Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-10

The report of the public utilities commission for the year ending June 30, 1915, has been presented to the gov erIior. The report shows that there are 1855 public service companies under the Jurisdiction of and reporting to the commission. One hundred and twenty three petitions of various kinds have been heard and formal orders entered in connection herewith. There have been S6 informal complaints presented to the commission, 28 less than were received during the previous year, and in nearly every case satisfactory ad- justments have been made. These complaints cover wide field in the operation of the several public service companies affected.
 Accidents.
 Four thousand six hundred ana forty-two accidents have been report ed to the commission as occurring among the several public service com panies under it's jurisdiction. One hundred and sixteen were accidents or a more or less serious character, ana 165 accidents did not involve any per sonal injury. Of this total numoer. 128 have been the subject Of speclal investigation. and fl suggestions nave been made relative to operating ana other conditions of the companies ln- voIved as possible means whereby slm- liar accidents may be avoided in the future. Of these accidents lnVestl- gated, 112 occurred upon steam rall- roads, 52 in connection with the op- eration of street railways, and 24 were among the other classes of companies.
 On June 30, 1915, after numerous hearings and lengthy inVestiga tons, in which the companies involved ana the bureau of standards of the depart ment of commerce at Washington rem dered valuable assistance, orders were issued approving and establishing rules, regulations and standards for the gas, electric and water companies.
 Grade Crossing Improvements.
 The annual examination of steam railroads was made in September and October, 1914, and that of the street railways in May and June, 1915. Both the railroads and street railways were found to be in good general condition and suggested Improvements, following the previous examinations, carried out. Special and careful examination was made relative to the grade crossings on the steam railroads, and detailed report respecting conditions at each crossing is on file in the office Of the commission. Following out suggestions made by the commission, the railroad companies have improved and are lm- proving the lines of sight at grade crossings, by the trimming of trees and removal of bushes, entertainments, etc. special attention was gwen to similarity of some of the station names and certain names, where liability of confusion in reading train orders ex- isted, were changed by the railroad companies on a general recommends tion of the commission.
 For Pure Water.
 The commission has secured and presented in it's report certain informa- ton relative to the protection afforded watersheds from which the severa water companies obtain their supplies for domestic purposes, the method ir use i1 maintaining the water supply at q proper standard of purity, and other details incident to the various private ly owned water supplies throughout the state.
 Owing to a recent federal decree af- fecting certain railroad and street railway interests, the commission has deemed it advisable to report at some length on the conditions of this class of utilities ir Connecticut.
 Electric Companies.
 There are 25 companies engaged