Norwich bulletin., 1913-03-28

There will be no rails laid in Market street in the city of Norwich by the Connecticut or any other troll ley company" emphatically declared Mayor Murphy before* the railroad committee of the general assembly in Hartford, Thursday afternoon. The matter under consideration was an amendment to the charter of the Con- nectfcut company that proposes to give additional rights in the city of Norwich. Provision was to be made for a connection with the company tracks in Main street at Washington square, through Water street and Market street to a connection with the track in Main street. Besides the mayor, Norwich was represented at the hearing by Corporation Counsel Tanning, City Engineer Pitcher and Representative John F. Craney.
 MT. Tanning said that the people of Norwich did not know whether the company wanted the proposed exten- sion for emergency occasions or regu- lar travel, but whatever the proposi- ton was, he wanted to emphasize that Norwich objected to the laying Of track in Market street, even aside from the element of danger of troll ley service from Water to Main street by that route. If the company intend ed to track Water street for occa- sional use such a track should be To- cated in some other section. Instead of using Market street the tracks could be extended on to Shetucket street and join the tracks there He said that the city has, at 8 cost of over s3o.o00 widened the street and i'm proved the Market street approach, and did not propose to have the troll ley company use Market street
 Alternate Route Suggested.
 City Engineer Pitcher here intro duced and explained a map of the To- cation. It showed that provision could be made to have cars from the west Jaix through Falls avenue to go on the steam road track around under the so- called elevator building, thus reach ing the track in Shetucket street which Is now used by the trolley ex press By the use of small stretch of the track of the steam road the cars could be operated on emergency occasions away from the public trav- el on .. narrow street.
 MT Leary For Trolley Co.
 MT. Leary, representing the trolley company said it would be dangerous to operate the cars on the steam rails were such a thing possible, but that could not be done unless at consider able expense as then the operation on the section of track would be by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company, as is done on the Jewett City route.
 MT. Pitcher said he understood that. He said Water street was congested at present when there are no cars in that street. It was a narrow thorough fare and he bIieved trolley service there would be dangerous to public traffic. especially in parts of each day.
 Attorney Robinson for the Connectf- cut company, said there was need for the proposed loop by reason of the long stretch of single line track in Main street.
 No Publication in Norwich Paper.
 Mayor Murphy said that the city of Norwich had expended over $30 000 to relieve the congestion and that no troll ley company would be permitted to lay tracks in Market street. The mayor took occasion to thank the committeeman for the hearing. stat ing that the city officials had no no- tice of a previous hearing on the mat ter and for that reason the city was not represented.
 Attorney Robinson replied that mo- tice was given as stipulated in the statutes and that notice was given by advertisement in paper publish ed in the county.
 Mayor Murphy said Norwich was the largest city in the county and be- l1eyed that matter of this local na- ure should have been advertised in a Norwich newspaper. The mayor con- tinuing said he wanted to impress the committee with the important fact that under no considerations should he company be granted privilege to lay tracks in Market street.
 In answer to queries by Corporation Counsel Tanning, who conducted the hearing in behalf of Norwich, En- gineer Pitcher recited in detail the real condition of Water street and the route as planned by the trolley com pany, to show the committee that there was improvement over that route.
 What Use of Tracks.
 Mayor Murphy then asked a direct question of Attorney Robinson. He said: We want to know if the com pany really intends to use the pro posed tracks regularly. or whenever there is a special rush? If wanted for storage anly. he suggested the purchase by the company of an avail able piece of land and the use the company's land for storage and not the public streets.
 Attorney Robinson said he could not