Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-31

Fairfield and Winslow before men,
bers of the Public Utility commission
OF Maine regarding the protection of
the So-called Car Barn" railroad
crossing in Fairfield on Main street
and the so-called "Brickyard" and
sand Hill'' railroad crossings in
Winslow.
In the case of the Fairfield cross
ing the town of Fairfield represented
by George Chapman presented the
case that the crossing referred to
was inadequately protected since d
double track system had been in
stalled. Two accidents have occur
red here, i'll one the crossing tender
was run down by an automobile and
died from resulting injuries. The
other was a train hitting an auto
mobile and a man died from injur-
les. The idea expressed by citizens
of Fairfield was that gates at this
crossing might have prevented both
accidents.
In the Winslow case George A.
Chamberlain, chairman of the board
of selectmen handled the case for
the town. The two crossings above
each weekday from Z A. NJ. to 6
F. NJ. and on Sundays from S A. NJ.
to & +. NJ. The remainder of the
time there is no protection except
the customary Signboards. The town
of Winslow asked for "a hour protec-
ton on these crossings by a flag
man. The Maine Central represent
ed by G.. H. Batchford of Portland
seemed in favor of installing "A hour
automatic signal protection and
doing away with the flagmen.
Witnesses were called for each
town and for the railroad. The first
hearing was held in the Fairfield
Town hall and the second in the
Winslow Selectmen,s office. Very
few were present besides those i'm
mediately concerned. The members
of the commission present were II.
w. Trafton, Albert Greenlaw and
Elmer Parkman and Ruel Hanks,
reporter.
The following witnesses were call
ed for the town of Fairfield, b. H.
Lawrence, chairman of the board OF
selectmen, Charles Blackstone, Will
bur Wilson and George Shorey, Law
renee Good and William Small.
The Fairfield Hearing
B. H. Lawrence was first examin-
ed. He said that many complaints
had come to him concerning the
Car Barn" crossing. People could
not or did not see the trains ap-
preaching this crossing. Two people
have been injured so badly that they
have died and there have been other
narrow escapes. The people of Fair
field feel that something ought to be
done. Since the new bridge has been
built double trunkline tracks go
across this crossing.
In the cross examination Mr.. Law
renee testified that he had been
chairman of the board of selectmen
since last March and had been a
member 10 years in all. He felt that
the crossing tender was in a danger
Gus position. Some autoists slow up
for the crossing others do not. The
witness admitted that no proSecu-
tons had ever been made by the
town officers for exceeding the 1O
mile speed limit over crossings, nor
is there a record kept in the town of
the offenders.
Mr.. Batchford asked if an autoist
observes the law would the crossing
not be a safe one. Mr.. Lawrence
agreed that it might be much safer.
needed for the careless negligent dri-
vers among the travelling public. 1t
was brought out by Mr.. Batchford
that there are metal disk signs sew
eral yards from the railroad track
stating that the speed limit across
railroad crossings is 10 miles an
hour.
Lawrence Good was sworn in and
testified that he had been employed
by the Fairfield municipal officers to
count vehicles crossing the crossing.
From 6 A. NJ. to 6 P. NJ. on Sept. 30.
he had counted 2435 and on Oct.
from 6 A. NJ. to 6 P. M. he counted
1915. He said about IS per cent were
automobiles, many Of them going
across the crossing about 40 miles an
hour.
William Small was the next wit
ness. He testified that he lived near
the crossing, the first house on the
south side. He had seen autos race
trains and had seen the signal man
Jump for his life. Last Thursday he
saw a train come to a stop just be-
fore reaching the crossing on account
of an auto being on the track.
Charles H. Blackstone. an employe
of the Fairfield & Waterville Street
railway and resident of Fairfield
near the crossing, had seen trains
track He said he believed that a
gate would be regarded more than a
flagman.
Wilbur Wilson. a tender of the
crossing on the daily shift from 2 P.
NJ. to 10 P. NJ, said he had been on
the job since last November. He
said the large percent of the people
pay attention to his stop signal but
that he has had to jump for his life