Connecticut western news., 1917-04-12
GRADE CROSSINGS HEARING
Public Utilities Commission Meet with
 Canaan Citizens.

grade crossings in town, was evidenced by the number present at the hearing before Public Utilities Commissioners R. T. Higgins and c. c. Elwell, at the town hall Monday morning.
 AS published in The News two weeks ago, the hearing was held aT the request of the directors of the Business Mems Association.
 Besides the officers of that Associa. ton there were present the two officials and a representative body of citizens,
 The railroads were represented by Superintendent M. 1. Miller of the Highland Division of the N Y. N. H 6 H; G. W. Clark. General Superin tendent of the c. N. E.; W. $. Swain trainmaster of the Highland division; H. A. Christinger, trainmaster of the O. N. E.; and W. B. Barlett, attorney for the N. Y. N. H. 6 H. who acted as spokesman for the railroads. The Cen tral New England officials had come from Poughkeepsie by special train and the representatives of the New Haven road arrived on the train from the east.
 J. Henry Roraback placed his auto mobile at the disposal of the party and they at once proceeded to view the crossings at Church and Main streets on the O. N. E.; and Main and Rail- road streets on the N. Y. N. H. & H.
 After making the rounds the party was driven to the town hall where the hearing had been called. AS chairman, MT. Higgins stated that the business before the meeting was relative to peti tion No. 230E to the Commission, re- garding better protection at certain grade crossings in town. He then asked for an expression of opinion.
 J. Henry Roraback said that he was in favor of more@ protection at all four of the crossings in question, he was sure that the railroad management would not wish it to appear that the traffic, at this season of the year, was anything as large as at later time, particularly during the summer months. He understood that count had been made recently of pedestrians and vehicles over the crossing, but that day could be no criterion as it was holi day, business places were closed, no schools in session and bad storm had made automobile traffic undesirable. He thought that the crossings now guarded were we'll provided for up to the hours the men were on duty, but in his opinion the hours should be ex- tended and a f1agman placed at the Pease crossing.
 President Joseph l.. Parsons of the Business Mems Association, told of the loss of horse at the Pease crossing, that might have been avoided had a fiaeman, been on duty. He said the R. F. D. mail carrier had also had several narrow escapes at the same crossing, because of standing freig at cars ob structing the view. At Main street within a week, early in the evening, directly after the gateman had gone home MT. Parsons cited an instance in which he was nearly run over by a coming locomotive that gave no warn- ing signals.
 B. A. Creevey. secretary of the Busi- ness Mems Association stated that in two instances, on separate days from 7:30 m. to 80 p. m., the Church street crossing was blocked 26 times by locomotive, the other day it was blocked 66 times during the same hours. He thought that the numerous close calls at the crossings proved that addi- tionsl protection was needed. He re-. lated his own experience with MT. Laffargue when they were struck by a locomotive that displayed no warning lights or bells.
 Charles Latfargue related his expert ence on the night his car was struck on the Main street crossing. A. W. Aolsapple favored more protection at all the crossings.
 R. D. Peirce thought there was no question about the flagman's good ser vice at the c. N. B. Main street cross- ing, but what he would particularly protest against was the annoyance and delay caused by trains being allowed to stand on the crossings from 15 to 35 minutes at time.
 Rev. K. o. Gillette suggested that the Main street crossing should be more carefully guarded during the evening hours.
 pr. Camp and Dr. Lee both attested to narrow escapes particularly during the night hours.
 For the railroad companies, MT. Barnett said they were satisfied from what had been said that more protec tion was needed, possibly the railroad company had not appreciated the added danger because of the increase of busI. ness.
 MT. Miller stated that it was not the intention of the company to make the siding at the Pease crossing a storage track but rather for the. moving of long trains.
 MT. Clark said that recently water plug had been installed in the c. N. E. yards that would do away with locomo- tives coming over the Church street crossing to obtain water at the station. His company would be glad to consider