The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-06
UNSAFE CONDITIONS
FROM HIGH VOLTAGE
Public Service Commission Orders Some
Changes Between Villages of Chelsea
and South Royalton.

Reporting that the Central Vermont
railroad freight wreck near Riverton on
Oct. 20. 1911, in which w. r. Chayer,
trainman, was injured, was due TO
short tagging of trains, the Vermont
public service commission closes by de-
claring:
Several accidents similar to this had
occurred previously, and the commission,
through this investigation, has embraced
the opportunity to emphasize to the
traiumen, and especially the brakemen,
the necessity at all times faithfully
to follow the rules as laid down for
their guidance, for the protection OF
persons and property.
"In this case the commission finds that
the accident, which was a collision be-
tween extra freight train No. 339 and
extra freight train north No. 337, was
the result of short tagging on the part
of brakeman, who did not comply with
the rules of the company, which required
him. under such circumstances, to go
back from the rear of his train at least
thirty-six telegraph poles; he in fact
only went back ten poles, and the COLI
sion resulted in consequence thereof
On the complaint of the Orange Coun-
ty Telephone Co. that unsafe conditions
existed between the villages of Chelsea
and South Royalton because of high
voltage wires, the commission has, on
recommendation of an electrical expert,
| ordered the Royalton Power Co. to so
construct its lines that they shall in no
case parallel the lines of either the
Orange County or Rapid Telephone COM
panies at distance OF less than fifteen
| feet from the nearest wires, and where
such condition already exists, said
power company is ordered to move the
wires of the Orange County Tel. Co. to
the poles of the Rapid Tel. Co., and GER
1 tain provisions are made as to the pro-
| portion which each company shall bear
OF the expense. The power company is
| ord cred to have high voltage insulatoi
in series with all guy wires and in
! stalled approximately four feet from its
attachment to the pole, insulator of
which shall equal the electrose insulator.
No. 7, manufactured by the Western
| Electric company. Where the wires of
! the power company cross the wires Of
| the telephone companies, such construc-
tion shall be used as is specified in
Specifications No. 3ll9' of the Ameri-
can Tel & Tel. Co.
Attention is also called to the fact
that the distribution system of :he
power company in the village of Chelsea
is in need of general overhauling in or
der to eliminate many dangerous condi-
tions, where power wires are in contact
with telephone wires, and also where
there is great liability of serious cross
ing in case of storms. These conditions,
il is understood, are to be eliminated
with special order on the part of the
commission.
Throughout this territory whereve.
the high potential line of the power COM
pany is involved, in future construction
and renewals of poles, the telephone
companies are asked TO endeavor to place
their poles and wires ON the same side
of the highway, so as to make mini
mum number of crossings with the pow
er line, and TO that end the two tele-
phone companies should use the same
line of poles. as far as possible, on some
agreed rental basis.
In the matter of the elimination OF
the grade crossing about two miles north
of the railroad station at Charlotte, by