The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-02
EXPECT EXTENSION
OF FACILITIES OF
new HAVEN ROAD
Well Informed Persons Elk.
pect Plans of Sheppard
Soon May Be Adopted.

The recommendations and the
methods Of former railroad geniuses
Of the New Haven road, whose pur-
pose for the physical future Of the
load were lost a decade or more ago
in the mad lust for loot, promise
soon to be revived.
The Farmer has learned from au
thoritative railroad sources that very
recently the plans of O. M. Sheppard,
former superintendent and vice presi-
dent Of the New Haven system, for a
gigantic transfer yard between New
York and New Haven has been recon-
sidered, the consent to build a sta
ton at New Haven being but the first
step in what may prove period of
substantial upbuilding.
Many in Bridgeport today will re-
call that Sheppard, when superin-
tendent of the New Haven road, in
opposing the attempted control of
dock properties and steamship lines,
predicted the day would come when
the rail would supersede the steam
boat and in demanding that the
tracks through Bridgeport be laid di-
rectly over the route now traversed
by Golden Hill street. At that time
he predicted that eventually the COM
pany would be shut off from needed
yardage. His prediction is freely adj
mitted today to have come true, for
the necessity Of building, even g.
slightly enlarged "broken lott freight
house in Bridgeport without the ex-
penditure Of enormous sums of money
in the acquisition Of property is the
problem besetting railroad officials.
Likewise and even to a greater de-
gree the question of transfer" yards
at New Haven has caused the concern
which is said to have resulted In the
acceptance of capital from the city of
New Haven for the erection of new
passenger station. That this step will
soon be followed by the removal Of
the freight yards to another site,
nearer New York. with the possible
sale of large water front tracts in
that city as we'll as New Haven, with
general and radical readjustment of
rights of-way seems imminent.
Agents of the company have trav-
eled every mile Of territory between
the Harlem freight yards and New
Haven attempting to secure proper
ties for an enormous transfer yard
such as was advocated at Woodmont
nearly a score of years ago by Vice
President Sheppard. Property values
at Harlem River terminal today are
far too great. The section between
New York and Bridgeport has
through it's residences become prohibit
tive The same applies to Woodmont.
Stratford is said to have had it's ad-
vantages and disadvantages and other
sites nearer New Haven are now be-
lieved to be under consideration.
Congestion Of through cars for dis
tribution over New England, at the
New Haven terminal which has but
narrow passageway through that city
renders quick shifting and disposal
Impossible. Where other roads, such
as the New York Central at Syracuse,
N. Y, and the Erie and Lackawanna
roads on the New Jersey fats have
big areas for the utilization Of the
"hump," the New Haven still retains
the old switching engine in making
up trains. The loss by this method is
great but under present conditions
unavoidable
It is asserted that the sale of the
waterfront properties, now of slight
value to the railroad because of the
greater necessities. but invaluable to
manufacturing industry, would bring
great returns from the sale and prob
ably greater freight tonnage if the
sites were occupied by factories.
Early announcement of radical re-