogg said that 1t would be q
benefit to him directly If the track could
be moved. As it 10 now, running close
TO the door of bis stable, it is q source OF
danger to teams or automobiles driving
out, and requires everybody to be on
guard all the time. he had no fault to
find with the road, which we could not
get along without.
Ernest j. Record said that he con.
sidered the location Of the track as it is
in front of bis house q damage to the
place. In winter it fills him up with
snow, 80 that it is impossible to get in
and out without going into it, and all
the year the car stops in front of bis
house to connect with the trains, and the
cart used for carrying the mail across to
and from the station stands there all the
time. These things detracted from the
value of his place. He had no fault to
find with the railroad people.
T. NJ. Davis of the creamery was asked
to express his views, and said that the
road is a convenience to the creamery,
and the car people accommodating. At
the same time, it is an inconvenience to
the people coming to the creamery, and
the cream teams, to have the
track 80 near the building.
A view of the location was suggested,
and the party left the hall and went up
the street beyo nd the railroad crossing,
the width of the street In
several places, and figuring where the
track would be and how much room
would be left on its sides If it should be
moved over. There was considerable
informal talk among the members of the
party during the view, and the opinion
was expressed by some that the track
instead of being moved to the other side
Of the street for any part of the way,
should 60 in the middle of the street all
the way.
After the return to the hall Walter
L. Gray spoke briefly, representing the
street railway company. he said that
Of course the great objection Is the ex-
pense, which under the law must be ap-
portioued between the railroad and the
town. There were, however, some other
objections to the change; one that there
Is high bank on the east side OF the
street where the track now runs, and II
the track were moved over, and the
travel carried to that side of the road,
there would be greater danger of teams
going over that bank. 1t would also
make it more incoDvenieDt for teams
turning into Pleasant street from the
streets coming into it on the west side.
He also suggested that II any change
made should require the street railroad
to cross the Grand Trunk track In any
other way than at present, that change
could be made only by the railroad COM
He asked Superintendent
Young for an estimate of the expense.
Mr. Young said that the railroad peo-
pie had figured as carefully as they could
on the basis of the change asked for In
the petition. To make the change, using
the present diamond at the Grand Trunk
crossing at point farther north, would
cost about $4,000. This would necessi-
tate taking down one of the trees in
front of Capt. Tribou's house. If the
crossing was changed to a different
angle, so that il would be necessary to
put in new diamond, this, to cross both
tracks, would cost approximately 81 1000
when put in. he also considered that
there would be more danger of accidents
rather than less with the proposed loca-
ton, and the snow bills Of the street
would be increased at least one
third.
This closed the hearing, and Chairman
Farrar of the selectmen stated that the
decision would be announced later.
Any interested party, II not satisfied
with the decision when made, has the
right to appeal to the railroad commits.
sioners, whose decision is final.
DnDo Tne0oe