New Britain herald., 1925-06-24
P.U. (. WILL GRANT HEARING 0N SWITCH Sets June 30 aS Date for
 Myrtle Street Discussion PUNDERFORD IS ADAMANT
President of Connecticut Company Again Flatly States That Transit Corporation Will Not Pay Ex- penses of Track Changes.

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 penscs of Track Changes.
 Acting on the suggestion of Mayor A. M. Paonessa, the Public utilities commission has reversed its original decision not to hold a hearing in the dispute between the City Of New Britain and the Connecticut Co. in the matter of removal of a switch on Myrtle street, and the case has been set down for hearing at the state capitol. Tuesday. June 30, at 2:SO o'clock.
 Notice of the utilities commissions changed attitude was received at the office of the mayor as was also a letter from President John K. Pun derford of the trolley company, in which the mayor Is advised the company's policy has been settled upon and no change is contemplated. With the receipt of this letter 1t be- came known that Mayor Paonessa had written President Punderford last week complaining of the Con- necticut's Company's attitude in this matter.
 Last month the common council voted an order to the trolley com pany for the removal Of the Myrtle street switch. declaring 1t to be a traffic hazard and an obstacle in the way Of street Improvements. Shortly thereafter an ultimatum came from Punderford's office to the effect that such removal as might be made must be at the clty's expense. Last week, Mayor Paonessa was advised by the public utilities commission of an appeal from the city's order of removal. The mayor was told at that time hearing would not be held for some time as the public utilities commission docket is overcrowded.
 Letter From F. U. 0.
 After a conference with the board of public works, Mayor Paonessa wrote the utilities commission ex- plaining the desire for an immediate decision. delays being likely to hold up much needed improvements on Myrtle street. The reply sent out from the office of Secretary Henry F. Billings today, follows:
 Dear sir:-
 Tn response to your communi- cation of June 20, 1925, addressed to Chairman Higgins. concerning ap- peal of the Connecticut Company from an order of the court of com mon council of the city of New Britain in regard to change of track location in Myrtle street, please be advised that this matter has been as- signed for hearing at the office of the commission, Room 4, State Cap itol, Hartford, at 1880 p. m., stand ard time, on Tuesday. June 30, 1925, I and 1t is understood that you will arrange to have the city represented at this hearing.
 Yours truly,
 Public Utilities Commission. |"
 Punderford's stand Unchanged
 Confirmation of the company's ultimatum to the city came in the following letter addressed to the mayor:
 Dear Sir
 T have yours of the 22nd in- stant. Some weeks ago your city engineer called on me at my office and outlined what the city intend- ed to do on Myrtle street. I told him that whereas we. were willing to cooperate with the city in It's improvement of this highway by taking out one side of our turnout and centering the track, we felt that as we would do this work iv compliance with the request of the city, we should not be put to any expense and would charge only the actual expenditure for doing the work. with no overhead charges. thought this was a fair proposi- tion and still think so.
 T sent our engineer. Mir Tippett to New Britain to attend a meeting of the committee to consider some pavement matters. I believe on Main street. At this meeting Mir. Tippett mentioned the Myrtle street matter and our feeling that we should be reimbursed for any expense we were put to. He reported to me that he mentioned this to Mir. Williams, re- iterating our feeling In the matter and that the members of the com mittee did not seem interested. Threfore, when I received the vote adopted by the common council on May 20, in which we were ordered to relocate our tracks in Myrtle street and eliminate the turnout, no definite reply having been made to us as 10 whether or no our proposi- ton to the city was acceptable and the matter having been dragged for a considerable time. think had the right 10 assume that the city was unwilling to accept our proposition and my only resource was to appeal to the commission.
 Again I say, I regret that you feel we have not shown the proper spirit In the matter but still am of the opinion that we are willing to give up this facility. which we plac- ed at considerable expense, if the city would pay the cost of the work.
 Yours very truly,
 "J. K. PUNDERF0RD."
 Mayor A. NJ. Paonessa, Corporation Counsel John H. Kirkham, members of the board of public works and of the common council will be in at tendance at the hearing next Mon day.
 M. O TI-,.I-