The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-09
atl0rd
BRIDGES PROVE MUCH CHEAPER THAN HUMAN LIVES. Damages Assessed the Consolidated Road in KemetZ Case Would
 BuIId several Briu9cs.
Special to The FarmerJ


 StratIoId, Feb. 9-At intervals dur ing the last two years the Farmer | mas called attention to the cryIng need of q bridge over the tracks Ot the Consolidated road in the vicinity of St. MiCnAels cemetery. The news papers have been called upon to re- l cord many acidents, SUme of them fla tai winch have occurred at this point hesiuents of Holl4ster Heights per, sIst in taking this route to reach the trolley tracks in spite of the danger and the many warnings. The decree of the New York State courts which has been awarded to Joseph Kemeta l the sum of $31O00 for the loss of both ! his legs which were cut off by a tram under the most horrifying conditions has again brought the matter to pulp lie attention and has spurred the res dents of the Heights to renew their efforts to obtain at least a foot bridge at this point 1t is believed that the Consolidated road will take more kindly to the proposition since the heavy damage verdict in the ke-
 metz case and will be willing to spend the money on bridge and save fur, ther damage suits. The amount awarded in the case would build sev- eral foot bridges across the tracks at different points between Bruce ave- nue and west Broad street. The dis tance between these two points is over a mile and a long detour must be made to get from one side to the other of the track unless the risk of being hit by a train is incurred by crossing the rails at grade. It is es-
 
 stantial iron foot bridge across the track at St. Michael's cemetery with
 s-airs 0n each side. and that the S30.-- 900 would have built substantial structure suitable for all kinds of traffic. The officers and employees
 of the Baird Machine company are very deslrous of such a connection with the property on the other side of the track many would then be able
 to settle on the Knowlton tract which
 will see a large number of houses built in the spring. The employees Of the factory hope to get living quarters
 close to the factory and the Heights they are looking for,/ The residents of the Heights say they are going to make a determined effort to get the matter before the railroad in the proper manner and next week will see the ball sterted to rolling. The mat ter properly lies in the province of the Puhlic Utilities commission which has power to order a crossing at this point if they see fit. It is rather a sad commentary upon existing condi-
 tions that the loss of lives at this
 point has had so little influence and that the awarding of heavy damages is considered more of an 1nducement to provide proper means of crossing he tracks at this dangerous place It is folly to rely upon the fact that par
 ties crossing the tracks here are real ly trespasSers on the property or the railroad. Men, women and children,
 the latter often unaccomparied by i their elders pass back and forth across
 
 railro'-d company. They persist in
 risking their lives and this fact should
 be reason enough to provide an ade-
 quate means of preventing them from
 taking the risk Lives are more val
 ua hIe than bridges although this
 theory has little influence with cor
 porations which exist wholly to pro
 duce dividends. With the building
 of a large number of houses in knowl-
 ton park next spring and with increas-
 ed building at Holhster Heights the
 danger will be increased. The situa-
 ton grows grave every day.
 There will be big changes at Knowl-
 mits the commencement of work on 15 new houses to be built by Knowlton | the owrl~r of the tract These houses will be offered for sale or rent by
 MT. Knowlton who believes that this is the best and surest way to inter est the public in the locality. The | owner believes that he has the fin | est residence property anywhere alonS the line. That portion fronting the
 trac cks wlll be sold for factory siteS and already half dozen firms ana ccmpanies are looking over the terri
 tory. MT. Knowlton has refused sev- eral offers from misunderstanding conn., panies because he thought them un- desirable for this section. Almost all of the houses which Mir. Knowlton will build are already engaged by em- ployes of the Baird Machine Co The will be of a better grade than the ordinary suburban cottage and VIII be equipped with all modern improve
  have not yet been awarded but the plans have been drawn and the sites selected As soon as these 15 houses are filled MT. Knowlton will build more and keep on building until the whole tract is covered. This will mean a still more rapid growth in the populat tion of the town which at the rate it is now growing will douhle in the next ten years, if competent l judges are not false prophets. At the annual meeting of the Board of r-v-96 Q Of the High school last night the ex- | fsting staff of officers was reel ectHd unanimously. The work accomplished | by the board during the past year | s worthy of much comm enda tion ana 1 the sentiments expressed last night | indicate that the board is just get | ting under way and that the next ye9r plishrrert ts than the last The officers | reelected are: Elliott W. Peck. pres ident: Bernard Judscn. Flank Aher- ! crombie William H. Crawford. Fr9 nk Saumis Philo P. Haven. David Coe. | Thomss McOuillan. F@ward IT. Peers. ! vic. presidents; wilIiam IT, Hort, ! secretary Georee A. Fairchild' treas urer. Elmer Pailev of the firm of | Cooper & Pailey. Boston a-ehitec+s | buildi1e which they desire to put Hp | Tn this town The prop"sed building | will cost s1On OnO and will contaiu an ! essenobIy room which is al"ost | theatre a gyrnna siunl with baths ard 1 every convenience Ln"wn to modern 1 school house construction.
 1 TROLIF Fv EXTENSION TWILL
 OPEN UP THE SOUTH END.