Norwich bulletin., 1922-12-20

At the close of hearing on the Eighth street railroad crossing held Tuesday afternoon q at the city council chamber, L. q, Eiweu of the public utilities commits sion announced that the commission Wiil give notice to the New Haven railroad to place a agman on duty at the E1shtn street crossing from ! a. rn until II D. m. daily, including Sunday. The pres ent fagman is on duty only from a. m' 10 D, m. daily and from II a. m. to | D. m. on Sundays.
 The hearing was held in answer 10 ,,etitioners represented by Henry Pukai- lus, pr. E. J. Brophy, John McWllfiams' Arthur E. Shedd and G. Warren DaVls' the petitioners' committee, Mayor Mllo l.. waters and President Herbert M. Le- rou and Secretary John J. ORourke or the Norwich chamber of commerce TOT the purpose of abolishing the grade cross ing. The council chamber was filled with persons interested in the project and at torneys representing the city and towns of Norwich and the New Haven railroad.
 G, Warren Davis stated that as the committee was not permanent one ana that the matter could not be settled Tuesday it would be advisable to make the committee permanent with power to fill vacancies and this was voted.
 Commissioner Elwell then opened the hearing. It was announced that Corpora ton Counsel William H. Shields, Jry would represent the city and petitioners and Town Counsel H. H. Pettis the town.
 The first man called by Attorney
 Shields was Arthur E. Shedd of Preston who told of narrow escapes he had had at that crossing while driving team, ana later an automobile. He considered the
 crossing dangerous one.
 pr. E. J. Brophy ;oId Of attending Frank Osborn who ewas struck by train abouto two. years ago, and told Of the action taken by the Norwich Medi- cal society Monday night fsvoring the abolishing of this crossing which was con- sidered the most dangerous in this VI
 cinity.
 G. Warren Davis told of trouble that horse drawn vehicles as well as motor vehicles experienced at the crossing, and ! how hard it was to hold back heavy loads 1 on the 14 per cent. grade. He also spoke i of the danger to school children, and said { that drivers of .Eshicles now refused to l pass over the crossing but entered Preston i by way of Hamilton avenue, longer and Hess pleasing drive.
 Attorney Buckingham for the railroad asked MT. Davis what the petitioners wanted, and MT. Davis said a -hagman,
 24 hours a day, and ultimately an over lhead bridge. 1 Street Commissioner Albert E. Cruth-
 CTS stated that men had been posted al the crossing on December 18th and the count was taken from 6 a. m., to D. m as follows: 72 heavy trucks, 42 light [ 1 teams, 17 double teams, PTS children 2IO women, and 42S men. A count during the same hours on Dec. IS showed 7. heavy truck 67 light trucks, S2 passeng CT cars. AZ single teams. 10 double teams I214 children, 203 <emen and 617 men. John McWiliiams stated that he neve crossed the tracks without fear ant
 spoke of many fine building tracts on tn
 east of the crossing. that could not b. sold owing to the danger of the railroa'
 crossing At this point the petitioner , rested their case.
 q Attorney Buckingham then called on R 'iM Smith, assistant superintendent of tn division of. the New Haven railroad tha
 runs through Norwich for a few facts. Mi Smith stated that there was f1agman O duty at the crossing from ' a. m. unit 6 D. nl daily and from II a. m. to I |, m on Sundays, and bell protection for tn 7 remainder of the time.
 He also showed count of traffic tak F ! en on December 18th showing 156 auto : mobiles. 6S teams, and 7SS people, and o : tthe t7th, .76 automobiles, 24 teams an 1 1 520 people. check from 6 p. m. unt
 i the fagman came on in the mornin ! showed as follows on the 18th: From
 ] D. m. to II p. m, p automobiles, team 5 and 104 pedestrians From Il ?. m: i T s a. m, automobile. ? teams, s pede! e trians The count on the 17th fro1 midnight until a. m. showed 5 autom' : piles, 2 teams and If pedestrians: = MT. Smith then went on to say tn; there were three regular passenge trains each way daily, 1 regular teeigl 7 each way; and four etras. He told r the doing of the switcher and other tra = movements MT. Smith stated that thei n was ample protection at the crossing. S Attorney Buckingham then stated tn l. a similar appeal had been made to u a tpubiic utilities commission in 1914 al 7. had been denied This petition had be. signed by John H. Bates and others. Nj
 Smith said the railroad would be williI 6 Ito place a Morrison flasher at the eros "a ing, but if this was done the watchm; ;, would be taken off duty.
 :. A recess of ten minutes was held du