Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-18
REFUSES TROLLEY GO. TURNOUT
Common Council Decides that Public Convenience and Ne cessiy Do Not Require Building of West Main Street Turnout Asked For>-Cizens Voice Their Views, Sup porting the Council

The petition addressed by the Shore Line Electric Railway company to the mayor and the court of common coun- cil, praying for a turnout on West Main street beginning nearly at the Asylum street Corner and continuing westerly 430 feet, was f1atly turned down by the city government after an extended hearing Monday night in the council chambers with a large number of interested parties on hand to see the fight.
 The matter of the proposed layout called forth criticism of the trolley roads policy as shown by its attitude in regard to extensions and accom- modation of the public in Norwich and all in all 1t was a fairly spirited ses- sion. Mayor Murphy. Yielding up his chair to the senior alderman, as a private citizen frankly stated his opin- ion of the trolley road and it was not a favorable one. The session, with the interim, in which the council was in chambers drafting their resolution trolley turnout as far as this years fair is concerned.
 Mayor Murphy called the meeting to order shortly after 8 o'clock with Ceunciimen Cruthers, Kinder and Kramer absent.
 Engineer Explained Plan.
 The recent petition was read by Clerk Moore and then City Engineer Pitcher asked for the original peti- tion, of Aug. 4, 1914: which was also read. Attorney Whittlesey of New London, appearing as the representa- tive of the Shore Line company, asked MT. Palmer to explain the plan of the layout petitioned for. Engineer Pal mer stated in reply to the attorneys question that the new switch was to be on the north side of the street. 430 feet in length from end to end, 300 in the clear. The distance from the south rail to the south curbing was b feet, leaving that amount of space in the street unobstructed. The main track is 14 1-2 feet from the north curb and, the north rail of the proposed switch would be 1-2 feet from that curb.
 At Request of Fair Grounds People.
 The extension. Attorney whittlesey stated, was asked for by the company at the request of the fair grounds as- sociation, to enable them to give bet ter service to the public, a fifteen min ute service from the city where now the service is only half hour. He was aware that an extra track in any street is something of a nuisance but the question Is whether the benefit is sufficient to warrant this obstruction,
 He believed that the benefits would more than offset the inconveniences and urged the necessity of acting quickly and so if the petition was granted he would ask to waive the hearing before the public utilities com mission in order that the track might be used this fall.
 Mayor Murphy asked if this 15 min ute service was to be temporary or permanent and MT. Whittlesey said he did not believe that 15 minute service was warranted ordinarily and Supt. Anderson who sat beside him assented.
 Against Public Utilities Regulation
 Engineer Pitcher said he hoped that MT. Whittlesey's request would not pass. A little object had been kept out of sight in asking for the con- cession The layout did not cover the requirements of the law and Of the public utilities commission. That's the reason they do not want the ques- tion to do before the commission, he said. It is an iron bound rule of the public utilities commission that a rail shall clear 5 feet and here the clear ance was only 4 feet inches. MT. Pitcher quoted the general statutes of 1909 which state that any track in center location. which this is, shall leave F foot clear highway except on bridges, tur<ss on streets, at terminals or on turnouts ncs-e=cseding 150 feet. And if it goes over to the side loca- ton the company would likewise be ruled out.
 Opposed Concession.
 J. D. Haviland felt delicate in trying to throw cold water on what is termed public improvement. But the city of Norwich has asked repeatedly for an extension to Maplewood cemetery and the trolley company has been told that there are to be five to seven thous- and people interested in that property by having friends there. The company says the line has never paid but has the terminal any attraction to make it pay? MT. Haviland claimed that the city of Norwich has the right to ask certain things even if they do not on the face of the moment pay. Any con- cession asked by the railway company he should fight as they had not met to put in 1900 feet of track for three days outing, certainly they can put a little more for 365 days in the year.
 Not the Best Place.
 Attorney A. J. Bailey, appearing for Elmer R. Pierson, favored turnout but farther westward, and considered the place picked out very i'll advised. On one end it would begin at the junction of five streets. where teams would have to cross it on slant and at the other end it would interfere with the approach to MT. Pierson's barn and stables and would be detri- mental to his business. The attorney queried why that place had been chos- en and MT. Palmer told him that 1t was the half way point in running time.
 MT. Bailey thought that moving the turnout a short distance to the west ward would make practically no diff ferance in the running time. Another