The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-15
PUTNAM PARK LINE
FAVORED BY ALL
who WERE HEARD
Thereby Practically Assur-
ing New Layout for Red
ding Trunk Highway.

Redding, Feb. ia hearing held
at Hartford on Tuesday afternoon be-
fore the Legislature committee on
roads, bridges and rivers makes It
practically a certainty that the route
OF the Danburyv Bridgeport trunk
. highway northward from Reddlns
Ridge will be via the Putnam park
road to Bethel instead Of by way OF
Redding Center and hometown. "A
bill effecting such change Of layout
was the subject Of the hearing and all
the views set forth were In it's favor.
Some residents Of the Center at first
intended to appear in opposition, but
reconsidered when they realized that
they had such poor case that their
protests would probably have little
weight. Those who spoke in favor OF
the change were First Selectman Os-
born, Selectman Sullivan, D. S. San
ford, ex -Selectman HIS. Barnes. Charles
H. Plump, Albert A. Gorham and High
way Commissioner Bennett. Mr.. Cor
ham was an unexpected recruit to the
cause as.he lives at the Center and so
in a measure was Mr.. Plumb, as he
had previously declared in favor OF
having the question passed upon by a
town. meeting or decided by local
refefehdt1n OF some sort. $50
There had been some talk. of an eft
fort to amend the bill to the extent
of empowering Commissioner Bennett
to decide between the Putnam Park
road and that across Sunset hill, but
among those attending the hearing
there was no particular inclination to-
wards the latter route and 1t therefore
. lacked an advocate, although 1t is UNI
doubtedly the one preferred by auto
lists. Naturally, L. Q. Peck and Com
modore Luttgen, the largest owners OF
Hi property. are strongly in its favor.
but neither was present and it does not
appear that either had been notified,
although they may have been The
hearing failed to disclose any expla-
nation of the reason which actuated
former Commissioner Macdonald in
making choice of the hometown route
which was an example of cross-eyed
and upside down engineering which
no one except perhaps its author has
ever been able to understand.
Only a few members of Fire COMO.
attended the postponed regular meet
ing on Tuesday evening and again the
time was mostly occupied in discussing
the proposition for the purchase OF an
auto chemical or Of an auto truck to
furnish conveyance for the present en- /.
gines. The fact that the company had
no housing facilities which would al
ford security against freezing was
again emphasized and the sentiment
was general that before going into deb
for more apparatus thereS should De
Improvement in taking better care OF
that already in possession. 1t hecaIpe
known that the engine at the Center
is temporarily useless on account OF
being frozen and it was decided to
store it for the rest Of the winter IN
some barn where warmth from cattle
would help to prevent recurrence OF
the trouble. Further precautions Will
also be taken in the case OF two other
engines which are thought to be now
insufficiently protected.
Before leaving his car at the front
of Grange hall on Tuesday evening
Lew Warner attached lighted Ian
tern to the radiator which he further
protected against frost by covering,
of two blankets. When he eeme out
from the Are department meeting an
hour or 80 later he found that by rea-
son Of the breaking of the lantern
globe the blankets had caught fire and
were consumed. Evidently they burned
slowly to which circumstance the ma
chine doubtless owed it's escape from
destruction The actual damage proved
comparatively slight, being confined to
the surface Of the radiator and some
Of it's connecting attachments What
caused the breaking of the lantern,
glass was not apparent. but it prob
ably came from the flame inside.
Application for administration on
the estate of the late Hannah Keeler
has been made by George A. Pickett
OF Berlin, this state, and hearing
thereon has been fixed by Probate
Judge Sanford for Feb. 2s. The other
heirs are sister. three brothers, an
other nephew and two nieces, one OF
the later q resident of North Takcta
It is understood that Joseph Hill. who
has been an occupant of the Kee.er
house for some time. will present ..
bill Of several hundred dollars against
the estate based on claims for repairs
and care of the deceased owner. 1t is
also understood that some half dozen
parties are anxious to purchase the
property, not very valuable one
when 1t comes upon the market
The Center Congregational church
-wss decorated with flags last Sunday
in honor OF Lncoln's birthday and
Rev. Mr. FWoolworth, the pastor de-
livered sermon IN keeping with the
anniversary. Referring to the present